I'm still using autocad 2000 with LDD. i use a point label style to generate my topo data ... little x and the elevations to the nearest tenth.. My problem is if I forget to freeze or turn off the topo layer then re-import my points, it erases the topo data. Is there any way to protect those labels once they are there? Clearly, I need something more idiot-proof than freezing. I only know what I know in CAD, and am hoping that there is something here I'm missing.
anyone?
Restore from your daily back-up?
if you didn't save that drawing after the accident your back-up should be fine. You can change the extension (.bak) to .dwg and it should work fine.
I have it... you are using a 12+ year old program, UPGRADE.
or just switch to carlson
yes, thanks for the tip. I did not know my software was old. It generally does what I want, so why should I upgrade? As I said, I know this is a user-error issue. I thought there might be some hidden setting somewhere that I'm missing that would protect my labels.
I'm not sure exactly what the problem is; but 2000 works with a project. That project stores points and topo data and you can restore some things by reimporting project data. At least some of the topo data will be there. I've been able to recover topo data (tin info, contours, ect.) from the project file. The project file data will be updated as you go along so you don't have to tell the program to save.
yes, points are still there, this is a label issue.. if you remove the points then reinsert them later, LDD will change the labels based on the current setting. I just didn't know if there was a toggle somewhere to protect the labels without actually turning the layer off or freezing it. Which causes it's own set of issues when you need to share a file with topo.
Have you tried exploding them to just text entities and then putting them on a layer called "Spot"? ( To get them to text. I think you may have to explode them twice.)
I always have used the decimal point to indicate the location of the spot shot (Old CofE habits die hard!!) I import the elevations only, explode them twice and then chang them to my spot shot layer. (If you use the decimal point idea, you will need to move the text to the node location using the move command.)
And if you love AutoCad 2000 with LDD as much as I did, Carlson Survey will make you VERY happy. You can get the embedded version or the one that loads on top of your current AutoCad. The simplicity, extra tools and increased speed will make that move very cost effective and make your job much easier.
Lock the layer your points are on. Then nothing can be done to that layer, including deletion.....
> I'm still using autocad 2000 with LDD. i use a point label style to generate my topo data ... little x and the elevations to the nearest tenth.. My problem is if I forget to freeze or turn off the topo layer then re-import my points, it erases the topo data. Is there any way to protect those labels once they are there? Clearly, I need something more idiot-proof than freezing. I only know what I know in CAD, and am hoping that there is something here I'm missing.
>
> anyone?
Maybe put the labels on a different layer. Don't the points still have their attributes when they're reimported?
Try exploding the contours, making them 3-d polylines, before labeling.
I have a Visual Basic routine for spot elevations that I wrote for LDD2i that may help you out. It prompts for the drawing scale then each time you click on a point it reads the elevation of that point, rounds to the nearest tenth and inserts a block containing an X centered on the node and the elevation in an attribute located to the top right of the X. The text can be moved by grip editing if necessary on individual blocks or you can redefine the block to suit your style. The blocks are inserted on the current layer and are not tied to the point database. Let me know if you want the code.
cough cough ahh ahhh bullchit cough cough
I know it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks but as soon as you get that topo to the state you want it wblock it out to a separate drawing for safe keeping. Then if you ever screw it up you can erase the junk and insert the good.
I have a label style called NOPLOT that inserts NO label information. Set your label style to this when reinserting points and it should not affect your existing point labels.
I do hope your using point groups.
I used Carlson on ACAD 2012 recently and did'nt think it was any better than my LDD 07 with survey. In fact a lot of the commands appeared to be LDD wanna bees. Just saying....
Once you learn how to use it you will see a BIG difference. 😛
You could isolate the layer and turn it into a block.
can you export your info as a block and that way keep your original elevations intact even after they are updated in some future routine?
I often do that as it makes it easier (for me) to change styles and sizes etc.
I use Microsurvey and that program doesn't behave well for editing etc, as it assumes the elevations are intrinsically attached to a database Point (which it is) and messes with the text.
I gather your program may do that too.
Using point block attributes is the problem. As long as they are point block atributes, they will be affected everytime you load the coordinate file.
Use the "burst" command or the "explode" command to turn the attributes to text. Then place that text on whatever layer you wish.
I really believe that this is the only fix for your problem. It's been my work-around in every version of LDD that I have ever used. It's worked everytime.
