2011

Creating and Editing Data
Overview of Creating and Editing Data
AutoCAD Map 3D works on two types of objects: features and drawing objects.
■ Features are GIS objects stored in external files and databases. Display and
edit them in your map and then save the changes back to the original source.
Use the options described in
Working with Features (page 683).
■ Drawing objects are AutoCAD objects stored within a map or retrieved from
attached drawings using queries. Save changes to drawing objects in the
current map or back to the attached source drawing depending on the source
of each object. Use the options described in
Working with Drawing Objects
(page 727) and Working with Attribute Data and Object Data (page 1047).
Use both AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD to edit features and drawing objects.
Many AutoCAD commands work on both types of objects. Some AutoCAD
commands can only be performed on a feature after you extract its geometry
and edit it as a drawing object. You can then save your changes back to the
original data store with no loss of precision.
Most AutoCAD Map 3D operations are specific to one type of object or the
other. Use the right-click menus to see the commands that are available for the
selected feature or drawing object.
For drawing objects...For features...
Add drawing objects to your map by at-
taching drawings and querying in objects.
See Overview of Bringing in Drawing Data
From DWG Files (page 351).
Add features to your map using Data
Connect.
See Overview of Bringing In GIS Features
(page 305).
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