[GIS] Is it possible to import an autocad feature to a feature layer without exporting to .shp/.dwg

arcgis-9.3autocadenterprise-geodatabaseimport

Does anyone know if it is possible to import a feature (point, line or polygon) drawn in Autocad directly to a feature layer in ArcMap, so in essence a "feature sucker", rather then exporting the feature to a shp or dwg then importing into ArcMap then copying the feature into the correct feature class.

The datatype that I want to target is a feature class on ArcSDE (9.2).

Versions are ArcGIS 9.3.1 and AutoCAD 2011.

Best Answer

With autocad Map3d you can connect ogr, or shape/sde/oracle/sql datasources.
With this functionality you can create objects directly in autocad that are in turn "put" into the source you specify.
If your version truly is autocad then the fdo option is not there (Map product line only).
If you upgrade or see differently you can check out more about FDO on the osgeo website.
Autocad map and Civil have FDO built in.
You can connect native formats and edit directly depending on the provider.
If you are not on a map product, The answers from Jakub and BicycleDude are both viable.

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ArcPy – Creating Feature Class in File Geodatabase in ArcGIS Desktop with Arcgisscripting

I think your first problem is that you're appending ".shp" to your output geodatabase featureclass. Remove this and your problem may be solved.

...     
....
shpFile = "file_%s" % number  #--removed ".shp"
...
...the rest of your code here

[GIS] Importing AutoCAD [DWG] drawings to QGIS [SHP] using right CRS settings

As @DPierce pointed out:

The coordinates in your drawing file are wrong. While the coordinate system is set correctly, the coordinates shown in the drawing are ~500 x ~200. You should be seeing coordinates closer to 300,000 x 60,000. QGIS is displaying it in the right place, because 0 x 0 for UTM 47N is in the Pacific to the West.

To import AutoCAD [DWG] to QGIS [SHP] my solution is the following, having AutoCAD Map 3D (ACM3D) as a requirement. This solution is tested with AutoCAD Map 3D 2014 and QGIS 1.8 . You also need some geospatial information (in my case a GPS track) which is georeferenced correctly and is in connection with the drawing you want to import into QGIS.

You have to convert this data into a fileformat that is readable by ACM3D. I've got a GPS-Track saved in GPX which is readable by QGIS. So I imported it into QGIS and exported it as a SHP-file. This SHP-file is readable by ACM3D.
Open your DWG drawing in ACM3D. Import the SHP-file with _MAPIMPORT. (To make the following process easier use _GEOGRAPHICLOCATION and use it to georeference your drawing elements. Now it's easier to find your drwaing elements and the imported SHP-file because you have a Bing Maps as basemap.) Now, use _ADETRANSFORM to, firstly, select the elements you want to transform and, secondly, to select two source and destination points. I selected the crossing of two streets in the drawing, then selected the appropriate point in the GPS track, then selected another crossing in the drawing and another appropriate point in the GPS track. Now, the drawing elements are transformed and should fit to the GPS track. (You can now fine tune the entire setup by redoing this operation.)
If you want to, you can _GEOGRAPHICLOCATION the entire drawing again to have the Bing Maps basemap fit accordingly.

Now, you can export the Drawing as SHP with _MAPEXPORT and import it into QGIS. The drawing is now at its correct location. I'm right now at optimizing this process that drawing elemts that belong to each other are exported as an entire feature... I will update this answer when I found some appropriate solution so that this answer can be called "completely".

Here are some links that helped a bit in finding my way through this Odyssee:

Best Answer

Related Solutions

ArcPy – Creating Feature Class in File Geodatabase in ArcGIS Desktop with Arcgisscripting

[GIS] Importing AutoCAD [DWG] drawings to QGIS [SHP] using right CRS settings

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