Importing Points into Civil 3D 2012

[rkmin]

I was wondering what is the difference between importing points under the Prospector tab versus importing points under the Suvey tab? And how either of the two methods relate to using Data Shortcut?

I would like to create a survey topo drawing that contains points and surface information which other Design drawings that are attached to the Data Shortcut project can access but not be able to make any changes to the original points and existing surface information.

[ToddRogers-WPM · Accepted solution]

If you use the Prospector to import points, you are only importing points into the drawing itself.  By doing this, points can be deleted, moved and rotated.

If you bring points in through the Survey tab, you are creating a database.  By creating a database, points are locked and you cannot mess them up.  Keep in mind, if you unlock the points that are in a database, the points lose their relationship to the database.  But, they can be reassociated with the database.

The best practice would be to use a database.  This way if someone messes something up, you can always retrieve the original from the database.  Also, you have the ability to create a new drawing, or use an existing drawing, and just insert the points from the database straight into the new/other drawing.

[rkmin]

Thank you for your explanation.  That makes a lot of sense and addresses my concern of not having the points manipulated by others.