Structure properties - drop down menu missing!?

[ccoady]

How can I get the drop down menu of previously input data to come back?  I was here on a previous computer so I assume its something in the part catalog or part builder?  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[AlmasSuljevic]

Hi ccoady,

I think you are correct. Those values come from PartsList, but may be set as Optional Proprties. If you go into Parts List and edit it you will see similar entry: 

Further this settings comes from an XML file (note the "test" entry I added) C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2012\enu\Pipes Catalog\US Imperial Structures\AeccSharedPropertyLists.xml. I added a line under Material section. So I suspect the other machine had this set that way. 

Seth Hall (who gave me some pointers here), used to blog about this here: http://beingcivil.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/quick-tip-how-to-add-a-custom-material-to-your-parts...

[ccoady]

Thanks for the information on editing the XML file.  I'm able to access the drop down menu in the part list properties/editor, but where I need it is in the Structure properties when editing in the pipe network.  It was there before but not there now.  I looked at the XML files and all the materials that I added are there and as I said I can access them in the parts builder but in the PIPE or STRUCTURE PROPERTIES, there is no option to select from the drop down menu.  I can manually type in the variable though, but that takes a lot more time.

Any other ideas?  Thanks!!

[RDunkley]

I am having the same issue here. I edited the XML on my computer and the Drop Down List works on my computer, but when I share the Pipe Network Catalog with others, they are unable to see a Drop Down. This is happening for both my Pipe and Structure properties.

[RDunkley]

Just thought I'd check back in...

For anyone interested, I think I found the Issue, but no real solution. If I open a drawing from within Civil 3D the Drop Down Lists are there, the problem only seems to occur when I open through Explorer or from outside of Civil 3D. I'm using Civil 3D 2013. Not sure if this is just a bug in 2013, but keen to know if there's a fix..?

[MikeEvansUK]

In order for the contect "Drop down menu to show you need the manage list setting to be correct in the AeccPartParam file (see below for Material)

 <AeccDfParameter name="Mat" desc="Material" context="Material_Type" index="0" datatype="String" usage="String_General" managelist="True" unit="" visible="True" internal="True"/>

Note the format as above (I would copy, paste & Edit a simmilar entry for what you want rather than re-writing.

The item  "managelist="True"" adds the pulldown menu and should link to the SharedPropertyList file where the values will be stored. Below is the corrisponding entry for pipe material in this file.

<ColumnConstList desc="Material" dataType="string" unit="" name="Material" id="CCL1" visible="1" context="Material_Type" index="0">
<Item id="i0">Reinforced Concrete</Item>
<Item id="i1">Corrugated Steel</Item>
<Item id="i2">Ductile Iron</Item>
<Item id="i3">PVC</Item>
</ColumnConstList>

Steps to do this:

1. Edit PartParam and add your entry (inc manage list = true).

2. Edit SharedProp list file (location depends on Catalog file) copy and paste whole entry from </ColumnConstList> to </ColumnConstList> and paste below.

Change Desc & Name to match your desc in partparam then rename CCL1 to CCL2.

Add wanted entries for each item i0 etc then close and restart Civil3d.

Your drop down menu should now be back.

if it does not appear then one or more of the values do not match or you are using the wrong partcatalog.

M.

[RDunkley]

Thanks Mike,

I think I have this part correct, I have done as you have described and I am able to see the Drop Downs in the Parts List, where I am missing the Drop Down is in the Pipe or Structure Properties Dialog Box once the Pipe or Structure has been created... As per my previous post, I can get it to work, but only if opening from within Civil 3D.

Also, is there a way to prevent manual entries from automatically updating in the SharedPropertyList XML?

Ie. If one of our Designers doesn't select from the Drop Down but enters their own Text this will appear in the XML. It is probably a handy feature, just wondering if t can be disabled?

Thanks.

Ross.

[C3D-Nash]

I've been able to replicate this issue.  The strange thing is that upon creating a brand new parameter, using the managelist="True" value, and setting up the SharedProperties file; it works on the brand new parameter.  But all of the ones I developed back in 2012 and have brought up to the current catalog being used in 2013 do not.  They work in the Parts List menu, but not in the Structure Properties once the part is in the model.  I tested in C3D 2012 as well, same results.

I also tested on another user's machine, who happens to have ReadOnly access to the catalog files.  Same results.  The new one works, but the old one doesn't. 

I just happened to run accross this while I was putting final touches on my AU2013 class handout, which covers this topic.  Hopefully we find a solution in the next few weeks so I don't go spreading a problem to 250+ class attendees.  I'll post if I find any new info or fixes.

[C3D-Nash]

Here are the screen caps of both working in the Parts List menu.

[RDunkley]

Thanks for letting me know. Would be nice to find a solution to this one...

Regards.

Ross.

[andrewpuller3811]

---

@RDunkley wrote:

Just thought I'd check back in...

For anyone interested, I think I found the Issue, but no real solution. If I open a drawing from within Civil 3D the Drop Down Lists are there, the problem only seems to occur when I open through Explorer or from outside of Civil 3D. I'm using Civil 3D 2013. Not sure if this is just a bug in 2013, but keen to know if there's a fix..?

---

In regards to this part of it, I have found where I work that opening a drawing from explorer without having civil 3d open first, often leads to path and setting issues, including the pipe catalogue. Occasionally it has even led to Civil 3d starting up as Autocad.

Try opening civil 3d first and then double clicking the file in explorer.

This is a frustrating issue for me as I have set up a common profile for everyone including paths and content and something as simple as double clicking a file in explorer can cause it to not load a profile properly, or even corrupt a profile, requiring deleting and then reloading the profile. No matter how many times I tell the users here to open a file from civil 3d or atleast open civil 3d first, I still get people having issues because they "just double clicked it in explorer like I do with everything else", which is understandable to a point.

[RDunkley]

Hi,

Just thought I'd let you know, the issue appears to be back with Civil 3D 2016. It had been 'fixed' as far as I could tell for 2015 but now it's back!

Hopefully Autodesk can sort this one out soon...

Regards.
Ross.

[wvyhonsky]

Is this not working the same in C3D 2016?  I have a few optional paramaters setup for 2014 and they are working well.  I am trying to set these up the same way for 2016 and nothing is showing up?  I have edited the same xml files as I did for C3D 2014.

Thanks, Bill

C3D 2014

C3D 2016 (maybe)

[C3D-Nash]

Bill, I believe Optional Paramaters were broken in one of the 2014 service packs and 2015 release and haven't been fixed since. I recall dealing with this over a year ago when I was trying to add custom properties, and they weren't visible in Civil 3D. I don't know if the reason for not fixing is because of the new Project Kameleon replacement for Part Builder on Autodesk Labs, but it very well could be. If you haven't already, I recommend you join Project Kameleon on the labs and try out the engine to build parts and add custom parameters for both Infraworks and Civil 3D catalogs.

[RDunkley]

Hi Bill,

After installing the Service Pack 1 for Civil 3D 2016 the issue appears to have been resolved... Again..!

Hopefully this resolves your issue.

Regards.
Ross.

[wvyhonsky]

Ross / Nash thanks for the replys.

Ross - I did have SP1 installed and just installed SP2 this morning, and still cant get it to work.  Not sure what I'm missing.

I was able to just change the name of the "Cover" optional parameter to "Phase" (which is the name of one of the ones I need) in the AeccSharedPropertyLists.xml.. That may be the route I need to go because I don't have a use for the included parameters.  Although, I'm not sure if doing that will cause issues comewhere else, but I doubt it.

Bill  

[wvyhonsky]

So today I got back into 2016 and all of my optional parameters are now showing up.  The only thing I can think is that it was a combination of installing SP2 yesterday and a reboot of my pc last night.  After installing SP2 yesterday I didn't reboot before writing my previous post, and I wasnt in 2016 the rest of the day.

[RDunkley]

I was looking back through my previous posts and noticed that the issue is the same as I was experiencing earlier... See below...

RDunkley wrote:

Just thought I'd check back in...

For anyone interested, I think I found the Issue, but no real solution. If I open a drawing from within Civil 3D the Drop Down Lists are there, the problem only seems to occur when I open through Explorer or from outside of Civil 3D. I'm using Civil 3D 2013. Not sure if this is just a bug in 2013, but keen to know if there's a fix..?

I just checked this and it seems as though this is still the case.

Regards.

Ross.

[C3D-Nash]

I found some more interesting inforamtion on how these custom properties are loaded into Civil 3D. I thought previously that if the currently set pipe network catalog did not contain custom catalog parameters, then files opened that do contain custom parameters from a different catalog would not be visible. This is partially correct, and it is very odd to see it working this way.

Take a look at these 2 screencast videos showing the behavior; view in order.

Video 1

Video 2

[wvyhonsky]

Thanks for all of the replys.  My issues have been resolved by installing Civil 3D SP2.  I tested on another machine as well, and after installing SP2 the custom parameters showed up.

Now, I want the new custom parameters I created for my pipes to be available to add as a "connected pipe" field in a structure table.  Is this possible?  The drop down list for the "connected pipes" in a structure table seems limited to only some of the pipe parameters.

Thanks

Bill

Civil 3D 2014 SP2

Civil 3D 2016 SP2