Limitations while round tripping data between SSA and Civil 3D

[RyanElam]

I'm trying to set up round tripping of pipe networks between SSA and Civil 3D, and there are some things I can not seem to get to happen the way I want them to, and I wanted to know if they were just limitations of the software, or if it's user error.
1. The inlet length for a curb inlet does not export properly out of civil 3d into ssa. The opening length property will export if it is manually input into to the "frame length" or "frame diameter" in the structure properties dialog box. Opening height does not export at all.
2. When you update the inlet opening length in ssa, it does not get reflected back into the civil 3d model upon import.
3. Structure descriptions are lost upon transfer. This is a problem if you use the description in your labels, because anytime you update the hydraulic properties of a section of your network, you have to re-describe everything.

Not being able to adjust the size of a structure in ssa is a big downfall in my opinion. I like ssa over hydraflow because of the ease of adding lines and the additional capabilities, but it seems like both are a bit more cumbersome than necessary.

Thanks,
Ryan
C3D 2013, Win 7 64 bit

[fcernst]

Agreed, the Import/Export paradigm Autodesk chose is a horrible implementation for the Drainage tools in civil 3D.

We need to get back to having the drainage tools in Model Space so we can interact directly with our grading models.

Look at the attached file to see just a few examples how the drainage tools interacted directly with a Surface in LDD.