MAPit

AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 - Import/Export of Shape Files

Changes in the performance/results when importing and exporting Shape files in AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 are attributed to changes to the import engine.

The Import engine in AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 is based on the FDO provider for Shapefiles, where in the past, many previous versions used FME from Safe Software.

The following issues are a known "side affect" of this change to the import engine and have been logged as Change Request's with the Autodesk Development Team, to be resolved with the AutoCAD Map 3D 2009 release

• Imported entities are assigned an object colour of "white"
• The inclusion of "Default_" as a prefix to all layers

AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 - Exporting to Shape with Long Field Names

Test Description

To export data to a Shape file and force the Field Names above the 10 character limit in the dbase file and observe what the resulting Field Names are in the output dbase file.

 

Test 1 - Numerical changes to the Field Names

During export, I modified the Field Names in the export dialog, appending numbers to selected Fields to exceed the 10 character limit

The resulting Field Names in the dbase file...

For some reason the Field Names have also been appended with an additional letter (N or C), corresponding to the Field Type, "C" for character or "N" for number.

Original Field Name	Modified Field Name for Export	Resulting Field Name in dbase File
COMM_BOARD	COMM_BOARD1	COMM_BOARD1N
COM_BOARD	COM_BOARD23	COM_BOARD23C
CREATED_DA	CREATED_DA2	CREATED_DA2C
DATE_CREAT	DATE_CREAT1	DATE_CREAT1C

 

Test 2 - Alphabetical changes to the Field Names

During export, I modified the Field Names in the export dialog, appending letters to selected Fields to exceed the 10 character limit

The resulting Field Names in the dbase file...

Again, for some reason the Field Names have also been appended with an additional letter (N or C), corresponding to the Field Type, "C" for character or "N" for number.

Original Field Name	Modified Field Name for Export	Resulting Field Name in dbase File
COMM_BOARD	COMM_BOARDA	COMM_BOARDAN
COM_BOARD	COM_BOARDAB	COM_BOARDABC
CREATED_DA	CREATED_DAC	CREATED_DACC
DATE_CREAT	DATE_CREATD	DATE_CREATDC

Conclusion: well at least it's consistent... looking forward to the SHP Import/Export Improvements in the 2009 release of Map 3D

CAD & GIS - Apples to Apples...

Neal Niemiec has recently posted an excellent article on his CAD & GIS Integration blog reviewing some misconceptions with respect to Autodesk and ESRI GIS capabilities.

Take a look, it is a very interesting read...

http://cadngis.blogspot.com/2008/02/cad-and-gis-apples-to-apples-please.html

SDF Theming in AutoCAD Map 3D

After running some recent Map training sessions I have had a comment come up regarding the theming of SDF layers in AutoCAD Map 3D. When you go to edit the style of an SDF layer in the Display Manager in AutoCAD Map...

"Why is it that you can only edit the Point Style for that layer, how do you set the style for Line and Polygon features?"

This of course applies to the new multi-feature SDF files.

The confusion is actually in the interface. When you first access the Style Editor to format the style of an SDF layer, you are presented with the palette below...

The palette shows the Scale Ranges and a preview of the Line, Polygon and Point styles at the top of the palette.
The palette then shows the Point Style theme settings at the bottom of the palette...

So where are the settings for Line and Polygon?

Unless you adjust the size of the palette, or notice the scroll bar down the right hand side of the palette, you appear to only have access to the settings for points.

Here's the same palette re-sized to show all of the settings...

I believe the confusion is caused in the initial view of the palette, which unfortunately is sized so that the Line and Polygon settings can be easily overlooked.

ISO 19115 Metadata Editor for AutoCAD ® Map 3D 2008

Released by Autodesk earlier this month, this utility provides support for ISO 19115 metadata specification within AutoCAD Map 3D 2008. AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 Service Pack 1 must be installed in order for this utility to function.

Download from...

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=10300842&linkID=9240858

Where Do I Get AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Civil 3D Updates From?

Following on from Shaan Hurley's recent post regarding links to updates for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT...

Where Do I Get AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD Updates From?

Check out these links for AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Civil 3D, for hot fixes and updates such as Service Packs

AutoCAD Map 3D Updates
http://www.autodesk.com/map3d-updates

AutoCAD Civil 3D Updates
http://www.autodesk.com/civil3d-updates

You can also subscribe to these Product Support updates by RSS
Product Support, Updates & Service Packs

AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 Service Pack 1 is now available for download

Autodesk has released AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 Service Pack 1. This Service Pack includes fixes incorporated in AutoCAD 2008 SP1 as well as specific AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 updates. You can install this Service Pack on any AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 installation.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=10095960&linkID=9240858&CMP=OTC-RSSSUP01

The Readme contains the latest information regarding the installation and use of this service pack...

It is strongly recommended that you read the entire document before you apply the service pack to your product.

Map Feature Label Expressions - losing those annoying decimal places

AutoCAD Map 3D has the ability to connect to various feature data sources, and allows the user to display and theme the data as required. A nice feature is the ability to add labels to your data based on information stored in the source data.

I have had some questions since this feature was introduced, related to the decimal places displayed by the feature label.

For example, if you connect to a land contour data set using FDO and then theme that data for display in AutoCAD Map, adding a feature label to display the contour elevations, sometimes the elevation will be displayed to 6 decimal places! but the elevations stored with the data have no decimal places... (click image to enlarge)

If the feature property, in this case ELEVATION contains a real number, the label “ELEVATION” will display real numbers and will display to 6 decimal places.

Note: I have seen some discussion on this topic to indicate that this may vary, however in the tests I have run, the data has consistently displayed to 6 decimal places for real numbers.

You may have noticed that if you open the "Style Label" dialog and click on the drop down list next to "Property to display:" you can select "Expression..." from the list... (click image to enlarge)

When selected, the "Text Expression" Builder is displayed, and from there you can select the "Number Expression" Builder... (click images to enlarge)

Now, at this point don't get too excited... Unfortunately it seems that their aren't any additional functions to work on numbers.
So all the clever LISP stuff you can do with queries and annotation etc. cannot be done here!

Anyway, one thing we can do, is get rid of those decimal places from your real numbers, here's the workaround...

If we change the label expression to reference an integer, then integer values will be displayed, we can force this with a simple expression to add zero (0) to the real number.

In the "Text Expression" dialog select "Advanced" and type in (0+Elevation) as shown below... (click image to enlarge)

Click "OK" in the "Text Expression" dialog and click "OK" in the "Style Label" dialog, the contour labels are updated... (click image to enlarge)

AutoCAD Map 3D - Useful Resources

Before you go hunting on the web for training resources for AutoCAD Map 3D 2008, check out the Help pull down menu...

In addition to what comes with the software, have a look at the Skill Builders page... http://www.autodesk.com/map3d-skillbuilders