From the Ground Up

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• A tool for the job - 2D to 3D

  Posted 06/26/08 by Jack Strongitharm

  No a 2D flat drawing again!!!!
  
  Yes I am sure you hate when this happens.
  You are given a job to design and the data for the survey is 2D. There is nothing you can do as this is what the client has provided and to them, that is a survey has it has spot levels etc.
  
  As we know there are some tools in Civil 3D to deal with the problem such as
  
  Surface menu, Utilities and 'Move Text to Level'
  This does simply read the text string and move it to that level. When you create a surface the point is the grip point of the text string.
  
  Ok, so in the Map tools we can do a query on the drawing and aswell as doing the same task you can also move the text a specific distance.
  
  But problem is that the survey drawing has had a number of manual edits such as moved text and rotation so that the drawing looks better.
  This could be hours of going through the drawing trying to sort out the problem.
  
  Luckily, as you know AutoCAD Civil 3D can be programmed by everyone and a large number of you make little macros and tools to deal with tasks like these.
  
  A fellow user Will Forty has done such a task and has kindly given this tool to everyone on the Civil Community.
  So I have loaded it up and here is the link
  
  Link to the Utility
  
  How does it work
  
  Download the file from the link above 'NewExportPoints.dvb' to a location of your choosing
  
  You can only do one type of block at the same time, so select a block and a text string near to it, right click and hit select similar, then go to Isolate and isolate selection
  
  Type VBAMAN and click on load and find the file
  
  
  
  Once loaded, highlight the tool in the list and click on VB Editor
  This loads the VB editor and all you need to do is click on the play button
  
  
  
  Select the block and hit 'Auto Associate'
  
  
  
  You will see that is will draw a simple line in graphics to show which text string will be associated with each block.
  You then need to confirm which ones you are happy with. Generally you will accept them all, so you can just select everything in display.
  
  From this you will get a message to say that AutoCAD points have been generated.
  
  So you now will have AutoCAD points in the position of the shot at the correct level.
  
  Create your surface then from drawing objects and AutoCAD points!
  
  
  
  Could be a huge time saver and ease the pain of poor survey files that are thrown on your desk (digitally of course!)
  
  Have a good week
  
  Jack Strongitharm

  1 commentsIn From the Ground Up > General

• Surface Labels - Slope and Grade

  Posted 06/24/08 by Ove Cervin

  Hello friends!
  
  Have you driven on Manhattan - or in Tokyo ? I have - now!
  
  Why don't you try it out here...?
  
  http://geoquake.jp/en/webgame/DrivingSimulatorGM/
  
  
  
  
  and you might also want to try driving a truck/trailer...
  
  
  
  I had some fun there ,-)
  
  Our friendly colleague, Tomas Lendvorsky has created a few tips&tricks I'd like to share here.
  The first one is on "How to set up a Surface Slope Label Style using Expressions" that makes it possible to present "0:0" on Horizontal Surfaces. Might seem easy, and you might try it out - getting "0:0" on a Run:Rise Label ;-)
  
  Here's how Tomas did it:
  As you can see in the following image the Labels on the upper right part present Horizontal areas as text "Horizontal" and on the other side of the Surface it present the grade with % (-5.7% in that case).
  On the bottom left side the same data is presented with a new Label, presenting a Run:Rise info on the flat area (0:0).
  To get this; follow the below steps.
  
  
  Edit the Label Style.
  
  
  Here it has the name "Slope 1: "
  
  
  To make a short explanation on the following; What is done here is a Labels with three parts. A slope arrow, a text containing "0:0" and a text containing the actual Surface Grade.
  Depending on the value of the grade (Expression) the Text Height for these Label parts are shown as really small, or normal. That way it LOOKS like it is presenting 0:0 on flat areas only, even if that text IS there also on non-flat areas - but VERY small. And the other way around; The text presenting the correct grade (value from the Surface) IS there all the time, but if the grade is flat, that text part of the Label is really small. That is the reason you will see double data on top of each other in the dialogs here.
  
  
  
  Detailed: The Surface Label here has three parts (below):
  
  
  The "Slope Text" contains information from the Surface but has a Text Height from an Expression (below) called "SlopeNotZero".
  
  
  For the part of the Label presenting "Text Horizontal" the content is "0:0".
  The Text Height is here (below) set to the Expression "SlopeZero".
  
  
  The Expressions used in the Labels to get the proper Text height is done like this:
  We have two Expressions.
  
  
  Create these two Expressions.
  Named: "SlopeZero"
  
  
  ...and named "SlopeNonZero"
  
  
  Then use them as described above in the Surface Label.
  
  Hope you'll get the idea. ;-)
  
  Thanks Tomas for sharing this!
  
  We have a few more nice tips from Tomas that will be shared here soon.
  
  Cheers / Ove Cervin
  
  

  0 commentsIn From the Ground Up > Tips and Tricks

• AUGI UK Design Academy 2008

  Posted 06/18/08 by Jack Strongitharm

  UKs answer to the Las Vegas AU event is back again for the second time.
  You wont loose your shirt on the slots and tables anyway!
  
  
  
  
  Mark in your calendars 25th ad 26th of September in Hammersmith, London.
  
  Also if you are up for presenting there is still time to submit a proposal.
  
  For more information click below
  
  AUGI Design Academy 2008
  
  The event covers all Autodesk products and CAD Management sessions for
  
  AutoCAD®
  Revit® Architecture
  Revit® Structure
  Autodesk® NavisWorks®
  AutoCAD® Architecture
  AutoCAD® Mechanical
  Autodesk® Inventor™
  Autodesk® Showcase
  Autodesk® Alias Studio
  Autodesk® Vault/ Productstream
  AutoCAD® Civil 3D®
  Autodesk® Impression
  AutoCAD® Map 3D
  Autodesk® Maya
  Autodesk® 3ds® Max
  
  
  So want to learn more in the UK, this is the place to be.
  Registration starts from July 1st
  
  It will be good to see you there.
  
  Jack Strongitharm

  0 commentsIn From the Ground Up > UK and Ireland Events

• UK and Ireland Country Kit 2009

  Posted 06/09/08 by Jack Strongitharm

  Hot on the trail of Ove and the Swedish.
  
  Finally we also have released the UK and Ireland Country Kit for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009.
  
  Easiest way to find all the country kits is from the memorable weblink
  
  http://www.autodesk.com/civil3d-countrykits
  
  This includes
  
  General template for UK and Ireland
  Template for Irish Local Authorities
  Template for importing OS Mastermap
  
  Roads standards file for DMRB and NRA
  
  The UK and Ireland Pipes Catalogue for Sewers for Adoption 6th Edition and Underground Utilities
  
  Link to Microdrainage WinDES
  
  and other suitable reporting outputs
  
  
  So worth the wait.
  
  Also there is a pdf file with a pictorial guide to what is in the country kit and please note the installation notes as it describes how to bring in the toolpalletes for the visualisation content that is not automatically shown in the British Language Version.
  
  This kit is an evolving set, so please let me know what you think should be part of it and supply some examples.
  
  Jack Strongitharm

  0 commentsIn From the Ground Up > UK and Ireland

• C3D 2009 Country kit - Swedish

  Posted 06/05/08 by Ove Cervin

  Hi all,
  This has really been a fully loaded period in my calendar, but finally we're right ON track again - getting new stuff up here.
  
  I just have to mention two things that has happened to me the last quarter;
  
  First - I went skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland, during Easter holiday. There I found a slope named "cervino" on the Italian side of Matterhorn. Oh yes - "cervino" is my login name on Autodesk! Cool!
  
  
  Second - I was recently on Iceland again, what a nice place to visit. BUT - beware!! I was, by group pressure, forced to eat of their traditionally SPECIAL food - ROTTEN SHARK! Don't ever try that...
  
  
  I was there with Bruce Harfield from 3AM-Solutions. Bruce didn't really like the shark either...
  
  
  If someone wants to try it out - check this:
  http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture-places/food/iceland_rottensharkmeat.html
  or http://www.simnet.is/gullis/jo/shark.htm
  
  
  To the proper stuff - this week we are very happy to announce that the Swedish Country kit for Civil 3D 2009 is out on the Autodesk website for download:
  http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7271531&linkID=9240698#2009
  
  There are more CK coming out real soon... I do know my colleague Jack is desp.... to get the UK one out... ;-)
  
  Downloaded Country Kits that can be added to your AutoCAD Civil 3D 2007, 2008, and 2009 installations giving you access to country- specific reports, templates, and much more.
  
  Content varies by country and may include:
  - Drafting and design standards (Civil 3D label and object styles)
  - Design standards files for calculation of superelevation
  - Drawing templates (AutoCAD .DWT Files)
  - Sheet templates for Plans Production (AutoCAD .DWT files)
  - Codes files to localize the point, link and shape codes for corridor models
  - Reports
  
  Below is what the page looks like (the links below can't be used from here as it is an image)
  
  
  Getting back to you soon again
  
  Cheers / Ove Cervin
  

  0 commentsIn From the Ground Up > General

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