Projected CogoPoints to a Profile View

Sometimes we want to show 3D information in a drawing, in places such as a profile view. If only we had a 3D Civil Engineering software program. Unfortunately we are stuck with Civil 1-1/2D to do our design and we have to do workarounds to get 3D information to show up correctly. In this case I want to project a multiview block into a profile view in order to see the shape of an Urban Industrial Bin. Now I can’t get it to show up by just including the Multiview block in the profile view.

In order to get it to show up I need to create a block of the multiview block in the position that I want to show in the profile view. Now if you might have worked with multiview blocks before and found that they only show in the plan view in plan view. Unfortunately Autodesk hasn’t programmed the multiview blocks to show in the appropriate view when the multiview is projected to a profile view.

In order to fix this definition and get the program to Civil 1-3/4D we can follow these instructions.

• First insert a block that represents the model view of the Multiview block. If it is an Autodesk created multiview block it should have an _M after the block name.

• Next rotate the block to the correct view you want it to show up in the profile view. You might want to try utilizing the 3DRotate command. My block looked like this once I was done.

• Next copy it with a base point and paste it as block. Then right click and rename the block that makes sense. In my case I called it UrbanIndustrialBin-Profile.
• Now project the CogoPoint to the profile view desired.
• Create a Point Style that will reflect the exaggeration of the profile view and the block created for this purpose. Here are my settings.

Here is in the Project Objects to Profile View dialog box.

Now my project object looks like an industrial bin is hanging out on my profile view.

So while it’s not easy to do, it is possible to get a multiview block to look correct in a profile view. Now it won’t be perfect, but it’s closer then what we did have.

Hole in Surface for Retaining Wall

Sometimes quantities overlap and we want to restrict it to a certain area. We can create a boundary around the area we want excluded.

The first step is to extract feature lines from a corridor. This can be done from the Launch Pad and select Create Polyline From Corridor (on the drop down).

Next select the feature lines you want it created from.

Next draw a 3DPolyline to connect the ends of the two feature lines created.

Then go to the Modify Tab on the Ribbon and select the Join Command.

Then add in AutoCAD properties set the 3DPolyline to be closed.

Then add the 3DPolyline as a boudnary to the Datum surface.

This will cause Civil 3D to not calculate quanties where the hole occurs.

Change MLeader Number

Here is some old VBA code for changing mleader numbers.

Sub ChangeMLeaderNumber()

    Dim oAcadObject As AcadObject

    Dim sOriginalNumber As String

    Dim sChangedNumber As String

    Dim oMLeader As AcadMLeader

    Dim oAttDef As AcadAttribute

    sOriginalNumber = ThisDrawing.Utility.GetString(1, "Enter existing MLeader Number to change: ")

    sChangedNumber = ThisDrawing.Utility.GetString(1, "Enter new MLeader Number: ")

    For Each oAcadObject In ThisDrawing.ModelSpace

        If (TypeOf oAcadObject Is AcadMLeader) Then

            Set oMLeader = oAcadObject

            Dim sBlock As String

            sBlock = oMLeader.ContentBlockName

            Dim oEnt As AcadEntity

            For Each oEnt In ThisDrawing.Blocks(sBlock)

                If oEnt.ObjectName = "AcDbAttributeDefinition" Then

                    Set oAttDef = oEnt

                    If oAttDef.TagString = "CIRCLE" And oAttDef.TextString = sOriginalNumber Then

                        oMLeader.SetBlockAttributeValue oAttDef.ObjectID, sChangedNumber

                    End If

                End If

            Next

        End If

    Next

End Sub

Adding Arborescence to the Toolbox

A while back I did a blog post regarding the Toolbox. I don’t remember what it was about, but it included this image. This image contains a whole lot of non out of the box arborescence, or options.

You might want to know how you too can have an awesomely full Toolbox. It is super easy to do if you love user permissions. This is how my work flow usually goes.

• Press the Edit Toolbox Content button.

 

•   Next press this button to add a new root category. That isn’t a typo, the button is called this.

• Next rename the Root Category to the name you want to use. I’ve renamed mine Super. To add a new Category below the Root Category, right click on the Root Category and select ‘New Category…’

• Once you create a category you can add either another category or a tool by right clicking on the new Category.

• Once you are done press the Save Button. That’s that 2.5” floppy disk looking thingy.

• Now you can close the Panorama tab by pressing the Check Box next to the save button.

It should then be saved and added to the ToolBox.

Now it may not show up and I probably should put this part at the top of the list, especially if you don’t read all of the directions first. These steps won’t work if you don’t have permission to write to this folder: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2014\enu\Data\Toolbox so if you don’t, you’ll have to get it.

You can also modify the ToolBoxCfg.xml to contain create your own folders (or create a new XML file). If the XML file is in this folder, it will automatically be added to the Toolbox. It is probably a good idea to create your own in case Autodesk modifies it during a Service Pack. To create your own, copy the ToolBoxCfg.xml file and give it a new name and then edit the contents. Either from the Toolbox or from an XML editor such as Notepad, Notepad XML, or Notepad++.

Creating a Point File Format

Sometimes we get survey information for a third party that doesn’t match any of the out of the box point file formats. We may need to create a new one to make it work. You can usually tell that you need to create one because you get a message that says “No point file format match found”.

To create a new point format press the format button on the same dialog box you get the message on.

When the dialog box pops up make sure to select a format that looks similar to your file and press copy. In my case I think the PNEZD is fairly close so I’m going to use that one.

The Point File Format dialog box will then show up which shows the current values.

I need to make some changes, the first is changing the format name to NNEZD (comma delimited). This represents Name, Northing, Easting, Elevation, and Description in a comma delimited format. I’m also going to change the file format to .csv.

Next I want to change the Point Number to Name by selecting the Point Number heading and then using the column name drop down to select Name.

I then press OK to close the dialog box and press Close on the Point File Formats Dialog box.

If you did everything correctly Civil 3D should then select your newly created file format.

You probably don’t want to do it each time, so make sure to add it to your template or use the Import Styles button on the Manage Tab of the ribbon to transfer the format from an existing drawing you’ve already done the transfer for.