civil 3D into autocad 2007

[me_ramsundar]

ok. I have been using autocad 2007 and have just started to learn civil 3D. I have created a surface and have generated a profile. now I want to edit different features in this civil 3D file into vanila autocad. im using autocad 2007 and when i load the file created from C3D, i dnt see any surfaces and profiles. I dnt know if there is any ways i can get the plan and profile dat i created in civil3d into autocad. If there is any ways pls help me with this?????

[Tyke]

You can export the C3D objects as AutoCAD entities and read them into vanilla AutoCAD, but you then lose all the functionality of C3D and you can't later read them back into C3D to manipulate the data further.

But why? Everything you can do in vanilla you can do in C3D.

[CyberAngel]

To elaborate on what Tyke said, you can export a Civil 3D drawing so that the special civil objects are exploded. If you do that, though, they aren't civil objects any more, they're just blocks of vanilla AutoCAD objects. Well, they're vanilla AutoCAD objects anyway, but in Civil 3D they have extra functionality.

 

A second option is to use proxy object enablers, which lets you see the special civil objects. They still don't have the extra functionality (otherwise there'd be no incentive to buy Civil 3D), but at least you know they exist. You can download proxy object enablers from Autodesk.

 

You don't see any civil objects in vanilla AutoCAD because it doesn't recognize them. It doesn't know how to add the civil functionality, so it ignores objects it can't process. Something similar happens when you open a drawing created in a later version.

[me_ramsundar]

yeah u r right, i cant get the functionality of C3D in vanilla autocad.. I'm new in C3D and i have the problem working with scale and viewports. I can do it easily in vanilla autocad but in civil 3D its realy difficult for me. When i try to work anything in viewport iin C3D the points are all looked messed and concentrated n I have no idea how to work it out. if any help pls let me know..

[me_ramsundar]

To elaborate on what Tyke said, you can export a Civil 3D drawing so that the special civil objects are exploded. If you do that, though, they aren't civil objects any more, they're just blocks of vanilla AutoCAD objects. Well, they're vanilla AutoCAD objects anyway, but in Civil 3D they have extra functionality.

 

A second option is to use proxy object enablers, which lets you see the special civil objects. They still don't have the extra functionality (otherwise there'd be no incentive to buy Civil 3D), but at least you know they exist. You can download proxy object enablers from Autodesk.

 

You don't see any civil objects in vanilla AutoCAD because it doesn't recognize them. It doesn't know how to add the civil functionality, so it ignores objects it can't process. Something similar happens when you open a drawing created in a later version.

Thanks alot for letting me know about the proxy object enablers. I like your comment coz u always travel an extra mile to describe about the real situation. I'm wondering if you can teach me something about creating viewports in civil 3D. After i create a surface and profile in C3D I would want it to be place in my viewport manually which i can do it vanilla autocad. since im new in C3D i can't do it. wherever I try it I get the drawing points concentrated in a particular area and the point size is realy large. I like the idea of plan production but its talking alot of time to learn that too. I'm just not getting through the concept of scaling in C3D. I hope you could offer me some help in it. Thanks alot once more!

[sinc]

The basic guidelines:

 

1. Always use the scale in the status bar (lower-right of the screen) to change scales.
   
2. Set modelspace to the same scale as your intended viewport. Then, if text looks wrong, adjust the height in the Style.
   

Here's more:

 

http://www.civil4d.com/2010/07/civil-3d-annotation-scaling-revisited/

[me_ramsundar]

The basic guidelines:

 

1. Always use the scale in the status bar (lower-right of the screen) to change scales.
   
2. Set modelspace to the same scale as your intended viewport. Then, if text looks wrong, adjust the height in the Style.
   

Here's more:

http://www.civil4d.com/2010/07/civil-3d-annotation-scaling-revisited/

 

as you said I have worked with my drawing for about an hour reading the link that you have suggested but I still couldnt figure out whats wrong wit my drawing... I can see the change in labels while changing the scale of annotation in model space. but the paper space seems the same. I dnt knw why is it talking so long time for me to understand. i have a contour and profile in my model space but while viewing it in paper space i get both of them overlapped in the same place. also the texts are so big and concentrated i can hardly see any other features. I realy need to learn this coz exporting the drawing to vanilla cad seemed fruitless which i thought wud be better. I will upload the file if required ( i dnt knw if it can be uploaded). thanks a lot you guys and pls help me with this...

[sinc]

C3D entities are designed so they always print at the height specified in your Styles. In other words, the text height in your style is what you see once you print.

 

In old-style CAD, the text height is a modelspace height. So if you wanted text that was 0.10" high and you were working at a scale of 1" = 50', then you would need a modelspace height of 5. With C3D labels, you don't need to do that math. You simply set a height of 0.10" in your Style, and the modelspace height is calculated automatically.

 

If you have the scale set to the proper value and your text is too large, you need to change the text height in your Style.

[CyberAngel]

I have this same problem with annotative text height in viewports. Try turning the viewport off and then turning it back on. The text will display the way it was originally defined. This is a workaround for a bug in the software.

[me_ramsundar]

I have this same problem with annotative text height in viewports. Try turning the viewport off and then turning it back on. The text will display the way it was originally defined. This is a workaround for a bug in the software.

 

It didnt solve my problem

[CyberAngel]

i have a contour and profile in my model space but while viewing it in paper space i get both of them overlapped in the same place. also the texts are so big and concentrated i can hardly see any other features.

 

This is probably happening because the text is trying to make itself readable at a ridiculously large scale. If you zoom in closer and use REGENALL the text should readjust its scale. This is yet another reason everyone hates annotative text, but Autodesk built it into the profile system so you have no choice.

[sinc]

This is probably happening because the text is trying to make itself readable at a ridiculously large scale. If you zoom in closer and use REGENALL the text should readjust its scale. This is yet another reason everyone hates annotative text, but Autodesk built it into the profile system so you have no choice.

 

Can't follow that... What do you mean by "profile system"?

 

And for the record, we LOVE Annotative text. None of the C3D stuff uses Annotative scales, however. Only core Autocad features like MText, MLeaders, Dimensions, and Blocks use the Annotative Scales. C3D has its own method of scaling that is independent of the Annotative scales (something that is actually really annoying).

 

As for the OP, you have to adjust the text height in your Styles. C3D Cogo Point Labels are designed so the text always prints at the height specified in your Label Style. In other words, the Height in your C3D Styles are paperspace heights. This means your text height in your style should be roughly around 0.1" for Imperial units, or roughly around 3mm for Metric units. If your text is ridiculously large, then it's probably because you're putting modelspace heights in your C3D Label Styles, instead of paperspace heights.

 

There is another possible problem you can get yourself into, as well. It usually happens if you start a Metric drawing from an Imperial template, or vice-versa. The paperspace units come into play, as well. If you're in a Metric drawing and you have your Paperspace units set to "Inches", you'll have trouble. (See attached image for the location of this setting.)