Novedge Pulse™ of Chris Fugitt

When modifying the XSL Reporting you may want to make sure you are using the correct folder. The Report files are stored in this location, replacing the year with your product.C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2012\enu\Data\Reports\xslAs long as you are running the reports  [more...]

So I’m creating a profile in Civil 3D. Everything is going great. I’m able to open the program, set my profile and start working with Civil 3D. Then I get the big idea of setting my profile in the shortcut icon. This way whenever I start Civil 3D I’ll get my profile.Suddenly  [more...]

You might not have noticed, or no one told you, but computers suck at math. Well more specifically they suck at rounding. I’ve been told JavaScript especially sucks at math, and one should avoid using it for Math. I guess that’s why Autodesk choose to use JavaScript  [more...]

With all of the new features that come out, sometimes it’s hard to catch what you may have missed in the past. In this video I’ll cover how copy and paste data from Excel into AutoCAD to get a table that prints nicely. Other methods such as printing to PDF or using  [more...]

This weekend I attended StartUp Weekend SLO, held at Cal Poly, SLO. It was a great event where you pitch business ideas and then create teams for the most popular ideas. The teams then create a business based on those ideas. Some ideas pivot, or change into other ideas,  [more...]

I’m presenting this Wednesday (January 18) at the North Bay Civil Users Group (Northern California) on Subassembly Composer. If you are in the area stop by and say hi.Here are some links for information regarding Subassembly Composer.SAC Wiki HelpAutodesk University  [more...]

Using Map makes it easy to create vicinity maps. Not quite sure how everyone else is doing it, but this is the way that I’m doing it now on when there is GIS data available. The first step is to download the street data from where the County where the project is located.  [more...]

If you aren’t using the Map capabilities in Civil 3D then you should be. Especially if you are required to show vicinity maps on your plans. By using queries to data it makes it easy to create and label the streets. If you need to create maps showing zoning, sewer  [more...]

I wrote this code a while back that changes all of the MLeaders found in a drawing’s model space from an existing number to a new one. I’m just putting it here for a reminder later for when I may need it.Sub ChangeMLeaderNumber()Dim oAcadObject As AcadObjectDim sOriginalNumber  [more...]

A while back I participated in a demonstration of a software product called Synchro. Synchro is a lot like Navisworks, but built from a scheduling perspective rather than an approach of bringing together different models. From my initial impressions of the product  [more...]

Today Civil Reminders is announcing the cessation of development of the Civil 3D Reminders Pack. For the past 3 years the Civil 3D Reminders Pack has been provided free to whoever choose to download it. Many of the ideas for the commands contained in the pack came  [more...]

I’m back from Autodesk University (AU) and starting on my first project in my return. It’s preparing a model for incorporation into a bid for survey work for a landfill project. To my delight the plans were prepared utilizing Civil 3D, unfortunately the model is rubbish  [more...]

Today 3Dconnexion announce a new product called SpaceMouse Pro. The product fits in the same class of 3D mouse as the SpaceExplorer with some added improvements in ergonomics. The hand rest is full size and soft coated for comfort. The buttons for zoom have been rearranged  [more...]

The way I’ve found to insert a drawing into another drawing as a block takes a surprisingly lot of code. This function I’ve created takes a file name, inserts a block and returns the ObjectId of the newly inserted block. PrivateFunction InsertDwgAsBlock(ByVal fileName  [more...]

Want to have a voice on what wishes Autodesk should work on in future versions of Civil 3D? Then check out the AUGI Wish list for Civil 3D. Let your voice be heard.http://www.augi.com/wishlist [more...]

If you’ve ever received contours from a third party source you may find them without elevation. Civil 3D does have a tool to add elevations to them, unfortunately it only lets you select one polyline at a time and then type in the elevation. If you download, or install  [more...]

Sometimes I’ve found I’m working on a project using sections and find that the section I need hasn’t been created. I get confused because the drawing has the needed surface in it, but the section isn’t showing up in the list when I go to try to compute the materials.  [more...]

Have you ever been working on a drawing and wanted to save it at the current point in time and still work in the current drawing? Well you can perform this task by copying the file using Windows Explorer, but it seems it would be a bit of work that isn’t needed if  [more...]

After Thanksgiving I’m heading to Autodesk University. At the event I’ll be wearing a bunch of hats.One of the ways I’ll be participating at Autodesk University (AU) will be as a speaker. I’ve got two sessions of Sanitary Musings, both on Wednesday. “In this unconference  [more...]

Occasionally I might want to get all of the blocks in a drawing using .NET. The way I accomplished this was to use the Selection Set sample code provided by Autodesk and then use the Typed value of “INSERT”. The insert is the start portion of the DxfCode for blocks.PrivateSub  [more...]

Here’s a video that was sent to me for Sundt’s presentation at the AASHTO Subcommittee on Construction Conference. Eric goes through how Sundt is using the available technology to make models for construction projects through the whole process.Are you a contractor  [more...]

There are going to be some changes in the future regarding the Civil 3D Reminders Pack 2012 edition. Currently the 2012 program is available by request only. To request a copy send an email to me at the link to the right.Or you can update the references from the 2011  [more...]

So here’s the scenario, you have submitted plans for a sewer line (or profile) and a comment comes back that your pipe slope labels are wrong. You go through and check them and find out that you are getting the same results as the plan checker. You think Civil 3D  [more...]

Boss won’t pay for you to go to Autodesk University? Then try getting 3DConnexion to pay for your way to AU. Click the image below to enter to win.Why am I blatantly plugging a 3DConnexion promotion? Because in the past they have provided product for me to conduct  [more...]

Sometimes when you are doing conceptual work you may want convey less accuracy in a parcel label. For instance maybe you want to show the value to the nearest 100 SF of area. This is quite easy to accomplish with expressions.First create the expression. Next use a  [more...]

One of my recent projects was designing some curb ramps. I was quickly affirmed of my belief that Civil 3D is not a BIM software product. Take a look at the image below.It’s a Caltrans Type F curb ramp, well not really it’s a bunch of feature lines and a Civil 3D surfaces  [more...]

To insert a block into AutoCAD using .NET you may also need to insert the attributes of the block after you insert the block into the drawing. Unlike in VBA, you have to insert the attributes also, they don’t come along for the ride. Below is the code to insert the  [more...]

It’s that time of the year for school fundraisers. My daughter’s school has chosen the Innisbrook as the service provider for the fundraiser. If you wish to support her quest to collect prizes (she is in 1st grade); order some stuff using the information below. They  [more...]

So you want to create a curb in Subassembly Composer and let it have multiple attachment points. One way I’ve done it is to create a variable called Flip. The Flip variable will let me adjust the X offset direction. I use the enumeration of this previous post to get  [more...]

So you go to create a report using the Toolbox and the Point List Civil 3D puts out isn’t in order. Well it is in order, the order created, but you want them to be in a more logical numerical order. What to do? Well if you were me you’d do this.Open the file that controls  [more...]

I recently attended a NASA Tweetup for the GRAIL mission to the moon. If you are interested NASA, the moon, or just can’t get enough of my writing you might want to check it out. Here are the links:http://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-itrip-to.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-iilaunch.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-iiishuttle.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-ivvehicle.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-v-endeavour.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-vi-launch-pad.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-vii-guest.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-viii-science.htmlhttp://www.dobeafraid.com/2011/09/grail-nasa-tweetup-part-viii-launch.html [more...]

When your creating your subassembly in Subassembly Composer you may want to convey to the user when something went wrong. For instance if the math doesn’t work when modeling your retaining wall and the given design height is less than the modeled dimension height.  [more...]

When creating a subassembly using Subassembly Composer the hardest intellectual thing is knowing if I should use Output Parameters. It’s not hard in creating them, it’s hard in knowing if another subassembly that you have or haven’t thought of yet will need a value  [more...]

You never know who you are going to meet when you are out and about. I was recently at a crowded Starbucks and met a representative of GE Power and Water, Kevin Crockford. Kevin was kind enough to let me ask him a few questions for my blog. Filter Elements Source:  [more...]