Exporting polylines to shapefile - creates a "zmpolyline"

[Anonymous]

Hello,

We have recently upgraded to AutoCAD Map3D 2017. Up until this point when I exported line work to a shapefile it always identified as a polyline. Now that I am using this new 2017 version, all of my line work gets exported as something ArcMap reads as a "zmpolyline" (this happens with points and polygons too, they are all "zm" prefaced.  I cannot use this format in some of the GIS work I need to do. I am exporting the same way I always have. Is there perhaps something new that I am missing, or is there something I should do before exporting to shapefile?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Larisa

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> something ArcMap reads as a "zmpolyline"

Never heard that and interestingly the work "ZMPOLYLINE" is not found in the world of Google, can you please show a screenshot were you get that info?

It would also be interesting, if that is dependent on one specific drawing. So please try to create a new drawing, use command _PLINE to create one polyline, then run command _MAPEXPORT with that new drawing and that one polyline. Do you get the same "zmpolyline" info in ArcGIS?

When you start command _MAPEXPORT and use the format SHP for exporting are you sure that you have selected ESRI Shapefile (*.shp) and not Shape Multiclass? ... as shown in that screenshot:

In the next dialog you see 3 tab's, the last one "Options" (hopefully translated correct from my German version) look to the driver-options, have you selected 2D- or 3D shape-files? 2D should be default, but as you mentioned "zmpolylines" maybe the first character stands for Z like elevation/3D.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hi Alfred

Thank you for replying.

When exporting to a shapefile I am using the .shp extension, not the "shape multiclass" and I have checked the export options and it is set as "2D"

What is interesting is that I discovered this because I was exporting drawings from CAD that already existed and that I do on a regular basis. That is when I discovered that the "shape" in the shapefile was "Polyline ZM" (sorry, I wrote it down as ZMPolyline originally).

No matter what...new line work or existing line work, it still does it.

I did find this link about this topic, but I am not sure how this can help me.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/net/mapexport-and-polygon-zm/m-p/6537462

Thanks!

Larisa

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

sorry to here that, and as I don't have ArcGIS, I also don't know what is the difference now.

Please, can you describe what makes the difference between the old and the new object type in ArcGIS?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hi  I found a weird way to keep the polyline ZM away.  If you follow the instructions from Alfred.NWSWADBA and then save the profile (*.epf) that profile will remember the click on and click off 2D-shape and 3D-shape of subsequent exports.  I tried this technique on lines and polygons, but not point files.

It is a "gotcha" that comes with new software.  I am curious why Autodesk does not use the same engine from Version 2010 as it worked flawlessly!

It is a pain to keep remembering this Alfred's on new exports, but there you have it!  Thanks, Alfred.

[udo.huebner]

You can setup your desired default Value for Shape Export Type (2D or 3D) simply by editing your MAPEXPORT.ini

typically found here:  C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2019\MapExport.ini
...
[SHP]
File=True
Rootname=False
EntTypes=Types
FeatureClass=Single
CreateClassBy=None
SupportsAppend=False
;File=False
;Rootname=True
;EntTypes=All
;Driver:FME_ARC_DEGREES_PER_EDGE=5
Driver:FME_ARC_CHORD_DISTANCE=0.0
Driver:FDO_SHAPE_DIMENSION=2D

You need to add the Line with "Driver:FDO_SHAPE_DIMENSION=2D" in [SHP] Section, save the file and restart Civil 3D.

[Anonymous]

Hi I am also having problems with the projection of the exported shapefiles retaining that projection in ArcGIS. Sometimes the data attached with the loses the field definition ie text, number, and the like. Any ideas?