Export Text from ArcGIS to AutoCAD: Step-by-Step Guide

Export Points to AutoCAD (DWG)

ArcGIS and AutoCAD are two of the most widely used tools in the field of civil engineering, surveying, and GIS. Many times, engineers or GIS professionals need to export attribute information (like names of points, objects, or locations) from ArcGIS and display them as text labels in AutoCAD.

For example, you may have a feature class in ArcMap that contains points such as powerhouse, electric pole, tree, or camp. These points are stored inside the attribute table under a field called Name. When exporting to AutoCAD, you may want those names to appear as text directly on your drawing.

In this blog, I will guide you step by step on how to export text from ArcGIS to AutoCAD.

Why Do We Need to Export Text?

Exporting attribute text from ArcGIS to AutoCAD is useful for:

Preparing project drawings for construction or design.
Displaying labels (like station names, trees, poles, or landmarks) in AutoCAD.
Sharing GIS data with engineers who work mainly in CAD software.
Making maps more understandable without having to open ArcGIS.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Open Your Feature Class in ArcMap

Start ArcMap 10.8.2 (or your version).
Add your feature class (example: CampPoint) from your Geodatabase.
In the attribute table, you will see a field named Name, which stores the labels (like powerhouse, tree, etc.).

2. Use Feature Class to Feature Layer Tool

Go to ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Layers and Table Views > Make Feature Layer.
Select your feature class (CampPoint) as input.
This creates a working layer in ArcMap.

3. Export Attribute Values as Text Labels

Open ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Features > Feature to Point (optional, if working with polygons).
Then go to Data Management Tools > Features > Add XY Coordinates to add X, Y, Z values to your layer.
Now your layer contains coordinates + Name field.

4. Export to CAD Format

Go to ArcToolbox > Conversion Tools > To CAD > Export to CAD.
Select your layer as Input Feature.
Choose output type as AutoCAD DWG (R2018 or lower depending on your CAD version).
Run the tool.

5. View the Result in AutoCAD

Open the exported DWG file in AutoCAD.
You will see all the points along with their names as text labels (like powerhouse, tree, electric pole, etc.).

Pro Tips for Better Output

If you only need the Name text without geometry, first use Table to Excel tool and export attributes to Excel, then import into AutoCAD as text.
Always check the coordinate system in ArcMap before exporting, to ensure the text appears in the right place in AutoCAD.
For large datasets, split the export process into smaller parts to avoid heavy CAD files.

Conclusion

Exporting text from ArcGIS to AutoCAD is very simple once you know the right tools. Using the Export to CAD tool inside ArcGIS ensures that all your attribute names (like powerhouse, poles, trees, camps, etc.) are correctly placed as text labels in AutoCAD.

This method saves a lot of time for civil engineers, surveyors, and GIS professionals who need to prepare AutoCAD-ready drawings from GIS data.

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