AEC objects are custom objects used in applications like AutoCAD Architecture to represent items like doors, windows, walls, etc. When these drawings are opened in AutoCAD these objects are called proxy objects and a warning box is displayed.
The -EXPORTTOAUTOCAD and AECTOACAD commands create a new file and explode all the proxy AEC objects into regular AutoCAD objects. The intelligence of the AEC objects is lost in the new file, but the former AEC objects can be modified.
There are a number of options available for the -EXPORTTOAUTOCAD and AECTOACAD commands.
Filename: The name of the new file. Use the Prefix and/or Suffix options to create a unique filename and avoid overwriting the original file
Prefix: Added to the beginning of the filename. The default is ACAD-.
Suffix: Appended to the end of the filename. The default is no suffix.
Format: File format for the new file. Options are r14, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013.
Bind: If the Bind setting is set to Yes, Xrefs are bound to the drawing. Blocks, layers,styles etc. are merged into the new file. If set to No, the links to the Xref are retained.
Bind Type: There are two options when the Bind option is set to Yes: Bind and Insert. When Bind Type is set to Bind the Xref name is added to the beginning of block, layer and style names. Example: The Bind Type is set to Bind. An Xref named PLAN contains layers WALL, DOOR and GLAZ. The new layer names are PLAN$0$WALL, PLAN$0$DOOR and PLAN$0$GLAZ. When the Bind Type is set to Insert the names of blocks, layers and styles are merged into the new drawing. If the item name already exists, it assumes the property of the existing item.
Maintain: Set Maintain to YES to explode block instances within AEC objects. Set to NO to retain block instances within AEC objects.
If you receive drawings with AEC objects the -EXPORTTOAUTOCAD and AECTOACAD commands make these objects useable.