2011

Before You Bring In Data
Creating a Map
When you create a new map file, you do the following:
■ Choose a template.
The map2d.dwt template contains the optimal display settings, tools, and
views for 2D maps, while the map3d.dwt template is optimized for 3D
maps. You can also create your own templates. For information on this,
see the AutoCAD Help topic called “Use a Template File to Start a Drawing.”
■ Assign a coordinate system.
Data you add to your map file is transformed to use the coordinate system
assigned to your map. When you save it back to its source, it is transformed
back to its original coordinate system.
■ Add data.
You can combine data from many sources.
■ Geospatial data
For many geospatial formats, such as Oracle and ArcSDE, you can
connect to the source to add data using
FDO (page 2062) Data Access
Technology. You access data live, in its native format. You can extend
your data access capabilities by adding an open source or third-party
FDO provider (page 2063).
You can also convert data from most of these formats to DWG format.
To do this, you import the data (rather than connect to it). However,
this method adds only a snapshot of the data and your changes do not
update the data at its source.
For other formats, such as MicroStation Design (DGN) and Arc/INFO,
you must import the data.
■ Drawing (DWG) data
You can attach AutoCAD drawing files to your map and query in objects
from those drawings, or import data from non-drawing sources to add
it as drawing data.
NOTE When you import data, you make a copy of the data and bring that
copy into your map as drawing objects. When you edit the data, you are
editing the copy. The original data is unchanged.
■ Raster data
296 | Chapter 3 Bringing In Data