How To: Export a point feature class to AutoCAD BLOCKS and maintain rotation angle

Summary

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.

Procedure

1. Add the following fields and parameters to the point feature class attribute table with the definitions indicated:
   
   • CadAngle, Float, Defaultlength
   • CadType, Text, Length 32
   • RefName, Text, Length 32
   
   

   Note:
   The field names and definitions must be created as shown above.

   
   Here is one method to add these fields:
   
   A. Add the point feature class to ArcMap.
   
   B. Open the attribute table, and select Options > Add Field.
   
   C. Name the field CadAngle, select the Type: Float, and accept the Defaultlength.
   
   D. Repeat Steps B and C above two more times to add the remaining fields, CadType and RefName, with the parameters shown above to the attribute table.
   
2. Using the Field Calculator in the Attribute table, calculate the above fields to the values shown below:
   
   • CadAngle = value in the field that stores the rotation angle
   • CadType = "Insert"
   
   

   Note:
   Include double quotes when entering the value in the Field Calculator dialog.

   
   • RefName = Block Name assigned to the block when it was created in the DWG file in AutoCAD. The Block Name is usually a text string, the value is case-sensitive, and must be enclosed in double quotes.
3. Run the Export to CAD Tool in ArcToolBox, specifying the seed file which contains the Block definition in the Export to CAD dialog.
   
   The features from the point feature class are converted to BLOCK entities in the output AutoCAD file, and the rotation angle is applied to the blocks.

Last Published: 5/5/2016

Article ID: 000009614