Frequently Asked Questions

Show/Hide All Answers

Do I need an ArcGIS Server license to use ArcGIS for AutoCAD?

No. ArcGIS for AutoCAD is a no-cost client to ArcGIS Server map services. However, you do need to have network or Web access to ArcGIS Server map services.

What versions of AutoCAD does ArcGIS for AutoCAD work with?

ArcGIS for AutoCAD requires the .NET API implemented in AutoCAD 2007 and newer versions. This includes all AutoCAD-based products that support the AutoCAD .NET 2.0 APIs such as AutoCAD 2007 and 2008 as well as Autodesk 3D Civil 2007 and 2008. AutoCAD versions prior to 2007 and AutoCAD LT do not support these necessary APIs required by ArcGIS for AutoCAD.

Does ArcGIS for AutoCAD work with AutoCAD LT?

ArcGIS for AutoCAD requires the .NET API implemented in AutoCAD 2007 and newer versions. AutoCAD LT does not have the required API support in any version, including 2007, and therefore cannot be used with ArcGIS for AutoCAD.

Does ArcGIS for AutoCAD work in MicroStation?

Currently, there is no equivalent for ArcGIS for AutoCAD running in MicroStation.

Does ArcGIS for AutoCAD support ArcGIS Server geoprocessing services or other GIS services?

No. ArcGIS for AutoCAD currently supports the viewing of ArcGIS Server map services and access to the tabular attributes of features represented in the map service only.

Is there documentation for ArcGIS for AutoCAD?

Yes. ArcGIS for AutoCAD includes a help file, which includes documentation for the software, accessed from the application menu.

Does ArcGIS for AutoCAD connect to Web Map Server (WMS) or Web Feature Server (WFS) services?

ArcGIS for AutoCAD supports the connection to ArcGIS Server map services. ArcGIS map services can contain map content based on WMS or WFS layers, although you cannot connect directly to them.

What types of GIS data can be accessed through ArcGIS for AutoCAD?

Any and all GIS data types supported by ArcGIS Server are accessible through ArcGIS for AutoCAD without conversion, translation, or configuration. ArcGIS Server manages all connections to the data and passes the display of features through the map service image. Requests to identify features are handled on the server, and the results are passed along to the ArcGIS for AutoCAD Identify dialog box.

How is the symbology of the ArcGIS Server map service controlled?

ArcGIS Desktop tools are used to author the map and its symbology, which is served by ArcGIS Server. The ArcGIS for AutoCAD user sees the same map as the ArcGIS Desktop user, ensuring consistency and clear communication of the meaning of the map for all users of the information.

Can you snap to the map features within AutoCAD?

No. Currently, you cannot snap to features represented in the map service from within AutoCAD using ArcGIS for AutoCAD.

How do I access feature attributes from an ArcSDE enterprise geodatabase, Oracle Spatial features, or shapefiles contained in an ArcGIS Server map service?

The ArcGIS for AutoCAD Identify tool does not distinguish between any of the feature data types contained in a map service. The connections to the data and their attributes are completely managed on the server by ArcGIS Server and are viewed using the single Identify tool.

How do I cut and paste the attributes from the ArcGIS for AutoCAD Identify dialog box?

You can highlight the contents of the ArcGIS for AutoCAD Identify dialog box and use the keyboard sequence Ctrl+C.

Can I access the ArcGIS Server map feature geometry and coordinates from within AutoCAD using ArcGIS for AutoCAD?

No. Currently, the geometry of the features represented in the map service is visually represented as part of the map service only.

What if my AutoCAD drawing is in a different coordinate system than the map service data?

ArcGIS for AutoCAD will project the map service to match the current coordinate system assigned in the CAD drawing.

How do I assign a coordinate system in AutoCAD for use in ArcGIS and ArcGIS for AutoCAD?

ESRI companion .prj files are honored by ArcGIS for AutoCAD, or you can use the included Assign Coordinate System tool, which will store the coordinate system information in the AutoCAD file. Future versions of ArcGIS will also support this new coordinate system definition stored inside the AutoCAD drawing.

Is the internally stored coordinate system information defined in ArcGIS for AutoCAD (9.2.2816.24072 and higher) supported by ESRI ArcGIS Desktop applications?

Yes. Although ArcGIS Desktop tools are not required for ArcGIS for AutoCAD, if an AutoCAD drawing used in ArcGIS for AutoCAD is later used with ArcGIS Desktop applications like ArcMap (9.2 Service Pack 3 and higher), it will honor the coordinate system stored in the CAD drawing.

How does ArcGIS for AutoCAD compare to the existing downloadable, no-cost ArcSDE CAD Client product?

ArcGIS for AutoCAD is a client of ArcGIS Server and allows you to display georeferenced map services in the AutoCAD graphic engine and access the underlying feature attribute tables of included map service features. All the data types and functionality of ArcGIS Server are available for display with ArcGIS for AutoCAD.

ArcSDE CAD Client is an ESRI CAD-based add-on product to MicroStation and AutoCAD that accesses features stored in simple feature layers of ArcSDE and generates CAD entities from their geometry. ArcSDE CAD Client has limited editing capability and is based on the open C API of ArcSDE. ArcSDE CAD Client is read-only for ArcSDE geodatabase feature classes and supports only ArcSDE annotation, not geodatabase annotation.

Does ArcGIS for AutoCAD work with ArcGIS Server secure servers?

Not at this time; however, this functionality is planned for a future release.

When are new versions of ArcGIS for AutoCAD released?

ArcGIS for AutoCAD versions are released independently of other ArcGIS products and are made available for download at no cost when new functionality is added. Check back frequently for updates. The current version of your ArcGIS for AutoCAD can be viewed using the About ArcGIS menu selection found on the ArcGIS menu in AutoCAD. Use this to compare to the current version found on ESRI.com.