mapimport issues with block scaling

[lhess]

We have surveyed tree points that need to be imported into Map 3D, and I'm having a couple of issues using 'mapimport'.  Getting the tree symbols imported into the correct locations is a breeze, but the tree symbols are scaled about .78 smaller than what they actually have been created to be.  As a quick fix, i'm simply selecting all of the symbols and adjusting the scale in the properties menu.  This is a minor issue, but it would be nice to figure out what I'm doing wrong so that we can streamline the import process.

Another issue is that after I import the symbols, Map 3D creates additional blocks.  So let's say I've completed the mapimport and then I do the "battman" command and select the block drop-down menu, I now have additional blocks created (named *U6, *U7, etc. in addition to the tree symbol block I've created).  What am I doing that is prompting Map 3D to create extra blocks?  I've attached both our shapefile as well as the tree symbol block we want to use.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> but the tree symbols are scaled about .78 smaller than

>> what they actually have been created to be

First at all: please do not use dynamic blocks while using Map3D commands (your uploaded drawing contains one block-insertion and that is a dynamic block).

Next please verify the units from your block-drawing compared to the drawing you use while running _MAPIMPORT

Verify both settings: _UNITS as well as -DWGUNITS

The block-drawing you showed has _UNITS set to Feet, -DWGUNITS set to Inches (both settings should be equal)

- alfred -

PS: if we should try anything with your SHP dataset, we need all files, not just the SHP (at least we need SHP, DBF, SHX)

[АлексЮстасу]

I also think the scale arises from the difference in units.
In this case, I was puzzled by the 0.78 factor, which I couldn 't get. 12 turned out or something else. 🙂

(I don 't work with imperial units at all, and I might not have taken everything into account...)

I don 't think the dynamic blocks for Map 3D are causing any problems. And vice versa.
AutoCAD creates blocks named * U... when editing dynamic blocks, but this does not add problems. If they are available PURGE, you can simply delete them.

[АлексЮстасу]

Maybe it 's easier, and the scale 0.78 is in dwg by default? To INSERT or somewhere else?

[ChicagoLooper]

This can be done but you need to be more generous with your uploads. In addition to the shp, you must also upload the accompanying shx, dbf, and prj. The shp by itself is not enough to provide you with meaning, relevant results.

[lhess]

Appreciate the input.  Attached are the necessary files.  I did proceed with changing the -dwgunits to feet to match the _units in both the block drawing as well as the Map 3D output drawing, but the result is the same.

Out of curiosity, would different coordinate systems affect block scaling?  I suspect all this is doing is telling the block where to go, so in theory this wouldn't matter.

[parkr4st]

which is why you need to post the .prj file which holds the geo coordinate information

dave

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

No, the CS won't necessarily affect block scaling. It might, it might not. It all depends on your block units and your modelspace units. For me, all my blocks are 'unitless' and I always assign an appropriate coordinate system to modelspace. I have a library of blocks for metric and another one for imperial.

There are 2 ways (actually more than 2 but I'm just considering 2) you can do this. One way uses the shapefile itself, and to me and many others, it's a more 'direct' way. The other way involves using MAPIMPORT command and the existing block you uploaded in your previous post.

Using the shapefile, connect to the shapefile and use a 'theme.' Base this theme on the values in the attribute column DB_RANGE. (Alternatively, use DBH if you want to theme tree height instead of tree truck size.) See image 1 below.

Image 1. Using Excel, go to File=>Open=>Browse to dbf=>Open.

There are 5 unique values (actually there's 6 but you can ignore the one with N/A, that value is useless). By using a theme, you can size (or scale) the symbol based on the 'value' contained in each row of the DB_RANGE column. See image 2 below.

Image 2.

Using MAPIMPORT command, you can import the shapefile. You can make a unique layer for each value in the DB_RANGE column. To represent your trees, you can use your existing block. You can even 'harvest' the Tree ID data from the TREEID field of the shapefile's dbf to fill your block attribute. By doing this, each block will capture the designated tree ID that's in the dbf. By isolating each 'group' of tree to its own layer, you can scale each group's scale in the properties palette. (If you wish, you may rename or re-color any layer.) See image 3 below.

Image 3.

To use mapimport command here are the general guidelines.

Image 4A. this will create unique layers, one for each trunk diameter.

Image 4B. this will 'harvest' data from the shapefile's dbf. (Although this is an optional step, it's highly desirable.

Image 4C. This will enable you to use your existing block and harvest the TREEID from the dbf to use in your block's attribute..

[lhess]

Ah, this is glorious.  My end goal was to be able to populate the symbols at the corresponding tree canopy size, so that's very helpful.  Very much appreciate your time on this.  There are some other visuals I will want to tweak, but this gets me going in the right direction.

[Pointdump]

@ChicagoLooper,
Nice! Thanks for that really good tutorial. In Civil 3D I'd use Description Keys for Symbol and Scale, but I haven't worked much with Thematic Rules. So this was an enjoyable learning experience. I used my own tree block instead of Lee's Dynamic Block.
Drawing and Shapefile Attached. (Both are MO83-EF Coordinate System.)

Dave

[qchenTPPXV]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing. Just wondering the procedures you get the image 2. It is blank from my side.