Data Format Explanations
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Geodatabase - An ArcGIS geodatabase is a collection of geographic datasets of various types held in a common file system
folder, a Microsoft Access database, or a multiuser relational database (such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or IBM DB2).
Versions 8.3, 9.1, and 9.2 are available.
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Shapefile - Shapefiles are a simple, nontopological format for storing the geometric location and attribute information of
geographic features. Geographic features in a shapefile can be represented by points, lines, or polygons (areas). The workspace
may also contain dBASE tables, which can store additional attributes that can be joined to a shapefile's features.
Shapefiles can be read by most GIS software programs and most newer CAD software programs.
How to open shapefiles in Autodesk AutoCAD
Type: mapimport in the command line. That opens the Import Location window. Select ESRI Shapefile from the drop down list
and then browse to the location of your shapefile.
