MXD to DWG - Import Shape Files to AutoCAD MAP

You cannot bring an Arcmap drawing into AutoCAD. Arcmap is composed of a series of shape files.

If you have AutoCAD Civil 3D 2007, you can import shape files into CAD but not the actual MXD.

Click on the MAP menu then click on Tools then click on Import.

A dialog box prompts you to navigate to the shape file you want. Then you get another dialog box that prompts you to select from various settings before you bring your shape file into the CAD drawing.

You need some knowledge of GIS and shape files to figure this out but with trial and error you can resolve it. You will have to reconstruct the Arcmap drawing, shape file by shape file. If there are many shape files, you have to import each one individually.

Using this same procedure you can also bring in files from other applications like Microstation and Mapinfo.

CAD TechRx - The 5 Most Viewed Pages - Sept. 2007

KEYCAD MYSTERY - CAN YOU SOLVE IT? $10.00 Reward!

We would like more information on this popular posting.
$10.00 Reward for quality answers to our questions below.

Email submittals to:support@clearlogicgroup.com

If you are using Keycad, do you recommend it?

Is KCW a Keycad file extension as stated here?
techrx.blogspot.com/2007/04/keycad-mystery.html

AUTOCAD - ARXERROR-EDUPLICATEKEY
techrx.blogspot.com/2006/11/quick-fix-arxerror-eduplicatekey.html

AUTOCAD - CAN'T ZOOM VIEWPORT
techrx.blogspot.com/2007/05/autocad-cant-zoom-viewport-dont-panic.html

VECTORWORKS 12 EXPORT OPTIONS
techrx.blogspot.com/2006/09/vectorworks-12-export-options-export.html

CARBONITE - BACK-UP YOUR HARD DRIVE
techrx.blogspot.com/2007/05/carbonite-dont-stress-back-up-your-hard.html

How to open an AutoCAD DWG file in Arcview 9.2

Option 1:

Using ArcCatalog, highlight the file just like you would a shape file and drag it into the mxd. Or you can click on the file in ArcCatalog and it will break it into it's constituent entities; point line and polygon. You can only bring in entities from model space.

Option 2- See Screen Shot:

Here's another method to import CAD entities into GIS:

In ArcToolBox click on Conversion Tools, Go to Geodatabase. Then click on Import from CAD. This gives you a dialog box that converts CAD entities into a ESRI GeoDataBase (GDB). Then bring the .GDB file into GIS.

CAD Software Watch - AutoCAD 2008 Kudos

Recommended - AutoCAD 2008 - A breakthrough in compatability!

http://manufacturing.cadalyst.com/manufacturing/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=417300&sk=&date=&pageID=2

Cadalyst April 2007


Addendum- Sept. 27, 2007

Annotation scaling leads the list of new features cheered by AutoCAD users

http://www.deskeng.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=0D7F0C724E9E42F3AB569AAA2CA399A8&AudID=2FC31F0C0A2

Desktop Engineering Sept. 2007

Internet Explorer 7 Mysteries - How to Bring Back the Menu Bar

We really missed the Menu Bar, which vanished in IE7. If you can't live without it, here is how to bring the old menu back.

Hitting the ALT key - Brings back the Menu Bar but it does not stay visible after you exit the browser.

To Set The IE7 Menu Bar so it Loads all the Time:

Right Click the top bar of your browser, Select Menu Bar from the pop up menu that appears by your cursor. You can turn the Menu Bar off and on by toggling this option!

CAD Software Watch - Planit's Cabinet Vision

We are always on the lookout for interesting CAD applications. Cabinet Vision from Planit was recommended to us by a customer who is a Kitchen Designer.

http://www.planitsolutions.com/us/cabinetvision/intro.default.aspx

Check out Woodweb.com http://www.woodweb.com/ if you want to learn more about the pros and cons of this software.

We like the Woodweb CAD Forum which posts helpful discussions and tips on CAD issues.

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/cad.pl

Advanced Wiring Installation Training for Electrical Engineers?

Joke of the Month - For Electrical Professionals Only!

http://www.clearlogicgroup.com/blog/wiring.ppt

Submitted by Hasib Nusratty - Electrical Designer

CADTechRX Most Viewed Pages to Date

ArxError-Eduplicatekey - Nightmare AutoCAD Bug!
We thank JTB World-http://www.jtbworld.com for sending us the updated links posted on July 1, 2007.

techrx.blogspot.com/2006/11/quick-fix-arxerror-eduplicatekey.html

DWGTrueView 2007 - Recommended

techrx.blogspot.com/2007/01/make-your-day-easier-autodesk-dwg.html

Carbonite BackUp - Recommended

techrx.blogspot.com/2007/05/carbonite-dont-stress-back-up-your-hard.html

What is AVI?

techrx.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html

VectorWorks 12 Export Options for AutoCAD

techrx.blogspot.com/2006/09/vectorworks-12-export-options-export.html

KeyCAD - Not Recommended

techrx.blogspot.com/2007/04/keycad-mystery.html

AsBuilt Tips - Remodeling? Buying a Home? Get the As-Built Plans!

If you are planning on remodeling the first thing you need to do is locate your original house plans.

These valuable documents, called As-Builts, can save you a great deal of money. Without them, you will probably have to hire someone to measure your site and draft the as-builts from scratch.

When buying a home, ask the owners if they already have as-builts for the property.

Never toss any old plans of your home even if they are no longer representative of it's current status.

You may be able to find similar examples of plans which match your house, online.

For more information on As-Builts send us an email at ClearLogicGroup@gmail.com.

Need to Convert Lat Long to Decimal?

Try this utility. It converts Lat Long to Decimal Degrees and visa versa.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html


Another approach is to use the utility in Esri Arcview 9.2 which allows you to derive units from points interactively.

http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcview/index.html


Recommended by one of our Environmental Engineering Clients