Export spatial data from ZWCAD

Export objects from the drawing to spatial files or databases, and saves their Extended Entity Data (EED) as alphanumeric data tables

Spatial Manager™ for ZWCAD exports objects from the drawing to spatial files or databases, and saves their Extended Entity Data (EED) as alphanumeric data tables using a wizard, which shares some of the steps with the import wizard. In the same way, the user can choose or select the export parameters to define all the target data among a great number of possibilities

There are options to export the Coordinates, Length or Area, the objects Layer, Handle and Elevation, the Attributes and the name of the Block references and their properties, the Texts and their properties, etc. The objects will be automatically filtered when exporting, and all the geometric operations needed to fit the target data format (such as segmenting curved objects) are automatically performed

Objects exported to geospatial files or servers

From the current drawing to new or existing tables in files or schemas inside files or databases

Select the objects to be exported

Choose between exporting the selected objects, the objects in a layer or the whole drawing

Option to treat the closed polylines as polygons

Most of the time the closed polylines represent polygonal elements on the target data format and this conversion can be automatic

Options for objects geometry data

Export the coordinates X/Y/Z, the Length, the Area and the Elevation in new fields of the data tables

Z-Coordinate and Elevation

The Z-coordinate is exported in all the cases. If not available, the object Elevation is exported as Z-coordinate

Options for objects properties

Export objects ZWCAD Properties in new fields of the data tables

Options for Block references

Option to export the Name, Rotation, Scales and the Attributes of the Block references in new fields of the data tables. The names of the fields and the Attributes will match

Options for Texts

Export the content of the Text objects and their basic properties (Rotation and Height)

Automatic complex geometric operations

Review and editing of the selected objects in order to export geometries accommodated in the target format, such as the polygonal segmentation on curves if required

Filtering of incompatible objects

There are a few object types not supported by the export processes (such as complex 3D objects), which are automatically filtered. The filter result is displayed before exporting

Opening help

Upon completion of any export process to a file, the file location can be opened directly. When exporting to a KML or KMZ file it can be chosen to open the file in Google Earth (if installed)

Geospatial direct Exporting

This function allows direct conversion between different data providers formats and sources without the need to import/export into/from drawing

Resources and Information

frequently asked questions

Current compatible ZWCAD applications:
  • ZWCAD and ZWCAD Architecture
  • Professional edition (Classic and Standard editions are not compatible)
  • Versions: From v.2017 to v.2024 SP1 both included
System requirements:
  • Windows 7 or higher
  • 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) (1)
  • 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 Web Map Services (4)
  • WMTS Web Map Tile Services (4)
  • XYZ/TMS Tile Map Services (4)

Other spatial data sources
  • Open Database Connectivity ODBC (1)
  • WFS 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 data provider

Note: certain data Providers are only valid for some Editions of the application
  • We process a personalized analysis of each case, so some types of advanced licenses are not offered directly on the web store. Please contact to support@spatialmanager.com indicating your needs and we will send you a customized quote