Spatial Manager

Envelope of geometries

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Generates an envelope or bounding box for the selected geometries, representing the smallest rectangle that completely contains each object. This operation is commonly used to generalize shapes, define spatial extents, or prepare data for indexing, visualization, or spatial queries, providing a simplified and standardized outline of the original geometry’s limits.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. Run SPMENVELOPE command

Type SPMENVELOPE in the command line and press Enter or search for the tool in the ribbon or toolbar.

2. Select the objects

Select the objects to create the envelopes manually, by query, table or layer.
Set the output layer and specify whether you want to create only borders (closed polylines) or filled polygons.

3. Create the envelope

The envelopes will be created automatically around the selected objects.
If the objects have attached data, the envelopes will include a copy of it.

Envelope

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Spatial Manager for AutoCAD 2027 compatible

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The latest ‘Spatial Manager’ version (10.4) has been recently released and it is ‘AutoCAD 2027’ compatible. Download it and enjoy from today the enhancements and new functions included in ‘AutoCAD 2027’ and ‘Spatial Manager for AutoCAD version 10’

Import / export spatial or GIS data into/from AutoCAD (2013 to 2027) (*), and experience the advanced tools to manage spatial data, such as GIS analysis tools, Street View, Thematic maps, Terrains and Contours, dynamic Multi Background Maps, quick drawing Publishing in Google Earth, data structures and Data Grid, Queries and Spatial queries, Fields Calculator, Transform drawings CRS, Search for locations, Geo Coding, automatic labeling and Multi-labels, Map Books, advanced GIS drawing and editing functions, etc.

(*) And other related Autodesk products

AutoCAD 2027 & Spatial Manager 10.4

Some related links to review:

Create polylines from points

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Converts individual points into connected polylines by automatically following their original sequence or by ordering them according to a specified attribute. This functionality is especially useful for creating linear elements like paths, routes, or boundaries from point datasets.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

Run the SPMPOINTSTOPOLYLINE command, select the points and choose the ordering method and options.

Order mode

Automatic
- The polyline will be created starting from one of the furthest selected points.
- The next point is then chosen as the nearest of the remaining points.
Pick start point
- Depending on the distribution of the points, the previous method might not be suitable. The start point can be selected in the drawing, and then the next points will be chosen as the nearest of the remaining points.
By field value
- The points can be ordered by a field value.

Group by field value

The points can be grouped by a field value, and then multiple polylines can be created, one for each value. This can be combined with the previous options.

Close polylines

In all previous cases, the polylines can be closed automatically by creating a segment between the start and end points.

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Create convex hull of geometries

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Creates the smallest convex polygon that fully encloses a selected set of geometries. This operation is ideal for generating bounding areas, simplifying complex datasets, and supporting spatial analysis. The resulting polygon provides the minimal convex envelope around the input features, ensuring complete coverage with the shortest possible boundary.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. Run SPMCONVEXHULL command

Type SPMCONVEXHULL in the command line and press Enter or search for the tool in the ribbon or toolbar.

2. Select the objects

Select the objects for creating the convex hull manually, by query, table, or layer.
Set the output layer and specify whether you want to create only borders (closed polylines) or filled polygons.

3. Create the convex hull

The convex hull will be created automatically around the selected objects.

Convex hull

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Create legend for thematic map in DWG

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Inserts a thematic map legend directly into the drawing, making it easier to interpret and communicate the meaning of the applied styles. The legend represents the categories or value ranges used in the map at the time it is created, providing a clear and consistent reference for anyone reviewing the drawing. The legend can also be placed in layouts (paper space) and included in printouts.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. View object data in grid

Run the SPMDATATABLEGRID command, the data table grid opens.
Review the data fields and identify which one will be used to create the thematic map.

2. Create thematic map

Open the Spatial Manager main palette with the SPM command.
In the Explorer tab, locate Themes under the table and choose Create theme from the context menu.
Define the thematic style rules and assign colors for each value. Optionally, enable Fill closed curves for better visualization.
These steps can also be performed by running the SPMTHEMATICMAP command.

3. Insert thematic map legend

From the theme’s context menu, click Insert legend on drawing.
Click to define the insertion point, then click again to set the scale.
The legend can also be placed in layouts (paper space) for printing.

Thematic Map Legend

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Import New Zealand Land Information in DWG

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Download and import official Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) data into a DWG using Spatial Manager, either through open services (WFS / OGC API Features) or distributed files (SHP, GeoJSON, etc.). Set the proper CRS (usually NZGD2000 / New Zealand Transverse Mercator), create the data source in the palette, filter the area of interest, and run the import to generate CAD entities with linked attribute data.

LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) is the government agency responsible for managing New Zealand’s land and property information, geospatial data, and hydrographic services. It oversees the cadastre (property boundaries and ownership), topographic mapping, and place naming.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD, GstarCAD and Desktop.

Follow these simple steps to import LINZ data to DWG or DXF:

1. Register and create a free account

To download LINZ data, a free account is required.
Open LINZ account register URL and follow the registration steps.
This will create a Koordinates ID account, valid for accessing LINZ datasets.

2. Log in with the created user

Open LINZ data portal
In the top-right corner, click “Log in” and log in with the created user.

3. Explore the catalog, search, and select a dataset

Explore the existing datasets and use the search box to find the desired dataset, for example, “Parcels.”
Click the desired dataset.

4. Add to the map and preview

On the dataset page, click the “Map +” button.
This will show the map viewer with the dataset loaded.

5. Export and select coordinate reference system

Click the “…” button next to the “Map +” button.
Click the “Export” option.
Select the Coordinate Reference System (CRS), for example, “NZGD2000 / NZCS2000” (EPSG:3851).

LINZ data

6. Select file format

Select any of the formats compatible with Spatial Manager, for example: Shapefile (recommended), MapInfo TAB/MIF, CSV, GeoPackage/SQLite, GeoDatabase, etc.

7. Crop the desired area

On the map viewer, use the crop tool to select the area of interest.

8. Create export and download

Click the “Create Export” button.
The process may take some time depending on the area and dataset size.
Once the export is ready, a download link will be available.

9. Open the ZIP file to a folder if required (depending on file format)

Download the exported file.
If the file is compressed (ZIP), extract it to a folder.

10. Execute SPMIMPORT command and import data

In Spatial Manager, execute the SPMIMPORT command (for Spatial Manager Desktop, search the files in the “Data Sources” panel).

11. Optionally show a background map

For better visualization, you can show a background map using the SPMBGMAPSHOW command (for Spatial Manager Desktop, use the “Background Maps” panel).

12. Attached data is also imported (execute SPMDATATABLEGRID)

The attribute data is imported and linked to the CAD entities.
You can view and manage the data using the SPMDATATABLEGRID command (for Spatial Manager Desktop, use the “Data Table” panel).

LINZ data

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Trim geometries

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Allows a closed boundary to be used as a trimming edge to cut intersecting geometries, with the option to keep elements inside or outside the boundary. This makes the tool ideal for refining drawings, isolating areas of interest, or cleaning up spatial data.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. Run SPMTRIM command

Type SPMTRIM in the command line and press Enter or search for the tool in the ribbon or toolbar.
If the object has associated data, the resulting objects will retain it.

2. Trim by an existing polyline

Select an existing closed polyline to use as the trimming boundary.
By default, the outside area of the objects will be removed.

3. Trim by drawing a polyline

Select the option to draw a new polyline as the trimming boundary.
Click to define the vertices of the polyline.
Right-click or press Enter to close the polyline.

4. Trim outside

There is also an option to trim outside the boundary.

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Segmentize polylines and split at intersections

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This tool identifies intersections within complex linear geometries and automatically splits them into individual line segments. Beyond cutting at crossing points, it also separates every segment of a polyline, resulting in a set of simpler, independent elements. This makes the geometry much easier to manage, edit, or reorganize, and is especially valuable when preparing data for topological analysis or exporting to CAD and GIS systems that require simplified and well-structured geometries.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

Run the SPMSEGMENTATION command:

1. Select polylines

Select the polylines manually, by layer, or using a data query.

2. Segment polylines

The polylines are divided into their individual segments, and additional segments are generated at their intersections.

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Color objects by their data in DWG

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thematic Maps allow you to view objects colored by their data values, and you can also apply these styles persistently to the objects, causing these colors to override the DWG colors. With this tool, the colorized DWG can be shared with other users without requiring the Spatial Manager plugin.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. View object data in a grid

Run the SPMDATATABLEGRID command; the data table grid opens.
Review the data fields and identify which one will be used for thematization.

2. Create thematic map

Run SPMTHEMATICMAP.
Choose the thematic type.
Select the data table and field.
List the values and define the style for each one.
A thematic map is a temporary configuration for dynamic styling and does not actually change the object colors.

Thematic map configuration

3. Apply persistent styles

Making a thematic map persistent allows you to override the actual colors of the objects.
Persistent styles can be saved in the drawing and shared with other users.

4. Edit thematic map and fill polygons

For closed polylines, a thematic map can also define fills, allowing them to be visualized as polygon surfaces.

5. Apply persistent styles and create hatches

When a thematic map with fill options is made persistent, hatches are created with the color of each object.

Persistent styles and hatches

Also available from the Spatial Manager main palette

All options are also available from the main palette (the SPM command) in the Explorer tab.

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

Background maps in multiple views in DWG/DXF

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background maps can be displayed simultaneously in multiple views, including both model space and layout viewports. Whenever changes occur, the background maps are automatically refreshed so that they remain accurate and up to date in all active views. In addition, when printing or plotting, the maps are rendered at the optimal resolution.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. Show multiple views

To enable multiple views in model space, run the VIEWPORTS command and choose one of the predefined view arrangements.

2. Show background maps

Run the SPMBGMAPSHOW command and select any of the predefined maps.
The map will adapt to the scale of each viewport and update automatically when the viewports change.

Maps in multiple viewports

3. Print/Plot background maps in multiple views

Select your printer and desired settings.
It is required to disable “Plot in background”, otherwise the plot process will not update the background map successfully.
If, as in the example, there are hatches with transparency, enable “Plot transparency”.
This will ensure the background map is displayed at the optimal resolution for the output.

Print/Plot multiple viewports

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.