Knowledge Base - Technical Articles
HowTo: Export geodatabase feature classes to CAD including annotation using the Export to CAD Tool
| Article ID: | 30328 |
|---|---|
| Software: | ArcGIS - ArcEditor 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1, 10 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1, 10 ArcGIS - ArcView 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1, 10 |
| Platforms: | N/A |
Summary
Instructions provided describe one method for converting geodatabase feature classes to CAD file formats (DWG or DXF) that include layer names and text entities.
Procedure
The process outlined below is performed in ArcMap.
- Add the geodatabase feature classes to be converted to a new, empty ArcMap session. Label each feature class, as needed, with the attribute(s) to be converted to text entities in the output CAD file.
- Convert the labels for each feature class to annotation in the geodatabase.
Annotation stored in the map cannot be converted to CAD.
- The default AutoCAD screen color is black, and the default output text color is also black. Text converted with the default color does not show up in AutoCAD. To control the output text color for annotation in the AutoCAD file, add the field named 'COLOR', defined as 'Short Integer', to each annotation feature class and calculate a CAD color number into the field. Some standard AutoCAD color numbers are:
1 = Red
2 = Yellow
3 = Green
4 = Cyan
5 = Blue
6 = Magenta
7 = White/Black (the display color for the text in AutoCAD is controlled by the screen color)
- In Export to CAD, the default layer name is the name of the feature class. To create data on different layers in the output CAD file, use the following method:
Add a field named LAYER to the feature class attribute table, with the data type defined as Text, a length of 25, and populate the layer field with the layer names to be assigned to the features during export.
CAD layers can contain different kinds of features, so the same layer name can be used for features of all feature types being converted. If the layer field is left blank for some features, those features are saved on Layer 0. At version 9.3.1 and previous versions, if a field exists in the attribute table that already contains suitable layer names, use the 'Set CAD Alias' Tool and set the Alias for that field to 'Layer'. If the data was originally imported from an AutoCAD DWG or DXF file, the field named 'Layer' already exists in the attribute tables. Those Layer names are reassigned to the exported data.
- After performing the above steps as needed, open the Export to CAD tool, selecting the point, polyline, polygon and annotation feature classes as needed for input in the tool.
- Select the output location and enter an appropriate name for the output CAD file. Click OK.
The .dwg or .dxf file extensions must be included in the output file name.
The data is converted to the selected output CAD format. - Refer to article links in the Related Information section below for more detailed instructions and tips on this conversion process.
Related Information
- Export a point feature class to AutoCAD BLOCKS and maintain rotation angle
Instructions provided describe the steps for converting a point geodatabase feature class to BLOCK entities in an output AutoCAD file, while maintaining the rotation angle of the blocks.{NOTE}This option is only available with the ArcGIS - ArcInfo... - Running the Add CAD Fields tool on a shapefile and calculating a value in the Layer field creates empty output
Running the Add CAD Fields tool, located in ArcToolBox > Conversion Tools > To CAD on a shapefile and then calculating a value in the Layer field, turns off all layers in the output AutoCAD DWG or DXF file. The output file appears empty, and th... - Export to CAD creates empty files that do not display in AutoCAD or ArcGIS Desktop
After running Export to CAD, the output AutoCAD DWG or DXF files do not display in AutoCAD, and no features draw when the files are added to ArcMap.
Created: 1/5/2006
Last Modified: 12/12/2011
Article Rating:
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(1)
By Anonymous - 06/25/2009 1:57 PM
The article is incorrect or the solution didn’t work.
That To CAD does not exist in my ToolBox. Even if it did, this is really cumbersome. You can easily convert a shape file to dxf using other programs with more ease. Sorry, but ESRI charges for every little extension, etc.
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