General 

    Import/export spatial data into/from ZWCAD drawings

Import or export spatial data between files, data servers or other spatial data sources, and entities in new or existing ZWCAD drawings. Use Extended Entity Data (EED) to load or save spatial alphanumeric data tables. The import and the export wizards lead the user to select all needed parameters and many interesting options 

    Transformation of coordinates when importing or exporting

Geometric transformations of the features in line with the import and export processes. Coordinate reference system (CRS) of the source and target. Complete CRS catalog. The catalog and the drop down lists include the most recent used CRSs 

    Background Maps

Choose from among many Backgrounds Maps from many providers such as OpenStreetMap, Bing, MapBox, Ordnance Survey, etc. They enhance the drawings quality and allow the user compare and check better 

    Extended Entity Data (EED) viewer palette

When selecting entities in the drawing, their EEDs will be shown in the "Properties" area of the application palette. The values can be edited directly in the palette and can include hyperlinks 

    Managing the data structure

Design and edit the structure which will be used to store the data attached to the entities. Manage the tables and the fields according to the needs. New tools available to attach, detach and select data 


 

    Import processes

    Entities imported into a new or open drawing

Import processes can be performed in the current ZWCAD drawing or in new drawings. The application opens new drawings automatically if needed 

    Basic target layer or new target layers using a field value

Define a common target layer or select a field from the incoming data source to take its values as the target layer for each new imported entity 

    Use blocks for points and centroids

Choose between ZWCAD Points or Block References when importing point features or centroid of polygon features. When using Blocks, you can select a field to choose the Block References names to insert and "map" fields from the incoming data to Attributes included inside the Block definition 

    Block insertion parameters from field values

Also use fields from the incoming data to define Block insertion parameters, such as the scale and the rotation of the Block 

    Polygon fills and transparencies

Fill polygon areas using ZWCAD Hatches and define the options for the Hatches such as pattern, angle and scale. Apply transparencies to the Hatches 

    Polygon centroids

Draw optional centroids when importing polygon features using ZWCAD Points or Block References 

    Labeling entities while importing

Choose a data field to label any entity: point type, linear type or polygonal type (centroid). Smart text location for the linear type entities. The properties for the new texts (rotation, height, etc.) can be taken from other data fields 

    Spatial filter

Import only the entities in the current view 

    Elevation and thickness from field values

Take field values from incoming data to set the elevation and/or thickness for the new entities 

    Import data from tables as Extended Entity Data (EED)

Import Features data as Entities Extended Entity Data (EED) to get more "intelligent" ZWCAD drawings 

    Speed up the processes skipping some wizard steps

Skip unnecessary steps for a particular job and go directly to the execution of the import process, to follow all the guidelines set by the import wizard 

    Use the intuitive palette options or the quick import function

Use the right-click menu on a particular data source to import from this source, or run the import command that avoids having to open the application palette if you do not want it 

    Batch Import

Import all the files from a folder in one go. If needed, separate the content of each file in different Layers 

    Import Tasks

The Tasks allow to repeat any import process so many times as desired without needing to enter its parameters again. Manage and execute Tasks in the application palette 


 

    Export processes 

    Entities 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 entities to be exported

Choose between exporting the selected entities, the entities 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 entities 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 entity Elevation is exported as the Z-coordinate 

    Options for entities properties

Export the Handle and the Layer of the entities 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 Text entities and their basic properties (Rotation and Height) 

    Automatic complex geometric operations

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

    Filtering of incompatible entities

There are a few entity types not supported by the export processes (such as complex 3D entities), 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) 


 

    Data sources 

    Manage your own shortcuts

Reference any folder in a physical or net drive and save this reference in the user configuration to quickly access the folder. Edit, remove or sort the shortcuts in the data sources palette 

    Access to spatial data files (SHP, GPX, KML, OSM, GML, etc.) (show full list)

Import/export from/to spatial data tables by accessing a lot of spatial data file types or folders or schemas inside complex spatial files 

    Manage your User Data Sources

Use UDS technology in the application to easily connect with spatial database servers, or data stores, or to define the path to spatial data files including their own connection parameters. Edit, remove or sort the UDSs in the data sources palette 

    Access to spatial database servers (SQL Server, PostGIS, etc.) (show full list)

Use UDSs to access tables and import or export them, by accessing a lot of spatial data servers, including simple or complex internal structures 

    Access to other connections (WFS, ODBC, etc.) (show full list)

Also use UDSs to access special spatial information connections, such as WFS stores or ODBC 

    Manage schemas and tables

Create, delete and rename schemas. Delete and rename tables. 


 

    Transformation of coordinates 

    Unified CRS system

Use the same tools (the CRS Catalog essentially) to assign the Coordinate Reference System to a drawing or to define the CRSs to the source and the target when performing the import / export processes 

    Smart Transformations

The application helps when entering any configuration setting. For example, if you are importing from Google Earth (KML), the source CRS is automatically set to WGS84 and the target CRS can be set to a standard projected CRS 

    Updated Coordinate Systems objects list

The objects list includes more than 14000 Projections, Ellipsoids, Coordinate Systems, Coordinate Transformations, etc. for all the areas and geographic segmentations of the Earth. This list is often extended, revised and updated. The Catalog includes a set of practical tools to filter, search or group the most recent used CRSs 


 

    Background Maps

    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 

    User Maps

Configure new Groups and new Maps by entering a minimum of data. There are also tools to edit the Maps configuration data or delete them from the list 

    Snapshots

Get static ZWCAD raster images from the Maps. Up to four levels of image resolution. Provides interesting solutions to define different maps for different Viewports and/or Views, as an advanced Printing or Publishing tool, to combine Maps or to clip the Maps 


 

    Publishing to Google Earth 

    Quick creation and use

Regardless of the advanced Export capabilities of the application the user can find a specific tool to Export all or part of the objects in the visible Layers of the drawing and their data, to a KML or KMZ file (Google Earth) through a one-click operation. In addition, it is possible to open the file directly in Google Earth (if installed) 

    "Clone" the drawing

The process will consider the current Layers organization and the properties of the Layers and objects. The elements in the KML/KMZ file will assume the colors, weights, etc. of the objects in the drawing. A subdivision based on the types of the objects in the Layers will be also created for each Layer 


 

    Alphanumeric data 

    Data structure

The data Tables can be automatically created and structured when importing elements from any data sources, but the application includes all the tools that the users need to create new Tables and edit or delete existing Tables. When a Table is modified or deleted, all the entities attached to the Table will be automatically updated. Create, edit or delete Fields in any existing table. You can assign a default value to any Field and select the type of data for the Field (Text, Integer, Date, etc.). As happens with the tables, if any alteration occurs in the Fields of a table, the application will automatically update all the attached entities 

    Entities management

Automatic or manual Attachment of Entities to data tables, view and edit directly the field Values individually or for a selection of Entities, Detachment of Entities and Entities Selections based on a specific attached table. Direct access to Hyperlink fields from the application Palette 

    Queries

Selecting entities in drawings by simple or compound queries. Complete queries or query to the current selection and add the result to the current selection. Selections based on a specific attached table. Zoom into the selected entities