topic Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration in CAD/GIS Data Integration Questions

PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

PaulWirth — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 18:13:02 GMT

I want to automate the process of exporting PLS CAD designs files into ESRI usable format. Does anyone have any experience in this area?

I can export individual reports to get what I need in excel and then put them together and import the X,Y.

I can also export it as a XML file, but as of yet cannot figure out how to import it into a geodatabase, so I don't know if that would work.

Does anyone have any other ideas that would help? I have a few hundred files to do this with and want to automate the process for the future.

Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:08:08 GMT

Paul,

What are your PLS CAD format in? Is it not just dwg or a dgn? If so, you could look at the CAD to Geodatabase tool (in Pro or ArcMap)

CAD to Geodatabase—Conversion toolbox | ArcGIS Desktop

Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

deleted-user-7SLqM7dlvYNN — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 03:38:32 GMT

We have Lines Engineers who use it and AFAIK it can export .dxf and potentially KMZ\KML according to this. We've only managed to get our hands on .dxf's and they're a nightmare due to the complexity. I suspect if you can get a KML it'll be more simplified geometry which might work better.

Last bullet point on this page mentions exporting shapefiles for 30+ report but I'm not sure what the reports are (have never used the software).

If you manage to find a streamlined process I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

Pat_Hohl — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:43:29 GMT

If you are still interested in this, there will be a presentation by Ben Brown from AEP at the User Conf. 2020.

Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

RobertKrisher — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:24:58 GMT

Here's the link: https://uc2020.esri.com/sessions/15345791/subsession/25135466/The-Journey-from-PLS-CADD-to-GIS

Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

Anonymous User — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:05:40 GMT

@RobertKrisher @Pat_Hohl anyone got a copy of that presentation/video? The uc2020 domain no longer exists and I can't seem to find the 2020 user conference listed here https://www.esri.com/en-us/about/events/index/proceedings . Thanks

Re: PLS CAD and ESRI Integration

Pat_Hohl — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:02:57 GMT

@RobertKrisher Unfortunately, that session is not planned to exist in the permanent proceedings.