Add Map Features to map
Welcome to the Map3D forum.
Sorry but you cannot 'ADD' to a shapefile, but you can 'EDIT' a shapefile. Edits include, but are not limited to, changing an existing fiber optic line (lengthing or shortening or re-routing) or changing an existing attribute value (could a string value or numeric value) in the database. To achieve the 'add-a-line' operation that you want to do on your shapefile entails recreating an existing shapefile and during this recreation you'll (a) add the 'additional' line work and (b) add the corresponding data for each individual line. Although recreation is certainly a viable option, it may not be what you want and you'll have to live with this recreation procedure especially if you plan to share your new shapefile with others who don't use Map3D such as GIS users.
An alternative (this alternative may, or may not be suitable for you) would be to turn the shapefile and its database into an SDF file. Unlike a shapefile, you are allowed to APPEND an existing SDF (the term append in Map3D-ese is used interchangeably with 'add onto'). An SDF is AutoCAD's proprietary version of a shapefile. There are pros and cons to using an SDF. Here highlights of the major pros and cons.
PRO: An SDF is capable of holding multi classes (you can consider a class to be a type of vector, e.g. a point or a line or a polygon) so a single SDF can contain all 3 types of vectors. OTOH a shapefile will be a point OR a line OR a polygon, not a combination or multiclass. In GIS, however, multiclass data can be stored in a geodatabase or gdb file. Gdb's are capable of storing multiclasses such as points representing fire hydrants side-by-side with polygons representing parcels and alongside lines representing street centerlines. As you can see a shapefile is a single class while a gdb is multiclass. An SDF can be either a single class or multiclass. Both SDF and shapefiles are capable of storing databases.
CON: An SDF can only be understood and created in Map3D and Civil3D, not even other versions of Acad can read or write an SDF. If an SDF is shared with other GISer's then they'll need to run, use and understand AutoCAD M3D/C3D because if they don't they won't be able to 'read' the SDF.
If you still wish to add-onto an existing shapefile it is still possible. Post again if you want to know the workflow.
Chicagolooper
Looper,
Perhaps I'm using the wrong terms, The image below shows the end of a cable at the point marked Splice.
I want to add another segment from the splice point to another location.
In playing around I found two different ways to achieve this, one by selecting Create-New Line Sheath_Segments-Line from the right click menu and then drawing a new line, and secondly by selecting New feature from geometry, which allowed me to select a single or multiple polylines already drawn on the map.
The image below shows the two new map features. I then checked the new features in and closed the file.
I have opened the shp file in a new map and in GE and the new features showed up in both instances.
If my terms are in error that would explain why my searches for this technique produced no results, but the end result of this exercise is what I was looking for.
With regards to sdf files, I just finished the tutorial in Map3d that shows how to combine points, lines and polygons into a single sdf and I see the advantages to a single file and I am interested to learn more about these files.
As always thank you for you help.
Frank
PS: I lived in Chicago for 5 years and mean Looper in a friendly way.
