I'm looking for a way to manage large numbers of points for our larger projects. IE have multiple drawings be referencing a database with points so we don't get duplicates or even worse, duplicates with different coords.
We use civil 3d but I do not use any of the survey menus as I do everything on the raw side in Carlson/Sublime text prior to importing into our DWGs. I have absolutely no desire to start inserting FBK or use autocads survey menus.
I've set up civil to look at the survey database folder, but I can't figure out how to get points from the drawing into the survey DB. I know I've populated it using FBK and but doing it this way would complicate our current workflow.
I simply want to import ASCII points into a DWG, and then be able to send them to a survey database that other drawings can then pull from.
Your best bet is to insert them through the survey database. This allows for a much smoother workflow and tracking as you can name each import event.
You can also insert them into the drawing as you have described. However, this is a much more cumbersome process and is prone to issues. Once you have the points in the drawing go to the survey database>import events>under data source type change the option to 'points from drawing'. Once this is selected it will ask you to select the points in teh drawing you want to import into the database. This is where things can get difficult. If you're importing all the points in the drawing you simply select all points. If you only want select groups of points to be inserted you need to have a way to 'select' them for importing.
I suggest importing you ascii files straight into the survey database. This allows you to keep one large database and only insert/import the points you want into you're drawings.
This sounds ideal and maybe it's a limitation of 09, but I see no way of inserting ASCII points into the database in any menu.
I do not recommend importing text files directly into the survey database in C3D as you could have unexpected results if you are working in state plane coordinates and US survey feet. Since the text file doesn't tell C3D what type of feet the file is in C3D assumnes Int'l feet and if your drawing is in US Survey feet your incoming points are scaled accordingly. I recommend inserting the points into the drawing first then from there importing them into the survey database as this will read the type of feet from the drawing settings and you will have appropriately scaled coordinates. In my workflow I have a template set up for fieldwork that has basic point styles and the appropriate units and SPC Zone defined that I use for all data coming into the project. This is where I wok out any issues with F2F linework codes so that drafters can attach to the survey project that I create with a drawing based on a drafting template that is customized to the particular type of map that they are producing.
Open the database for edit and right click on import events and select import survey data.
There are some excellent you tube videos covering the basics f working with the survey database.
Randy Rain, post: 415005, member: 35 wrote: I do not recommend importing text files directly into the survey database in C3D as you could have unexpected results if you are working in state plane coordinates and US survey feet. Since the text file doesn't tell C3D what type of feet the file is in C3D assumnes Int'l feet and if your drawing is in US Survey feet your incoming points are scaled accordingly. I recommend inserting the points into the drawing first then from there importing them into the survey database as this will read the type of feet from the drawing settings and you will have appropriately scaled coordinates. In my workflow I have a template set up for fieldwork that has basic point styles and the appropriate units and SPC Zone defined that I use for all data coming into the project. This is where I wok out any issues with F2F linework codes so that drafters can attach to the survey project that I create with a drawing based on a drafting template that is customized to the particular type of map that they are producing.
That is incorrect Randy. Or should I say...you need to update your settings to US Survey feet in the database default template. You have your settings all wrong if your survey database import settings are reading international feet. You should already know what and where your coordinates are: grid, ground etc...prior to importing. We only import txt files through the database and only import ground coordinates. Occassionally we'll have a project that is on grid and in those situations we specify GRID in the database or drawing name depending on the situation
ease, post: 415003, member: 1584 wrote: This sounds ideal and maybe it's a limitation of 09, but I see no way of inserting ASCII points into the database in any menu.
Make sure it's a .txt or .csv extension. Each work just fine.
Thanks all for the help, I did figure out just now that I need to create a network first, before I can import points from the DWG. Still not finding the import from ASCII option.
WA-ID Surveyor, post: 415009, member: 6294 wrote: That is incorrect Randy. Or should I say...you need to update your settings to US Survey feet in the database default template. You have your settings all wrong if your survey database import settings are reading international feet. You should already know what and where your coordinates are: grid, ground etc...prior to importing. We only import txt files through the database and only import ground coordinates. Occassionally we'll have a project that is on grid and in those situations we specify GRID in the database or drawing name depending on the situation
To be honest I am aware of that but out of the box C3D defaults to international feet in the survey database template and explaining how to drill down to that level to make those changes was more than I was willing to get into in this discussion. Easier to import from the drawing insuring that all units match.
RRain
So you keep all your survey databases in Internatinal feet but you dont work in Internation feet? That seems way more dangerous than simply setting up your database correctly.
No I do not, my survey database template is changed but as I said I did not feel like drilling down that far into this explanation as I have actual work to do.
I use alpha prefixes for large numbers of points. Renumber with A and B and so on.
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I thought CAD didn't support alphanumeric point numbers
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A point does not have to be physically in a drawing to be used by CAD. As long as the point number and coordinates are in the related coordinate file they can be used to draw entities and measure to entities. There is no limit to the number of points because one can easily change the reference coordinate file to another file. I have never tried it in my CAD but my data collector allows me to set up over a point in one file, backsight a point in a second file and record points in a third file.
Heck I began drawing in AutoCAD 2 by creating lines, entering coordinates on the keyboard with no point number associated with them, merely a coordinate list.
My CAD, Carlson Survey, supports alphanumeric points. It is no big deal.
Paul in PA
ease, post: 415101, member: 1584 wrote: I thought CAD didn't support alphanumeric point numbers
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Civil 3D supports alpha numerics as Point Names rather than Point Numbers. If you are using Point Names then Point Numbers are also assigned to your point by civil 3D independent of the Point Name.
Civil 3d did not support ascii or txt file imports in the survey database until Civil 3d 2010, thats probably why you cant find it.
