ArcGIS for AutoCAD Training Series: Part 2

Getting ArcGIS data into an AutoCAD drawing from ArcGIS web feature services is much LESS painful than a stingray sting.  (Even though getting stung by a stingray takes just a single step!)  Learning that technical fact to share with you was probably the low point of my otherwise great week at the beach.

ArcGIS for AutoCAD allows me to edit ArcGIS data on the server or extract data from the server over the web.  When the data lands in my AutoCAD drawing it is correctly located and includes all of its descriptive attributes.

I can edit ArcGIS data living in ArcSDE geodatabases, get my own local copy of the data, or I can just harvest the schema from ArcGIS web feature services to build my own data sets.  

Here is the second in a series of 5 videos (10 min) that shows how I add ArcGIS data to AutoCAD using ArcGIS for AutoCAD.   

Tip:  Hot water, not ice for stingray stings.

ArcGIS for AutoCAD Training Series: Part 1

I'm heading to the beach this summer.  I will enjoy taking some time to watch the waves come in.

I am publishing a five part video learning series on the GISCADChannel in waves over the next few weeks.  That span of time will bring  to the 2014Esri International Users Conference where I will be presenting two sessions this year.  Lots of opportunities to learn.

Tuesday July 15 The ArcGIS for AutoCAD Plug-in  3:15pm - 4:30pm Room 14A, and Wednesday July 16 The ArcGIS for AutoCAD Plug-in   3:15pm - 4:30pm Room 14A

This new video learning series deals with getting ArcGIS data inside your AutoCAD drawing.  I will present five different ways I can get ArcGIS data sets inside my AutoCAD drawings using ArcGIS for AutoCAD 350.  This first video deals with creating new ArcGIS data in AutoCAD and organizing existing AutoCAD data to become ArcGIS data.

These five methods include:

1. Create ArcGIS data from scratch in ArcGIS for AutoCAD 
2. Connect to ArcGIS for AutoCAD web feature services
3. Export ArcGIS data from ArcGIS for Desktop
4. Import ArcGIS data from other ArcGIS for AutoCAD drawings
5. Leverage AutoCAD template files with ArcGIS schema already included

Have a great summer.

ArcGIS for AutoCAD Bonus Tools: Labeling

Hey dads and grads, who doesn't like more new tools?  I am working on a project that a friend suggested would benefit from using pocket screws.  I kind-of-knew what those were and he assured me it was pretty simple and he had the tool to do it.  It took a while to meet up with him again, and then I forgot to mention borrowing the tool when we did meet… then looking online I could get the tool inexpensively and just ordered it, and I was sure I would use it more on similar projects.  A neighbor boy and I were able to test it out and get our work done learning by just using it on some test boards.

ArcGIS for AutoCAD 350 includes new extensions to the AutoLISP API.  I wrote a tool set using this API to create and manage feature-linked annotation.  I am pretty proud of it.  I am now creating some sophisticated labeling scenarios using feature classes and feature services.

These labeling tools take advantage of the often under used local ANNOTATION feature class which means the pieces of text themselves have attributes that I can query to manage the different labels.  Because they are also simple AutoCAD text I can use my existing text styles and formatting options to get the type of text annotation I expect to see in AutoCAD.  I have also created a tool to push label values back into the fields so that the labels can be used to update the feature's field values.

I have created a short document outlining the scope and use of these tools, which also includes helper AutoLISP functions that brave souls (like you) can re-use to build new customized labeling behaviors.  I have also produced a short video on my YouTube GISCADChannel outlining the capabilities and use of the tools to get you started quickly.  A similar set of tools for managing AutoCAD blocks with attribute tags is also in the works.  I plan to assemble a toolbox of ArcGIS for AutoCAD Bonus Tools to take advantage of this new AutoLISP power I've been given to customize ArcGIS for AutoCAD 350 and future versions. 

You can find these free tools here on ArcGIS Online. 

If you have problems finding it for any reasons contact me and I will get it to you some other way.