Exporting in Shapefile Format

The Export Shapefile command exports VectorWorks Landmark drawing components to the shapefile format. Each shapefile (.shp) exported is accompanied by an index file (.shx) and a database file (.dbf) with the same name.

The following objects cannot be exported: text, dimensions, worksheets, bitmaps, lights, layer links, walls, round walls, and 3D objects (including 3D loci, extrudes, 3D polygons, sweeps, meshes, roofs, floors, columns, and NURBS curves). Other objects are exported as follows:

Lines, rectangles, circles, ovals, arcs, polygons, rounded rectangles, polylines, and path plug-in objects are exported as shapefile polylines.

Symbols, loci, and point plug-in objects are exported as shapefile points.

Shapefiles can contain only one shape type. If multiple shape types are being exported, they will go into separate files.

Groups that contain exportable object types are ungrouped when exported.

If the VectorWorks file contains projection data from a shapefile, the export process removes the projection and exports the file with the original georeference data.

To export a shapefile:

1.	Select File > Export > Export Shapefile.

2.	The Export Shapefile dialog box opens.

 

Parameter	Description
Export Objects With Record	Select a data record to be exported; all objects that have a data record of this type attached are exported
Sort Classes Into Different Files	Select this option to create a different shapefile for each class exported

3.	Select the export parameters, and then click OK.

4.	Specify the file name and destination, and then click Save.

VectorWorks creates a set of export files, leaving the original file intact.

5.	The Shapefile Export Summary dialog box displays a summary of the export procedure.

6.

Click Details to view a log file in a separate window. The log’s summary section lists the number of exported and non-exported objects, and the number of files created. The log’s details section lists each file created and the number of objects in each file. It also lists the non-exportable objects and their types (such as Wall, Light, Text).

7.	Click OK to close the dialog box.