2011

Bringing In Features from SHP
You can access existing spatial and attribute data in ESRI SHP files, which store
both geometry and attributes (data) for features. A single shape can have
several separate files: SHP (shape geometry), SHX (shape index), PRJ (projection
information), CPG (code page files), IDX (spatial index), and DBF (shape
attributes in dBASE format). AutoCAD Map 3D treats each SHP and associated
DBF file as a feature class with a single geometry property.
When you connect to or import SHP polygon data, AutoCAD Map 3D checks
the geometry to see if there are multiple closed outer loops. If so, it treats the
geometry as multi-polygon (a polygon with multiple exterior rings). It does
not treat unclosed outer loops as multi-polygon.
When you create a multi-polygon in AutoCAD Map 3D and then save or
export it to SHP format, it will appear in its native SHP file as a multi-polygon.
If you brought in this type of geometry in a previous release and added styling,
you may need to update the style definitions.
When you view and edit features from a SHP data source, you can do the
following:
■ Select the feature classes to include in your map.
■ Set conditions to limit the features in your map.
■ Style, theme, and edit the features.
■ Lock the file when you connect to it.
■ Automatically update the data source with any edits you make.
■ View and edit the schema definition.
You can bring SHP data into your map in two ways:
■ Use Data Connect to view and edit the data directly in the SHP file. Use
this method to edit geometry and attributes or to style and theme the data.
For information, click the Procedure tab at the top of this Help topic.
■ Import the data into this drawing, which converts it to drawing objects.
Use this method to clean the data or to create a DWG file. You can export
the objects back to SHP format.
NOTE For information on customizing the SHP FDO provider (page 2063), refer to
the FDO API Reference and the FDO Provider for SHP API Reference.
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