Problems Editing Feature Data in AutoCAD Map 2008

[PDXnative]

We are having serious problems editing Shape files and SDF files using the Data Connect. We have done many tests using sample and real data and keep having the same problems.

Problem 1: Some points will not delete. I bring in a shape file of over 5000 point features with an ID number attribute using the Data Connect (FDO). I then select all points and select “Check-out Features”. I select half of the points by drawing a box, and then hit the delete button. The points disappear. I click “Select Checked Out Features” and then click on “Check-in Features”. Visually, it looks as if all the points I selected and deleted are gone. I close out of AutoCAD MAP. I open the Shape File using Arcview 3.2 or ArcGIS 9.2 to view the edited Shape file and there are points being displayed that should have been deleted. I look at the number of points in the shape file, and they are different than the number that was stated in the table within AutoCAD Map before closing out of it. We have even opened the .dbf file using Access and it confirms what the ESRI products see. I then reopened the AutoCAD drawing and look at the points. Same number as before and it looks the same. I closed the drawing, created a new AutoCAD drawing and Imported the same Shape File and it shows what the ESRI products were seeing. I even tried this same test with an SDF file and had the same thing happen. We have had these reasults repeated over and over and have tried many variables and find it unacceptable as an editing tool for feature data.

Problem 2: Dissappearing data. Similar to the steps in Problem 1, except that we are creating new points by right clicking on the loaded data in the Display Manager and selecting “Create”. When we open in ESRI products or Access, we get a different number of points being shown. We create it in MAP, but it does not really get created, or at least some of it.

Problem 3: Invisible points. While doing the tests for Problem 2 we noticed that the one or two points would dissappear, but if you selected in that area, the point would be selectable. Nothing I did would bring it back, even though it was “still there”.

System
Software: AutoCAD Map 3D 2008
CPU: Xeon 3.00GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
OS: Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Video Card: nVidia Quadro NVS 285 with current driver

[Anonymous]

The Data Connect functionality is still relatively new for Map especially
with Shapefiles and SDF files. As a result it is still a bit buggy to say
the least. The connect with SDE and Oracle is a little more stable. Though I
would still not recommend anyone use this connection type as the primary way
to maintain GIS data.

--
Tripp Corbin, MCP, CFM, GISP
Associate Vice President, GIS/Mapping
ESRI Authorized Instructor
Keck & Wood, Inc.
www.keckwood.com
(678) 417-4013
(678) 417-8785 fax

Keck & Wood, Inc offers instructor led and virtual training for ESRI's
ArcGIS & ArcView software.
Please visit www.keckwood.com for more information including a schedule of
upcoming classes.

wrote in message news:5695100@discussion.autodesk.com...
We are having serious problems editing Shape files and SDF files using the
Data Connect. We have done many tests using sample and real data and keep
having the same problems.

Problem 1: Some points will not delete. I bring in a shape file of over 5000
point features with an ID number attribute using the Data Connect (FDO). I
then select all points and select "Check-out Features". I select half of the
points by drawing a box, and then hit the delete button. The points
disappear. I click "Select Checked Out Features" and then click on "Check-in
Features". Visually, it looks as if all the points I selected and deleted
are gone. I close out of AutoCAD MAP. I open the Shape File using Arcview
3.2 or ArcGIS 9.2 to view the edited Shape file and there are points being
displayed that should have been deleted. I look at the number of points in
the shape file, and they are different than the number that was stated in
the table within AutoCAD Map before closing out of it. We have even opened
the .dbf file using Access and it confirms what the ESRI products see. I
then reopened the AutoCAD drawing and look at the points. Same number as
before and it looks the same. I closed the drawing, created a new AutoCAD
drawing and Imported the same Shape File and it shows what the ESRI
products were seeing. I even tried this same test with an SDF file and had
the same thing happen. We have had these reasults repeated over and over and
have tried many variables and find it unacceptable as an editing tool for
feature data.

Problem 2: Dissappearing data. Similar to the steps in Problem 1, except
that we are creating new points by right clicking on the loaded data in the
Display Manager and selecting "Create". When we open in ESRI products or
Access, we get a different number of points being shown. We create it in
MAP, but it does not really get created, or at least some of it.

Problem 3: Invisible points. While doing the tests for Problem 2 we noticed
that the one or two points would dissappear, but if you selected in that
area, the point would be selectable. Nothing I did would bring it back, even
though it was "still there".

System
Software: AutoCAD Map 3D 2008
CPU: Xeon 3.00GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
OS: Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Video Card: nVidia Quadro NVS 285 with current driver

[PDXnative]

"Buggy"? That is a huge understatement. I wonder how much data is getting lost or scrambled out there. We just converted all of our City's utility data over to SHP file and upgraded to Map 2008 to edit it and now feel really stuck as I do not trust any native editing that Map 2008 does, yet, I have no way to edit my data now other than importing the shape files, or converting everything back to blocks.

Too bad we do not run Oracle or SDE.

[Anonymous]

The limited editing is due to the providers used to connect to the data, as
you see you can NOT erase features from a shp file. That is because of the
provider used Out Of The Box. You can create you own that will allow you to
have free access to edit the shp files at will if you know how. What you
need to try is instead of connecting to a single shp file is connect to a
folder, edit the shp as needed then create a new shp schema and add the
edited features to it. You are basically doing a SaveAs with this method.

You do know that when you upgraded to Map3D 2008 you could of taken the
Oracle bundle option for just a few dollars more than the cost of the
upgrade.

--

Murph
The world is not FLAT so why is your GIS data?
http://map3d.wordpress.com

wrote in message news:5695224@discussion.autodesk.com...
"Buggy"? That is a huge understatement. I wonder how much data is getting
lost or scrambled out there. We just converted all of our City's utility
data over to SHP file and upgraded to Map 2008 to edit it and now feel
really stuck as I do not trust any native editing that Map 2008 does, yet, I
have no way to edit my data now other than importing the shape files, or
converting everything back to blocks.

Too bad we do not run Oracle or SDE.

[PDXnative]

Map's native editing does not really edit? That is like saying a car gets over 100 MPH, but only if it the engine is not running and it is rolling downhill. If that is the case, then they should have never released it!!!!

I did not know about the Oracle bundle. I might look into it.

[Anonymous]

No more like the car gets over 100 mph running on a track designed for
speeds greater than 100 mph, on the back dirt road you can only go 10 mph.

--

Murph
The world is not FLAT so why is your GIS data?
http://map3d.wordpress.com

wrote in message news:5695370@discussion.autodesk.com...
Map's native editing does not really edit? That is like saying a car gets
over 100 MPH, but only if it the engine is not running and it is rolling
downhill. If that is the case, then they should have never released it!!!!

I did not know about the Oracle bundle. I might look into it.

[PDXnative]

When you connect through Oracle, is there a way to easily convert to shp file? We run a few applications that require shp file format.

[Anonymous]

Bulk copy maybe, I usually go from shp to oracle. If you want to use third
party take a look at this
http://www.sl-king.com/Fdo2Fdo/fdo2fdo.html
If that doesn't work you can save the oracle as standard autoCAD objects
with OD and then export those to shp format using import from oracle and
export to shp.

--

Murph
The world is not FLAT so why is your GIS data?
http://map3d.wordpress.com
wrote in message news:5695569@discussion.autodesk.com...
When you connect through Oracle, is there a way to easily convert to shp
file? We run a few applications that require shp file format.

[PDXnative]

AutoDESK has duplicated at least one of my problems with my data set that I sent them, and they have sent it to their developers. I am looking into the option of converting the data over to Oracle or MySQL in hopes that it is a more stable environment in which to house spatial data. My only problem is that I have never used either program, so if anyone offers any suggestions, opinions, or warnings on this route, I would be very interested in hearing about it.

[Anonymous]

As you install Oracle or MySQL "WRITE" down the users name and password and
remember what you name that first dbase.
The rest runs by itself.

--

Murph
The world is not FLAT so why is your GIS data?
http://map3d.wordpress.com
wrote in message news:5696490@discussion.autodesk.com...
AutoDESK has duplicated at least one of my problems with my data set that I
sent them, and they have sent it to their developers. I am looking into the
option of converting the data over to Oracle or MySQL in hopes that it is a
more stable environment in which to house spatial data. My only problem is
that I have never used either program, so if anyone offers any suggestions,
opinions, or warnings on this route, I would be very interested in hearing
about it.

[jessebelcher-tvec]

I personally have gave up on using the data connect to edit any of my ESRI data. Either it acts like the above statement or it just crashes Map. Now with all that being said our data is very large. I have been told by Autodesk that the problems I am havening can be fixed with upgrading my pc to 4 gigs of ram. What I think is funny is that I still have map 6 (2002) and I can run some of the same functions that I do in 2008 and no crash no errors and oh yea I did not have to add anymore ram. It just works... Just my two cents, they must work on getting this product more stable and not just blame it on memory... JB

[PDXnative]

AutoDESK sent me a message with instructions on how to fix this problem, and so far, the solution seems to work. BTW, I was even having this same problem with Oracle, until I did their fix.

The MAPCHECKIN command needs to be executed explicitly with the all or erase option.

You can update the Check-In Feature function in the CUI following these directions:

1. Type CUI on the command line

2. In the Command List pane click the Find Command or Text button

3. In the Find what text box enter:

Check-In Features
4. Click Find Next

5. Note the display of the Check-In Features command in the Properties pane

6. Click Close on the Find and Replace dialog box

7. In the Properties Pane change the Macro to

^C^C^P(ai_deselect)(command "_MapCheckin" "_All")
8. Click Apply

[MarissaG]

I am having the same problem with Shapefiles. However, when I try to delete a polygon using the Edit Feature commands, it will not even delete from my view at all. I have tried deleting it, then running the mapcheckin command with just "Erased" objects, and with "All" objects, but neither works. I keep getting an error that says "The edit set is unavailable for un-cached layers and layers in direct update mode". Any thoughts?