C3D Units and Zone Categories "Auto-Registered"

[jefflambert9091]

In C3D I have noticed that when I bring in GIS data via MapConnect my Drawing Settings, Units and Zone, Categories get changed to "Auto-Registered" and the Selected coordinate system is set to the Shape file coordinate system. We typically set the units and zone to "No Datum, No Projection unless we need to transform something. I would like to leave it that way. Is there a setting (Maybe in Map 3D Options) to keep Map from changing my drawing coordinate system?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> We typically set the units and zone to "No Datum, No Projection

>> unless we need to transform something. I would like to leave it

>> that way

Whenever a SHP dataset has a PRJ file it needs some reference in the dwg-file about the dwg-internal coordinate system. If you don't want to assign a coordinate system and you are sure that your SHP is based on the same units and the same coordinate system then you can delete the PJR file before attaching it.

(which I would never like, all my projects are referring to a coordinate system so the dwg should also have one assigned, ... just my 2c).

- alfred -

[jefflambert9091]

Yea, I don't think I want to mess with the PRJ file. I see what it is doing and why, I was just hoping that it would not force the system in the settings. I don't know why I never noticed it before. I did see that if the shape file is in the NAD83 system the category gets set to match the PRJ system "NAD83... and only with the newer NSRS 2011 does it go to "Auto-Registered"  in the category.

[ChicagoLooper]

You should always assigned a coordinate system to your dwg, for example OH83-NF, IN83-EF, etc. Permitting your shapefile to determine the CS is a no-no. In today's data-rich world, you ought to establish your CS and make your data conform to you, not the other way around. The shapefile's CS is not always in units of feet, it might be degrees (WGS84-LL84), and if it is, then your coordinate values will have positive Y and negative X, this is assuming your site is in North America, where Lat is positive and Long is negative. 

If you don't assign an appropriate CS then you won't be able to verify whether the data you received is geospatially accurate, especially when data is created by those who dabble in GIS and fraudulently claim they know what they're doing.

If no CS is assigned then you won't be able to turn on Bing aerial imagery and that itself should be reason enough to assign a CS.

Not using a CS reminds me of a woman I knew who wouldn't turn left because she was afraid of crossing the lanes of oncoming traffic. To alleviate this fear she would turn right again and again, circling the block with right turns, until her car was facing the correct direction. She couldn't accept the fact that turning left was perfectly safe, even for experienced licensed drivers.

If you absolutely do not want a CS, then refer to image below. 

Use dropdown and scroll to top of list. 'No Datum' is at the very top.

[jefflambert9091]

The No Datum is not resistant to change. We are located in a tri-state (KY OH & IN) and you would think we would want our DWGs in the CS, but we found it was better to keep the drawings at No Datum. Our template has to be set to this since we could be in any of them. Only our GIS users have GIS software and the crews set the systems in the collectors (they even forget to change at times).  We are lucky to have counties with updated images so we only use the Bing images when needed.  Surveying and GIS are good with the CS systems, but the common user not so much. Tried to keep it simple with the No Datum. It took awhile in the beginning to educate everyone on the U.S.  Foot vs. International Foot. Looks like we are at the point where it will be set. Thanks for the input.

[Pointdump]

Jeff,
I used to think that "Auto-Registered" meant that no Category had been assigned to a Coordinate System. Now I see that you can intentionally use it as a Category on Custom (editable) Coordinate Systems. Good AKN Video >>>Here<<<.

Dave