Export To CAD (Conversion Tools)
Summary
Exports features to new or existing CAD files based on one or more input feature layers or feature classes.
The geometry, feature attributes, and coordinates system of ArcGIS feature layers will be included when outputting to AutoCAD .dwg or .dxf files. This GIS data can be used with the ArcGIS for AutoCAD plug-in to AutoCAD. If you do not have the plug-in, you can access the output geometry as CAD entities.
Usage
This tool creates, or appends to existing,
.dwg,.dxf, or.dgnCAD files.This tool will accept ArcGIS-supported point, polyline, polygon, annotation, multipoint, or multipatch feature classes or their feature layers including those from BIM or CAD feature classes.
When the target CAD file has an associated
.prjfile including any applicable universal.prjfiles, the coordinates of the output features will be projected to the coordinates of the target CAD file.When the target CAD file has an associated
.wldfile including any applicable universal.wldfiles, the coordinates of the output features will be transformed according to the coordinate offset defined for the output CAD file in the applicable.wldfile.By default, the tool creates a CAD layer in the CAD file using the input feature layer name as the new CAD layer name for each input feature class or feature layer. The default output CAD layer can be overridden by valid values of input features with a field with a name or alias of
LayerorLevel.To add CAD reserved fields to the input feature class, use the Add Field tool. To add multiple fields at one time by functional category, use the Add CAD Fields tool. CAD reserved fields are key-named fields that override CAD entity and element default properties of output CAD entities and elements.
By default, the tool generates output CAD entity geometries most analogous to the input feature geometry. Output entity types can be overridden by valid values in a field with a name or alias of
CADTypein the feature attributes of the input feature. For example, the default entity type for exporting feature annotation isTEXT. However, if the output features have a field namedCADTypewith field values of POINT, CAD point entities will be generated in the CAD file rather than CAD text entities. Not all CAD entity types are supported for output features.Multipoint feature classes will be output to an AutoCAD file as a set of AutoCAD grouped points. Likewise, multipart features from polyline and polygon features classes will be drawn as grouped CAD entities to form multipart GIS features in the output ArcGIS for AutoCAD feature layers.
By default, output AutoCAD DWG or DXF formatted files will generate attributed ArcGIS feature classes in the
.dwgor.dxffiles that are supported by both ArcGIS and the ArcGIS for AutoCAD plug-in to AutoCAD. The spatial reference of the exported feature data will be written to the output CAD files.CAD seed files are used to populate the output CAD drawings with blocks, cells, layers, models, and layer symbology according to your CAD standards. Using seed files allows you to reference layers and symbols by name to override the default output by including valid values in key-named fields of the output feature data. For example, you can include valid values in fields with a name or alias of
Layerto control where CAD entities are created in the output CAD files.Input point features with valid values in a field with a name or alias of
RefNameand a value ofINSERTorCELLin a field with a name or alias ofCADtypeallow you to override the default behavior of creating point entities in the output CAD file. Block insert entities or cells will be generated instead. Attributes of block inserts created in the drawing will populate CAD block attributes with GIS feature attribute information if the block's attribute tag name matches a field name.Input features with valid numeric values in a field with a name or alias of
Elevationcan be used to set the z-coordinate value of the output CAD entity. If this field is not present, the z-coordinate value of each individual vertex of the input feature will be used to produce the output CAD entity. Input 2D line feature layers that contain valid numeric values in a field namedContourwill similarly set the z-coordinates of the output CAD line entities.Input features with a valid value in a field with a name or alias of
CADTypeorEntitywill convert the input feature's geometry into specific CAD entity types. To learn more about Esri feature and CAD entity relationships, see Supported AutoCAD and Microstation geometry.When exporting to a
.dgnfile using a seed file with named CAD models, features will be created in the specified CAD model according to valid values in a field with a name or alias ofCADModel.Input features with a field with a name or alias of
DocPathwill be used to direct the output to one or more CAD drawing files. If the Ignore Paths in Tables parameter is checked, this field is ignored.Input features with a field with a name or alias of
LTScalewill be used to adjust the line weight in.dgnfiles.Input features with a field with a name or alias of
LineWtwill be used to adjust the line weight in.dwgfiles.
Parameters
| Label | Explanation | Data type |
|---|---|---|
|
Input Features |
A collection of feature classes and feature layers whose spatial reference and geometry will be exported to one or more CAD files. Both the feature geometry and the feature attributes will be added to AutoCAD formatted files. |
Feature Layer |
|
Output Type |
Specifies the CAD platform and file version that will be used for new output CAD files. Multiple versions of CAD software may share one file format version for multiple releases. The options reflect the file format version, not necessarily the software version that may still use a previous file format version.
|
String |
|
Output File |
The path of the output CAD drawing file. This path will be overridden by any valid file paths included as field values in the input feature's field or alias field named |
CAD Drawing Dataset |
|
Ignore Paths in Tables (Optional) |
Specifies whether valid paths included in the
|
Boolean |
|
Append to Existing Files (Optional) |
Specifies whether the output will be appended to an existing CAD file. This allows you to add information to a CAD file on disk.
|
Boolean |
|
Seed File (Optional) |
An existing CAD drawing whose contents and document and layer properties will be used as a seed file when output CAD files are created. The CAD platform and format version of the seed file overrides the value specified by the Output Type parameter. If appending to existing CAD files, the seed drawing is ignored. |
CAD Drawing Dataset |
Environments
Current Workspace, Extent, Scratch Workspace, Output Coordinate System
Licensing information
- Basic: Yes
- Standard: Yes
- Advanced: Yes