Data Shortcuts Folder

Data shortcuts can be a big pain in the butt if things are change on you. Maybe someone started the project on the wrong hard drive and now you have to move it to the correct location. There is a way to help alleviate the issue and it is a little known variable named DSSYSVAR. This variable allows you to set the data shortcuts folder path with this windows environment variable. So if all of your data shortcuts are on the D:\Projects in one office and E:\OnGoing in another office you can use the DSSYSVAR to help not having to repath everything, all you need to do is change the DSSYSVAR to get it to work correctly.

The hard part is to create a user interface that will easily change the values. There is a Windows way to set the environmental variables. The first step is to create the variable. To do this first go into Windows Control Panel and type Environment Variables in the search box.

Then press the Edit the System Environment Variables option. Then go to the Advanced Tab, User Variables Button, Press the New Button for System Variables and then change enter in DSSYSVAR as the name and then the value you want it to point to.

If one is already created you will want to select the variable and then press Edit instead.

Now in Civil 3D you won’t see a change. If you look in the XML file of the data shortcut you will find that path is now saved using the DSSysVar.

Die Viewcube, Die!!!!

I tried to like the viewcube that shows up in the corner of the screen. I really did, but it kept getting in the way. I needed to put it out of my misery. In order to do this you’ll want to go into OPTIONS. In options head over to the 3D Modeling Tab and then in the Display Tools in Viewport uncheck the 2D Wireframe visual style and possibly the All other visual styles check boxes. The viewcube will then go away.

This tends to be the number one tip people enjoy the most when I teach Civil 3D and I can definitely understand why.

Custom Bench Subassembly

Sometimes the regular Civil 3D benching just won’t work. It’s fairly bad at showing benching like it will be constructed in the real world. Sometimes it does work like in the image below where the roadway provides for a natural slope so the basins go into the downspouts.

Sometimes, like shown in the image below to the left, we want more control to provide low points. To get the case to the right it might take some time with some link slope and width to get it into the correct location.

With the custom bench subassembly one can set a profile elevation for the benching and get those results rather easily.

The pictures above where taken from an Infraworks presentation at Autodesk University, created by Autodesk. The model was created by HUITT-ZOLLARS, INC. users of the Custom Bench Subassembly.

Delete Duplicate Point Groups

There is an update to this old post: http://blog.civil3dreminders.com/2010/01/delete-duplicated-point-groups.html

A version should be available for a buck on the app store: https://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/CIV3D/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3adeleteduplicatepointgroup_windows64%3aen&mode=preview

If you want it sooner, send an email to me to purchase a copy, the email link is on the right side of this page.

Custom Bench Subassembly

Do you want more control over your bench subassembly? The one that comes with Civil 3D is rudimentary and doesn’t allow you to set the slopes of the benches. I recently updated the Civil 3D 2015 custom subassembly for benching and is now available for sale. The cost for the subassembly is $100 per office. Send an email to get more information (link to the right).

Here is what the contours look like.

Here is a picture of what it does.