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Does anybody know how to batch process shp. to .dwg files?

MattReynolds1

I am looking to batch process shp. to .dwg files. I have ArcMap 10.2 with Standard licence so I am able to convert each file separately. However, with over 200 files, this is a long process. Does anyone know if there is a way to do this is a batch (or a toolbox). Any help will be very much appreciated!!

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Accepted answers

RobertScheitlin__GISP

Matt,

You would use model Builder to build a model of this batch process.

Open Model Builder. Geoprocessing Menu > ModelBuilder
Open the ArcToolbox window and expand Conversion Tools > To CAD > Export to CAD and drag that tool into the model
In the Model Builder window go to the Insert Menu > Iterators > Feature Classes.
Double click on the Iterate Feature and set the Workspace or Feature Dataset by browsing to the central location of all the shapefiles you want to convert.
Once you have chosen the FOLDER (not a specific shapefile) you are done so just click OK.
Click the connect tool in the Model Builder window toolbar and draw a line from the *.shp oval to the Export to CAD rounded rectangle and chose Input Features.
No double click on the Export to CAD and in the Output File change the *.DWG to %Name%.DWG (i.e. C:\Users\rscheitlin\AppData\Local\Temp\arc8ADC\EMS_ExportCAD.DWG to C:\DWGs\%Name%.DWG)
Now run the model.

All comments

RobertScheitlin__GISP

Matt,

You would use model Builder to build a model of this batch process.

Open Model Builder. Geoprocessing Menu > ModelBuilder
Open the ArcToolbox window and expand Conversion Tools > To CAD > Export to CAD and drag that tool into the model
In the Model Builder window go to the Insert Menu > Iterators > Feature Classes.
Double click on the Iterate Feature and set the Workspace or Feature Dataset by browsing to the central location of all the shapefiles you want to convert.
Once you have chosen the FOLDER (not a specific shapefile) you are done so just click OK.
Click the connect tool in the Model Builder window toolbar and draw a line from the *.shp oval to the Export to CAD rounded rectangle and chose Input Features.
No double click on the Export to CAD and in the Output File change the *.DWG to %Name%.DWG (i.e. C:\Users\rscheitlin\AppData\Local\Temp\arc8ADC\EMS_ExportCAD.DWG to C:\DWGs\%Name%.DWG)
Now run the model.

ChrisDonohue__GISP

Robert Scheitlin, GISP has the easiest answer. Modelbuilder is very useful, it a bit quirky to figure out at first.

I will also add that the batch process can also be done using Python if you are familiar with it.

What is Python?—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

A quick tour of Python—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

FAQ: What version of Python is used in ArcGIS?

Chris Donohue, GISP

MikeVolz

Matt:

If you have the business need to repeat this process on a regular basis (e.g. weekly, monthly) then I would suggest converting the model to python and then using Windows Scheduled Task to run the process (maybe at night when no one is accessing the data).

MattReynolds1

Thanks Robert for your help. I will give this go and report back. Sounds like a plan though, I was toying with model builder rather than scripting. Hopefully all will go well!

MattReynolds1

Thanks Chris, I will try model builder but appreciate that if this becomes a regular task I'll look at doing a more formal Python

MattReynolds1

Michael, thats a great idea, I'll look into it... thanks for your help!

MattReynolds1

Hi Robert this has worked a treat... thanks very much. One further question which you may be able to help with, no worries if not. The CAD output file I have processed is essentially a copy of a Topographical layer; simple lines. What i need to do is create is a more complex dwg file with road lines, points and annotations. I would normally do this be adding these features in the big 'Input Features' box. Is there a way to do that in this batch process?

Again, any help would be very much appreciated!

RobertScheitlin__GISP

Matt,

I am not sure how you would automate/batch that process. Are you saying that every shapefile that you have in the file you are iterating over will be added to one CAD file?

Also don't forget to mark this question as answered by clicking on the "Correct Answer" link on the reply that answered your question.

MattReynolds1

Hi Rob,

Dont worry about the last Q, i know the issue - I rather stupidly used the wrong shapefiles (which weren't prepared for AutoCAD) - i.e shapefiles created without LAYER, COLOR etc so when pulled into CAD there wasn't any differentiation/layering.

PS. I think i have now checked 'answered'.

Thanks for all your help - lifesaver!!

AdrianWelsh

As opposed to this thread being in the GeoNet Help Place, it might be better placed in the https://community.esri.com/groups/cadgis-data-integration?sr=search&searchId=94f4fcb3-d5e8-4c68-b0ee-b6670d2ff6f9&searchIndex=0‌ group.

curtvprice

Should be said, if you have a working model, note that you do can easily run the model from Python with a short python script that looks like this:

<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> arcpy
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ImportToolbox<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>r<SPAN class="string token">"<path to toolbox>My Tools.tbx"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>&nbsp; 
<SPAN class="comment token"># My Tools.tbx has alias mytools, and a tool named MyModel</SPAN>
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>mytools<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>MyModel<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ <SPAN class="comment token"># you can pass parameters</SPAN><SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

KarenHodge

A script or model makes sense, but there is another way you could do it...

Export to Cad allows you to have multiple inputs, that is, multiple shape files at one time.

Also, if you have a field in your source shapefile that specifies the output path (DOC_PATH) of the cad file, Export to Cad will output to that file instead of the one specified as the tool parameter.

So...if you added and populated the DOC_PATH field, you could add all the shapefiles as your input and execute the tool once.

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