Knowledgebase
About ESRI Shp files and Civil 3D
Posted by Shane O'Rorke on 18 October 2012 12:39 PM

There are two commands for moving AutoCAD data between a geospatial program (such as ESRI or Mapinfo) and Civil 3D/Map 3D - they are Mapexport and Mapimport.

To move data between systems:

  • Type Mapexport and include the Layer in the attribute on export.
  • Type Mapimport and click on Drawing Layer and selecting to use the layer field for the AutoCAD layers on import. 


To export AutoCAD data (with or without object attributes included):
- ensure your data is in the right location and with the right layers and attributes included
- you can include a co-ordinate system
- type Mapexport at the command line. Create a file of type ESRI shp (or other) and give the file a name
- at the top of the Selection tab, select the object/s to include and the Type of data to include (you may need to do this four times to capture the four object types)
- click on the Data tab and include all the object data you want in the file (this is where you get to assign the attributes)
- click on Options to assign a co-ordinate system as required
- then Ok to create the file


For Civil 3D point data it is a two step process:
- click on the ribbon Output Tab>Export Panel>Export Civil Objects to SDF. follow the prompts and dialog boxes to make a .sdf file
- type MapImport and import this data into the drawing - make sure to tick on all the data so you get all the information outputted into the .sdf file
- type mapexport and export this Point data out to a .shp file

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Comments (2)
Renato Salvaleon
23 March 2013 02:01 AM
My problem with Export CIvil Objects to SDF, for Parcels is the attribute Parcel Number is not being exported into the SDF. Only the Parcel Name, area and perimeter are exported to SDF. Any suggestions?
Shane O'Rorke
25 March 2013 09:11 AM
Not sure how you change the schema - I don't think you can. So you'll have to get the Parcel Name to read what you want to have as the parcel number.

You will need to set up the Parcel Name Template to include the Parcel Number.
This is managed from the Parcel Style > Design tab.
Mine says: <[Parcel Style Name(CP)]> <[Parcel Number]>
Since my Parcel Style is called L, all lots using this style will be named L #, where # is the lot number, (so L 100, L 101 etc). If it said <[Parcel Number]> then I'd get just the number.
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