CAD Auto Generation is an add-on feature that automatically produces a standards-compliant CAD file from your 4M Foundation project data, ready to open directly in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, or Bentley OpenRoads without any manual conversion or layer reformatting.
Supported formats include:
.DWG - AutoCAD's native format; used in Civil 3D and most AutoCAD-based design workflows
.DXF - AutoCAD's interchange format; compatible with a wide range of CAD environments
.DGN - MicroStation/Bentley's native format; standard for DOT and Bentley-based workflows
Note: CAD Auto Generation is available as an add-on. If you don't see the download option in your account, contact your Customer Success Manager or Account Executive to enable it.
CAD export is available for both Foundation and Validated Data projects. Make sure your project has been created and that data has been enhanced (up to 2 days for Foundation projects) before attempting to download.
How to Download Your Project as a CAD File
Step 1: Open your project - From the 4M home screen, navigate to the project you want to export and open it.
Step 2: Click the Download dropdown at the top right of your project, then click the Generate button next to the CAD or DGN Download option. It will take a few seconds for the file to generate into CAD. If your organization doesn’t have this add-on, this option will be grayed out.
Step 3: Download the file Click Download to download your CAD files. Depending on project size, this may take a moment to process.
Step 4: Select the CAD file format you need - You may open the zip file you downloaded and choose the format that matches your design environment:
Select .DWG or .DXF for AutoCAD or Civil 3D workflows
Select .DGN for MicroStation or Bentley OpenRoads workflows
Step 5: Open the file in your design environment - Now you may open the file directly in your CAD application. No manual layer mapping or reformatting is required. The utility sectors are organized on separate layers, symbology is applied automatically, and the coordinate system is set based on your project location.
What's Included in the CAD Export
Each CAD file includes:
Utility lines and objects organized by subsector, each on its own layer
Line weights and symbology applied to ASCE-aligned standards
Coordinate system auto-selected based on project geography (state plane)
Attribute data for utility lines including size, material, depth, and operational status where available
A ReadMe file with setup instructions, including how to load the 4M Metadata plugin and configure your AutoCAD environment
Using the File in AutoCAD / Civil 3D
Open the .DWG or .DXF file as you would any standard CAD file. Utility lines will appear as separate Layers, named and structured to match 4M's ASCE-aligned naming conventions. No additional configuration is needed before using the data in your design workflow.
See the step-by-step instructions in this video:
Installing the 4M Metadata Plugin (.dll)
The CAD download zip also includes the 4M Metadata plugin — a set of .dll files that unlock full attribute visibility inside AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Map 3D.
What the plugin does: Without the plugin, 4M utility attribute data is stored as XData (extended entity data) attached to each CAD object — present in the file but not visible in standard property panels. Once loaded, the plugin automatically converts that XData into native Object Data tables, making attributes like utility size, material, depth, and operational status directly accessible and queryable within your AutoCAD environment.
To load the plugin:
1. Open AutoCAD Civil 3D or Map 3D.
2. Type NETLOAD in the command line and press Enter.
3. Browse to the .dll file that matches your AutoCAD version and click Open.
4. The plugin loads automatically. Utility attributes will now appear in the Object Data panel for each selected utility element.
Note: The plugin must be reloaded each session unless added to your AutoCAD startup suite. Refer to the included ReadMe for additional setup instructions.
Using the File in MicroStation / Bentley OpenRoads
Open the .DGN file in MicroStation or Bentley OpenRoads. The file is formatted to comply with MicroStation conventions, including level structure, symbology, and coordinate system.
Note: The .DGN file is based on the 4M standard. If your agency or project requires custom output templates or specific state kit configurations, contact your CSM to discuss options.
See the step-by-step instructions in this video:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I customize the layer naming, line styles, or symbology?
Standard CAD output uses 4M's ASCE-aligned defaults. Customization beyond the standard output, such as agency-specific layer naming or font requirements, is a separate service. Contact your CSM to discuss.
The download option isn't visible in my account. What should I do?
CAD Auto Generation is an add-on. Reach out to your Customer Success Manager to enable access.
My file opened but some utilities are missing. What should I check?
Confirm that all layers are toggled on in your CAD application's Layer Manager. If data appears incomplete, contact your CSM.
I loaded the .dll but I don’t see attribute data. What should I check?
Make sure you selected the correct .dll variant for your AutoCAD version (Civil 3D vs. Map 3D, and 2024 vs. earlier). Also confirm that the NETLOAD command completed without errors. If the issue persists, contact your CSM.
Questions?
For help with CAD Autogeneration or to enable this feature for your account, contact your Customer Success Manager.