Preserving Line Types from CAD to GeoDatabase

Question

I am writing a script to convert CAD file into a format viewable in ArcGIS. I am using arcpy.CADToGeodatabase_conversion() for this purpose.

In my source CAD file, I have a variety of line types that are all different, like so:

However, after running the function above and converting to a geodatabase, the same area has lines that are all homogenous:

Notice how the coloured and different shaped lines all have changed to be the same type of line in the ArcGIS feature class.

I'm new to both ArcGIS and AutoCAD. Is there a different function I should be using to convert CAD files to be viewable in ArcGIS and preserve the line types? Any guidance here would be appreciated. Thank you!

SumitMishra_016 · Answer

you can try Regenerate Symbology

Also you can apply the same symbology as your source CAD using ArcGIS pro

Hayden Welch · Answer

There is no way to currently "preserve" linetypes between AutoCAD and ArcGIS unless your AutoCAD file was built using the ArcGIS plugin through Civil3D, and even then I think only very basic symbology is transferred.

You can export Line definitions to a file using LinOut . Then either use that as reference for your ArcPro linetypes, or try to do some magic with CIM definitions, but that would be a moderately large project as the CIM is massive and getting everything to translate cleanly from AutoCAD line definition files to Arc would be a bit of a headache given how a single definition in CAD is a multipart symbol in Arc.

If you aren't looking at a programatic solution to this and are instead okay with translating the linetypes manually, you just need to do some research on symbology.

ThomasHoman · Answer

If you click on a line a popup should appear indicating what attributes are associated with that line. This will provide confirmation that the Layer value is an attribute.

Next, you can either right click on the feature layer and select symbolize or utilize the context menu and select Symbology. From there Change the symbol type to unique values and set the value to the Layer field. The table of contents on the left panel should change to a list with different colors for the various layers much like my original attachment - initially they came in as all one color.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/mapping/layer-properties/symbolize-feature-layers.htm