Section Editor- Markers are too big.

 

 It is very annoying how the section editor view is configured out of the box on Civil 3D: 

The markers are way too big for Out of the Box. These Markers on the subassembly points are different on the Section Editor and are hard to find out which markers they are in the many markers that exist.

 

This is what I recommend to change(shown with a red tick)

   

The other change I recommend is to reduce the scale of the  markers in the preview window

The markers are different than those you've chosen on your style to display on your drawing. Under Settings , Multipurpose Styles>Marker Styles> Projection in Section

 

Reduce the scale of the marker to be able to see your section properly, the default can set at 0.01" and to use the drawing scale to change the size when you zoom in/out.

Now the markers are at a more easier to see size.

 

Recovered drawing

Sometimes.. it is amazing at how many error a recovery can find.

Export to .shp (Shape file) from AutoCAD map

To export to a shape file from AutoCAD map, Go to File> export> other GIS formats.
On the next menu, select the tab labeled "data".
   in order not to receive the error "this field name already exists"
select only objects...
hit OK





To export a Civil 3D surface to a raster , go to the Prospector and right-click on the surface and choose 'Export to DEM'. On the bottom of the menu, switch the file type from USGS .dem to GEOTIFF .tif file.

To use a large surface in Civil 3D without too much overheard use Autodesk's Map 'connect data' feature and connect to the GIS shape files of contours or surface elevations in various forms (hilshades form-.adf)
without utilizing too many resources. Make sure to match the CRS (coordinate reference system).

Pressure Pipes

Pressure pipes
Changing the Material of a pipe.

You will need:
1. SQL Lite editor
2. Backup of pressure pipe catalog.

1. open you SQL Lite editor and open this catalog file . Imperial_AWWA_PushOn.sqlite

Find this database called WA_MATERIAL_TBD

1. Click on the left of the title the little arrow to expand the database, then right click on the 'Columns' and select 'Edit table'.
2. When the window opens the VALUE heading contains the materials you can use for pressure networks (push-on).
3. Change the value you want. I change the value of 'ductile iron' to just DIP to make my labels smaller. 
4. When you're done making your changes. click on the check mark 'commit changes' or hit Ctrl+Enter. Then go to the menu 'View' and select 'close selected window'. 
5. Disconnect the SQL database before closing SQLLiteStudio. It is the second button from the let on the top menu.
6. You can now close SQL LiteStudio.

QGIS - open source GIS

13 free GIS software progams

Excellent article regarding which GIS open source (freeware) is the best out of 13 choices.

http://gisgeography.com/free-gis-software/

I will try out QGIS. You can download it here at: http://www.qgis.org/en/site/

Update! 02-20-2017
Absolutely love QGIS, I mainly downloaded it to be able to review, edit and gather GIS info.

More to come on how to use this great GIS viewer.

11-12-20 I am currently using QGIS3. The only plug-ins that have given me a bit of an issue have been because I needed to correctly get an authorization from Google's Earthengine API.

Look for my new post regarding how to add a World WMS service plugin called Quickmap services on QGIS. Some of these servers have vast data from certain agencies such as: USGS

 

Other additional plugins are Google Earth Engine, QAD(QAD allows easy CAD like drafting of lines and polygons)

Civil 3D Parts Builder Tutorial

This Part Builder tutorial by TrulyCindy3D is phenomenal.
After doing many tutorials I have to agree that Cindy's is by far the most informative.


http://www.trulycyndy3d.com/2010/10/part-builder-i-define.html


This is an in-depth and detailed step by step parts builder tutorial.

Because no matter how many pipe network parts you make.. There will always that one.....

Assign elevations to contours from an esri shape-file

Assigning contour lines from ESRI ArcGIS polylines with object data.

http://www.thecadmasters.com/wordpress/index.php/2011/03/16/assign-elevations-to-contours-from-an-esri-shape-file/

This link describes in very easy steps how to create a query to give elevations to polylines with object data but with an elevation of zero.

possible solution to stop 'UPGRADING COGO POINTS' in Civil 3D

I use Civil 3d 2015 at work. I am not an admin user, nor a power user in Windows 7. I use a Synology NAS (Network attached storage) server for project files and I always get this when working with old surveys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGU8xEAXnkU

I found a solution by installing this hotfix from Autodesk which addresses network degradation on Civil 3D versions 2014,15,16,17

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-civil-3d/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Civil-3D-Performance-degradation.html

by Autodesk's Louisa Holland. See her post in this article.
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-civil-3d-forum/performance-enhancement-tool/m-p/6540457#M311166

Typical nomenclature of dimensions of a precast concrete structure

Typical dimensions and nomenclature of a precast concrete structure.

These terms are used by the software/shop creating the precast storm structures. The Adjustment area can be compromised of a rectangular top or cone with brick to trim the structure to be flat against the top elevation at grade (Rim Elev.)

Shrinkwrap command

How do I make multiple tree canopies into one boundary?

Hidden In Civil 3d is an amazing command called 'shrinkwrap' 

 It allows you select multiple shapes and create an outer boundary of them. It is a bit simpler than the 'boundary' command. It works quite simply like shrinkwrapping objects.

  If you have multiple trees in surveys, you might have multiple criss-crossing tree canopies. 

Some surveyors use points to create tree canopies which are dependent from the tree trunk size. So it expands according to the trunk size leaving all of these bubbles (tree canopies). In order to clean up a survey. you can isolate the tree canopies from a copy , or export of the tree points in the original survey. Then use the 'shrinkwrap' command (command alias = lineworkshrinkwrap) , select the canopies, and put the newly created boundary in a different layer. Once you have created all of them you can isolate the newly created tree canopies and save them under a different file name. Now you can attach the file as an x-ref to substitute the survey point tree canopies and clean up your survey. 

Civil 3D - Layer Filter Properties dialog box cannot be found-MENU outside of display AREA

Civil 3D

Layer Filter Properties dialog [Annotative scale] box cannot be found.

    This can occur if a window is displaying outside the display boundaries. To move the window you will need to press Alt+Space+M
Then use the arrow keys to move the window into the display area. You might have to guess the direction where the window is located or in this case. I knew the window was located to the right, because I had 3 display monitors and had to downsize to only two dipslays. The missing display area was the former monitor on the right.

On a sidenote: to lock your menus you can type the system variable LOCKUI=8,
 LOCKUI=0 unlocks them all.


The 'object annotative scale box '  cannot be found. Where did it go?

Video shows a specific Civil 3D menu displaying outside the view boundaries.

Civil 3D - Drag and drop

IMPORTING STYLES USING DRAG N’ DROP METHOD IN CIVIL 3D AND PIPE NETWORK PARTS LIST IMPORTING.

Importing a style from another drawing using drag n’ drop. Or importing a parts list from another drawing.

DRAWING A recipient.dwg

Drawing A will be the drawing with the donor styles we want to use. Additionally, it will have a parts list for a pipe network to import into drawing B.

DRAWING B – A-STYLES.dwg.

Drawing B will be the owner of the custom style(S) and the recipient will be the recipient.dwg.

With both files open in the CAD session select the drawing B to be active.(THE TOOLSPACE MUST BE SET TO: MASTER VIEW)

Begin by opening the toolspace menu.

On the Toolspace menu go to the tabs and select ‘Settings’ tab. If Settings is not shown make sure this icon is highlighted.

Expand the Drawing B FILE.

Then expand the Pipe Network class and expand the Parts lists.

In order to get the style from Drawing B A-Styles.dwg to Drawing A recipient.dwg.

Drag n’ drop the San parts list into recipient.dwg by selecting the icon highlighted. Any other part of the like the name of the style will prevent you from drag n’ dropping the style. Once selected and while holding the left mouse button the icon will turn into the null icon    ∅

Now drag it into the drawing area of the active drawing(recipient.dwg) and drop it in any blank area of the drawing. The icon will turn into this ( a square with a plus symbol on the lower right)

when you drag it into the active drawing. When you let go of the mouse button it will import the style into the active drawing.

     You can make sure the parts list is imported in by expanding the active drawing, going to Pipe Network heading and expanding it.

The San Parts list has been imported from PIPES_4&5.dwg to A-STYLES.dwg.

Now finish by importing the pipe style PROP SAN and Structure styles for every structure for a Proposed Sanitary network before beginning the next step.

Configuring the Pipe Network parts list in a new drawing before referencing a pipe network.

Make sure your drawing has the correct pipe styles and structure styles (PROP SAN, OR EXIST SAN) already imported before beginning.

With our new parts list we can right-click on its name and select ‘edit’. If the parts list was not referenced from a drawing which contained the original network of the parts list.  AutoCAD will default every single item into ‘Standard’ Style or left blank. However, you can choose the parts and select the icon at the top of the heading.

This will assign the style you wish, in this case PROP SAN (proposed sanitary) to the Ductile Iron Pipes.

Repeat for PVC, HDPE, etc.

Structures will also have to be reassigned the correct style if it did not import correctly.

The same will apply for the heading Rules, Render Material and Pay Items. This allows a custom pipe network style to be brought into a different drawing i.e. a concept or exhibit.

Use SYSVDLG to change system variables.

SYSVDLG is a menu from express tools dedicated to changing system variables.
This menu gives an explanation of most of the options with system variables.

Create viewports from objects

    Create a view port to enhance (zoom into) a part in your drawing using MVIEW command. choose the O , option for object to make a polyline (any shape polyline) into a small viewport in Paperspace.
Credit goes to Michael Viscetto from Cadalyst.
Full article from CADalyst here
Make any shape into a viewport.