AutoCAD Map 3D

[#1]

I was asking about this on the Infrastructure Design Suite group, but thought someone here might have an answer. Our county GIS department has started giving us data in ESRI geodatabase format. They are directories of files and the directory has a .gdb in the name. I am using AutoCadMap 2013. I was asking about how to convert these files.

In AutoCadMap 2011 the subscription advantage pack had the ability to do this through the FDO I believe. In 2013 it is not there. Why not?

It seems to me that the things AutoDesk includes in the SAP in one version should be included in the next version.

Is there an easy way to do this? I mean easy like click the file, then click the format you want it in. Or, even better, click the file and it opens. Not easy like landing a Mars orbiter. Anything that requires programming language, switches, etc. is not what I mean! LOL

Thanks!

Tim

[#2]

Hi Tim, Yes, it is included in later releases in the standard installer. Look for the ArcGIS provider - its only there on 32-bit installations, so you won't see it if you are on x64.

[#3]

Thanks Nate,

This brings up some questions.

1. Do I need to somehow boot to a 32 bit Windows, or just install a 32 bit version of the AutoDesk product on my Windows 7 64 b it machine?

2. Do I have to have an ArcGIS license to do this?

Thanks, Tim

[#4]

Hi Tim,

1) Yes, you need to be on a 32-bit version of windows

2) Yes, any version of ESRI will work, but it does require a license.

Another option is the open source OGR provider http://fdo.osgeo.org/fdoogr/index.html , but I've only been able to get it to work on x86 systems.  It will connect to personal geodatabases though without an ESRI license.

[#5]

LOL, excuse me while I scream and flop on the floor....

Ok, so I guess I need some advice or need to know what people who rely on AutoCad Map to do ALL of their GIS work do.

I desperately need the county data to do conceptual design before a lot of money is spent on survey. AutoCad Map USED to give me every function I need to to all of this then I convert over to Civil3d, conceptual design, viola.

BUT, I wouldn't need AutoCad Map if I were forced to purchase ArcGIS would I?

So, is this something I should argue with the county and say that they should be providing more sustainable data to the public? Data that can be easily read by more than one proprietary program?

OR, if I could beg someone to put the OGR2OGR in some format where I could understand what I am doing to convert the files? The ogr thing looks like it would do it, but I am lost as last year's Easter eggs on how to even begin getting everything in the correct syntax needed to convert. The geodatabase directory has 50 or so files in it all of different file types and knowing what to do to convert that is beyond me.

I'm a paying customer if anyone wants to put EXACTLY what to do in a tutorial to convert these files.

Thanks for all your help, I've learned a lot from this process, I just don't have an answer yet.

Editorial: Public data should be easier than this to access and use! Not AutoDesk's problem per se, but.....

Tim

[#6]

So it appears from the on-line Help for Map that this is still a nasty problem with Map3D 2014 still unable to access GIS data in a .Gdb file.   An increasingly nasty problem since county and state governments are increaing the use of .gdb as a distribution format, and deprecating shape files.  The explanation for that, so i've heard' is smaller file size/better compression  -- dunno if that's correct or not.

The takeaway is:

After spending thousands on the initial license from Autodesk, and multiple hundreds of $US annually for subscription, in order to access county/state data in GDB format I have to (A) buy another computer running a 32 bit Windows OS (B), buy a second license of Map3d 2014 to install on it, and then (C) buy ESRI software to read the data anyway.

Please -- will someone explain how that makes any kind of sense????

[#7]

http://fdo.osgeo.org/faq_mapinstall.html

[#8]

I appreciate that, but a link to a discussion regarding a five year old beta program that doesn't even reference .gdb  is not exactly waht anyone could call 'officially suupported'.  So, allow me to express my disapointment with Adesk for dropping this ball so badly.  32 bit limitations?  requiring ESRI software to in order tp work in Autodesk Map?  good grief....

Corporate IT really does not enable us to pursue/install non-supported, beta, or otherwise un-official software on company machines.  And i don't really disagree to much with that attitude.... even when it tends to feel stifling.

[#9]

Feel free to zip your Geodatabase folder and send it by email to:

antoniovinci AT wp.pl

I have an idea to help you, but I don't own any .GDB to test it...

[#10]

Hi,

the GDB-format is a proprietary format, comparable to DWG. There is software out that can read it (and convert it), but at least it's not documented and afaik there is no API to read the data without having a license of ArcGIS.

So if anyone defines that as data-exchange format it is a bad strategy or bad decision, but if this "anyone" is the one who pays the jobs you have to use it, I see that, but with a watery eye (as I never understand that type of decision not to look to some format that is a really (open) standard and not a one-company-format).

To compare now: if anyone decides to make DWG-2013 the default format there are ArcGIS-people crying why they can't.

The best chance I see is to look for converter (e.g. look >>>here<<<) that can convert gdb to other formats that can be used then with Map3D.

Good luck, - alfred -