I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction on this. Using the 'mapcogo' on the command line brings up the 'COGO Input' box. When I select on the desired starting point in the drawing, enter in my bearing in the appropriate quadrant and distance and hit calculate, it appears to calculate a vector to the point I wish to compute. But when I hit 'Create Point' with the intention of storing that point, bloop, it all disappears, no point stored, no nothing, nada.
I'm stuck with C3D for the time being. I can draw up line work using 'bd and manually assign cogo points to the vertices, but it's not how I like to roll and is azz backwards for me, not to mention clunky.
Could one of you brilliant survey wizards be kind enough to show me the error of my ways here? There's either a bug or somewhere a box is not checked that eludes me.
TIA
Willy
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
I wonder why your desire for Cogo? Wanting to do things how an older person taught you or thinking “traditional “ is better? Decades ago, calculating coordinates was the only way to calculate, no graphics, and if there were graphics (lines) they were for visual display only and were not tied to the points (Survey3). I’ve been in surveying 30 years and very briefly started with “cogo “ aka Survey3; however, once I became familiar with autocad, I saw how much easier, more powerful, and efficient calculating with lines and circles was. I calculate on calc named layers, but switch a line to the standard layer when I’ve determined the line.
the functions you’re probably looking for are easy to do by drawing lines, trimming them, extending or making it a certain distance, drawing a circle of your required distance, copying that circle to an intersection, etc! All without having to input or select a point number. I calculate in civil 3D and ORD and 99+% of the time never storing a Cogo point. I rarely perform stake out, but export lines when I do as data collectors allow you to select graphics to stake out relative to.
when I need to draw record lines, I draw line by bearing and distance
worried about your calcs moving? Lock the layer and copy the file as a backup.
Here is a wild guess. Turn on all the layers. Maybe the cogo routine uses a special layer.
I'm thinking it's not an actual "cogo" point like you would use in your data collector. Rather it's a "point" or "dot" in the CAD drawing (a REALLY small dot) that may be on a layer that's turned off. You will still have to create a physical point on the "dot" OR convert those "dots" to cogo points you can use. Just a thought.
T. Nelson - SAM
Willy et al,
I think you're on to something. The command creates nothing but frustration. I tried it on a blank drawing with only layer '0' and the PDMODE / PDSIZE variables set to something I could see. Used the command and nothing shows up. Listed 'ALL' and only go my original line.
You can use the point creation tool to do the same COGO with the output being an actual 'COGO' point.
As for the 'why use cogo' comments, sometimes all you need is points and it is quicker to create them by COGO vs drawing lines the placing points on the resulting lines.
I am with @robertusa on this one and have been using cad and civil3d longer than i can remember. Back in the day, points where input via cogo only methods but i stopped that practice once we got Cad in the early 90s. It was a huge hurdle to overcome with the old timers. But once they seen it in use, the hurdle broke. Although i must say we do put points on everything and have only just started experimenting with exporting linework as opposed to points with mixed results, mainly in the tracking of data management side of things.
I have never even seen this mapcogo window, ever and am not sure where you found it. I tried it, it's dated, clunky and doesn't work. If your set on not drawing the linework then the Create Points - Miscellaneous > Bearing command is what you're after. You'll want to ensure you have your points settings and such are to your liking so you can enter in the code, elevation and such upon creation.
But when I hit 'Create Point' with the intention of storing that point, bloop, it all disappears, no point stored, no nothing, nada.
When a cogo point is created it is shown on the screen in accordance with the "style" you have currently set for cogo point appearance. It is quite possible to have a style that uses an AutoCAD point for the marker and have the PDMODE set to 1, which makes a point but shows nothing on the screen.
You can also have that style not have any label. This is common. Or the style can have a label but when the "label visibility" property is set to FALSE it will not show on the screen.
Under these conditions a cogo point will be added to the point database but show nothing on the screen. It would be kind of a cruel practical joke to play on a newby, wouldn't it?
I was just checking this out and the MAPCOGO command relates to AutoCAD Map 3D. https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAP/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-26FA9995-3648-4713-BF3B-7C7D6A9D69CF
That's not it. I just does not work. I just tried in in 2025 and nothing. No node and no 'cogo point' (yes, I checked the prospector for any points).
I'm not surprised a survey function does not work in C3D.
That's not it. I just does not work.
I get it. I simply wanted to make the point that a cogo point could be created which has absolutely no apparent presence on the screen.
Yeah, I get the call with every new client or client's CAD tech asking where the points are. Any point that does not have a symbol get put on my 'Hidden' COGO point style so it does not clutter up the drawing.
Jeff Bartels and Alan Gilbert both have some great youtube videos, I would like for Alan to put out more as his exptise is surveying but Jeff's stuff is really great, can get you excited about Civil-3D which, is really saying something.
This video may speak to what you are looking to accomplish.
I was just checking this out and the MAPCOGO command relates to AutoCAD Map 3D. https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAP/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-26FA9995-3648-4713-BF3B-7C7D6A9D69CF
Explains why i have been using Civil3d from the beginning and never heard or seen this command. It's not a survey function, its for Autocad Map. Don't use it, use the survey functions. Done!
I finally broke down the citadel walls and got a seat of Carlson. It's simply day and night when it comes to the functionality of the cogo routines. Drawing everything up using line commands 'bd and then coming back and placing cogo points using the osnap functions, I'm not suggesting that it's not the way to go, but I really appreciate being able to put in a bearing and being able to add a deflection, whether it's 90d to get to a radius point or just a mapping angle to apply to a record bearing. I'll still be using C3D for surfaces, which I haven't done a great deal of last couple decades, but having a tool that allows me to quickly compute my way around a plat and check closures and have something to throw in the controller before I head out the door, makes life just a tad more bearable. Thanks for the help. No doubt I'll be back, but not before I explore all the rabbit holes to try and figure it out for myself.
Cheers. W
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
The Civil3d Traverse Editor is pretty decent for calcs. Off the top of my head, I think you can set it to place cogo points only (ie. I believe the options are points only, linework only, or linework and cogo points):
As is typical, BC-Surveyor has a pretty good vid on it:
@jaccen Thanks! I'll check this out.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
No doubt I'll be back, but not before I explore all the rabbit holes to try and figure it out for myself.
Really with the amount of traffic in here I think it is better to come back sooner with more questions to drive the conversation a little.
And it is always amazing how even the most simple task can be done better and a person would never know if not for the sharing of another.
@party-chef Fair enough. I think a good part of my attitude towards this was driven home by some of my early mentors who drilled it into me that I should not come seeking their help until I'd made every effort to figure something out on my own. Granted, they were not by any means my favorite mentors but sometimes those lessons that they imparted are the ones most remembered. Meanwhile I'm working on preparing for the Part 107 drone license exam and questions on classes of airspace and sectional charts, have me a little distracted.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.