[GRASSLIST:4185] dxf files in 3D

[Andrew]

I am anticipating a problem. I have a requested a dataset from a mine 
geologist which represents the 3D structure of the mine proper from 
which his proprietary program creates stratigraphic maps. The file 
contains the information extracted from cores and related samples over 
decades of drilling and exploration. I need to create depth layers of 
this data for a project of my own, as opposed to the full 3D images or 
vertical cross sections he usually works with. I am not certain, but my 
best chance for acquiring this data may be accepting a 3D dxf file 
(which imports directly into arcGIS, I am told, but I don't have 
arcGIS). I have both Grass 5.3 and Grass 5.7 installed on my computer. 
The 5.3 distribution has a pair of commands, v.in.dxf and v.in.dxf3d, 
which may serve my purposes. This seems to be missing from 5.7. Is this 
because the functionality is not yet/never-to-be implemented in 5.7, or 
is its functionality subsumed by some other command or commands? Will I 
have to import to 5.3, export to 5.7 and then work with , e.g. grid3D 
stuff, or can it be done directly in 5.7 ? Are there problems with 
v.in.dxf3d from 5.3 that I can expect to wrestle with (or perhaps be 
defeated by)?

Thanks for any advance warning you may be able to give me. I am pressed 
for time on this project.