Can't find X-Ref in Civil 3D 2011

[lesack]

I have extremely limited background using Civil 3D and could use some suggestions on troubleshooting this for one of our Engineers.

When a Civil 3D surface is x-ref'ed into a new drawing, I am unable to display any object from the xref'ed file. I am able to verify the x-refs' existance in the host file, but cannot select it other than by using control-A to select all objects. When selected, I am able to find the insertion point grip, but not much else.

I inserted the same file as an x-ref in AutoCad Architecture and hadno problems. This leads me to believe that it is likely an object dislay issue on the import of the x-ref.

Any suggestions on how to turn on the x-ref display will be handsomely rewarded with a thank you.

[brian.hailey933139]

I'm a bit confused. Are you xrefing into C3D or into AutoCAD? If you are xrefing into AutoCAD, make sure you have the C3D object enabler installed on AutoCAD.

[lesack]

Sorry for the confusion. The trouble I am having is when xref'ing into a new C3D file. There is no problem bringing it into an Autocad Architecture file or vanilla Acad.

[smcgypsea]

i know in 2010, you can try XDWGFADECTL- controls the fade %.
also, if the surface is not displayed in the xref'd file, then you'll not be able to see it in new dwg.

[lesack]

Tried XDWGFADECTL with multiple values and had no luck. The surface is visible in the original file, but not the file it has been x-ref'ed into. Even tried drawing some polylines in the file with the surface and nothing showed up in the file it was xref'ed into.

[Adam Farnsworth]

Is it a possible inches to feet (or feet to inches) insertion issue? Check your units in both drawings. If you do a zoom extents, does the drawing fly way out? If so, it might be that the drawing is being inserted 12 times too large or small (depending on which way it's scaling). If you can select it, what happens if you scale it by 12 or 1/12?

[Hammer.John.J]

I suspect the surface is data referenced and not an xref? If it is data referenced via a data_shortcut and you can see the surface in toolspace i suspect the surface is set to the standard style and it is not displaying anything even though it's in the drawing.

if you right click on the surface in toolspace you can edit the style to turn on components of the surface.

[jmeyer.186809]

thaw layer "0"