From the Ground Up
A European perspective on design and out of the box thinking with Civil 3D.
About Jack About OveLatest Post
- posted 01/31/07 by Ove Cervin Sample Line Group Properties
- Hi all,
This week I'm actually feeling the spring getting closer to Sweden. It's not pitch black when I go to the office in the morning. It's only really dark ;-)
But that's NOT a problem as I have good headlights on my car - which by the way ofcourse is a V...o, I'm a Swedish citizen!!! (joke - I have another car as well, equally good, and not Swedish...)

As I have noticed a lot of users are struggling to change the apperance of objects on screen, once they have created those, I want to highlight some here.
A lot of objects have Properties with accessible dialogs for change of apperance. This example will be on a set of cross sections.
Below you see some cross sections with a Section View Style and a Section Style.

Here is one of the cross sections a bit larger.

If I have all those in my drawing and suddenly realize I want another Style on them I don't have to erase and re- create them.
Go to the Toolspace and find your Site and corresponding Alignment. In my sample here it's all around "Alignment- 1".
Choose Properties on the Sample Line Group you want to change.

In the following dialog you see there are several tabs at the top.

As I mentioned I wanted to change the Section Style for my cross sections. Pick the tab "Sections". This will list all your sections in the bottom of the view.
If you then click on the header of the column named "Name" the program will sort by name.

This gives you a possibility to mark all Corridor Sections at one time. (Shift-select)
Mine (Swedish - sorry...) are namned "Korridor (1), which is the same as "Corridor (1)"

After selecting those you click on one of the Style names in the column "Style". Mine have the name "Tvärsektion", which is the same as "Cross section".
Clicking that name will bring you the dialog used to select a new Code Set Style for a new apperance of the cross sections.

After that, still in the Sample Line Group Properties dialog, I want to change the Section View Style as well.
Go to the tab "Section Views" and do a similar procedure. Select which section views you want change. Click on one of the names under "Style". Select a new Section view style.

As you can see these two changes gave me a Section style with more Labels and a Section view style with a grid.

Until next time - take care!
// Ove C0 comments In From the Ground Up > Tips and Tricks
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-
fieldbook commands
Posted 01/29/07 by chris berends
Today more focus on fieldbook survey commands
As described in the language.ref (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2007\enu\Survey) we have 257 command possibilities to use
1,AD,ANG-DIST
……..
……..
257,RADIANS,RADS
As sample a fieldbook file with most used commands
JOB Chris
BEG ELEC begin figure ELEC
NE SS 1 399.84 373.57 19.87 "ELEC Depth 1.40"
NE SS 2 334.94 401.27 17.27 "ELEC Depth 1.40"
C3 straight line from point 1 till point 2, start 3 points curve from point 2 till point 19
NE SS 3 263.51 446.20 15.52 "ELEC Depth 1.40"
NE SS 19 319.19 288.12 19.26 "ELEC Depth 7.40"
NE SS 20 374.55 274.61 20.63 "ELEC Depth 7.40"
NE SS 21 386.74 266.77 21.41 "ELEC Depth 7.40"
END Stop figure ELEC ad point 21
OFFSET ELEC 0.8 complete figure ELEC offset 0.8 (right side seen from the line direction)
OFFSET ELEC -1.8 complete figure ELEC offset -1.8 (left side seen from the line direction)
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BEGIN FWS
NE SS 22 391.89 292.21 20.75 "FWS Depth 1.75"
NE SS 23 215.14 260.07 14.25 "FWS Depth 1.40"
CLOSE RECT -4.5 baseline from point 22 till point 23 will be rectangelar offset to the left site (seen from the line direction) and automatically closed till the firts point 22
View image
END stops figure ELEC creation
BEGIN FWS Begin new figure called FWS
recall 23 start new figure with earlier surveyed point 23
MCS multi curve (more than 3 points)
NE SS 24 191.82 219.85 13.77 "FWS Depth 1.80" first fpoint of the multi curve FWS figure
BEGIN SWS begin new figure called SWS
NE SS 25 175.22 237.04 15.78 "SWS Depth 0.65"
NE SS 26 150.82 290.62 14.33 "SWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 27 116.63 305.15 14.12 "SWS Depth 0.60"
CONT FWS continue figure FWS with previous (MCS) command
NE SS 31 141.60 272.76 13.18 "FWS Depth 2.30" 2nd multi curve point
NE SS 32 183.93 181.19 13.63 "FWS Depth 2.30" 3rd multi curve point
NE SS 33 284.88 172.90 16.95 "FWS Depth 2.30" 4th mult curve point
MCE Multi curve end
BEGIN BT Begin figure called BT
NE SS 1001 255.52 73.41 19.27 "BT Depth 1.0 "
NE SS 1002 254.66 72.00 19.21 "BT Depth 1.0 "
NE SS 1003 253.42 69.90 19.13 "BT Depth 1.0 "
NE SS 1004 252.93 70.11 19.10 "BT Depth 0.9"
CONT FWS continue figure FWS with previous straight line command
NE SS 1005 247.62 73.09 17.97 "FWS Depth 1.00"
MCS multi curve (more than 3 points)
NE SS 1006 242.15 76.24 18.02 "FWS Depth 0.90"
NE SS 1007 238.00 78.59 17.79 "FWS Depth 1.10"
NE SS 1008 233.90 81.05 18.26 "FWS Depth 0.60"
NE SS 1009 230.53 82.99 18.35 "FWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 1010 227.43 84.45 18.38 "FWS Depth 0.50"
MCE Multi curve end
END stops figure FWS creation
CONT BT continue figure BT with previous straight line command
NE SS 1011 225.14 86.08 19.11 "BT Depth 1.5"
NE SS 1012 223.95 86.99 19.10 "BT Depth 1.6"
NE SS 1013 221.93 87.52 18.76 "BT Depth 1.7"
NE SS 1014 229.54 81.95 18.86 "BT Depth 1.5"
END stops figure BT creation
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more to come...Chris Berends
-
Corridor Labels
Posted 01/24/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi again,
As I'm preparing (mentally) to create a series of posts to this blog on how to do a tunnel design in C3D I will need to feed you with some easier tips&trix yet some posts... ;-)
Today I'll show those of you who might be new to the program how to get Labels presented on your Corridor, like elevations etc. There are some ways to do it and here's one.
Below is a Corridor drawn with our Swedish style/template - enjoy ;-)

An easy way to get Corridor Labels is to create COGO Points from the Corridor.

In the following dialog you can select what part of the Corridor you want and also what codes to present as Points.
Put in a name for a new Point Group. All COGO Points will be stored there.

This is the result. A lot of Points with the default Labels.

As the command above created a new Point Group it's really easy to change the style on the Points.
You can also create different Point Groups for different areas of the Corridor and have different Labels on the Point Groups. That way you can have Labels above some Codes and below some Codes.

Now we have a look that is readable - like it or not ;-)
As usual it's easy to adjust the Styles and Labels to whatever you prefer.

As some of you know - those Labels are not updated (Dynamic) with the Corridor. But it's quite fast to erase the set of Points and have them drawn again when the Corridor is changed.
Until next time - take care! I'm enjoying a lot of snow here in Sweden the last couple of days!
Cheers! / Ove
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point label styles and prefix figure libary
Posted 01/22/07 by chris berends
Today focusing on point label style and prefix figure library
As a sample we work with a field book dataset containing pointnumber,x,y,z data and a raw description key containing object type and depth below surveyed surface point
UNIT METER DMS
HORZ ANGLE RIGHT
PRISM CONSTANT 0
EDM OFFSET 0
CR OFF
ATMOS OFF
COLLIMATION OFF
JOB Chris
BEG ELEC
NE SS 1277 231.53 339.24 15.27 "ELEC Depth 0.60"
NE SS 100 336.21 221.86 19.38 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 1 399.84 373.57 19.87 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 2 334.94 401.27 17.27 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 3 263.51 446.20 15.52 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 4 324.13 375.37 17.77 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 5 359.65 355.86 19.97 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 6 410.16 334.15 22.26 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 7 241.35 378.41 14.69 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 8 215.24 390.36 14.86 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 9 181.85 402.80 14.41 "ELEC Depth 0.50"
NE SS 10 169.93 382.49 14.66 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 11 138.37 364.10 14.42 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 12 163.83 326.39 14.46 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 13 199.69 351.63 14.47 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 14 224.08 348.88 15.14 "ELEC Depth 0.40"
NE SS 15 206.44 334.05 14.54 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 16 204.39 305.29 14.63 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 17 248.33 260.51 17.06 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 18 254.22 329.37 16.95 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 19 319.19 288.12 19.26 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 20 374.55 274.61 20.63 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
NE SS 21 386.74 266.77 21.41 "ELEC Depth 0.30"
END
BEGIN FWS
NE SS 22 391.89 292.21 20.75 "FWS Depth 1.75"
NE SS 23 215.14 260.07 14.25 "FWS Depth 1.40"
NE SS 24 191.82 219.85 13.77 "FWS Depth 1.80"
BEGIN SWS
NE SS 25 175.22 237.04 15.78 "SWS Depth 0.65"
NE SS 26 150.82 290.62 14.33 "SWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 27 116.63 305.15 14.12 "SWS Depth 0.60"
NE SS 28 102.18 288.38 15.34 "SWS Depth 0.65"
NE SS 29 83.36 307.86 14.74 "SWS Depth 0.50"
NE SS 30 102.48 356.70 14.42 "SWS Depth 0.50"
END
CONT FWS
NE SS 31 141.60 272.76 13.18 "FWS Depth 2.30"
NE SS 32 183.93 181.19 13.63 "FWS Depth 2.30"
NE SS 33 284.88 172.90 16.95 "FWS Depth 2.30"
NE SS 34 257.17 97.54 16.75 "FWS Depth 2.25"
NE SS 35 302.86 104.20 20.50 "FWS Depth "
NE SS 1000 258.14 71.93 17.87 "FWS Depth 1.50"
First thing is to setup a point description key set (or extend a existing one) so we can automatically insert different blocks to different surveyed points and make sure we manage the label description the way we like and if necessary scale the blocks accordantly one of the description parameters.
(point description key set saved in the template and managed in the prospector survey tab)
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Second thing we need to setup a (or extend a existing one) prefix figure library so we can automatically link the new surveyed figure to a survey figure style. (Prefix Figure library is save outside the drawing as a .fdb file , managed by the survey user settings)
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Third thing we need to setup is a survey figure style to draw the line work (figures) on the predefined layers/colours/line width.
(The survey figure style is saved in the drawing file and managed with the prospector settings tab)
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As you can see in the different screenshots the surveyed ELEC,FWS and SWS points are displayed according the parameter (points description key) setup
ELEC
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FWS
View image
SWS
View image
As we use linework commands in the fieldbook and we’ve set a prefix library as current and surevey linework styles we can draw the surveyed lines in the predefined layer/colours/line width
View image
more to come, Chris Berends -
Sight Distance Analysis Part 2
Posted 01/19/07 by Jack Strongitharm
This week I will continue to develop this technique to rather than a pass or fail but to how much the design is failing by or how much clearance there is.
From last week we were left with a feature line that was positioned to check a forward sight and was draped to the surface at each end. Then raised in level to the appropriate heights for standards.
We then will use surfaces to analyse the depths, i.e. cut and fill (sounds familiar, nothing is ever that hard!)
1. Create a grading from the line and offset a short distance such as 1m and at 0 change in level on both sides of the feature line.
Create a surface and style to not display the surface (so your screen does not get cluttered)


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2. Create a tin volume surface from the composite model that was created earlier

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3. Change the style of this surface to a 2D Solid Banding

4. Then choose the analysis tab of the surface properties and select two ranges

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5. Change the ID 1 to a maximum level of 0, and ID 2 minimum level of 0. Change the purple colour if you wish to green.

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Now red will signify a clash or fail and green for pass! (This is also how to shade cut and fill as it is the same technique!)

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As you can see the design fails on the earthworks as we found before and to any designer this means reduce the amount of cut, increase the horizontal curve or create some widening around the bend.
6. Now we can also find out the actual failure amount by either adjusting the style to a contour style or by turning on the contours on this one and draw a contour line to display the labels

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Contour style
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Shaded style but with contours
7. Finally you can simply see the depth from the tooltip

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As you can see a little out of the box thinking can give you a lot more because Civil 3D is very flexible.
Jack Strongitharm
-
Object Layers
Posted 01/17/07 by Ove Cervin
Hi all,
Today I want to present to you a nice feature that might help you organize your drawing. Or at least the Layers and Objects in it. Actually I learnt this quite recently myself - don't tell anyone...
What I mean is that you have the possibility to choose that C3D creates a specific Layer for each Object you create.
Here I will present how you can put Alignments on different Layers (The same proceedure applies for most other C3D Objects as well)
In the following picture I have an Alignment called "Centerline1" (See ToolTip and Toolspace in picture). As it is selected on screen you see that it is put on a Layer called "ALIGNMENTS".

If you go to the Settings tab in the Toolspace, rightclick on the Drawing name, you can select "Edit Drawing Settings".

You will find a Dialog with some tabs - select the one called "Object Layers".
For the row "Alignments" the default Layer for creation is set to "ALIGNMENTS". (See picture below)

If you change the column "Modifier" to use a "Suffix" and in the "Value" column you enter a space and then an * you will have your Alignments created on their own Layers.

As you can see below the next created Alignment called "Centerline2" got created on the Layer "ALIGNMENTS Centerline2" (See Layer Toolbar in picture)

As you will see this might be useful to separate different Surface TIN's etc.
This shows yet another way of the flexibility in Civil 3D.
See you soon again // Ove C
-
fieldbook formats and label description key set
Posted 01/15/07 by chris berends
Fieldbook formats
.fbk is the default internal file format for raw survey data. we can use 2 different dataformats as raw data
1: Raw data based on horizontal angle, vertical angle ,vertical distance and description code
JOB (start header)
UNITS METER DMS
TEMP 15.0 C
PRESS 1000.0 MBAR
ATMOS ON
CR ON (end header)
NEZ 21000 307279.704 301705.953 314.799 "CONTROL" (cmdhelp.ref/ NEZ (point) [North] [East] (elev) (descript))
STN 21000 0.000 "CONTROL"
ZD VD 2 46.325996 59.634 -5.371 (cmdhelp.ref/ ZD [VD] (point) [azimuth] [distance] [vert distance] (descript))
ZD VD 3 86.561764 71.631 3.345
ZD VD 4 62.422796 86.618 -0.349
STN 3 (station number)
AZ 3 2 0.0000 (cmdhelp.ref/ AZ [point 1] [point 2] [azimuth])
BS 2 322.4719 (cmdhelp.ref/ BS [point] (orientation))
PRISM 1.363
F1 VA 2 322.4719 47.509 100.3931 ""
PRISM 2.000
BEGIN FL
F1 VA 10000 117.1816 8.742 81.2807 "FL" (cmdhelp.ref / F1/F2 [VA] (point) [angle] [distance] [vert angle] (descript))
F1 VA 10001 92.3533 10.003 89.5111 "FL"
F1 VA 10002 83.1019 11.541 96.4908 "FL"
BEGIN BKT (begin figure BKT)
F1 VA 10003 99.2819 7.634 88.3602 "BKT"
F1 VA 10004 79.3624 4.430 89.2145 "BKT" (straight line from 10003 -10004)
C3
F1 VA 10005 351.2621 6.644 101.0929 "BKT" (start 3 point curve)
F1 VA 10006 339.1342 9.853 101.1236 "BKT"
F1 VA 10007 314.1635 10.928 98.2542 "BKT" (last curve point)
F1 VA 10008 305.5510 12.102 97.3135 "BKT" (straight line from 10007-10008)
MCS
F1 VA 10009 316.4125 15.860 99.3755 "BKT" (start multi curve)
F1 VA 10010 329.4226 20.312 102.0915 "BKT"
F1 VA 10011 327.1403 25.092 101.3553 "BKT"
F1 VA 10012 325.5315 31.432 101.0847 "BKT"
F1 VA 10013 327.4305 37.985 101.1256 "BKT" (last point multi curve)
MCE
F1 VA 10014 328.4602 46.211 101.0120 "BKT"
END (end figure BKT)
F1 VA 10015 333.3447 29.797 104.0954 "SPOT" ( create spot point)
F1 VA 10016 335.2045 25.175 105.0050 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10017 337.5754 20.125 104.4122 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10018 330.0334 15.576 104.0144 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10019 320.2449 14.279 102.0026 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10020 351.0158 11.315 105.3449 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10021 3.1946 11.083 110.0029 "SPOT"
F1 VA 10022 18.2237 10.193 112.0508 "SPOT"
PRISM 1.800 (cmdhelp.ref/PRISM [height])
CONT FL (continue FL from the last surveyed point 10002)
…….
…….
…….
2: Raw data based on nording, easting, elevation and description code
UNIT METER DMS (start header)
HORZ ANGLE RIGHT
PRISM CONSTANT 0
EDM OFFSET 0
CR OFF
ATMOS OFF
COLLIMATION OFF
JOB Day1 (end header)
NE SS 1 346101.5705 417557.6161 119.8920 stn8 (cmdhelp.ref /NE SS (point) [North] [East] (elev) (descript))
NE SS 2 345917.7197 417444.8098 122.0350 stn6
NE SS 3 345749.8118 417248.8810 121.0600 stn4
BEGIN bob (start figure bob)
NE SS 4 345854.2218 417210.2085 116.5590 bob (only straight lines from point 4-12)
NE SS 5 345853.4216 417206.2570 116.3640 bob
NE SS 6 345846.6071 417199.2594 116.2860 bob
NE SS 7 345840.8412 417194.6803 116.0980 bob
NE SS 8 345836.0342 417192.7604 116.0740 bob
NE SS 9 345832.5840 417191.8065 116.2500 bob
NE SS 10 345820.5225 417185.9122 116.4060 bob
NE SS 11 345813.1636 417182.7679 116.4760 bob
NE SS 12 345811.5910 417180.0727 116.5560 bob
END (end figure bob)
NE SS 13 345808.9496 417178.1754 116.7230 bob (create point bob)
NE SS 14 345803.1798 417180.3094 117.5670 bob
NE SS 15 345799.6180 417182.3898 117.2530 bob
NE SS 16 345792.5485 417188.2123 116.6870 bob
NE SS 17 345790.5815 417190.3507 116.8270 bob
…….
…….
If you don’t use any figure command the software recognizes the surveyed point as a point,
If you use only the figure start command all the surveyed points are recognized as straight lines till the figure end command.
Trimble can save the raw data directly into .fbk file format from the datalogger
Leica can save the raw data directly into .fbk format form Leica Geo office as desktop solution
Stringer connect can convert from a variety of raw data formats into .fbk as a desktop solution
Carlson connect can convert form a variety of raw data formats info .fbk as a pulldown menu in Civil3D
Point label description key set
When you import the .fbk file in your survey database Civil3d recognizes the survey points as cogopoints. The representation of the cogopoints are manageable in the description key set
Just a little knowledge update
We can use the key set as a hard coded point label
View image
The label manageable by the point label style gives always the value set by the description key format tab
The point graphical representation is manageable by the point style
Or as flexible coded point label
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The label manageable by the point label style gives always the value set by the description key format tab
$* is the complete raw description key, $1 the first part of the description key, $2 the second… the rest of the $ options is findable in the well documented help file.
The flexible coded point label makes it possible to fulfil any customer point label demand
more to come.... Chris Berends -
Sight Distance Analysis
Posted 01/12/07 by Jack Strongitharm
Ok, Civil 3D currently does not have a button to check this part of Civil design (it is still only three years old), but it does not mean that you cannot check sight distance.
The procedure outlined in the next two week’s Friday Blogs outlines a simple idea to check visibility now.
Your model will contain a existing ground surface and also will require a surface to the top of your road if you are looking at road design. (Its not all about roads, such as can I see that Wind turbine from my house!)

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With the road design though you typically check from the drivers eye (excuse the left hand drive for all non UK, Irish, other left hand drivers!). So we can export a feature line from our corridor.

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Offset that line to the distance from the carriageway edge, such as 1.5m or to your country standards

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Draw line to distance required. Then rotate it to touch your sight line offset line you created

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Create a new surface, then paste surface EG and then Road Top, to create one combined final surface. (A great technique!!)
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Turn surface style off for clarity, (use a style with all turned off)
Create a new site and call it ‘Sight Lines’ or what you want
Note: This step overcomes the relationship between crossing alignments and feature lines.

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Convert line to a feature line, then drape to the surface, but uncheck ‘insert intermediate gradient break points’

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Using the feature line level editor, raise the points above the surface to the required heights, such as 1.05m and 0.26m at the target.

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At this point you can view the sight line in a quick profile

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As you can see this fails in a big way. (I made sure it failed of course!)

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You can then grip edit your sight line in plan to the next position, re-drape to the surface and raise the end levels and check the Quick profile.
Next Friday, I will show how to create depth/ isopachyte contours along this line to map out how far out or clear your design is.
Jack Strongitharm
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ToolTip TIP
Posted 01/10/07 by Ove Cervin
This post will be a shorter one, more like a tips&trix ;-)
Many users new to C3D might not have noticed the possibility to reduce the amount of information in the ToolTip presented on the cursor when hoovering over objects in the drawing.
See these sample pics with four close Alignments over a Surface...

...and a Sewer Pipe Network

When you have objects created, or when you create them, you have the possibility to turn the ToolTip off.
Select your object (ex Alignment name or Pipe Network) in the Toolspace.
Rightclick and use Properties.

At the bottom of the Information Tab you have the Setting for ToolTip.
It's the same way to change the Setting for most other kind of objects.

Hope it helps someone! ;-)
Cheers / Ove C -
survey basics
Posted 01/08/07 by chris berends
As the title of the blog site is fromthegroundup we start from scratch.
5 important survey topics:
1: Cmdhelp.ref (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2007\enu\Survey) gives you a very good overview of all different RAW surveyed data types all recognized as .fbk
2: As we use fbk as survey file format we can use different commands for start, end, curves, offset for your surveyed line work.
Language.ref (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2007\enu\Survey) gives you a very good impression what commands you can use.
By default to start line work we can use
13,BEG,BEGIN,BEGINS if you want to use your own command…. Like Chris to start your linework….. ad ,Chris just after BEGINS in the language.ref… save the file and restart civil3d.
so it is possible to ad your own coding list to Civil3D survey
3: Prospector/survey tab has a user settings icon

Or use the survey pulldown menu
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4: Prospector/survey right click on the survey database and create a new local survey database
Right click on the local survey database and open it
Right click on the local database and select edit survey database settings or use the survey pulldown menu
You can manage settings like units
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5: Prospector/survey right click on the Figure Prefix database and create a new Figure Prefix database
The database is stored, in the user settings defined path, as a .fdb file… so you can change the file content very easily using Microsoft Access.
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more to come..Chris Berends
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3DDWF IT
Posted 01/05/07 by Jack Strongitharm
Have you tried exporting to a 3D DWF?
This functionality is amazing and its use it not fully understood.
It gives you the ability to create a true 3D model from your Civil 3D design with rendered materials and then freely navigate the model using your mouse.
Creating videos are possible through Civil 3D but are a fixed view.
So why not export your model and then use them to present your work in a 3D way rather than just those 2D drawings.
We are in a digital age after all.

Site model of a concept of a new stadium
Download file

Download file
What Lies Beneath, many cables and pipes!!
Note you can also make surfaces transparent from within the DWF to see objects that are underneath.
You can easily use this functionality in design meetings, planning permission and public exhibitions as they dont necessarily see what an engineer might see.
To create one from Civil 3D
Set your start view and also the visual style to realistic
File->Export->Export to other formats
Give it a name and select 3DDWF as the file type.
Jack Strongitharm
