• Tag: civil 3d 2022

    Autodesk Desktop Connector Update – February 13, 2023

    Posted on by Diana Gonzalez

    We are pleased to share with you the highlights of the latest Autodesk Desktop Connector update!

    New Feature and Enhancement:

    • Autodesk Construction Cloud drive now supports the View Online capability in Desktop Connector

    Resolved Issues

    • Users will experience faster performance when Opening DWG files that exist locally
    • Changes to how files are marked read-only which will significantly reduce occurrences of “File in use” category of errors
    • Improved messaging to provide better awareness when a file is opened if the file is locked by another user
    • Improved messaging in workflows which will result in files being sent to the recycle bin
    • When DWG files are opened from the Desktop Connector workspace, transient files (ex. bak, dwl, dwl2) will no longer be created
    • Desktop Connector will ignore activity initiated by Sophos anti-virus (SavService)

    For more information, visit here.

     

    Assign Point Layers by Note Column with Dynamo

    Posted on by Diana Gonzalez

    In this vlog, our Civil/Infrastructure Technical Product Specialist, Jae Kwon, will demonstrate how to assign point layers by Note Column with Dynamo application.

    Autodesk Dynamo is a programming environment that requires no programming experience. Dynamo enables designers to create visual logic so they can explore a wide range of parametric conceptual designs using logic, simple data and analysis without the need to create a physical prototype.

    This vlog will cover a demo of:

    • Problem to solve
    • No out of the box solution available
    • Dynamo script breakdown
    • Dynamo player, script run and result review

     

     

    Civil 3D 2022.0.1 CIM Suite Tools Updates from CTC

    Posted on by Rikki Kenzhebayeva

    We are excited to announce that our partner CTC Software released Civil 3D CIM Project and Manager Suites, version 22.0.1. It is now released and can be accessed on the CTC website.

    This update saw a lot of fixes and enhancements to new products released in 22.0.0 and before.

    Below are release notes:

    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Pipe Planner Bug Fix Fixed a variety of issues causing Pipe Planner to error out or crash. Improved application speed performance. Fixed issues with exporting to external spreadsheets. Fixed issues with importing external spreadsheets.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Pipe Planner Enhancement Added support for formulas in user-defined empty columns and rows. Added properties filter search bar. Added interactive selection of export starting cell. Improved part renaming, allowing old names to be reused on new part names within the same operation. Added new right-click options to edit the middle table. Misc. enhancements and performance improvements.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Pipe Designer Enhancement Improved part renaming, allowing old names to be reused on new part names within the same operation.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Label Genie Enhancement Added option to manually select anchor objects in drawings.  Added option when labeling layouts to create a unique layer for each layout.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Label Genie Bug Fix Fixed an issue where layout-specific labeling was not respecting exact viewport extents.  Fixed an issue where segment labels were not following the assigned layer. Fixed misc. issues with specific drawing files.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Earthwork Processer Bug Fix Fixed an issue where errors occurred if existing or proposed surfaces were empty or not overlapping one another.  Fixed an issue where earthwork region polylines that were significantly small would not offset and cause the app to error.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Data Wizard Bug Fix Fixed an issue where survey figures caused Data Wizard to error.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Parts Swapper Bug Fix Fixed an issue where parts not found in the parts catalog were causing Parts Swapper to file.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite Corridor Mapper Bug Fix Fixed an issue where changes to assemblies would cause the app to error.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Project Suite CIM Project Suite Bug Fix Fixed an issue where custom subassemblies were breaking when CIM Project Suite was installed.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Manager Suite Template Tracker Bug Fix Fixed an issue where pressure network band styles were causing Template Tracker to error out.
    22.0.1 8/17/2021 CIM Manager Suite CIM Manager Suite Bug Fix Fixed an issue where custom subassemblies were breaking when CIM Manager Suite was installed.

    Civil 3D 2022 CIM Suite Tools Updates from CTC

    Posted on by Rikki Kenzhebayeva

    We are excited to announce that our partner CTC Software released Civil 3D CIM Suites for version 2022. It is now live and can be found on the CTC website.

    The update can be downloaded from the about menus in the apps.

    For network licensing you will of course need new license files, which can be requested here: LicenseRequest@ctcsoftware.com.

    Standalone licensing has been updated already for current subscriptions.

    This release saw support updated to 2019-2022, a major new app for pipe networks, a completely rebuilt app for corridors, and many new features and fixes across the majority of the tools and both suites.

    Release notes for CIM suites 22.0.0:

    Version Date Suite Component Type Detail
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Pipe Planner First Release Load pipe networks in an in-app spreadsheet or export to external spreadsheets. Edit parameters and perform analyses in the spreadsheet then push changes back to the pipe network. Create customized manhole schedules, pipe depth reports, and detailed QTO.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Corridor Mapper New Features Completely rebuilt the legacy Corridor Mapper tool to a new app. Corridor Mapper version 2 allows for linking of subassemblies to styles and object names. Can also now select multiple subassemblies at once an assign targets to all of them. Subassemblies can now be mirrored to other subassemblies, so that when the source one changes all the dependent subassemblies update with it. A default surface can be assigned for surface targeting so that as new surface type subassemblies are added to the corridor their surface target will automatically assign. Users can filter out objects by type. Manual selection of targets has been added. A list of current targets is now available to view targets assign automatically and manually to a given subassembly.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Auto Grader Bug Fix Fixed an issue where loading certain grading family templates caused an error. Fixed an issue where parent features lines being added to a surface in template insertion family types were causing odd surface behavior. Fixed an issue where naming a child grading component “parent” would cause the app to crash. Fixed an issue with template grading families where deletion of template feature line and subsequent running of a family referencing that template would result in deletion of all child feature lines.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Auto Grader Enhancement Added support for partial station ranges to wrap around the end of closed parent feature lines. Added option to duplicate “split” points in parent features lines as PVIs in child feature lines. Added option in child feature line formatting when grading existing feature lines to “keep source” of existing feature lines. Added option in stations settings where users can specify the starting station to increment from, opposed to it always being 0+00.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Auto Grader New Feature Added new feature for template insertion grading families, where Distance at Slope and Distance to relative Elevation methods can have the template insertion elevation determined by adjacent feature lines, and not just the parent feature line. This allows for smarter placement of grading pads relative to surrounding lot elevations.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Pipe Designer Bug Fix Fixed an issue where using cancel to escape out of the app would not allow a network license to be returned.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Parts Tagger Bug Fix Fixed an issue where using cancel to escape out of the app would not allow a network license to be returned.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Data Wizard Bug Fix Fixed an issue where when object counts were zero the app would error when trying to create a table. Fixed an issue with embedded grids where scrolling didn’t work correctly.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Earthwork Processer Bug Fix Fixed an issue where surface styling defaults in Options would uncheck “match default” when rebuilding earthwork sets. Fixed misc. issues where app settings were not saving correctly for future sessions within the app. Fixed an issue where the app errored on incorrectly drawn polylines.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Earthwork Processer Enhancement Added option to multi-select region rows for mass editing.  Added zoom in drawing buttons for each region. Improved the region row visibility when earthwork sets are expanded. Improved messaging when illegal subgrade boundaries are utilized. Improved label placement to use largest area placement instead of centroid. User edits to labels will now not be overridden when earthwork sets are run, including label placement.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Earthwork Processer New Feature New supporting function to all creation of automatic offsets of user-created polylines or feature lines. Users can reference existing region objects by manual selection  or filtering and specify an offset distance to quickly create subgrade regions that do not overlap.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Label Genie Bug Fix Fixed an issue where auto-feature lines could not be selected in the drawing.  Fixed an issue where erroring occurred when trying to save a template. Fixed an issue where app errored when running line and curve labels.  Fixed an issue where the Required Object field for surface type labels was not reseting correctly. Fixed an issue where unfound label styles were causing the interface to glitch. Fixed an issue where child styles for some categories were not appearing in the style lists. Fixed an issue where manual text overrides performed prior to using label genie were being erased.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Label Genie Enhancement Improved user guide explanations for drawing source and label selection behavior.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Project Suite Parts Swapper Bug Fix Fixed an issue where using retain size option would not properly allow parts to swap if those parts were not found in the parts lists and/or had identical descriptions for multiple part sizes.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Manager Suite Layer Boss Enhancement Added legend in import results to better understand the different color coding of results. Added column header filters to excel export.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Manager Suite Layer Boss Bug Fix Fixed an issue where the layers export dialog box wasn’t stretching components correctly. Fixed an issuye where, when the user settings in the user appdata folder did not exist, the app would error out. Fixed an issue where french color spellings were not recognized when export to or syncing from Excel. Fixed an issue where the description column would sometimes be empty when exporting to Excel. Adjust button order on import function to be more industry standard.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Manager Suite Layer Boss New Feature Add a new column to the excel export titled “New Name”. This will allow users to change layer names in excel, then upon syncing back to the dwg, the layer name will change, but all references to that layer will stay intact.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Manager Suite Linetype Manager Bug Fix Fixed an issue where certain .shx files could not be read.  Fixed an issue where some linetypes would not import. Added support for include periods (.) in the linetype name.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Manager Suite Survey Template Manager Bug Fix Fixed an issue where block references in point styles were not updated when exporting to Excel. Fixed an issue where multiple description key sets were appearing in the app, but did not exist in the drawing.
    22.0.0 6/24/2021 CIM Manager Suite Template Tracker Bug Fix Fixed many issues where certain mleaders, layers, text styles and dimension style references were not found in the drawing. Fixed an issue where sorting by layer in layer editing dialog box caused an error. Fixed an issue where certain drawings would cause a looping error when opening Template Tracker. Added support for Pressure Network related references can now be tracked (2022 version only).

     

    AutoCAD Printing and CTB

    Posted on by Rikki Kenzhebayeva

    Do you use more than one CTB file when printing in AutoCAD?  More than 10?  40?  What if I said you really only need 1, the Monchrome.ctb file?  Read on to find out how…

    If you already understand CTB files, feel free to scroll down to the heading “Do This Instead”.

    Let’s look at what we have to work with:

    1.AutoCAD users use various colours.

    2.Typically, the colours used are chosen from this 256-colour “Index” palette.

    3.Those colours on the screen don’t always print that colour.

    4.Linework need to print to varying widths.

    On-Screen:

    Printed:

    CTB files are the intermediary between the drawing on screen and the final printed product.  If one is not used, what you see on screen is what is in the print.  They are used to transform what is seen on screen to what is displayed in the print.

     

    Many AutoCAD users rely on several CTB files to print documents to various regulatory standards.  Here is why…

    • The City of SolidCAD requires a sanitary sewer layer to be red on screen but print black and thick (1mm).
    • The District of Cansel requires that same sanitary layer to be red on screen but print red and not so thick (0.7mm).
    • 42 other standards exist and a unique CTB file is required for each of them.

    Here is the SolidCAD CTB file:

    Here is the Cansel CTB file:

    THESE ARE NOT REQUIRED!

     

    Yes, that was a little tongue-in-cheek.  Sometimes you’re sent a file and you just need to print and use the available CTB.  But if you have the time, inclination, and desire to make things a little easier on yourself, understand it’s possible.

     

    Do This Instead

    The solution here is actually very simple.  Follow these steps.

    1.Set the line weight properly for the layer based on the regulatory body standard.

    2.Use the out of the box monochrome.ctb file.  This file prints all 256 Index colours in black.

    How to print hat sanitary layer in red when the CTB file prints all colours black, you ask?  Well, I didn’t say the CTB prints all colours black, just the 256 Index colours.

    3.When colour is required set the layer colour, not to one of the 256 Index colours, but to one of the 16.7 million True Colours.

    4.You need to print a grey shade?  Again, choose a True Colour; just choose a colour at the very bottom.  Use the slider on the right to control the shade.

    You see, the CTB file does not control the output of True Colours, only the 256 Index colours.

    Enjoy!

    Civil 3D and Infraworks 2022 are Here

    Posted on by Rikki Kenzhebayeva

    Autodesk has released the latest version of their Civil Engineering package, Civil 3D 2022, and its partner in crime, Infraworks.  Click to peruse the Autodesk Documentation. Recap 2022 has also been given some new features.  Read on for some notable features.

     

    Civil 3D

    Grading Optimization: Takes the parameters that you have specified and generates, very quickly, an optimal grading solution.  After installing Civil 3D 2022, you’ll find sample files in the folder C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Grading Optimization 2022\samples.

    • Connected Alignments: Supports complex curve groups, offsets from parent alignments, curves larger than 180-degrees, and calculates the cross fall of the associated profiles.
    • Project Explorer: Pressure networks are now supported.  Multiple languages are now supported.

     

    Infraworks

    • Road Decorations: Allows users to add decorations to component roads or linked corridors from Civil 3D. The InfraWorks model will display the features more quickly compared to previous releases.
    • Decoration Library: Now users can create more realistic landscape environments to add to the model context.
    • Bridge: Provides for the definition of full-span complex parametric 3D bridge girders.
    • Model Builder: Enhanced with a new and streamlined interface to provide a more consistent experience and improve usability.

    Recap

    Scan to Mesh: Select all or a portion of a point cloud in ReCap Pro 2022 and have it create a low, medium, or high-quality mesh.  This was included in a previous version as beta software, but it was removed.  It is back!