PDF Import in Plan7Architect – How to Import a PDF Floor Plan (Free with Claude)

Yes. The best way is to let ChatGPT or Claude (AI assistants) turn your PDF into a DXF file. You then import the DXF into Plan7Architect Pro. The free Claude plan is enough.

The DXF contains your floor plan with the exact dimensions from the PDF. Every wall corner becomes a real snap point, so you can trace your walls very precisely. This is much more accurate than scaling a picture of the plan and tracing it by eye.

Step 1: Turn the PDF into a DXF with ChatGPT or Claude

1. Open claude.ai or chatgpt.com and sign in. With Claude, the free plan is enough.
2. Upload your PDF floor plan.
3. Copy the prompt below, paste it into the message field and send it.
4. Download the DXF file that the AI creates.

Prompt to copy

Attached is a floor plan. Create a DXF file (version R2000) of it that I can import into my CAD software.

- Draw everything at real size. Use the dimensions written on the plan, not the proportions of the image. 1 drawing unit = 1 cm.
- Draw walls with their real thickness and leave openings for doors and windows.
- Use only single LINE entities, plus ARC for door swings. No polylines, no blocks, no hatches, no DIMENSION entities.
- Put walls, windows, doors, stairs, text and dimensions on separate layers.
- Add the dimension chains from the plan as simple lines with tick marks and numbers.
- Make all text black.
- If a dimension is missing on the plan, estimate it from the image and list every estimated value at the end.
- Before you give me the file, check that the room sizes add up to the overall dimensions.

If your plan is dimensioned in feet and inches, change the first point to 1 drawing unit = 1 inch.

Step 2: Import the DXF into Plan7Architect

1. Click File at the top, then Import, and then Import again.
2. Select the DXF file.
3. Select the unit used in the file: centimeters (or inches, if you changed the prompt).
4. Click once with the left mouse button in the drawing area to place the plan.

Step 3: Trace the walls

Select a wall from the catalog, enter the wall thickness and click exactly on the corners of the imported plan. The cursor snaps to each corner. Then add windows and doors. Plan7Architect creates the 3D model automatically from the walls you draw.

The complete guide with all details and pictures: Digitize Floor Plans with ChatGPT or Claude for Plan7Architect.

Good to know

• The DXF is a 2D drawing, not a 3D model. It is your exact template for drawing the walls.
• It works best with PDF plans that have dimensions written on them. Without dimensions, tell the AI at least one known wall length.
• Compare a few dimensions with your PDF after importing.

Alternative: import the PDF as an image

You can also save the PDF page as an image (JPG or PNG) or take a screenshot, load it as a background, scale it and trace over it. This is shown here: Import a floor plan image file and trace over it.