Export

The Export command downloads the current drawing to your file system. Two formats are available: DXF for compatibility with other CAD tools and JSON for full-fidelity saves within KulmanLab CAD.

How to export

1. Click the Export toolbar button (download icon) in the File panel.
2. The Export Manager popup opens.
3. Click a format card to select the format — JSON or DXF.
4. Click the Export button. The file downloads to your default downloads folder automatically.

Choosing a format

Format	Extension	Best for	Limitations
JSON (native)	.json	Saving work to reopen in KulmanLab CAD	Not compatible with other CAD tools
DXF	.dxf	Sharing with AutoCAD, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, etc.	Dimensions and leaders are not exported

When to use JSON: anytime you want to save a complete copy of your work. JSON is KulmanLab's native format and preserves every entity exactly — including dimensions, leaders, and all layer data.

When to use DXF: when you need to hand off the drawing to someone using another CAD application. The exported file uses AutoCAD 2010 DXF format and can be opened in most DXF-compatible tools.

What is exported per format

JSON export

All entity types are included:

• Lines, circles, arcs, ellipses, polylines, splines, text
• Dimensions (linear, aligned, continued, radius, diameter)
• Multileaders
• Layer definitions and linetype tables

DXF export

Geometry-only entities are included:

• Lines, circles, arcs, ellipses, polylines (exported as LWPOLYLINE), splines, text
• Layer definitions and linetype tables

Not included in DXF: dimension entities and multileaders. These use KulmanLab-specific data structures that cannot be represented faithfully in standard DXF. If your drawing has annotations, use JSON or Print to capture them visually.

Exported file name

The downloaded file is named after the current drawing file (e.g. myplan_May22_14:30:00.json). The extension changes to match the chosen format.

Difference between Export and Print

Feature	Export	Print
Output	Vector source file (.dxf / .json)	Raster image (.png / .jpeg / .webp / .pdf)
Editable in other tools	Yes (DXF)	No
Preserves layers & linetypes	Yes	No (rendered flat)
Captures dimensions & leaders	JSON only	Yes

Use Export when you need an editable file. Use Print when you need a visual snapshot.

Related commands

• Import — open a DXF or JSON file
• Print — export the canvas as a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF image
• Files — browse drawings saved in browser storage