Limits on number of records that can be converted?

[kbuss]

I was wondering if in the lastest version of Arcv2CAD if there is any limit on the number of records that can be converted from shapefile to dwg/dxf? I know in the trial version it's limited to 200 records. I ask this because I will be interested in purchasing the software if it can convert large datasets (lidar data in shapefile format) that have upwards of 730,000 records. If it does work, does the processing time take hours?? I'd appreciate any info on this subject! Thanks!

[GuthCAD Software Support]

Hi Kate,

Arcv2CAD can certainly handle large data sets.

A limit will be encountered at some stage based on memory and disk space considerations.

A more fundamental problem that we have come across with very large shapefiles is not that Arcv2CAD cannot do the translation, but that the resultant output file was too big for AutoCAD to read.

I cannot say for sure how the 730000 record file will go, it will depend on what type of records they are (.e.g Points should be fine.)

Arcv2CAD has several methods of doing partial translations (e.g. by region or by record type), so that does provide a workaround for very large shapefiles. And the workaround typically is not so that the translation can succeed but rather as noted above that the resultant output file be not so large that AutoCAD stops in its tracks (or dies!) when it tries to read it.

There is also a 30 day money back guarantee on the software, so you can try it out risk free that way.

best regards,
Paul G

PS: Even very large translations will mostly finish in minutes, not hours. Any translation that is taking more that say 5 minutes should probably be aborted. If it is taking that long it means that the output file if and when it succeeds is probably going to be too large for AutoCAD to read. So there is no point.

[kbuss]

Thanks Paul. You're right, AutoCad may have a tough time with a larger-than-life dwg. I guess there's only one way to find out though, huh? Thanks for the info, it's much appreciated.