Profile/Alignment Issue

[donohueengineering]

Old LDD hand here trying to get up to speed with C3D 2015, appreciate the help and understanding.

Created alignment for a street in an xref.  Created data short cut, including _shortcut folder where alignments are stored.  In a seperate drawing, I cant see the alignment i just added in the original xref.  Shows up in the data shortcut on prospector tab, but when i try and create surface profile, it wont allow it. 

Prior to adding this alignment, had created 20 other street alignments, along with surface profiles.  I have looked in the _shortcut file and can see the alignment, but when i go through the dialogue for creating the surface profile, it wont let me see that alignment. 

Any ideas?  Thanks

[AllenJessup · Accepted solution]

Did you create a reference in the drawing you're trying to create the Surface Profile in? On the prospector tab right click the alignment and select Create Reference? That's my usual way to bring in a DRef Alignment.

Allen

[donohueengineering]

for now reached a work around by exporting the alignment as an xml file, then importing it, but i never thought about the referencing.  I will try that in the very near future.....thanks

[tcorey]

Allen's answer is your solution.

Just because the alignment exists as a data shortcut and you can see it in the project doesn't mean you have access to it until you right click on it and Create Reference. This brings it into a current drawing where you can use it for profiles, sample lines, labeling, etc., but you cannot modify it. If its parent drawing is opened and the alignment edited there, you synchronize it in any open drawing to which it has been referenced and that gives you the edits.

Personally, I the one thing I liked better about LDD was the project management, not having to have objects in drawings, but you'll get used to it in Civil 3D. It works ok.