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Exporting Shapefiles From Civil 3D

This help sheet covers the process of exporting shapefiles with attributes from Civil 3D for use in programs such as
ArcMap.
Note: Your Civil 3D drawing MUST have a coordinate system designated for the exported shapefile to be imported at the
correct location in ArcMap. If you are unsure of how to set a drawing’s coordinate system, please see the Wisconsin
NRCS help sheet “Starting a New Drawing”.
Located Here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/PA_NRCSConsumption/download?cid=stelprdb1264881&ext=pdf
The first portion of the help sheet will detail how to export objects (points, lines, polygons, text) with attributes from Civil
3D to programs such as ArcMap. The second portion of the help sheet will detail how to export entire layers of objects.
The example for this help sheet is contour strips that have been traced in Civil 3D from a surface with elevations assigned
and labeled with acreage size.

Method 1: Export Objects as Shapefiles

• Confirm the coordinate system for the Civil 3D drawing is set.

• Type MAPEXPORT at the command line
• The Export Location dialog box pops up
• Browse to a location to save the objects you will be exporting
• Name the file
• Set Files of Type to ESRI Shapefile(*.shp)

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Exporting Shapefiles From Civil 3D

• Click OK
• The Export (to your location) dialog box pops up
• In the Selection Tab Select the Object Type (In this case Line)
• Choose the method you would like to use to select the objects (In this case, Select Manually)

• Click the Select from Drawing Icon

• Select the objects you want to export
• Tap Enter

• Click the Data Tab

• Click Select Attributes
• In the Select Attributes dialog box click the box in front of Properties to export all related attributes
• Click OK

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Exporting Shapefiles From Civil 3D

Note: If the coordinate system of your Civil 3D drawing has a different coordinate system than your ArcMap project, you
can convert the coordinate system of your objects by clicking the Options Tab  Check the Convert Coordinate to box 
Select the coordinate system of your ArcMap project  Click OK

• If the attributes you wish to export are shown in the Export (to your location) dialog box, click OK.

• Your objects are saved as a .shp file to the designated location

Import objects Into ArcMap

• Add Data as you normally would to your ArcMap project

o Example: Tap the Add Data icon

o Map to the location of the shapefile you created in Civil 3D
o Select your .shp file
o Click Add
• Your shapefile pops into place and has attribute data attached. You can now change the color and line thickness as
you normally would in ArcMap.

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Exporting Shapefiles From Civil 3D

Method 2: Export Layers as Shapefiles

In Civil 3D, place all the objects of one type you want to export as a .shp file on a single layer. For instance, in the
example above, all the text has been placed on a layer named Export_Text, and the linework has been placed on a layer
named Export_Linework.

• Type MAPEXPORT at the command line

• The Export Location dialog box pops up
• Browse to a location to save the objects you will be exporting
• Name the file
• Set Files of Type to ESRI Shapefile(*.shp)
• Click OK
• The Export (to your location) dialog box pops up
• Select your Object Type (in this case Text)
• Under Select Objects to Export click Select All

• Under Filter Selection Click the Layers icon to the right of the Layers field
• Select the layer(s) containing text you wish to export

• Click Select
• Select the Data Tab
• Click Select Attributes
• Click the box in front of Properties to select all attributes for the objects to be exported
Note: If the coordinate system of your Civil 3D drawing has a different coordinate system than your ArcMap project, you
can convert the coordinate system of your objects by clicking the Options Tab  Check the Convert Coordinate to box 
Select the coordinate system of your ArcMap project  Click OK

• If the attributes you wish to export are shown in the Export (to your location) dialog box, click OK.
• Your objects are saved as a .shp file to the designated location

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Exporting Shapefiles From Civil 3D

Import objects Into ArcMap

• Add Data as you normally would to your ArcMap project

o Example: Tap the Add Data icon

o Map to the location of the shapefile you created in Civil 3D
o Select your .shp file
o Click Add
• Your shapefile pops into place along with its attributes. The imported layer shows on your ArcMap project as
Points. Add labels to the layer as you normally would. The attribute to label is Textstring. The labels pop in. You
can now fine tune their location, color, and style if you wish.

Questions or Comments on this Civil 3D Help Sheet?

Contact Steph Schultz at:
Stephanie.Schultz@wi.usda.gov

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