Civil-3D utilities

[sinc]

I have started putting together a library of utility routines for Civil-3D (http://www.ejsurveying.com/sincpacc3d.htm).

Currently, the library Includes routines for the following:

Set points on Parcels
Set points on or along Feature Lines
Datum-Adjust existing points, using existing linework
Datum-adjust existing points, based on selected points
List available point numbers
Change the Next Point Number in the Point Creation Settings from the command line
A quick-set dialog for adjusting the Drawing Scale, General Note layer, and Line/Curve Label layer


I'm adding more on a regular basis. I also post the source code, so you are free to take what I have done and modify it, or use it to learn to write your own routines. All code written in C#.NET and compiled for Civil-3D 2007. You must recompile the source code to use it in other versions of Civil-3D. Civil-3D 2007 users can simply NETLOAD the compiled DLL.

[civil3Dguide]

This is great! Thanks!

[sinc]

There have been more utilities added since the original post.

New features:


A Parcel Offset routine, for creating offsets of varying distances around parcels (such as 7' on the front, 5' on the sides, and 10' on the back).
A routine that mimics functionality of the "Breakline By Points" routine from Land Desktop, making it easier to manually add breaklines to surfaces.
A "FIXSCALES" routine that hooks into Autocad and updates various scales as the user works:
LTSCALE = drawing scale and PSLTSCALE=0 in modelspace, while LTSCALE and PSLTSCALE both equal 1 in paperspace. This causes linetypes to display identically in all views, in either modelspace or paperspace, assuming the Drawing Scale is set correctly.
DIMSCALE is set to the Drawing Scale in modelspace, and to 0 in paperspace. This causes oldstyle dimensions to scale correctly in both modelspace and paperspace, including "tunneled modelspace" inside of paperspace viewports, assuming the Dimension Style is correctly defined.
And finally, the DIMSCALE override is automatically reapplied when the user changes the current DIMSTYLE from the Style toolbar. By default, C3D will eventually reapply this DIMSCALE override whether you like it or not, it just waits until the user runs the next C3D-specific command. This delay causes problems. By forcing the DIMSCALE override to be applied immediately after the user changes DIMSTYLES, it prevents dimensions from being scaled in an inconsistent manner.

[civil3Dguide]

The parcel offset tool is excellent! I don't understand why Autodesk hasn't added this feature, I have been asked how to do this many times, thanks.

[ekubaskie]

Many thanks for the goodies. I plan on getting started with C# soon, and the source will give me some great examples, too!

[sinc]

C3D 2008 versions have now been posted to the same link listed above.

There's also some improvements to various routines, and Jeff Mishler has converted his Rotate Points routine from Lisp to C# and contributed it to the pack.

[ahibbert]

Some very usefull utilities there. Do you take requests from Programming challenged people ? :)

[sinc]

I make no promises - I do all this stuff in my spare time - but let me know what you want, and I'll see what I can do.

I've been informed that the latest 2007 version I posted will only work if you also have 2008 installed. I'll try and get that fixed this weekend. But if you have the option, I recommend you install and move to C3D 2008 as soon as possible - it has bugs, of course, but overall it is MUCH better than 2007 SP3.

Just beware that when you first open drawings created in C3D 2007 with C3D 2008, it will reset a bunch of labels. In particular, Points, Profile labels, Parcel labels, and maybe some others will all be reset if they are in the dragged state. If you have plan sets that are nearly done, you will probably want to finish them in 2007, and DO NOT open them in 2008 (at least until a Service Pack arrives). But 2008 fixes a lot of major bugs and is MUCH faster, so you should try and switch as quickly as you can.

[sinc]

It turns out that Autodesk has things kind of screwed up (imagine that :? ). They created a directory called "Autodesk Shared", in which they dump a lot of things. Unfortunately, installing new versions of the software updates these files. This frequently creates no noticeable issues. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where it causes significant problems.

Now that I've installed 2008, I cannot create DLLs that will work in 2007, unless 2008 is also installed on the same machine. The DLLs will refuse to run unless you have the 2008 versions of the files installed in the "Autodesk Shared" directory. So I have updated the web site to include the last version of the SincpacC3D that will work in 2007. People who are still using Civil-3D 2007 can download and install this version, although it will not provide all the functionality of the 2008 version.

As of now, all new development in the SincpacC3D will be for 2008 only. Sorry if this causes an inconvenience. Hopefully Autodesk will fix this issue for the 2009 release.

[sinc]

The latest additions include routines for the following:


Datum-adjust existing points using an Alignment and Profile.
Select points on-screen or by Point Group, and create a Station/Offset report of the points. Similar to Land Desktop's "Display Points by Station and Offset" command.
Create multiple "Hide" boundaries on a surface by selecting polylines, Feature Lines, or Survey Figures.

I think that's all - it's starting to reach the point where there are enough routines in there that it's getting hard to tell if I've forgotten any. :)

Oh well, a complete list is available on our website (http://www.ejsurveying.com/sincpacc3d.htm).

[Phil Ferguson]

Sinc...

You are doing a tremendous public service here.

Thanks

:beer:

[sinc]

It's been a while, so I'll go ahead and bump this thread.

Additions since my last post:


SGOBJECT - straight-grade existing points, using existing linework (useful for straight-grading around curb returns, etc.)
MOVEPOINTS - a routine that moves points in a horizontal direction only, so no datum-adjustment accidentally occurs. Also, may work considerably faster than the Autocad MOVE command.
A few other bug fixes and enhancements to existing commands.


http://www.ejsurveying.com/sincpacc3d.htm

[sinc]

Just thought I'd give this thread another bump, since new people are starting to jump into Civil-3D all the time... There be some useful utilities in this free download, especially for the Surveyors out there, although there's some generic tools that others may find useful, too.

Cheers! :beer:

[sinc]

The Sincpac-C3D has been completely revamped!

If you've been using and enjoying it so far, then you'll be happy to know that you've been using only a shadow of what it can do now. Unfortunately, since I've spent so much time putting this tool suite together, I need to start charging for it. I will continue to upgrade the Free Version, and will continue to make some measure of source code available to the general community, but the best stuff will now be in the proprietary product. However, if you've been using the Free Version already, then you probably have an idea of just how much time this all-new version will save.

This version includes integrated help, and comes in a self-installing package, making setup easier. Pages from the help file are posted at http://www.quux.biz, so you can head over there and browse the complete list of functionality.

Enjoy, and may it save you as many hours of work as it's saved us!

[sinc]

OK, and as promised, the new Sincpac-C3D 2008 Free Edition has now been released, too!

It's missing many of the most-powerful tools from the Full Edition, for example, the new CAPSURFACE (Create Alignment and Profile, sample Surface) command, which makes it a breeze to come up with Alignments and Profiles that follow surfaces. For example, turn that proposed waterline into a normal polyline, then pick it and the EG surface. Tell CAPSURFACE to create a Profile that is within ±0.5' of the surface, and watch it immediately create an Alignment and Profile that follows the surface with a minimum of grade breaks.

There's much more, too! But if you still haven't figured out you want the Full Edition, the Free Edition now comes with some tasty improvements. And it is now comes packaged in a self-installer, so you simply need to double-click on the installer to get it up and running. (If you have been using an earlier version of the Sincpac-C3D, simply get rid of any NETLOAD calls or extra support paths you may have added to your environment in order to run the earlier version, and then run the installer.) And it comes with integrated help!

And for you do-it-yourself-ers, a revised version of the Source Code has also been released. This version is still an early version, and is a long way from its eventual goal. But it illustrates some basic techniques for using components to reduce the "grunge" involved in dealing with the API.

All can be found at Quux Software (http://www.quux.biz). Enjoy!

[sinc]

And now our friends at Withers and Ravenel (http://www.withersravenel.com/) have donated a CUI they created for the Sincpac-C3D Free Edition. It is available on the download page for the Free Edition at http://www.quux.biz.

Many thanks to Withers and Ravenel!

[sinc]

OK, got a new version posted. Some of the improvements since the product launch last month:

CAPFEATURE command for creating Alignments and Profiles directly from Feature Lines and Survey Figures, which allows optional pruning of vertical PVIs but does not lose horizontal curves. Useful for when you don't want to use STAKEFEATURES to generate offset points, and would rather just load the feature into your data collector as an Alignment/Profile. Or, you can turn that Survey Figure your field crew collected directly into an Alignment and Profile.
CAPSURFACE command for creating an Alignment/Profile from a polyline, sampling elevations from a Surface. Also capable of pruning the vertical, so you don't end up with a ton of PVIs. Can also create an EG Profile, and drop the FG profile at the same time - never has it been faster to calc a waterline. Literally, it can take only seconds.
CREATELOWERING command - pick a Profile, enter the station, elevation, length, and bend angle for a lowering, and it is created for you.
Automatic Profile View creation in all commands that create Alignments and Profiles.
ADDPTGROUP and IDPTGROUP - useful commands for managing point groups.
Improve STAKEFEATURES - there are now a number of new options.
Improve LOTCORNERS - now, you have more control over how points are placed, and can limit them to only Parcels with certain Parcel Styles. Points also go onto Parcels in numerical order, according to the Parcel Number, so the point numbers don't jump around so much.
Generic UI improvements, command improvements, etc.


I have also fixed the bug that interrupted layer creation in CTB-Based drawings. (Attempting to create a new layer in a CTB drawing would throw an exception.) This fix has also been included in the Free Edition, which also has a new download (but no new functionality). I have also upgraded the AcadUtilities library in the Source Code to the latest 1.3 version. (The rest of the source code is the same as the original release.)

And we are getting close to the advent of the 2009 edition. The API has some significant improvements in 2009, so there will be a whole series of new commands coming soon for those who purchase the Full Edition. Also, a free upgrade to the much-enhanced 2009 version is included in your purchase of the 2008 Full Edition, so if you act now, you can get the 2009 version at the 2008 price.

[sinc]

I've now posted the first in a series of brief video Tutorials that cover some of the tools in the Sincpac-C3D.

This first one is for Surveyors, and demonstrates one method for calculating curb offsets for survey stakeout. As Surveyors know, one of our biggest problems is figuring out the best way of accomplishing our goal, given the plans and data that the Engineer has given us. Since we get data from Engineers in so many different ways, the tools in the Sincpac-C3D actually support a wide variety of methods for calculating field stakeout points. The method outlined in this first demonstration video assumes that we've gotten 2D linework and flowline profiles from an Engineer who is not using Civil-3D, and shows one fast-and-easy way of calculating 3' offsets to top-back-of-curb without going to all the effort of building a full-fledged 3D model of the entire site.

The techniques outlined in this video may be performed with the Free Edition of the Sincpac-C3D (simply download and install the Free/Trial version), although some of the auxilliary features illustrated (such as QuickSets) are only available in the retail version.

http://www.quux.biz/videos/CurbFromProfiles.aspx

This video might be particularly interesting for Surveyors who are still thinking of transitioning to Civil-3D from Land Desktop, or who have begun the transition and are wondering if it's worth the effort. When you see this demonstration, it might give you the incentive to stick with C3D's learning curve!

More videos will be coming soon, so stay tuned.