Explode to Polylines

[Anonymous]

I am importing a topographic map into a drawing. When I explode it, each contour line (polyline) is exploded into a set of individual lin segments. Is there a way to explode the topography block in which each contour line will remain a continuous polyline?

Thanks.

[Neilw_05]

Exploding the block should not be causing the polylines to explode. I suspect the contours are not connected in your source file.

If you believe it is due to Explode, try using MAP Query to bring in the data. Map Query will not adulterate your source data in any way.

[neilyj666]

Could try JOIN which I've used in similar situations

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I will have to do this in pieces because the file is so big.

What I am really trying to do is this: I have a contour map in state plane coordinates. I would like to transform this to a local grid. The way I am doing this is inserting the state plane drawing into another drawing as a block and scaling the X & Y and rotating it, then exploding the drawing.

I wonder if there is an easier way. In Civil 3D I set up the state plane zone information as well as the transformation settings to local grid, but I don't know how to use this to import the contours (state plane) into my drawing (local grid) and have them come in properly.

[JeffPaulsen]

Exploding a non-uniformly scaled block that contains poylines will also explode the poylines. You can use the Pedit command and the multiple option to join them back up.

[antoniovinci]

Byanez, let me tell you something.

Since I only trust myself, when I get a map from anybody, I always explode everything.

Then I perform a robust _MAPCLEAN just to erase duplicates, and automatically join those exploded chains.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

Have you ever dealt with inserting drawings that are in some projection, such as state plane, into a local grid?

[antoniovinci]

Nope. First, here in Europe ain't no 'state plane'. Second, would you elaborate the meaning of 'local grid' ?

Going 2 sleep, sir, have a good night. 

[Neilw_05]

In the past we had to define a local coordinate system and use Map Queries. I am not up to date on Map so there may now be a way to set up transformation parameters without defining a CS. Try a search on Transformations.

[Anonymous]

OK, Thanks.

[BrianHailey]

Perhaps you could try exporting your surface to a DEM file and then importing into the drawing with the othe coordinate system. DEM files should be able to have a coordinate system assigned to them so they should do the translation for you.

Lot's of "Should"s going on there...

[Neilw_05]

If your transformation is simply a move, scale and rotate, why not use Map query or copy and paste to get your your source data into the drawing, create a group and then use the Align or Map Transform command to fit it to some common reference points?

[Bill_Myron]

I had this problem as well. When changing the scale of the blocks, if it is not a uniform scale (Change the X and the Y, but leave the Z) it will explode the polylines inside.

 I have a LISP routine that will scale polyines in only the X and Y, but keep the Z values.

It does not explode them, just moves them. This is what I use when going from grid to ground (or vice versa).

Just load the .lsp (appload) and type "SCPL" in the command line to start it up.