To do this type MAPIMPORT in the command line, and navigate to the SDF file. The next step is to start a new drawing, and import the newly-created SDF file. All Civil 3D objects will then be exported to SDF. Set the file name and location, and confirm that the coordinate system information is correct, and then click OK. On the Output tab of the ribbon choose Export Civil Objects to SDF. Alignments can be converted to polylines in other ways in order to create shapefiles, but none of these methods will include the alignment attributes other than exporting to SDF. Save the drawing once this is done.Ĭivil 3D objects, such as alignments, must be exported to Autodesk Spatial Data Format (SDF) in order to convert them to data objects (polylines) and allow attributes to be associated with those data objects such as design speed and stationing. In the Units and Zone tab of the Drawing Settings dialog box choose the proper coordinate system from the drop-down list, and the click Apply and OK to exit the dialog box. Set the drawing coordinate system by clicking on the Settings tab of the Toolspace, and then right-clicking on the drawing title and picking Edit Drawing Settings.

If there is no box showing a coordinate system then there is not a coordinate system assigned to that drawing, and this will need to be set. Check this by looking in the lower right corner of the program near the drawing status bar. The first step in getting alignments into shapefile format is to check the drawing to be sure that the proper coordinate system is set in the drawing settings. Making this conversion without losing important attribute data within the alignment is key.

Alignments, like other Civil 3D objects, cannot be directly exported to shapefiles, but instead need to first be converted to AutoCAD objects.

Arcgis file to autocad