ISSUES With CAD Dataset In ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 and ArcGIS Pro

Question

I have a AutoCAD drawing, containing AutoCAD blocks with different definition. each block contains attribute tags. When I directly add AutoCAD drawing in ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 or ArcGIS Pro 1.3, it creates separate feature class for each block on the fly in Add data dialog box or catalog window.

as shown in following snapshot all the blocks are separated as manhole, splitter, splice and terminal box feature classes since they are different AutoCAD blocks with different block name and definition.

however, in ArcGIS 10.3 all the AutoCAD blocks are shown as a single Point feature class and its attribute fields were appended to its attribute table in case they are different.

Kindly review the snapshot of same data in ArcGIS Desktop 10.3 Add data dialog box.

in previous case it is very annoying to add all the blocks as separate feature layer in ArcMap. off course it also provides common point feature class but it does not contain block tag attributes.

So is there any setting to change this or what is the issue with the ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 or ArcGIS Pro to read CAD data?

any help in this regards is highly Appreciated. Thank You!

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rezartmersini1 · Answer

Madan, did you find a solution for the problem?

I am having the same problem. I am importing CAD (.dwg) (from AUTOCAD 2014) files into ArcMap 10.5.1 and now, after the update, the CAD multiline feature class does show, but the annotation and the points CAD feature class DO NOT. I need to label these points but no annotation/text is available in their tables. I opened the same dwg file in ArcMap 10.3 and they come in just fine with the annotation available.

If anyone else can chime in with a solution/suggestion It would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Rezart

Madan_Burathi · Answer

Actually these blocks contain Attribute tag, which is very useful information, I can't afford to loose it. I just wanted to know the root cause why ArcGIS 10.5 or ArcGIS Pro behaves differently with CAD data on direct read. Since ESRI has not documented any change on Direct read Model of CAD data.

MuhammadAttique · Answer

Hi Madan Bhurati,

I have some similar task of conversions  from CAD to GIS , if there is block it behave like that , try to Explode those blocks in ACAD and then do your job in ArcEditor,

it will gives the following features in ACAD data set.

Annotaction

Point

Polyline

Polygon

Multipoint

now you can extract lines from Layer polyline by select by attribute (layer = as per your requirement) same step for all features .

let me know if I am right , ??

Thanks