Part Parameter Error Fixed in Civil 3D 2012

For anyone who has made any custom changes to optional parts within a pipe catalog, the following is a familiar scene.

Autodesk recently released Civil 3D 2012 Update 2.  While looking through the list of issues that were resolved with this update, I came across the following:

In the past, this error occurred because the parameter wasn't configured properly, or most likely because the template containing the custom parameter was set in options to be QNEW.  In the past, I always told my clients that this was a benign error, and to simply hit OK.  Now with the update, the error is a thing of the past.  On a side note, you can not run an automatic removal of this update.  You will need to uninstall Civil 3D 2012 and re-install it.

Borehole Utility for Civil 3D 2012

From Autodesk Subscription, you have access to additional product enhancements.  One enhancement I chose to take a look at was the Borehole Utility, which is a part of the Civil 3D 2012 productivity tools.  This utility allows the user to import Borehole data into both plan and profile view. 

After loading the utility, here is what you should see on the toolbox tab of toolspace.

To run the utility, the user simply needs to right click on the Importer and select execute.

After running execute, you will see the following pop up.

The important things to note on the importer are as follows:

1. Under file in folder, you will select the file to be imported.  Note that you can select a csv or ags file to import.
2. The create Civil 3D points option must be checked on.
3. Under surface, the user will be asked which surface they wish to tie the points to.  This surface will determine the top elevation from which the boring information will start from.  In the capture above, I imported a Google earth surface prior to the import.
4. Under profile view, we need to select the profile profile view for which we want the boring information to be projected into.

The setting tab of the importer allows for the user to specify display options.  Most of the settings are self explanatory, but the two I will focus on are profile view settings and labels.  

1. The profile view settings allows the user to determine an acceptable distance from a given alignment that is allowed to display boring data within the profile view.  If the boring point falls outside of the maximum distance, the boring will not be displayed with the profile view.  
2. The labels settings simply allows the user to determine what labels will be displayed upon import into the profile view.  Sometimes the user may need to import multiple times to determine if the boring has too many or too few labels.

The screen capture above shows the boring data as Civil 3D points in plan view after they have been imported.

The screen capture above shows the boring data in profile view after they have been projected.  It is important to note that the projections are not dynamic, and will need to be re-imported if the boring locations change.  Also, the hatch patterns in the boring block, like the one above, are controlled by the same shape styles that dictate hatch patterns within subassemblies. 

Pressure Pipe Modification

As most of you have seen by now, Civil 3D 2013 has some functionality for creating pressure pipe.  While we are all used to editing various pipe and structure parameters in parts builder, pressure pipes have their own tool called Content Catalog Editor.  The Content Catalog Editor can be found in the following location:  

START-PROGRAMS-AUTODESK-AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D 2013-CONTENT CATALOG EDITOR

The screen capture below shows the content editor.

After selecting the editor, you will need to choose open and pick the appropriate sqlite file containing the pipe you want to modify.  These files will typically be found in the following location:

C-PROGRAM DATA-AUTODESK-C3D2013-ENU-PRESSURE PIPE CATALOG-IMPERIAL

After choosing the appropriate file, you will see the content editor populate as follows:

At this point, it is just a matter of selecting the appropriate field, modifying the parameter, and ultimately saving the file.

The next time you get into Civil 3D, the part will be modified and ready for use.

Hiding Assemblies in Drawings

More improvements, in Civil 3D 2013, to assemblies and subassemblies include the ability to hiding them in drawing.  The command is hidden behind a right click after selecting the desired object, select “Remove from Modelspace”

To bring them back into the drawing is as easy as right clicking on the assemblies and selecting “Insert to Modelspace”

This new functionality can allow us to create empty templates with hidden parts.  As an odd note, you can create a corridor by making references to these hidden assemblies. 

More Assembly Improvements

As I discussed in my previous post, Civil 3D 2013 has added some significant improvements in regards to the way we create our assemblies and subassemblies.  Another new feature added is the recognition of the side that you are selecting when adding a subassembly to another.  I have select the standard curb and gutter subassembly to add the lane outside super subassembly on the right.  Notice that I purposely have selected the side to be left.

In the screen capture below, you can see that I have selected the right side of the lane.

You can see below, that despite have the curb subassembly set to left, Civil 3D determines that we really need it to be on the right side.

A few other options that have been added when you are about to add a subassembly is insert and replace.

The first option is insert.  This allows the user to insert a subassembly between two existing ones.  In the past we would have to delete a portion of the assembly to accomplish this.  It is important to note that the user needs to select a portion of the existing subassembly that the user wants to insert between.  In the capture below, the user needs to touch a portion of the lane to get the generic link to connect between it and the curb.

As you can see below, the generic link as added between the two.

The other option that we will look at is replace.  Replace allows the user to replace one subasembly for another.  The user simply selects the new subassembly from the tool palette, and picks the one to remove.  These two new options give greater flexibility and time savings to the user.

Assembly Naming Functionality in 2013

Civil 3D 2013 has given the user lots of new functionality in terms of editing.  One of the newer functions that I have taken advantage of is the naming of assemblies and subassemblies.  I routinely rename subassemblies for the purpose of easily finding a target within the corridor mapping.  As you can see from the screen capture below, it is very easy to get confused when trying to assign targets to the subassembly.  

This new functionality within 2013 gives the user the opportunity to rename both the subasembly and assembly at the actual time of creation.  To take advantage of this, the user will access the command settings in the location seen below.

The two options to take note of are assembly group and subassembly name prompt.  You will want to toggle both on.

Once the user begins the create an assembly command, they will see this pop up box when picking the first subassembly to attach to the baseline.  You will be given an option to rename the assembly as needed.

As you can see from the screen capture below, the user will be given the option to rename each subassembly as they are added.

This new functionality gives the user better control of his or hers corridor at the time of creation.

Missing Coordinates

I was teaching last week at a client's site, when an old error reared its ugly head on a laptop.  One of my students was trying to use Google Earth, when she was unable to set a coordinate system.

To fix this issue is a relatively simple process.  Simply copy the Geospatial Coordinate Systems folder from the path shown in the screen capture below, on a machine with working drawings with good coordinate systems, and overwrite on the troubled machine.

Simply reboot Civil 3D, and the coordinate system are visible.