Civil Immersion

Display Civil 3D Property Set Data in ToolTips!

Civil 3D provides a feature called “Property Sets” that allows extended attribution to be applied to ANY object(s).  Typically, Property Set Data is accessed by selecting an object and then reviewing the data from the Extended Data Tab of the Properties Palette.  While this is a nice option, there is a faster way to view extended attribution!

In today’s installment we’ll explore how a feature of the SHP Import/Export Utilities will add Property Set data to the rollover tooltips.  (SHP Import/Export Utilities is an add-on available for Civil 3D 2020 and above.  It can be downloaded and installed using the Autodesk Subscription Site, or the Autodesk Desktop App.)

If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything!

If you'd like to learn more about Property Sets, the videos below will help get you started...

Using Civil 3D Property Sets to add extended attribution to ANY object.
https://youtu.be/yQvUXgHW8DA 

Automating the Attachment & Removal of Civil 3D Property Set Data
https://youtu.be/rgC8s1gCkaE

Labeling Property Set Data Using Civil 3D
https://youtu.be/DjUXuw_s8Z4

-Jeff

 

Closure Analysis with the Traverse Adjustment Tool in Civil 3D

In this 30 min session, we walk through some examples of adjusting/balancing record property and/or survey data using the Traverse Adjustment tool in Civil 3D. The first example is a closed loop boundary and the second example is a closed connecting traverse.

-Alan

Civil 3D 2022.1 New Feature - Corridor Templates

Civil 3D makes it easy to define corridors from an alignment, profile, and assembly. That said, after the initial creation, additional components like surfaces, boundaries, slope patterns and frequencies are almost always added. This process then repeats with each new corridor.

Wouldn’t it be nice if these additional components were treated like “properties” that could be easily copied from one corridor to another? Fortunately, Civil 3D 2022.1 makes this possible with a brand-new feature called “Corridor Templates”.

In today’s installment we’ll use the Corridor Template feature to extract surface definitions, slope patterns, and code set styles from a saved corridor model and apply them to a new (or existing) corridor. As a bonus we’ll also explore the improved “Match Parameters” feature to copy/paste even more properties between corridor models.

If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything…

-Jeff

Boost Your Efficiency by Automating Repetitive Tasks in Civil 3D

When using Civil 3D (or any AutoCAD based tool) there are multiple ways to automate repetitive tasks.  Today we will be looking at two of them.  These include Script files (.SCR) and simple LISP code (.LSP) 

I chose these before jumping right to Dynamo or the Civil 3D API because Scripts and AutoLISP have been around for decades, there is a TON of information (sample code) online, and they are very easy to learn and use. 

In short, wanted to leave you with something you could literally start experimenting with immediately after reading/watching the video.

In the 30 min presentation recording below, I walk through the creation of both interactive and fully automated tools.  I also explore how these tools can be easily be applied to an entire folder of files using the Civil 3D Batch Save Utility.

You can check out the video here...

-Jerry

Civil 3D 2022.1 New Feature - Improved Corridor Target Mapping

Civil 3D 2022.1 includes powerful new additions to corridor target mapping. Along with the new features is an updated Target Mapping dialog box. In today’s installment, we’ll explore the new dialog box and the many improvements it offers.

First, the Target Mapping dialog box is modeless, meaning you can pan/zoom (even launch other commands) while the dialog box is active. The list of subassemblies can now be filtered based on metadata such as name, baseline, region, side, etc.  This makes it easy to isolate specific subassemblies prior to assigning targets. When a subassembly (or target) is selected from the dialog box, it highlights in the drawing providing a nice visual queue as to how each part fits into an overall design.

Civil 3D 2022.1 also supports copy/pasting targets between subassemblies! If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that demonstrates all these items and more!

-Jeff

Creating Label Styles for Any Civil 3D Object!

Civil 3D allows users to create a multitude of dedicated civil objects. Everything from cogo points to alignments, profiles, assemblies, corridors, utilities, feature lines and more may participate in the design of a dynamic infrastructure model. Surprisingly, it’s very easy to develop label styles for such a wide variety of objects using a single dialog box.

In today’s installment, we’ll explore Civil 3D’s “Label Style Composer”. The Label Style Composer represents a collection of settings used to create (and edit) label styles for virtually ANY Civil 3D object.

If you’re interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through everything...

For more information on Creating Civil 3D Label Styles, please visit the links below…

Civil 3D Quick Tip! Improving Text Display in the Label Style Editor
https://youtu.be/Gc8fyBF-ksE

Controlling Civil 3D Label Style Settings at the Drawing, Feature & Individual Style Level
https://youtu.be/LO3hvqeDdc0

Creating non-scaling Civil 3D labels
https://youtu.be/SU27Zc240Ak

Annotating Virtually Anything using Civil 3D’s “Note” Label Style
https://youtu.be/jG7Nhpn2h8M

Labeling Several Civil 3D Design Profiles in a Single Profile View
https://youtu.be/cK2KjLmduck

Creating Custom Civil 3D Label Styles to Annotate Linear Crossings in Profile Views
https://youtu.be/79YNuwGM_zw

Managing Vertical Curve Label Display in Civil 3D using “Child Styles”
https://youtu.be/5vasQVDpcIw

Labeling Property Set Data Using Civil 3D 2017 V1 Enhancements
https://youtu.be/DjUXuw_s8Z4

-Jeff

The Next Round of 30 min. Workouts are a Week Away!

 

Register here!

When attending software training, there is never enough time to learn everything an application has to offer. In many cases, training sessions focus on the “need to know” functionality to accomplish typical workflows.

In our upcoming bi-weekly sessions we plan to explore many Civil 3D/InfraWorks/BIM Collaborate Pro tools, tips, and shortcuts not typically shown in traditional training sessions. Our goal being that adding more tools to your toolbox can help you gain efficiency and get the most value out of your Autodesk investment.

Sessions are at 01:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada):

• Nov 4 - Creating Label Styles for Any Civil 3D Object - Jeff Bartels
• Nov 18 - Boost your Efficiency by Automating Repetitive Tasks in Civil 3D - Jerry Bartels
• Dec 2 - Surface Simplification: The Silver Lining for Your Point Clouds - Angel Espinoza
• Dec 16 - Closure Analysis with the Traverse Adjustment Tool in Civil 3D - Alan Gilbert

The sessions are only 30 min. and will be 100% live demonstration - no PowerPoint is allowed. We are also more than happy to answer any questions arising from the material.

We hope you can join us for the next session in our “30 Min Workout” series of webcasts!

Register here!

-Jeff

15 More Civil 3D Tips & Tricks - Alignments & Profiles

This week I had the rare pleasure of presenting at a Civil 3D user group meeting.  My session focused on time saving best practices when working with alignments and profiles.  In approximately 30 minutes, we managed to explore more than 15 topics ranging from creation, to analysis, to stylization.

In keeping with our 30 min. Workout philosophy, I attempted to choose topics that both provide value and fall outside traditional Civil 3D training courses.  My hope was to demonstrate some workflows the users may not have seen before.  If you are interested, I’ve uploaded a recording of the session below…

Thank you so much to Michelle Hood for inviting me to present at JMT’s Civil 3D User Group Meeting!

-Jeff

Entering Property Descriptions and other Record Data into Civil 3D

In this 30 Minute Workout session, we will walk through a variety of methods for entering property descriptions and other recorded data into Civil 3D.  This includes precise cogo entry, AutoCAD linework using the Transparent Tools, and the Traverse Editor tool.

The example project used for most of the presentation is a highway right of way acquisition scenario.  At the end, I show a bonus example of a boundary survey that is re-located into a published planar coordinate system using the Traverse Editor.

-Alan

Getting the most out of Civil 3D’s tool palettes

Tool palettes are one of the most powerful and versatile features in the Civil 3D / AutoCAD user interface.  Having said this, most folks only use tool palettes for simpler things like quick access to blocks, or inserting content preset to adhere to the company CAD standards. 

Tool palettes can be used for much much more.  This includes organizing commands into workflows, creating a training tool, launching lisp routines, hosting quick access to custom macros, providing an easy gateway to almost anything available in Civil 3D.

To make things even better, they can be created through simple drag and drop operations.  No extensive coding or CUI writing required!

Once defined, there are several ways to share tool palettes amongst users so no one has to "reinvent the wheel".

Click on the video below to check it out.

-Jerry