Convert illustrator vectors to arcgis

[jimparsons1]

I'm aware that going from arcgis -> illustrator is quite common. But I have the inverse problem.

I have some vectors in illustrator that I want to open in arcgis. I tried to save in various autocad options but not once did they appear in arcgis, even though I checked the autocad layers and all the vector points were there.

Here are the files.

pdf http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9wNtQ9NGRHuNmExYzA2NzEtOWZlYS00ZDViLTk2OTgtNDY4ZWE5YTNiZmUz&hl=en&a...

ai http://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B9wNtQ9NGRHuNmVkMjZjZWEtMTc2Ny00NDE3LTgxNmMtNTk0NTliMDA0OTFi&export=do...

svg http://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B9wNtQ9NGRHuMGRhYjQ1NDAtMzk5MS00ZDQ1LWIzYWUtM2E2NjM1OGRiODhj&export=do...


If someone can tell me why the autocad import doesn't work that would be really helpful.

Thanks

[MelitaKennedy]

I'm aware that going from arcgis -> illustrator is quite common. But I have the inverse problem.

I have some vectors in illustrator that I want to open in arcgis. I tried to save in various autocad options but not once did they appear in arcgis, even though I checked the autocad layers and all the vector points were there.

Here are the files.

pdf http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9wNtQ9NGRHuNmExYzA2NzEtOWZlYS00ZDViLTk2OTgtNDY4ZWE5YTNiZmUz&hl=en&a...

ai http://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B9wNtQ9NGRHuNmVkMjZjZWEtMTc2Ny00NDE3LTgxNmMtNTk0NTliMDA0OTFi&export=do...

svg http://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B9wNtQ9NGRHuMGRhYjQ1NDAtMzk5MS00ZDQ1LWIzYWUtM2E2NjM1OGRiODhj&export=do...


If someone can tell me why the autocad import doesn't work that would be really helpful.

Thanks

When you convert the features, are the coordinates in a particular coordinate system? If so, maybe you just need to define the coordinate system (so ArcMap knows how to overlay the data). Or you may need to georeference (if raster/CAD) or spatially adjust if vector the data.

Melita

[jimparsons1]

Thank you Melita.

It turns out that the problem is with the geometry. If your file has splines in it, then arcgis just displays it as a single point because it can't deal with splines. I couldn't find anything in the help files about this limitation.

However there is an excellent page here telling you how to ensure your illustrator data has straight line anchor points instead of splines and curves

http://www.cartotalk.com/lofiversion/index.php?t5251.html

Mary Edin helpfully says:

"I have converted Adobe Illustrator linework to ArcGIS 9.2 and 9.3 with good success, by exporting to either DWG or DXF. There are a number of steps involved. I hope this gives you the general idea:

1) If necessary, sort the linework to layers based on the attributes you want the GIS data to have. The layer names will end up in a field "Layer" in the converted data, so be as descriptive as possible.
2) Curves in Illustrator must be converted to lines before export. Use Object>Path> "Add Anchor Points" command to add nodes to the curves (may need to invoke several times), and Object>Path> "Simplify" command to convert to lines.
3) Export to older version of DWG or DXF (R14 works).
4) View in ArcGIS, and export the data to a shapefile (at least in 9.2 this only works with a shapefile -- the Spatial Adjustment tool does not work with a personal geodatabase -- I don't know about 9.3 or 9.4)
5) Use the Spatial Adjustment toolbar in an edit session to match the linework to points on a known projection (the ArcGIS Help has quite a bit about this). You can match as many points as you wish, and you can choose the method ArcMap uses to align the data.
6) Export your data to a geodatabase feature class and set the projection.

This would provide a visual overlay of your data onto the desired projection. A further issue is spatially joining the resulting data to other GIS data, such as the TIGER linework you mentioned. For us, joining the data to our citywide centerline has required custom development to reduce the amount of 'manual' cleanup needed."

[BarbaraTrapido-Lurie]

I am using ArcGIS 10.  I successfully converted an Illustrator file to DXF, added it to an ArcMap project file, and exported the polygon layer to a shapefile.  Using the spatial adjustment tool, I chose an Affine transformation and created several links from the new shapefile to an existing data layer.

However, "adjust" is inactive -- so I can't perform the adjustment.  What could cause this?

[JimW1]

I am using ArcGIS 10.  I successfully converted an Illustrator file to DXF, added it to an ArcMap project file, and exported the polygon layer to a shapefile.  Using the spatial adjustment tool, I chose an Affine transformation and created several links from the new shapefile to an existing data layer.

However, "adjust" is inactive -- so I can't perform the adjustment.  What could cause this?

You can use the Georeferencing Toolbar now on CAD files (since 9.3.1 I think). See if that works.

[RonGison]

Hello guys,

I am currently developing a high-quality map using Illustrator. The map contains vector shapes of land areas. To avoid the layers getting mixed up upon convertion to Ai, I divided the layers into groups. Now I have 5 ai files containing layers for the map. Assembling it is tricky and at times I lose the scale.

Is there a much easier approach to this, can I preserve the coordinates from GIS so not to lose it in Ai?

Dash