How to define CAD data for use in ArcMap?
Beginning in ArcGIS Desktop version 9.3, if many CAD files in the same coordinate system are received from the data source, the projection for all the CAD files can be defined with a single projection file using the steps below.
Can a CAD file be used in ArcGIS?
Computer Aided Design (CAD) files can be brought into ArcGIS and made to overlay other data in ArcMap by defining the projection (coordinate system). Instructions provided describe how to define a projection for using CAD data in ArcMap and apply to DWG or DXF files created in AutoCAD and to DGN files created in Microstation.
Can a CAD file be a projection file?
With the exception of the file extension, the projection file name must be identical to the CAD file. The file name is case-sensitive. If the CAD data was created in a local coordinate system, a custom projection file can be created for the CAD data to align the CAD file with other data in ArcMap.
How do you change the coordinate system in ArcMap?
Go to View > Data Frame Properties > Coordinate System tab. Double-click the Projected Coordinate System name in the top box that is assigned to the ArcMap Data Frame. This opens the Projected Coordinate System Properties dialog. Type in a new name for the projection file in the Name text box.
How is ArcMap different from AutoCAD feature layer?
ArcMap renders symbology similar to that of the source AutoCAD source file when added to ArcMap. When a DWG/DXF is added to ArcMap this is called a “CAD Layer”. This layer is different from a regular feature class: it has a different data type and a different set of symbology (as well as other) properties.
Can You import CAD layer symbology into ArcGIS?
In fact even CAD layers symbology saved from a CAD layer inside ArcMap is not compatible with native (ArcGIS) feature class layers (even when you Import a CAD layer into a geodatabase and add it to the same map, you will not be able to to import the symbology from the CAD Layer). As stated by Jakub there seems to be no automatic way of doing this.