2011

When you use Data Connect (from Display Manager), you view and edit data
in its source. Edits are saved back to the source. The data stays in its original
location.
When you import data, you make a copy of the data and bring that copy into
your map. When you edit the data, you are editing the copy. The original data
is unchanged.
For some formats, such as MicroStation Design (DGN), Arc/INFO, and SDF 2
(Autodesk MapGuide 6.5 and earlier), you can only import and export the
data. For most other formats, you can either connect directly to the data or
use import and export.
For more information, see
Overview of Bringing In GIS Features (page 305).
Before You Import a File
Before you import a file, determine the following:
■ Determine whether to limit the import to the current display area or to
an area that you define.
■ Decide where to put objects: on an existing layer in the map, on a new
layer, or on a layer specified in the file you are importing.
■ Determine which incoming data values to use to populate the object class
data fields, and decide how to handle data values that do not fall within
the acceptable object class range (keep them as-is or assign them default
object class values).
■ Assign a coordinate system to the current AutoCAD Map 3D drawing. You
need to know which coordinate system is used with the input files.
■ Determine whether to import the data as object data or as external data,
and whether to use an existing table or create a new one.
■ Import point objects as points, text, or blocks. When you import as blocks,
be sure you have copied the block you want into the AutoCAD Map 3D
drawing.
Supported Formats
For information on importing specific formats, see the following:
■
Importing Autodesk SDF (Spatial Data Files) (page 387) (version 3, MapGuide
Enterprise)
■
Importing Autodesk SDF 2 (page 389)
Overview of Converting Geospatial Data to Drawing Objects | 379