topic How to copy/paste geometry from CAD in ArcGIS Pro Questions

How to copy/paste geometry from CAD

VicenteSolis — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:52:38 GMT

I'm an avid user of ArcMap 10.5 and trying to migrate on over to Pro little by little. I work for an engineering firm so we mainly use CAD software, but have been using more GIS. One gripe I have so far is copying geometry from CAD on over to a feature class. I've researched this and read another post here about a similar issue, but it was from feature class to feature class, not CAD geometry.

In 10.5, I setup my geodatabase and add the layers to my exhibit. Then I add the CAD file to the same exhibit and apply a transformation if needed (this is a whole other issue, don't know where to apply a scale factor anymore). I copy a polygon from the CAD file, click paste, and it asks me where I want to paste it. Easy stuff! Now in Pro, I do the exact same process using both Paste or Paste Special and it gives me an error.

I know I could use CAD tools and copy to the geodatabase, but do not want that. Is there something I'm missing to copy/paste just the geometry from CAD files to a GIS feature class?

Re: How to copy/paste geometry from CAD

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:03:17 GMT

from a recent thread... copy and paste special is suggested for fc to fc...

If neither works, then the error message is the key

Re: How to copy/paste geometry from CAD

VicenteSolis — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:19:30 GMT

The error it gives is that there are no appropriate templates.

One thing the other post said is to make sure all files are editable. They are all checked off as editable, but the CAD file has the red exclamation mark by it saying it cannot be edited. This makes sense considering its a CAD file referenced into GIS.

Re: How to copy/paste geometry from CAD

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:23:21 GMT

I am guessing wildly that the preferred method (now?) is to convert first, then edit/copy/whatever from a geodatabase featureclass. Perhaps this just offers more control over the geometry conversion.

Of course, it you think it is something that worked in ArcMap and should be available in Pro and there is no workaround., then you might want to check https://community.esri.com/community/arcgis-ideas?sr=search&searchId=3bc0406f-8d4b-437a-b263-87c3294bf5fb&searchIndex=0‌ to see if there are associate threads there.

Re: How to copy/paste geometry from CAD

VicenteSolis — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:27:47 GMT

I'll look into that. If it is considered the preferred method now though, that's a bummer!

Re: How to copy/paste geometry from CAD

SamanthaGoodchild-Brown — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 13:49:40 GMT

I can't offer anything different except that I believe there are tools still being building into PRO, so maybe that is one of them. I am waiting for tools myself.... hopefully its just patience that we need for now.