ESRI Simplifies Coordinate-System Storage in ArcGIS for AutoCAD
1 Nov, 2007Free GIS tool simplifies the storing of coordinate-system definitions inside AutoCAD drawings to eliminate the complexities of maintaining external companion files and supports AutoCAD 2008.
ESRI unveiled a new version of ArcGIS for AutoCAD, a free, downloadable tool that provides access to ArcGIS Server map services and allows AutoCAD users to view and query GIS data within the AutoCAD environment.
ArcGIS for AutoCAD allows CAD users to define the coordinate system they are using within AutoCAD. When users connect to an ArcGIS Server map service in a different coordinate system, the map is automatically projected on the fly to display in the proper AutoCAD location. The new version of ArcGIS for AutoCAD reportedly simplifies the storing of coordinate-system definitions inside AutoCAD drawings to eliminate the complexities of maintaining external companion files, and it supports AutoCAD 2008.
The new version of ArcGIS for AutoCAD also features tools to list, assign, export, and remove coordinate-system definitions from the AutoCAD drawing. Beginning with ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 3, ArcGIS reportedly will continue to recognize the companion file to define the coordinate system of AutoCAD drawings, and it will also recognize AutoCAD drawings that have implemented the new coordinate-system definition with ArcGIS for AutoCAD. Other geospatial industry software, such as Safe Software's FME extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) tools, will recognize this internally stored coordinate-system definition as well.
Individuals can download the latest version of ArcGIS for AutoCAD by visiting ESRI's Web site.
