SPM for ZWCAD > Features > Background maps > Easy to use map tools

Easy to use map tools in ZWCAD

Control and use background maps easily while working or designing

Quickly manage background maps using tabs organized by map provider groups, each with preview thumbnails. Maps can be shown or hidden instantly and refreshed on demand. You can also use base maps in empty drawings to start new projects, even without setting a coordinate reference system. While drawing, background maps automatically update as you move the view, making digitizing tasks much easier.

Editions: Standard Professional
What's included in the feature Easy to use map tools

Discover the full potential of this set of tools designed to enhance GIS data integration and editing within ZWCAD.

Easy Map control

Use the tabs in the Background Maps window to display a specific Map Provider Group, where the selection boxes show a preview image of the available Maps in this Group. Quickly show and hide any Map. Regenerate tools.


Base Maps to design

It is also possible to set Background Maps in empty drawings in order to have a cartographic base when starting a new piece of work or project even without defining a specific Coordinate Reference System.


Fast switch between maps

Keep recently used maps in the integrated palette and switch between them easily.


Background map update while drawing

The background map is automatically updated when changing view even when there are active drawing commands (line, polyline, ...), which will make digitizing tasks on the map much easier.


Integrated coordinate transformation

Both from predefined or custom maps, coordinate reference system from the map is transformed to the drawing on the fly.

frequently asked questions
Current compatible ZWCAD applications:
  • ZWCAD and ZWCAD Architecture
  • Professional edition (Classic and Standard editions are not compatible, but you can use Spatial Manager Desktop™ to import/export via DXF files)
  • Versions: From v.2017 to v.2026 both included. Review the version compatibility page for more details.
System requirements:
  • Windows 7 or higher, within the operating system versions supported by the ZWCAD version used
  • 500 MB free disk space, or more
  • Windows Installer 3.1 or later
Spatial files
  • Esri Shape file - (SHP)
  • Google Earth file - (KML, KMZ)
  • OpenStreetMap file - (OSM, PBF, OSC) (1)
  • LiDAR file - (LAS, LAZ)
  • GPS exchange format file - (GPX)
  • Esri ASCII Grid file - (ASC, ASCII) (1)
  • ASCII text file - (ASC, CSV, NEZ, TXT, XYZ, UPT)
  • SQLite file - (SQLITE, DB)
  • GeoPackage file - (GPKG)
  • GML file - (GML, GZ, XML)
  • Raster image file - (TIF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIFF) (1)
  • Autodesk SDF file - (SDF) (3)
  • MicroStation v.7 file - (DGN) (2)
  • AutoCAD DXF file - (DXF) (2)
  • Esri ArcInfo export file (ASCII) - (E00) (1) (2)
  • MapInfo file - (TAB) (2)
  • MapInfo interchange format file - (MIF/MID) (2)
  • GeoJSON file - (GEO.JSON)

Spatial raster files
  • Raster image file - (TIF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIFF) (1)
    • Georeference sources - (World files, Google Earth .GEPRINT, etc.)
  • Variable resolution Raster image file - (Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF/COG TIFF) (1) (4)

Spatial data servers and Geo-databases
  • Esri Geodatabase File - (GDB) (1)
  • PostGIS database
  • Microsoft SQL Server Spatial database
  • MySQL database (1) (3)

Image map servers
  • WMS/OGC API Maps Web Map Services (4)
  • WMTS/OGC API Tiles Web Map Tile Services (4)
  • XYZ/TMS Tile Map Services (4)

Other spatial data sources
  • Open Database Connectivity ODBC (1)
  • WFS/OGC API Features data store (1)
  • WFS data store (FDO) (1) (3) (5)
  • WFS data store (OGR) (1) (2) (5)

(1) Read-only
(2) OGR data source
(3) FDO provider
(4) Background Maps technology
(5) DEPRECATED - Whenever possible use the native WFS/OGC API Features data provider

Note: certain data Providers are only valid for some Editions of the application