RECOVERALL Command

I had not yet used the RECOVERALL command. Actually, it is a command I had forgotten about. I recently saw a it mentioned and was greatful for the reminder.

Here is how it works. When you type RECOVERALL at the command line the following dialog box appears.

Pressing the "Help" button provides further information.

If you run Civil 3D as AutoCAD or have generic AutoCAD this command can be found on the menu at "File" > "Drawing Utilities" > "Recover drawing and xrefs..."

Be Better!

Pick-a-Part...Or Not

When working in drawings with LOTS of data the selection of a subentity to a object (ie. a surface label or a single point) can significantly decrease preformance. It is possible to toggle between the ability to select subentities or the selection of the main object only. The two commands that toggle this ability are:

DISABLESUBSELECTION - Turns off the ability to select subentities.
ENABLESUBSELECTION - Turns on the ability to select subentities.

Seems like an ideal case for custom Toolbar Buttons or Tool Palette tools.

Show Me AutoCAD Entities Only

Here is an interesting undocumented command:

VISUALAUDIT

When this command is used a drawing will display only AutoCAD objects (non-Civil 3D objects). All intelligent Civil 3D objects will be invisible until the command is exited by pressing an Escape, Enter, or a mouse-click.

This will help us verify if we exploded (or dummied-down) certain objects.

The Root of All...

I just reviewed an Autodesk document that reminders/warns users that after applying Service Pack 3 for Civil 3D 2007, four of the Templates (.dwts) that ship with the product will now contain 6 errors that will be found with an AUDIT command. The templates are:

_Autodesk Civil 3D (Imperial) NCS Classic
_Autodesk Civil 3D (Imperial) NCS Extended
_Autodesk Civil 3D (Metric) NCS Classic
_Autodesk Civil 3D (Metric) NCS Extended

This is a good time to point out that running the AUDIT command in Civil 3D drawings, or our custom templates, is ALWAYS a good idea. We should get into the habit of running this command often. Some companies have even automated the use of this command upon the opening of every file. Drawings with Gradings and Parcels are particularly sensitive to corruption and should be kept clean.

The AUDIT command is similar to visiting a doctor for a check-up. Preventative actions should contribute to the avoidance of Fatal Errors.

2007 New, Changed, and Obsolete Commands

Autodesk has posted in the knowledge base all of the following information for New, Changed and Obsolete Commands

New Commands
Command - Description

3DALIGN - Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

-3DCONFIG - Provides a command line interface to the 3D graphics system's configuration settings.

3DDWF - Displays the Export 3D DWF dialog box.

3DFLY - "Activates fly-through mode and enables you to navigate in any direction including off the XY plane."

3DFORBIT - "Controls the interactive viewing of objects in 3D, using an unconstrained orbit."

3DMOVE - Displays the move grip tool in a 3D view and moves objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

3DROTATE - Displays the rotate grip tool in a 3D view and revolves objects around a base point.

3DWALK - Interactively changes the view of a 3D drawing so that you appear to be walking through the model.

AECTOACAD - Creates a new DWG file with all AEC objects exploded.

ANIPATH - Saves an animation along a path in a 3D model.

BREP - Removes the history from 3D solid primitives and composite solids.

CHSPACE - "Moves objects from model space to paper space, or vice versa. (Integrated Express Tool)"

CONVERTOLDLIGHTS - Converts lights created in previous releases to lights in AutoCAD 2007 format.

CONVERTOLDMATERIALS - Converts materials created in previous releases to materials in AutoCAD 2007 format.

CONVTOSOLID - Converts polylines and circles with thickness to 3D solids.

CONVTOSURFACE - Converts objects to surfaces.

COPYTOLAYER - Copies one or more objects to another layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

-COPYTOLAYER - Copies one or more objects to another layer. (Command line version)

DASHBOARD - Opens the Dashboard window.

DASHBOARDCLOSE - Closes the Dashboard window.

DISTANTLIGHT - Creates a distant light.

DWFADJUST - Allows adjustment of a DWF underlay from the command line.

DWFATTACH - Attaches a DWF underlay to the current drawing.

DWFCLIP - Uses clipping boundaries to define a subregion of a DWF underlay.

EXTERNALREFERENCES - Displays the External References palette.

EXTERNALREFERENCESCLOSE - Closes the External References palette.

FLATSHOT - Creates a 2D representation of all 3D objects in the current view.

GEOGRAPHICLOCATION - Specifies the latitude and longitude of a location.

HELIX - Creates a 2D or 3D spiral.

IMPRINT - Imprints an edge on a 3D solid.

-INTERFERE - Highlights 3D solids that overlap. (Command line version)

JOGSECTION - Adds a jogged segment to a section object.

LAYCUR - Changes the layer of selected objects to the current layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYDEL - "Deletes the layer of a selected object and all objects on the layer, and then purges the layer from the drawing. (Integrated Express Tool)"

-LAYDEL - "Deletes the layer of a selected object and all objects on the layer, and then purges the layer from the drawing. (Command line version)"

LAYFRZ - Freezes the layer of selected objects. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYISO - Isolates the layer of selected objects so that all other layers are turned off. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYLCK - Locks the layer of selected objects. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYMCH - Changes the layer of a selected object to match the destination layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

-LAYMCH - Changes the layer of a selected object to match the destination layer. (Command line version)

LAYMCUR - Makes the layer of a selected object current. (Renamed AI_MOLC)

LAYMRG - Merges selected layers onto a destination layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

-LAYMRG - Merges selected layers onto a destination layer. (Command line version)

LAYOFF - Turns off the layer of the selected object. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYON - Turns on all layers. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYTHW - Thaws all layers. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYULK - Unlocks the layer of a selected object. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYUNISO - Turns on layers that were turned off with the last LAYISO command. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYVPI - Isolates an object's layer to the current viewport. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYWALK - Dynamically displays layers in a drawing. (Integrated Express Tool)

LIGHTLIST - Opens the Lights in Model window to add and modify lights.

LIGHTLISTCLOSE - Closes the Lights in Model window.

LIVESECTION - Turns on live sectioning for a selected section object.

LOFT - Creates a 3D solid or surface by lofting through a set of two or more curves.

MATERIALATTACH - Attaches materials to objects by layer.

MATERIALMAP - Displays a material mapper grip tool to adjust the mapping on a face or an object.

MATERIALS - "Manages, applies, and modifies materials."

MATERIALSCLOSE - Closes the Materials window.

PLANESURF - Creates a planar surface.

POINTLIGHT - Creates a point light.

POLYSOLID - Creates a 3D polysolid.

PRESSPULL - Presses or pulls bounded areas.

PYRAMID - Creates a 3D solid pyramid.

RENDERCROP - Selects a specific region (crop window) in an image for rendering.

RENDERENVIRONMENT - Provides visual cues for the apparent distance of objects.

RENDERPRESETS - "Specifies render presets, reusable rendering parameters, for rendering an image."

RENDERWIN - Displays the Render Window without invoking a render task.

RPREFCLOSE - Closes the Advanced Render Settings palette if it is displayed.

SECTIONPLANE - Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through a 3D object.

SPOTLIGHT - Creates a spotlight.

SUNPROPERTIES - Opens the Sun palette and sets the properties of the sun.

SUNPROPERTIESCLOSE - Closes the Sun Properties window.

SWEEP - Creates a 3D solid or surface by sweeping a 2D curve along a path.

THICKEN - Creates a 3D solid by thickening a surface.

VISUALSTYLES - Creates and modifies visual styles and applies a visual style to a viewport.

-VISUALSTYLES - Creates and modifies visual styles and applies a visual style to a viewport. (Command line version)

VISUALSTYLESCLOSE - Closes the Visual Styles Manager.

VSCURRENT - Sets the visual style in the current viewport.

VSSAVE - Saves a visual style.

WALKFLYSETTINGS - Specifies walk and fly settings.

XEDGES - Creates wireframe geometry by extracting edges from a 3D solid or surface.



Changed Commands -
Command - Description

3DCONFIG - Provides 3D graphics system configuration settings.

3DORBIT - Controls the interactive viewing of objects in 3D.

3DPAN - Starts the interactive 3D view and enables you to drag the view horizontally and vertically in a perspective view.

3DSWIVEL - Changes the target of the view in the direction that you drag.

3DZOOM - Zooms in and out in a perspective view.

ALIGN - Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

BOX - Creates a 3D solid box.

CAMERA - Sets a camera and target location to create and save a 3D perspective view of objects.

CHANGE - Changes the properties of existing objects.

CHPROP - Changes the properties of an object.

CONE - Creates a 3D solid with a circular or elliptical base tapering symmetrically to a point or a circular/elliptical planar face.

CUI - "Manages customized user interface elements such as workspaces, toolbars, menus, shortcut menus and keyboard shortcuts."

CYLINDER - Creates a three-sided 3D solid with a circular or elliptical base and top.

DSETTINGS - "Sets grid and snap, polar and object snap tracking, object snap modes, and Dynamic Input."

DVIEW - Defines parallel projection or perspective views by using a camera and target.

ETRANSMIT - Packages a set of files for Internet transmission.

-ETRANSMIT - Packages a set of files for Internet transmission. (Command line version)

EXPLODE - Breaks a compound object into its component objects.

EXTRUDE - Creates a 3D solid or surface by extruding an object or planar face a specified distance and direction.

FIELD - Creates a multiline text object with a field that can be updated automatically as the field value changes.

GRID - Displays a grid in the current viewport that is not plotted.

HIDE - Regenerates a three-dimensional wireframe model with hidden lines suppressed.

HLSETTINGS - Changes the display properties of lines in 2D wireframes.

IMAGE - Starts the EXTERNALREFERENCES command allowing for image management.

-IMAGE - Allows access to image options from the command line.

IMAGEADJUST - "Controls the image display of the brightness, contrast, and fade values of images."

-IMAGEADJUST - "Controls the image display of the brightness, contrast, and fade values of images. (Command line version)"

IMAGEATTACH - Attaches a new image to the current drawing.

IMAGECLIP - Uses clipping boundaries to define a subregion of an image object.

IMAGEQUALITY - Controls the display quality of images.

INTERFERE - Highlights 3D solids that overlap.

JOIN - "Joins objects to form a single, unbroken object."

LIGHT - Creates a light.

LIST - Displays database information for selected objects.

MATCHPROP - Applies the properties of a selected object to other objects.

MVIEW - Creates and controls layout viewports.

OPTIONS - Customizes the program settings.

PAGESETUP - "Controls the page layout, plotting device, paper size, and other settings for each new layout."

PLOT - "Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file."

PUBLISH - Publishes drawings to DWF files or plotters.

PURGE - "Removes unused named items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing."

-PURGE - "Removes unused named items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing. (Command line version)"

QSELECT - Creates a selection set based on filtering criteria.

RECTANG - Draws a rectangular polyline.

REFCLOSE - Saves back or discards changes made during in-place editing of a reference (an xref or a block).

REFEDIT - Selects an external reference or block reference for editing.

RENDER - Creates a photorealistic or realistically shaded image of a three-dimensional wireframe or solid model.

REVOLVE - Creates a 3D solid or surface by revolving 2D objects around an axis.

RPREF - Displays the Advanced Render Settings palette for access to advanced rendering settings.

SAVEIMG - Saves a rendered image to a file.

SELECT - Places selected objects in the Previous selection set.

SHADEMODE - Starts the VSCURRENT command.

SHEETSET - Opens the Sheet Set Manager.

SLICE - Slices a solid with a plane or surface.

SNAP - Restricts cursor movement to specified intervals.

SOLIDEDIT - Edits faces and edges of 3D solid objects.

SPHERE - Creates a 3D solid sphere.

TORUS - Creates a 3D donut-shaped solid.

UCS - Manages user coordinate systems.

VIEW - "Saves and restores named views, camera views, layout views, and preset views."

-VPORTS - Creates multiple viewports in model space or paper space. (Command line version)

WBLOCK - Writes objects or a block to a new drawing file.

-WBLOCK - Writes objects or a block to a new drawing file. (Command line version)

WEDGE - Creates a five-sided 3D solid with a sloped face tapering along the X axis.

XREF - Starts the EXTERNALREFERENCES command.



Removed or Obsolete Commands -
Command - Description

3DDWFPUBLISH - Creates 3D DWF files of three-dimensional models. (Replaced with 3DDWF)

3DSOUT - Exports to a 3D Studio (3DS) file. (No replacement)

BACKGROUND - Sets up the background for your scene. (Merged with VIEW)

FOG - Provides visual cues for the apparent distance of objects. (Replaced by RENDERENVIRONMENT)

LSEDIT - Edits a landscape object. (No replacement)

LSLIB - Maintains libraries of landscape objects. (No replacement)

LSNEW - "Adds realistic landscape items, such as trees and bushes, to your drawings. (No replacement)"

MATLIB - Imports and exports materials to and from a library of materials. (Replaced by MATERIALS)

RENDSCR - Preserves the integrity of scripts. (No replacement)

REPLAY - "Displays a BMP, TGA, or TIFF image. (No replacement)"

RMAT - Manages rendering materials. (Replaced by MATERIALS)

SCENE - Manages scenes in model space. (No replacement)

SETUV - Maps materials onto objects. (Replaced by MATERIALMAP)

SHOWMAT - Lists the material type and attachment method for a selected object. (Replaced by LIST)

STATS - Displays rendering statistics. (Merged with RENDERWIN)

Civil 3D - Undocumented Command

While addressing questions in the Disscussion Groups Dan Philbrick, Autodesk Civil 3D Development Manager, shared what he called an UNSUPPORTED/UNDOCUMENTED command. It is AecInspect.

This command asks users to "Hover over entity to inspect:" It then returns in a tooltip the type of entity hovered over and the entity's layer (see image).

The original question about determining the layer of an entity's subcomponent can not be determined via this command but I am sure that some will find this command very helpful.

Civil 3D 2007 - Corridor to Google Earth

There is so much to share, and not nearly enough time to do so. Here is a super quick item.

Today, during the webcast, Anthony Governanti, Technical Marketing Manager for Autodesk, shared a hidden command in Civil 3D 2007. EXPORTGOOGLEEARTH.

This command allows you to pick a corridor with a corridor surface in a drawing that has a coordinate system assigned and have the surface of the corridor exported to Google Earth.

Lynn on 'FS

On February 21st, Lynn Allen in her blog offered one of the most intriguing tips I have seen in a long time. I'll admit, I was not familiar with FAST SELECT ('FS). It is an Express tool command. The description is "Selects objects that touch a specified object". I tried it out. It works.

The FSMODE system variable controls whether objects that touch the newly selected objects will also be selected. In essence creating a chain.

As with anything it takes conscience effort to incorporate new commands and techniques into our individual work styles. Everyday we should try to improve or learn something.

The title of this post links to Lynn's post.

Thanks Lynn!

EXPORTLDTDATA Command

Most Civil 3D users have had a need to use the IMPORTLDTDATA command. It allows users to get civil data from a Land Desktop project directly. Most users are not aware that when initiated this command also triggers the availability of a related command. The new command is EXPORTLDTDATA.

EXPORTLDTDATA allows users to push data to a Land Desktop project without leaving Civil 3D. This command is very useful in a mixed application environment to streamline the creation and use of data. I can now design and provide data to Land Desktop users quickly without any action on there part.

Quick Select & Select Similar - Last Post of 2005

In Autodesk Civil 3D 2006 there are a couple of commands available from the right-click (shortcut) menu that I find useful. They are Quick Select (QSELECT) and Select Similar (SELECTSIMILAR).

Quick Select: allows you to use object properties or object types to include objects in a selection set, or to exclude them. In other words, I can search for any property of any object type and select EVERY object that satisfies the search. This is similar to the old filter command.

QSELECT is commonly used in conjuction with the Propeties Palette which would then allow you to modify the objects just selected.

SELECTSIMILAR: To use this command, select a single object, then right-click and choose SELECTSIMILAR this would select ALL objects of the SAME type on the SAME layer.

This likewise, is commonly used with the Properties Palette.

Most of next week I will be out of town providing training and should be back next Friday. Until then have a Safe and Happy New Year!

3DDWFPublish and Transparent Surfaces

Here are a couple of things that may brighten someone's Christmas.

First, the 3DDWFPUBLISH command allows us to create a Design Web Format (DWF) file of our three-dimensional models. The process is quick and easy.

Second, in Autodesk DWF Viewer or Autodesk DWF Composer when you look at a 3D DWF you can choose components and either "Hide" them or make them "Transparent". This can be useful when needing to see a pipe network. Just make the surface transparent.

Happy Holidays!

SAVE It

This is simple. Lets see if you are familiar with it. Most are not.

I often ask users what is the easiest way, straight out of the box, to access the "SAVE" command. Many will reply the "Diskette" icon on the "Standard" ("Civil 3D Standard" in Civil 3D) toolbar, Its tooltip says "Save CTRL+S". This is not the correct answer. They are referring to the Qsave command, verifiable by hovering over the button and reading the button description in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.

Typically the next answers are the "Save" or "Save As..." commands found on the "File" Pulldown menu. No, these refer to the QSAVE command, once again, and the SAVEAS command respectively.

The only way to initiate the SAVE command is to type it. Why is the SAVE command important? Because it can save you time. I have watched users do a SAVEAS command and type in a new file name. The problem is the they are now in that file with the new name. They then "CLOSE" that file and "OPEN" the original file that they were in.

With the "SAVE" command you can type a new file name, create that file, but you will remain in the original file.

By the way both the "SAVEAS" and "SAVE" commands bring up the "Save Drawing As" dialog box. The only difference is the results.

So, did you know it?

A Couple of Interesting Facts

Two bloggers pointed out a couple of things that I found interesting.

Lynn Allen mentioned the undocumented FILTERS command. This command brings up a dialog box (with no help button) that allows you to pick which layer filters you wish to keep or delete.

Ralph Grabowski pointed out that if an onject is on a locked layer will display the icon of a lock when you attempt to select it.

Ralph also mentioned that if you hold the shift key while doing a fillet or chamfer the software will do a radius 0 corner. I like that very much.

Undocumented Command

Nowhere in the Civil 3D Help system is there reference to the AECLINEWORKSHRINKWRAP command. This command is present in Land Desktop and is described in Land Desktop Help. You can use it in Civil 3D 2005.

To use it enter AECLINEWORKSHRINKWRAP at the command line. It then prompts you to "Select object(s) to generate shrinkwrap from:". Select object(s) and press Enter. A new Polyline will be created on the current layer from the silhouette/outline of the selected objects.

The command can also be entered after you have selected objects in Noun/Verb mode.

SelectSimilar

In Civil 3D there is no reference in "Help" anywhere to a command that is found when you select something(s) and right-click to bring up a shortcut menu. At the bottom of the pop-up menu you will see "Select Similar". The SELECTSIMILAR command, which can also be entered at the command line, will select/highlight all objects that are the same as the one(s) you have selected. I have found this to be a very easy way to select all objects of a particular type.

By the way, this same command can be found in Land Desktop 2005.

Will All Text Please Step Forward

I had occasion to use the TEXTTOFRONT command today. It allows the user to automatically grab all of the Text, or all of the Dimensions, or Both, and "bring them to front". It is very quick and easy to use.

Lynn Counts Blocks

In her blog, Lynn Allen offered what I thought was a very elegant and easy way of count blocks in a drawing.

This is accomplished by using the EATTEXT command which brings up the Attribute Extraction Wizard. If we press the "NEXT>" button three times, to accept the defaults for the first three screens of the wizard, we end up at a table with all of the blocks listed and counted. Do not forget that you can size the dialog box to view more data at once.