Essential vocabulary

The ArcGIS for AutoCAD plug-in provides additional functionality to the AutoCAD system. The following table includes essential vocabulary that will benefit you when using ArcGIS for AutoCAD:

Term	Description
ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World	ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is the foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe. It includes map, imagery, and feature layers to support your CAD data.
Attachments	Features from web feature layers may contain data attachments such as photos or files that you can view.
ArcGIS Online	ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based mapping and analysis solution. Use it to make maps, analyze data, and share and collaborate.
Attribute domains	Attribute domains, or domains, are used to constrain the values for an attribute, providing a method for enforcing data integrity. The domain limits the value to either a range, or a list of valid choices.
Document feature layer	A document feature layer is a collection of standard DWG object types that share the same properties and attribute fields. ArcGIS for AutoCAD and ArcGIS Pro read and write feature class schema that can be embedded in an AutoCAD drawing file.
Feature	ArcGIS features are GIS objects with geometry and attributes within a DWG file. Features are expressed as AutoCAD entities organized into document feature layers, or are AutoCAD entities that originate from ArcGIS web layers in a web feature layer.
Geographic coordinate system	A geographic coordinate system is a reference system that uses latitude and longitude to define the locations of points on the surface of a sphere or spheroid. A geographic coordinate system definition includes a datum, prime meridian, and angular unit. The coordinate system definition is stored within the DWG file and is recognized by ArcGIS Pro. An Civil 3D drawing can also have an Autodesk GEODATA coordinate system that is used with non-Esri capabilities. When possible ArcGIS for AutoCAD will set this coordinate system to match when working in Civil 3D.
Imagery layer	An imagery layer is raster data or image data that has been published with ArcGIS and made available through a web-based service.
Locator	A locator provides the means to navigate your drawing using a geographic position calculated from an Esri locator service by providing a search string.
M-value	In linear referencing, a measure value that is added to a line feature. M-values are used to measure the distance along a line feature from a vertex (a known location) to an event. Vertex attributes that are stored with x,y point coordinates. In ArcGIS for AutoCAD this will work on 2D/3D Polylines. M-values can be shared as part of a hosted feature layer.
Map layer	A map layer is a map document that has been published with ArcGIS and made available as a web-based service.
Portal for ArcGIS	An Enterprise portal is the component a client uses to connect to an ArcGIS Enterprise organization, which allows you to share maps, scenes, apps, and other geographic information with others in your organization.
Project area	The user sets the rectangular geographic project area to limit the extent of web feature layers added to a drawing.
Projected coordinate system	A projected coordinate system is a reference system used to locate x, y, and z positions of point, line, and area features in two or three dimensions. A projected coordinate system is defined by a geographic coordinate system, a map projection, any parameters needed by the map projection, and a linear unit of measure. The coordinate system definition is stored within the DWG file and is recognized by ArcGIS Pro.
Schema	The schema of a feature layer is the definition of its geometry and fields. The schema of web feature layers is determined by the author of a web feature layer and cannot be changed. You can create and modify the schema of document feature layers by importing schema from other DWG files, editing the properties of the document feature layer, creating a document feature layer, or by creating a document feature layer from an existing template file.
Spatial reference	A spatial reference is a coordinate system definition that locates a position on the earth and defines the relationship between locations. It is also referred to generically as a coordinate system. The coordinate system definition is stored within the DWG file and is recognized by ArcGIS Pro.
Subtypes	Subtypes are a subset of features in a feature layer that share the same defining attribute value. They are used as a method to categorize data. Subtypes are used to organize features into types of features such as the type of road, or type of electrical switch. Subtypes are defined in web feature layers or exported from other GIS data sources. The subtype field values of features can be modified, but the definition of subtype schema cannot be redefined or created in ArcGIS for AutoCAD.
Synchronize	Synchronizing a web feature layer posts any changes from the drawing to the web feature layer from the time the layer was added, or last updated. Then the drawing is updated with the most current information that is located geographically within the current project area from the source web feature layer, including edits by others.
Web feature layer	A feature layer is a map document that has been published in ArcGIS and made available as a web-based service with feature access capabilities. Feature layers are added as AutoCAD features using ArcGIS for AutoCAD.
Z value	In 3D geometric model, the z-value represents elevation; in other kinds of surface models, it represents the density or quantity of a particular attribute.