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Direct Read CAD Data Model in ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 and ArcGIS Pro

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11-29-2017 02:50 AM
Status: Open
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Madanbhurati1
Occasional Contributor

ArcGIS Desktop 10.3 follows following cad data model on direct read of a CAD file. Following lines I have copied from ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 help.  

 

All CAD feature datasets display a standard set of five feature classes, one for each supported shape type. These feature classes display aggregate collections of geometry contained in the source CAD drawing.

 

  • Annotation
  • Multipatch
  • Point
  • Polygon
  • PolylineHowever, post to ArcGIS Desktop 10.3, direct read of CAD data model is changed irrespective of ESRI online documentation. if I open a CAD drawing containing different cad blocks,  having different attribute tag attached to them. it treats them as a different point feature class. it does not aggregate all the blocks in one point feature class.So the idea is, if Esri follow same data model for reading CAD data, like prior to ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 in upcoming ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Desktop releases, it will be more helpful for data conversion from CAD to GIS.For example in my drawing there are 100 types of different blocks, it shows me 100 point feature class as a result. which is annoying. I am posting it  as an idea, since I have posted same issue in other communities (channel) but I did not get appropriate solution for this so far. For more clarification kindly review attached snap shots of ArcGIS 10.3 and ArcGIS Pro for Same CAD dataset.
1 Comment
MichaelDavidsonPM

Hi @Madanbhurati1

Starting in ArcGIS Pro 3.2 (released in Nov. 2023), read-only feature layers from CAD are created and organized so that the number of layers is reduced and performance is improved.

As additional detail: 

By default, the CAD entities are now organized into one group of group layers. Within that highest-level group, the CAD file entities are organized by geometric type into Annotation, Point, Polyline, Polygon, and Multipatch.