2. Key points regarding ESRI’s CAD
support
ArcGIS CAD data support is core
technology
– ‘Out of the box’
– Does NOT require an extension
CAD data can be directly read by ArcGIS
– Does NOT require any conversion
– Behavior similar to other feature datasets and classes
Available at all license levels
Supported file formats and versions:
– AutoCAD DWG/DXF: Release 12 - 2008
– MicroStation DGN: 5.x – V8
3. CAD data in ArcGIS
A vector data source that can be visualized,
queried, analyzed, and converted
Feature datasets that contain several
feature classes
Read only data source
Input datasets for most tools
Can serve as reference for data creation
– Snapping
4. CAD data model in ArcGIS
CAD data is comprised of:
Geometry Attributes
ABC
CAD entity geometry is represented CAD properties and database links
as GIS feature geometry are stored in attribute tables
Coordinate
World File
System/Projection
CAD data can be re-projected to CAD drawings can be transformed from
overlay with other GIS layers local coordinates to real-world location
5. CAD datasets in ArcMap
CAD feature datasets are
organized into Group
Layers in ArcMap
Initially in a collapsed
state
CAD feature layer
properties can be
accessed via the Group
Layer Properties dialog
6. CAD properties as feature
attributes
Common CAD
properties
– Color, level, linetype,
handle, line weight, etc…
User defined
data
– Block attributes
– Tags
– MS-Links
CAD attributes
support queries
– Display
– Geoprocessing input
– Conversion
7. Blocks and Cells
3548
Typically consist of 1 B
multiple Block/Cell
entities/elements and Geometry Feature Class
different geometries
Point
Can contain text and
attributes 3548, 1, B
Annotation
ArcGIS represents the Polyline
insertion point as a
point feature Polygon
8. Tags and block attributes
Values represented as feature attributes
– Tags = Fields
– Tag values = attributes
DGN: Tag Sets are not an attribute
DGN DWG
9. Coordinate Systems and
Projections
Coordinate Systems
– CAD drawings may not initially
have one defined
– Not required - but recommended
– Select, create or import from
other dataset
Projection files
– Stores coordinate system info
– Created in ArcCatalog
– Can be copied and reused for
other CAD files
10. Georeferencing toolbar
Georeferencing toolbar – use mouse pointer
to move layer and create control points in
map
– Implemented CAD layer support in Georeferencing toolbar
– Leverage existing Georeferencing tools and commands for CAD
transformations
11. World Files
World Files
– File based, two point transformation for CAD data
– Uses the .wld file extension
– Simple text file containing two lines with two pairs of
coordinate values:
<From X1, From Y1> <To X1, To Y1>
<From X2, From Y2> <To X2, To Y2>
UC2008 Technical Workshop 11
12. CAD to Geodatabase Tools
ArcMap
– Export Data
– Copy & Paste (Edit
session)
ArcToolbox -
Geoprocessing
– Copy Features
– Feature Class to
Feature Class
– Feature Class to
Geodatabase
– Import CAD
Annotation
13. Geodatabase to CAD tool:
Export to CAD
Output features to
native CAD format
– DGN (V8 only)
– DWG/DXF (R14 to R2007)
Various levels of
complexity
– Geometry only
– Standardized entities
Preparation tools
– Add CAD Fields
– Add Field
14. Mapping Specification for DWG
(MSD)
Open source framework developed by ESRI
for coding information in DWGs to define:
– GIS feature classes + attributes
– Coordinate systems
Utilizes CAD data structures to define
schema and store data
Leveraged by ArcGIS CAD tools at 9.3
– CAD direct read/import tools
– Export to CAD
Provides improved interoperability
between CAD and GIS
15. Mapping Specification for DWG
(MSD)
Available in the ArcGIS Online Help system:
– http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?
TopicName=CAD_data_organization
16. Export to CAD: Creating MSD
compliant DWGs
Automatically generated by Export to CAD
Organizes CAD entities into feature classes
in DWG
Attributes are embedded in CAD entities
Stores coordinate system in DWG
Recognized by ArcGIS Desktop at 9.3
18. ArcGIS for AutoCAD: Overview
Provides access to ArcGIS Server map
services
– Control map display
– Identify map feature attributes
19. ArcGIS for AutoCAD: Capabilities
Map Services
– Georeferenced
– Projections on-the-fly
– Cartographic GIS
symbology
– Dynamic/On Demand
display
– Scale-dependent
display
– ArcGIS Server data
management
– Database access:
IDENTIFY map service
features
20. ArcGIS for AutoCAD + MSD
Provides ability for
users to
– Read ArcGIS data in CAD systems
– Organize and attribute CAD
drawings for use in ArcGIS
Solves the question
‘How do I export my
feature attributes to a
CAD drawing?’
21. MSD Feature Class Tools
Tools to manage
feature classes in DWGs
– Define, Modify, Delete
Feature Classes based
on queries
– Entities properties control feature
class participation
Schema definition
– Add fields
22. MSD Feature Class Tools
Specify CAD
properties
New
feature
class
name and
type Use property
selectors
Define schema and
default values