Civil Immersion

Tool for Tuesday: Concat()

Part Three:  Sometimes our GIS labels need a little extra info. to help avoid confusion.

In today’s installment, we will review the Concat() function.  Concat is short for “Concatenate” which simply means it is a tool that helps us group things together.

This can be a very powerful tool (especially when it comes to GIS data) to help make our annotation more “readable”.  In other words, if our data contains a numeric attribute value that equals 123.45 and we add that value to a label, what does it represent?  Sometimes when looking at the data in context to the model geometry it is obvious.  Other times it may not be. 

For example, when looking at 123.45, what are the units?  Does it represent an area or linear measurement?  Perhaps it is a cost.

Often times, adding some additional information in front of our label, after our label or in both places makes the annotation more readable and can greatly reduce the chance of confusion.  (i.e.  “Area = 123.45 Square Meters)

Check out the video below to see how easily incorporate additional text into your GIS labels using the Concat function.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: Round ( )

Part Two:  I don’t typically need labels to 10 decimal places.

In today’s installment, we look at how to use the Round() function to help control the display of our numeric GIS labels. 

In short, Civil 3D/Map 3D will automatically show the entire contents of a numeric geospatial attribute. 

As a result, by default we can get GIS labels at an “unrealistic” number of decimal places.

Fortunately for us this can be resolved quickly using the Round function when building the label expression. 

Simply tell Civil 3D which attribute to round and to how many decimal places, and your GIS annotation is automatically updated.

Check out the video below to see how it works.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: .LAYER File

Because many of our models require or incorporate GIS data, I am going to do a 4 part series on tools we can use to help us be more productive when working with geospatial information.

Part one:  Stop reinventing the wheel!

If you are like me, you incorporate a lot of GIS data into your Civil 3D models.  I’m a big fan of the drag and drop method!  In other words, I drag in my .SHP file and it automatically transforms itself (if necessary) before displaying on my screen.

Having said this, I find that the default display values NEVER meet my needs.  Instead, I am always tweaking things like color, width, transparency… to match my standards.  Worse yet, I perform these tweaks every time I add the .SHP file to any model.

Wouldn’t it be great if I could save my tweaks such that when I drag and drop my .SHP file into my Civil 3D model the data would already be formatted the way I need?  Fortunately for us, we can!!

We do this by saving a .LAYER file.  In short, after adjusting the display styles of our attached GIS data, we can then right click on it in the Map Task Pane and export it as a .LAYER files.  In the future, we just drag and drop the .LAYER file into any model and we not only get the GIS data but it is also automatically formatted to our display standards. 

No more reinventing the wheel!

Check out the video below to see how it works.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: LayerStateSave

Take a picture… It will last longer.  :)

Today’s installment is all about capturing your layer display information.  When working on a Civil 3D model, we tend to accumulate a ton of layers.  Using these layers, we control how (or if) various parts of our model are displayed. 

Using different layer combinations, one version of layers could be used for plotting, another version could be used for editing, another version could be used for review…  I’m sure you get the idea.

If only there were a quick way to save and restore these layer display representations.

Fortunately for us, there is!!  By leveraging the LayerStateSave tool, we can quickly capture the layer display within our model.  We can then turn some layers on, turn others off, maybe tweak a color or two and then easily restore our saved layer state when finished.

Using the Layer State portion of the ribbon even lets us preview the results of each layer state before we commit to restoring one!!  Kind of like a try before you buy.

Check out the video below to see how it works.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: MapTrim

It slices and dices like a Ginsu knife!

When working on projects, there are times where we only need a portion of our model geometry. 

Perhaps we want to share some of the data but not all of it. 

Perhaps we want to create a .DWG that only shows the contents of a layout viewport. 

Perhaps we would like to eradicate all of the geometry inside or outside of a boundary…

In the past, to accomplish this, it usually required a combination of the Trim and Erase Commands.  (Likely also included the Explode command for those objects that cannot be trimmed.  :)  )

In any event, it can be a slow and painful process especially if the boundary is complex.

Fortunately for us, Civil 3D (and Map 3D) contain tool that will make short work of this task.  The tool is called MapTrim.  In short, you define/create a boundary answer a couple of simple questions and within seconds your geometry is reduced to just the area you desired.

Check out the video below to see how it works.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: TCASE

Many of you know that I started using AutoCAD more than 25 years ago while working for a Civil Engineering and Land Surveying firm.  At the time, it was a small office and I was both the CAD Manager and main CAD drafter. I did the drafting for most of the engineers.  Having said this, there was one engineer I will never forget as he was VERY particular about his text.  He had two simple Rules. 

Rule number 1:  ALL text needed to be in Uppercase.

Rule number 2:  There were NO exceptions to Rule number 1.

I really could have used today’s tool back then. :)

In short, today’s installment is all about quick ways to adjust text case.  In other words, quickly convert Lowercase text to Uppercase.  Or perhaps convert Uppercase text to Sentence case. 

We will actually look at several ways to do this including some “right-click” functionality, hotkeys and the TCASE command.  At the same time we will explore the various types of objects in Civil 3D that can contain text and which ways work best with each.  (Text, MTEXT, Civil 3D Label…)

Check out the video below to get started.

-Jerry

"Civil 3D: Tips, Tricks & Unnatural Acts" is being repeated at AU!

Jeff, Alan & I are excited to be presenting at Autodesk University in Las Vegas again this year.  (Less than 2 weeks away!) 

We haven’t talked about it much because our session filled up pretty quickly and it didn’t look like we would be able to accommodate any more attendees.

That changed yesterday!!

A new session (repeat of the original) has been opened up on Tuesday (Nov 14th) at 1:30pm.

If you are registered for AU and were unable to get into our original session, “Civil 3D: Tips, Tricks & Unnatural Acts” click on the link below to find the repeat session in the catalog and add it to your schedule.  Come join us for a 90 min live "PowerPoint free" presentation!

(Before we run out of seats again!  :) )

CI147335 - Civil 3D: Tips, Tricks & Unnatural Acts

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: Zoom Dynamic

Today’s installment is an “oldie but goodie”.  In other words, it is a feature that has been around for more than 20 years.  Back in the day, Zoom Dynamic was designed to improve performance by allowing you to navigate around a .DWG without requiring a time consuming Regen.  Today, Regens are not the major inconvenience they once were so the command is often overlooked. 

Having said this, it can still provide value when navigating around a large model.

In short, it can provide a bird’s eye view of your large model such that you can quickly navigate from one area to another in a couple of clicks.  Successfully accomplishing a maneuver that could otherwise involve a lot of middle wheel mouse spinning and a Zoom Extents thrown in for good measure.  :)

What is old is new again!   

Check out the video below to see how it works, or just to take a trip down memory lane.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: Support File Search Path

I know, I know…  Today’s installment is not really a tool but more of a concept/strategy.  (But it is still very helpful.  :) )

Let me set the scene… 

You have some custom (or maybe client specific) content that includes Linetypes, SHX fonts, Blocks, plug-ins, hatch patterns… etc. that you would like to incorporate into Civil 3D such that they are available in all sessions.  When Civil 3D is installed, it contains a number of default support folders that are automatically searched when looking for content.  If you incorporated your custom content into the appropriate default support folders, you would be all set because Civil 3D would now be able to find your custom content as well as the default content.

While this works, it does present some potential problems.  First, it can be a tedious process especially if you would like the content available on multiple computers.  Next, it is not very portable.  In other words, when you install the next version of Civil 3D, there is not really a quick way to retrieve your custom content and relocate into the newer Civil 3D's support folders.  Third, what if some of the custom content has the same name as your existing content.  One of them will have to be renamed….  I could keep going but I’m sure you get the idea.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a container where we could store our custom content so we wouldn’t have to sprinkle it into various support folders?  Well, we can!

By creating a custom "Support File Search Path" we can quickly define locations that will automatically be searched by Civil 3D.  We can even point these paths to a shared network folder such that all computers pointing to that same location would automatically have access to custom content as soon as it was placed in the folder.  And when it comes time to install a newer version of Civil 3D, simply add the custom folder to the newer version’s Support File Search Paths and your custom content is ready to go.

Note:  Only Civil 3D / AutoCAD content accessible by searching the support folders is applicable.  In other words, this will NOT work for every form of custom content.  (TrueType Fonts, Subassembly .PKT files... for example)

Check out the video below to see how to works.

-Jerry

Tool for Tuesday: FONTALT & ACAD.FMP

Today’s tool(s) are all about making our lives easier when working with text Fonts.

In short, text fonts are like snowflakes.  There are tons of them each with their own subtle differences that make them unique.  Additionally, some are pretty “heavy” and should be used sparingly as too many of them can cause performance issues.  (TrueType Fonts)

As a result, whether we are exchanging files, collaborating on a project or looking for ways to improve performance, text fonts are something we should be keeping track of.

For example, text fonts are not embedded in .DWG files.  Because of this, if someone we are collaborating with does not send us their custom font files, the text will likely not look the same when the model is opened on our end.  In the old days, we would know right away because Civil 3D would display ugly dialog boxes notifying us that the model contained missing fonts.  Fortunately for us, today, it handles the situation more gracefully by using FONTALT.

In short, when opening a model, for any text font files that cannot be found, FONTALT contains a replacement font name that will automatically be substituted.  Essentially, instead of asking us to provide a replacement for every font not found, FONTALT silently performs all of the replacements automatically.  The default value is SIMPLEX.SHX which is vector based and mimics an old LEROY lettering machine text.  However, you can easily change this value to any available font (even TrueTypes) using the FONTALT command.

While this is a powerful tool, it gets even better!! 

FONTALT is essentially a one size fits all solution to the problem.  In short, ALL fonts that can’t be found are replaced with the same font.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could define font overrides for different fonts?  For example, when Civil 3D sees Simplex, replace it with Arial.  When Civil 3D sees RomanS, replace it with TimesNewRoman…  Also, don’t restrict the replacement to only when fonts are missing.  Process the override whether I have the font or not.

Fortunately, this can be done today!!  It is accomplished using a font mapping file.  (ACAD.FMP)

Check out the video below to see how to setup FONTALT & ACAD.FMP.

-Jerry