I have a .dxf file that I can open with AutoCAD LT 2002.
When I open the file I am getting the coordinates in 3D values, so when I measure between points I am given a slope distance.
I need these points to be in 2D, so my values will be shown as horizontal distances.
Is there something that I can do to change the result from slope to horizontal in AutoCAD?
Thanks.
There should be a "flatten z" command somewhere in the toolbar though I forget exactly where. Used it in the past though.
"EDIT" pulldown, "Change", "Elevations" in Carlson Survey
"Ignore zero elevations" Yes
select "Absolute"
"elevation to change to" 0.00
select objects
enter
Everything is flattened and at zero elevation.
But that is not really necessary,
"Inverse" reports a horizontal distance between 3D points.
Of course this all happens in Carlson Survey, but if you are a real surveyor and not using Carlson then you are at the mercy of the uninformed software people.
Paul in PA
I dont think the flatten command was around when 2002 came out, i work around it by selecting all the points and under properties, change the Z from "varies" to 0
Cad lines and geometry need more work, select the line, under properties, change the z value at either end of the line to 0 , same principal for any other element.
If its a big drawing that needs a lot of editing, send it to someone with a version of autocad that does have the flatten command.
Good luck
I sent an e-mail with "flatten.lsp".
I think that I solved the issue that I was having, but in turn stepped into another issue.
I am going to start a new thread.
Thanks for the offers of help.
Dan
Paul in PA, post: 212122, member: 236 wrote: "EDIT" pulldown, "Change", "Elevations" in Carlson Survey
"Ignore zero elevations" Yes
select "Absolute"
"elevation to change to" 0.00
select objects
enter
Everything is flattened and at zero elevation.
But that is not really necessary,
"Inverse" reports a horizontal distance between 3D points.
Of course this all happens in Carlson Survey, but if you are a real surveyor and not using Carlson then you are at the mercy of the uninformed software people.
Paul in PA
I just used the search function this morning to find this very helpful tidbit.
Thank you Paul. I guess that is another clink in the tip jar in your honor.
I know AutoCAD is supposed to be "The BIG Dog", even the LT version, so there should be nothing that I can do in Carlson Survey That AutoCAD shouls also be able to do.
So, that said, you should be able to do dxfin and then save all of the coords to a coordinate file. You should then be able to simply do a "Draw/Locate points" with the "insert on real Z axis" box unchecked.
As far as the lines themselves being 3D, there should be an equivalent of the "3D to 2D" command.
Perhaps not in the 2004 package though. Sounds like it's time to upgrade. A copy of Carlson Survey with embedded AutoCAD, or the Intellicad version are similar in price to AutoCad LT, and you get SO much more (and, so far, there are NO monthly rental costs for using the product.).
