How to flatten multiple feature lines at a time.

[keithknifer]

I want to flatten feature lines and keep them as feature lines without doing one at a time in the elevation editor.  The flatten command turns them into 3d polylines.  I want to ultimately explode them into 2d polylines, but that won't happen unless they are each at one elevation first.

I do this to create simple linework that goes into machine control applications.  That software has no idea what a feature line is and they don't even show up if I leave them in.  I would prefer not to have arcs tesselated due to being 3d polylines.  I know I can achieve this if I edit one at a time.  I'm just hoping someone has a way to flatten them all at once without turning them into 3d plines.

Thanks.

[Jeff_M]

Easiest way I know of:

http://www.quuxsoft.com/SincpacC3D_Help/SP_Extract2d.htm

This will actually give you your 2d polyline at 0 elevation, complete with any arcs that may have been in the original F/L.

[Neilw_05]

One approach is to draw a rectangle that encompasses all the feature lines and use it to make a surface at elevation zero. Then drape the featurelines on it. 

[keithknifer]

Thanks, I'll look into getiing that.  That's just what I need.

[keithknifer]

I need to try that.  I was thinking I would still need to do one at a time in the elevation editor to extract elevations from the surface, but maybe I can drape them all at once.  

Thanks.

[Neilw_05]

When you invoke the elevation from surface tool in the Modify panel you should see an option for Multiple on the command line.