Disappearing contour lines???

[tadthurston725387]

OK here is a new one, I wanted to see more contour lines (smaller interval) so I simply reset the contour interval from one foot to .25 feet. The project site is very flat. Rather than giving me more contour lines, I got many less. Then I reset back to the one foot interval and the one foot interval lines never came back. I even rebooted AutoCAD. What the heck causes this frustrating thing and how do you fix it, preferably so it does not happen again?

I am using Civil 3D 2017.

[ccowgill]

Please confirm that LEVELOFDETAIL is shut off. It is an option, when on, that reduces what you see on screen to increase performance. It can be found on one of the panels of the view tab of the ribbon (sorry cant remember which panel)

[MMccall]

Recheck the surface style contour interval settings vs the display settings. Changing the minor contour interval will usually alter the interval for major contours. Your surface style may be set to display majors and not minors.

[Tom Beauford]

I'd never modify an existing Surface Style. I've added Surface Styles Contours 0.1' and 0.5' (Background) and Contours 0.2' and 1' (Design) for the same purpose without any issues. Having a Surface Style with a Minor Interval of 0.25 and a Major Interval of 1.25 sounds strange. Not sure how that would work.

[tadthurston725387]

I modified the "Standard" surface style and got the contours back. Don't really know why.

[mperry754746]

Please confirm that LEVELOFDETAIL is shut off. It is an option, when on, that reduces what you see on screen to increase performance. It can be found on one of the panels of the view tab of the ribbon (sorry cant remember which panel)

You should put "levelofdetailoff" to get autocad to give you a option to change. Just putting "levelofdetail" on the command can go nowhere if you are having that happening with no contour lines. Just saying this kicks it into doing something.

[Tom Beauford]

Please confirm that LEVELOFDETAIL is shut off. It is an option, when on, that reduces what you see on screen to increase performance. It can be found on one of the panels of the view tab of the ribbon (sorry cant remember which panel)

The LEVELOFDETAIL toggle button is on the Views panel of the View tab in Civil 3D 2018.

[ccowgill]

Thanks Tom. I usually just click on panels until I find it, which doesnt help when trying to answer tech questions from memory.