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Civil3D not for the occasional user....

39 REPLIES 39
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Message 1 of 40
paulhoman
1615 Views, 39 Replies

Civil3D not for the occasional user....

We are a consulting engineering firm that uses AutoCAD and Civil3D.  However, it is necessary for us to use Civil3D only about 5% of the time in our drafting and design work.  This fact has made it an absolute nightmare implementing Civil3D into our work.  Civil3D is an endless labyrinth of windows, drop down menus, pull down menus, dialogue boxes.  And to add to the confusion, they give you half a dozen ways to access anything.  There are countless settings for everything.  And likewise countless locations for these settings.  Autodesk has taken the manipulation of data and settings to an absurd level.  At best, our experience using Civil3D has been excruciating.  In summary, Civil3D was written for users who use all of it's features on a daily basis.  Since we do not use it's features on a daily basis, we really struggle.   Anybody else having a similar experience?

39 REPLIES 39
Message 21 of 40
AllenJessup
in reply to: RainierFan


@RainierFan wrote:
It constantly crashes or slows down to where a system cleaning and reboot is necessary.  I probably lose over an hour of production a day on average simplycleaning/rebooting.  

I didn't see what you're running Civil 3D on. I had the same issues when running with 4 GB of RAM. That pretty much went away when I put another 8 GB is so I have 12 GB. The new systems I'm spec'ing will have 24 GB. If you're low on RAM adding some may help.

 

Allen

Civil 3D 2012 SP 2.1

Dell Precision T7400

Xeon CPU 3.16 GHz

12 GB RAM

Win 7 Pro, 64-bit

 



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 22 of 40
RainierFan
in reply to: AllenJessup

12GB

Message 23 of 40
paulhoman
in reply to: paulhoman

Update to initial post:

 

I am doing much better with Civil3D now.  I have my templates set up and i understand much better how to manipulate the styles in order to get them to do what i want.  The pipe profiling and road design features are pretty sweet, i have to admit.  However, i spent many Saturday mornings, on my own time, figuring it all out.  I'm at least back to getting my work done efficiently; admittedly more efficiently than before.  But there was a lot of heartache getting to this point.....

Message 24 of 40
lsimms1
in reply to: paulhoman

glad its working out for you. It takes time to learn and get comfy with. You are not the only one to start the way you did.

Message 25 of 40
RainierFan
in reply to: paulhoman


@paulhoman wrote:

Update to initial post:

 

I am doing much better with Civil3D now.  I have my templates set up and i understand much better how to manipulate the styles in order to get them to do what i want.  The pipe profiling and road design features are pretty sweet, i have to admit.  However, i spent many Saturday mornings, on my own time, figuring it all out.  I'm at least back to getting my work done efficiently; admittedly more efficiently than before.  But there was a lot of heartache getting to this point.....


Have you ever experienced a sort of 'Stockholm Syndrome' sensation after you spend an inordinate amount of time wrestling with C3D to make something that should be simple work...then it finally does?  I have.  But eventually it passes and then fiscal reality sets back in.  It's like a bad poker hand that you're so deeply invested in that you keep calling the bet when you really should fold.  What keeps me in is that I can't be certain the alternatives are good enough make it worth starting over.

Message 26 of 40
paulhoman
in reply to: AllenJessup

Well, since i earn my living as a CAD guy, not learning Civil3D was definitely not an option.  It was either learn it, or find another line of work.  I chose the former.

Message 27 of 40
Joe-Bouza
in reply to: RainierFan

You make a clear point: are the alternatives any better? My guess is Yes/No/Maybe.

 

They all probably have  their plus's and minus's. I doubt anyone is exceeded superior to the other, but market share is probably a fair indication which is closer to the top.

Thank you

Joseph D. Bouza, P.E. (one of 'THOSE' People)

HP Z210 Workstation
Intel Xeon CPU E31240 @ 3.30 Hz
12 GB Ram


Note: Its all Resistentialism, so keep calm and carry on

64 Bit Win10 OS
Message 28 of 40
RainierFan
in reply to: Joe-Bouza


<snip> but market share is probably a fair indication which is closer to the top. <snip>


I agree...sort of.  Market share is a good indicator of what is closer to the top of market share, but that's about it. I went with C3D on the basis of market share...a decision I am coming to deeply regret.

Message 29 of 40
troma
in reply to: RainierFan

On the subject of market share, isn't one of the "Great Things" about being with the top guy (i.e. Autodesk & C3D) meant to be that we can all share our data in a compatible file format, because just about everyone uses the same software?

 

If so, then

1. Does anyone actually share C3D surfaces, profies, pipe networks etc with other firms?  Does anyone ask you to?  Would you do it, or would you be worried about them pilfering your settings & styles that, as pointed out, take many hours to get 'just right'?

 

2. Isn't Autodesk shooting themselves in the foot by pushing out  incompatible releases every year?  Even if 90% of the people who I send drawings to or who send drawings to me are in an Autodesk product, maybe only 10% are in the same one as me.  Kinda reduces the 'shareability' of all that data.

 

On a related note, how long after the creation of CAD software did municipalities take to start requiring digital submission of drawings?  How long will it take them to require digital submission of data like as-constructed pipe networks in Civil 3D?


Mark Green

Working on Civil 3D in Canada

Message 30 of 40
mathewkol
in reply to: paulhoman

@troma
1. I couldn't care less about someone having access to my styles. Sure I spent a bunch of time creating them, but they suit my needs, noit necessarily theirs. We all used to think the same thing about our block libraries. Nobody is concerned anymore about that.
It's not like their going to steal any work from me simply because they have my styles.
Matt Kolberg
SolidCAD Professional Services
http://www.solidcad.ca /
Message 31 of 40
Joe-Bouza
in reply to: mathewkol

@mathewk

 

Ditto!

Thank you

Joseph D. Bouza, P.E. (one of 'THOSE' People)

HP Z210 Workstation
Intel Xeon CPU E31240 @ 3.30 Hz
12 GB Ram


Note: Its all Resistentialism, so keep calm and carry on

64 Bit Win10 OS
Message 32 of 40
Lisa_Pohlmeyer
in reply to: troma

@troma

I agree with Matt, I share our styles, templates all the time to anyone who wants them.  Our templates are not considered "set in stone", if our team sees that something is missing, then we update them.  We've created templates for the different types of drawings we create, Cover, ESC, Drainage, Roadways, Details, etc.  There are very few times that a style update needs to be duplicated across all templates, in fact, I can't remember it ever happening, but I may be lucky in that respect.  We only do transportation projects and have found the ability to only have to use the OOTB subassemblies to build our assemblies.  I've created standard assemblies on our tool pallettes and they get adjusted to the design parameters of the project.  We spend all of our daily lives in Civi 3D, with very few issues.  We don't experience crashes, corruptions, etc. very often and I believe it is because of our workflow of keeping the object data separate, using data references & xreffing the corridor when necessary.  Even our in-house surveyor says he would never to back to his previous software.  We generate cross sections and material quantities for all our projects.  The dynamics of all these inter-related objects makes it much easier to endure the year+ lifecycle of our miles of roadway projects. 

As far as sharing data, we receive points, surfaces & existing alignment data from consultant surveyors. I have created LandXML files of our project data and shared that with our local DOT office that brings that data into GeoPac, and vice-versa.  The ability to do this has saved many hours of reinventing the wheel for all of us.



Lisa Pohlmeyer
Civil 3D User
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Message 33 of 40
mathewkol
in reply to: paulhoman

Great post Lisa. I have many people ask me about what new hardwrae is best to use to reduce slowness and crashing. I always tell them that the hardware is only part of the solution. Bad workflow is often the cause of many crashes. Better to work on glthat first.
Matt Kolberg
SolidCAD Professional Services
http://www.solidcad.ca /
Message 34 of 40
RainierFan
in reply to: mathewkol

@MattK & LisaP

 

Just an FYI  I have great hardware and good workflow (my VARs words, not mine).  I think the only thing that I do that's different is that I do mostly municipal roadway design.  These designs are somewhat more complicated than a rural highway or a greenfield subdivision/development...but they are not rocket surgery.

Message 35 of 40
Joe-Bouza
in reply to: RainierFan

You wouldn't be an associate of James Maeding would ya? Smiley Wink

 

Municipal rehabs like Mill & fill; 3 line profiles, etc? I'm getting by and I think Matt & Lisa also do similar work.

 

The way I see it If you are forced to eat an Elephant, don’t complain about it; Take one bite at a time.

 

If you are having this kind of trouble even after getting training perhaps c3d is not for you.

 

Most of the folks on this board are just like you, not acad celebrities, authors or out right sycophants. We have all struggled and pissed and moaned, and sometimes things don't go the way we would like but you can either move on, get help (lots of us have come up to speed thanks to the support of this boards members) or waste your time complaining to a group of people that mostly find the software usable and often fun to use

Thank you

Joseph D. Bouza, P.E. (one of 'THOSE' People)

HP Z210 Workstation
Intel Xeon CPU E31240 @ 3.30 Hz
12 GB Ram


Note: Its all Resistentialism, so keep calm and carry on

64 Bit Win10 OS
Message 36 of 40
RainierFan
in reply to: Joe-Bouza


@Joe-Bouza wrote:

You wouldn't be an associate of James Maeding would ya? Smiley Wink

 

Municipal rehabs like Mill & fill; 3 line profiles, etc? I'm getting by and I think Matt & Lisa also do similar work.

 

The way I see it If you are forced to eat an Elephant, don’t complain about it; Take one bite at a time.

 

If you are having this kind of trouble even after getting training perhaps c3d is not for you.

 

Most of the folks on this board are just like you, not acad celebrities, authors or out right sycophants. We have all struggled and pissed and moaned, and sometimes things don't go the way we would like but you can either move on, get help (lots of us have come up to speed thanks to the support of this boards members) or waste your time complaining to a group of people that mostly find the software usable and often fun to use


Joe, it's not training. It's not workflow.  It's not my hardware.  It's the product. Your analogy of the elephant may be spot on...but I beleive I'm entitled a candid and sincere assessment of the product I have paid large sums of money (purchasing and supporting).  Sorry if that bothers you.  ~Over and out on the subject~ 

Message 37 of 40
troma
in reply to: mathewkol

Matthew, Joe, Lisa

I'm inclined to agree.  For most cases anyway.  We were quite paranoid about it when we first started into C3D.  And still, I think if I got a drawing from someone that had a nifty little label doing something I didn't know could be done, sure I would look at how it worked and make use of that knowledge.  But as you say, it shouldn't really be a big deal day-to-day.  So can I convince the powes that be in my office that we don't need to export to acad every time before we send out a drawing?


Mark Green

Working on Civil 3D in Canada

Message 38 of 40
troma
in reply to: Joe-Bouza

@Joe

You have that elephant line saved on your computer so you can paste it in whenever you feel the need, don't you! Smiley LOL


Mark Green

Working on Civil 3D in Canada

Message 39 of 40
Joe-Bouza
in reply to: troma

@troma

 

Just taking advantage of technology... Macros baby Smiley Wink

 

macros.PNG

Thank you

Joseph D. Bouza, P.E. (one of 'THOSE' People)

HP Z210 Workstation
Intel Xeon CPU E31240 @ 3.30 Hz
12 GB Ram


Note: Its all Resistentialism, so keep calm and carry on

64 Bit Win10 OS
Message 40 of 40
tcorey
in reply to: RainierFan


@RainierFan wrote:

@mattK & LisaP

 

Just an FYI  I have great hardware and good workflow (my VARs words, not mine).  I think the only thing that I do that's different is that I do mostly municipal roadway design.  These designs are somewhat more complicated than a rural highway or a greenfield subdivision/development...but they are not rocket surgery.


Rocket surgery. That's funny.

 

You should hang out here more. We could use the levity.Smiley Wink



Tim Corey
MicroCAD Training and Consulting, Inc.
Redding, CA
Autodesk Gold Reseller

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