Feature layer symbols—ArcGIS for AutoCAD

When ArcGIS for AutoCAD is used to draw a feature as an entity for a feature layer or a sublayer, a feature symbol is used. This happens when you use the create feature capability, when new features are drawn from a web feature layer, and when the ArcGIS for AutoCAD redraw option is used for a feature layer. The feature symbol is a combination of the AutoCAD layer; the AutoCAD entity type; and a descriptor value, which might be an AutoCAD block name or COGO point description. Some of the aspects of the symbol are automatic behaviors, and others you can set.

The entity type and descriptor settings do not change the definition of the feature layer. The definition query of a feature layer determines whether an entity qualifies as one GIS feature or another. For example, the symbol of a feature layer or sublayer may be set to a specific block name; however, if you use a different block or a simple point entity that qualifies based on the definition query of that feature layer, it is still considered a feature.

Symbols may be modified by linked property fields, such as ROTATION/ANGLE or ELEVATION, and others where applicable. These linked fields are an automatic behavior for point features and are not a direct component of the feature layer symbol.

Features can display text labels that are linked to matching feature layer attributes either through linked labels, with visible block attributes, or with COGO points automatically linked to visible property fields. These linked fields are an automatic behavior and are not a direct component of the feature layer symbol.

Symbol settings

There are different symbol settings for different geometric feature layer types. You can set the symbol using the Assign Symbol user interface invoked from the Esri_FeatureLayer command or using the context menu of a feature layer in the Esri Contents pane. These symbol settings determine how features are drawn as AutoCAD entities by ArcGIS for AutoCAD. Depending on the geometric type, these settings may include automatic or dictated behaviors that are implemented according to a precedence when more than one option could apply.

Symbol definition

There are three components of a feature symbol used in ArcGIS for AutoCAD. These include the AutoCAD layer of the entity, the type of entity used to represent the feature, and a possible descriptor that helps further identify the entity being used.

AutoCAD layer—The AutoCAD layer of a feature created by ArcGIS for AutoCAD or drawn from a web feature layer is determined based on the following precedence:
The AutoCAD layer of web feature layers is always the web feature layer name prepended with esri_. This is the only criteria for the definition query of the web feature layer. Sublayers of the web feature layer also use the AutoCAD layer of its definition query, which is the sublayer name prepended with esri_.
Document feature layers have more flexibility with regard to the AutoCAD layer. For situations in which the layer is not part of the query definition, the create feature capability uses the current AutoCAD layer. If one or more possible AutoCAD layer names are used in the definition query, the first AutoCAD layer listed is used.
Entity type—A default entity type is used for each geometric feature layer that is appropriate for that geometry. Various entity types may be acceptable for a feature layer. Any settings of the entity type will not modify the definition query of that feature layer or sublayer. A specific entity type setting is used when entities are drawn by ArcGIS for AutoCAD but won't preclude other entity types of entities that are valid features of the feature layer according to the feature definition query of the feature layer or sublayer.
Descriptor—The descriptor of a feature symbol pertains to entity types that include additional descriptive information or named properties, such as a block name of a Block Reference or the description of a Civil 3D COGO point. The specified descriptor setting is used when entities are drawn by ArcGIS for AutoCAD, but it won't prevent you from using other descriptors for entities that are still valid features of the feature layer according to the feature definition query of the feature layer or sublayer.

Point feature symbols

Point features support the following symbol settings for a feature layer or sublayer:

Automatic—The default Automatic setting denotes the predefined precedence to assign the symbol when ArcGIS for AutoCAD draws a feature as an entity.
If there is an existing AutoCAD block definition in the drawing with the same name as the web feature layer's AutoCAD layer name, that block will be used as the symbol, including the esri_ prepended name.
If there is an existing AutoCAD block definition in the drawing with the feature layer or sublayer name, that block will be used as the symbol.
Else, if a sublayer, and no matching block name is detected and a matching block name is found for the parent layer, the parent layer's block name will be used.
Else, if in Civil 3D, a COGO point will be used and features without a description value will be populated with the feature layer name as the COGO point description.
Else, in standard AutoCAD, a POINT entity type will be used.
Block Reference—When the symbol setting is set to Block Reference, you are required to specify a valid existing block reference name defined in the drawing. This block name descriptor overrides the default Automatic behavior of using a matching block name. If the specified block name descriptor is not found in the drawing, the precedence of the Automatic setting is used.
If a sublayer, and no matching block name is detected and a matching block name is found for the parent layer, the parent layer's block name is used.
COGO Point (Civil 3D only)—If the COGO Point setting is selected, you can specify a descriptor to be used as the COGO Point's description to override the default behavior of using the feature layer name as the COGO Point description value. Creating a Civil 3D points group based on the descriptor is a good way to organize and use ArcGIS for AutoCAD point features in Civil 3D.
Point—If the Point setting is selected, point features of the layer or sublayer are drawn as standard AutoCAD point entities with size and symbol control by the AutoCAD PDSIZE and PDMODE system variables, respectively.

If the point feature layer has a numeric (double) field named ANGLE or ROTATION, that field value is automatically linked to the rotation value of the block entity or COGO point for document and web point feature layers. Block insert symbols are rotated around their base point.

You can set the method of angular measurement for a web point feature layer to geographic or arithmetic in ArcGIS. If the web service of the feature layer is set to geographic, the numeric field values stored in the feature attribute fields are automatically converted to geographic. No conversion is applied when the method of angular measurement of the web feature layer is set to the default arithmetic option.

Polyline feature symbols

The symbology of polyline feature layers is controlled by the graphic properties of the entities and AutoCAD layers. By anticipating the names of layers used in your drawing for specific web or document feature layers, you can predefine symbology like any other AutoCAD layer, including layers defined in template drawings (.dwt).

Polygon feature symbols

The symbology of polygon feature layers is controlled by the graphic properties of the entities and AutoCAD layers. By anticipating the names of layers used in your drawing for specific web or document feature layers, you can predefine symbology like any other AutoCAD layer, including layers defined in template drawings (.dwt).

Annotation feature symbols

The symbology of annotation feature layers is controlled by the graphic properties and text styles of the text entities and AutoCAD layers.

Multipatch feature symbols

The symbology of multipatch feature layers is controlled by the graphic properties of the entities and AutoCAD layers. By anticipating the names of layers used in your drawing for specific web or document feature layers, you can predefine symbology like any other AutoCAD layer, including layers defined in template drawings (.dwt).