Tin Surface-2011 Civil 3d

[rjaywilson]

I have a tin surface that I can't get rid of, nor can I generate contour lines. I've been drafting forever, but this software isn't too user friendly. (At least in my opinion)I want to generate contour lines from points that I manually had to enter, because I couldn't get Civil 3d to recognize the trimble (what's with that?). Then I created a surface, so I have this tin sitting there, and I can't shut it off. Is this not an option in this nifty software?

[hawstom]

Hi, RJay. Civil 3D takes a bit of getting used to. But I think you will soon find you can do what you want and more.

 

First, let's talk about importing your Trimble points. If you can get Trimble to save or export a points file, then open it to ascertain its format, you can import the points via that file. The most common points file format is PNEZD comma-delimited, and it looks something like this: 1000,876456.12,401279.32,652.01,mailbox

 

Can you get a file like that exported from Trimble and imported to Civil 3D? Let me know.

 

Second, you need to create your surface. You can do this either directly from the points file or from a points group.

 

Third, the surface is a single complex object, and you get to show it any way you want by picking a style in Surface Properties. You can show the triangles (the TIN you are seeing), any contours, and many other surface display aspects.

 

If you need additional help, let us know.

 

Tom

[sinc]

Have you done the tutorials yet? There's some that illustrate step-by-step how to these basic tasks with Surfaces.

[BIGAL]

We have a surface style called "all off" this means display nothing go to your toolspace copy an existing "surface style" call it say alloff then "settings" surface styles pick your alloff to eidt then "display" and just turn all the layers off this should work.

[rjaywilson]

Thanks for the replies, I did go through the tutorials, which I should have done to begin with, and I got my surface with contours. I was able to bring the points in from GIS, and that solved the problem. The trimble software seems to be geared for GIS, so I guess this is the way I will have to do it. I am now trying to draw in retention ponds; if anybody has any quick tips, they'd be appreciated! Thanks again for your help!

[BIGAL]

Try using feature lines for your ponds always create a new surface and keep original surface safe in case something stuffs up. Its easy to delete a surface rather than have overwritten it and now its useless.

[wrmurphy81]

What kind of Trimble are you using? Do you have Trimble "Survey Controller" software? If you have the software then there is a lot that can be done with Trimble and C3D.

[rjaywilson]

The Trimble we have is a GeoExplorer 2008 Series. The IS department keeps all the software because we are untrustworthy and would use the cds as coasters or frisbees or whatever. They insist that there is no Autocad related programs on the software, anyway.

[sinc]

If you're using Survey Controller (or whatever they call it now), then download Trimble Link from Trimble's website and install it on your system. It will give you a new Ribbon tab in C3D that has a bunch of Trimble-related commands on it for importing/exporting data to/from your controller.