AEC object compatibility?

[wrmurphy81]

Does anyone know the deal with this? I am using C3D 2010, but we own 2011. We are not using 2011 because none of our clients are using it, so apparently they would not see any civil 3D objects??? Is this true? Is it still true for 2012? If so, is exporting to LandXML the BEST way to send them a file containing surface and pipe data?

Edited April 18, 2011 by wrmurphy81

[CyberAngel]

You can export a 2011 drawing to 2007 format. I'm not sure about the exact information that gets lost, but surfaces are still readable.

[SLW210]

If they can see 2010 then 2011 should not be a problem. But if it is, you can also use "Export to AutoCAD" if necessary. Remind them they may need current Object Enablers and updates, at least that's with Vanilla AutoCAD.

[sinc]

If you need to share C3D drawings with someone else, there's no real good way to do it, except to be on the same version. If they're on 2010, then you really kind of need to be on 2010.

 

At least, that's if you need to share drawings, back-and-forth. If you are doing a one-time delivery of drawings, then you can conceivably work in 2011 or 2012. But then, yes, your only option for delivery is to do an "Export to Autocad 2010" format on the DWG files, and give them LandXML files along with the dumb AutoCAD drawings, and let them use that info to do whatever they need to do. And yes, that means that in addition to forcing your client to recreate all necessary civil intelligence, there will be issues with background masks that get turned into solid hatches, C3D labels that are now blocks containing text and no longer resize correctly, etc., etc., etc....

[wrmurphy81]

It's so frustrating. Thanks for the confirmation!

[alanjt]

If you need to share C3D drawings with someone else, there's no real good way to do it, except to be on the same version. If they're on 2010, then you really kind of need to be on 2010.

 

At least, that's if you need to share drawings, back-and-forth. If you are doing a one-time delivery of drawings, then you can conceivably work in 2011 or 2012. But then, yes, your only option for delivery is to do an "Export to Autocad 2010" format on the DWG files, and give them LandXML files along with the dumb AutoCAD drawings, and let them use that info to do whatever they need to do. And yes, that means that in addition to forcing your client to recreate all necessary civil intelligence, there will be issues with background masks that get turned into solid hatches, C3D labels that are now blocks containing text and no longer resize correctly, etc., etc., etc....

I cry a little each time I have to send a drawing to a vanilla/LDD client because I know I'm going to get a call complaining that they can't see points, contours or something. I actually considered putting a link to object enablers in my email signature.

[wrmurphy81]

alanjt, how do you do the Object Enablers? Do I have export a special file type or just send them my file as is and a link to object enablers?

[alanjt]

alanjt, how do you do the Object Enablers? Do I have export a special file type or just send them my file as is and a link to object enablers?

Unless there is some issue, the latter.

 

However, we had a problem recently with another firm doing our structural design work. We're running Civil 3D 2011 and they are running Vanilla AutoCAD 2010 on a 64 bit machine. The problem is, there was never an object enabler for 64bit machines running 2010, so we had to explode all alignments, etc. down to polylines and text so they could use them.

[SLW210]

I noticed something yesterday that my boss (uses AutoCAD 2005) brought to my attention. All of my MLEADERS were placed on a new layer (I think DIMS@ instead of DIMS) and the layers were set to frozen in all viewports. I showed him how to thaw them in each viewport, luckily there was only three viewports. Pretty sure he doesn't have any current Object Enablers. I will work on that next week, cause I am not going to stop using MLEADERS. He keeps saying he will upgrade to 2011, but hasn't yet. Since he doesn't do a lot, if any CAD work, I might just set him up with TrueView.

[sinc]

If they were on 2010, the Object Enabler wouldn't help them even if they were on 32-bit. C3D is not backward-compatible, and I'm pretty sure the 2010 OE can't handle your 2011 objects. Similarly, LDD 2009 can create LDD objects from C3D entities (e.g., create a LDD Surface from a C3D Surface in a drawing), but it doesn't work on any drawing created in any version of C3D later than 2009. If you have a C3D 2010 drawing, LDD 2009 can't use it.