Civi3D 2017 Issues (Data shortcut Editor & Sheetset Publish)

CNinBC · ‎06-22-2018

We just upgraded from Civil 3D 2015 to 2017, and discovered some bugs/issues:

1. Data Shortcut Editor doesn't work properly, all data shortcuts created by C3D 2017 won't show up on the editor window. I have googled this issue, some other post has discussed about this (see https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/data-shortcut-editor-is-blank/m-p/6733115/highlight/tr...), but have not found anything officially from Autodesk.

2. when we publish the drawings from the sheetset (we are not using background publish), pipe crossings on the profile view are not plotted. when I watch the process, i can see the plotting process starts before the pipe crossing show up on the screen (the pipe profile view is fine, just the crossing view not fully loaded). please the images attached below.

above is the screenshot of the CAD paper space

above is the screenshot of the pdf plotted manually by using plot command and dwg to pdf.pc3 driver

above is the screenshot of the pdf published from the sheet set, as shown on the image, the pipe crossing on detail A is gone.

3. the pdf file doesn't automatically open in the viewer after the sheetset publish, but it does open automatically when plot manually (using dwg to pdf.pc3). we have "Show results in viewer" and "open in viewer when done" both selected.

4. when trying to resave all the drawings from the sheetset manager, got an error message saying all drawings are read only.

Thanks in advance for any sugguestions/ solutions.

Kai

DJGinAZ · ‎06-25-2018

Well, there is a lot to unpack there.

1 - As far as updating the data shortcuts, I seem to remember there was a limitation to how many files the C3D Editor would read (70 I think?) so we ditched it for XML Notepad to perform a find and replace. Even better, I found some freeware the performs Find and Replace on multiple files in specified folders. I used this with just about every file type that isn't encrypted when we migrated to the cloud. Just google "FNR.EXE" and look for the one from ENTech Solutions. I'm not fond of following other people links to 3rd party software, so I'll let you decide if you trust it or not, but everyone should have that software in their tool box.

2 - Printing. Are you using the SSM "Publish using Page Setup Override" feature? If so, make sure to open and save your override template so it too is compatible with 2017. This should increase its speed as well. I think the 2017 release was when Autodesk started including the "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3" which, IMO, is far more reliable than the old DWG to PC3. While you're in your Override template, Try creating a page setup with it so help narrow down the plotter issue.

3- Make sure you check the Sheet Set PDF Publish settings (3a and 3b) if you haven't already. I'm pretty sure those will override others when printing from the SSM

3a3b

4- Your Sheet Set has a lock icon in the top pull-down. It might be because you were in the process of resaving when you took the screenshot. If it's locked before you try to resave, than someone might have files open and that prevent you from resaving. If that is the case, you'll have to get everyone to save and exit before resaving all. If no one else is in the files, you shoul check the folder directory for any "stuck" .dwl and dwl2 lock files. We occasionally have issues when AutoCAD crashes, lock files aren't released even though no on has the file open. Deleting both the .dwl and .dwl2 has worked for me.

CNinBC · ‎06-27-2018

Thanks @DJGinAZ for your suggestion.

1. the data shortcut editor issue was not caused by the limitation of the editor can read. I am not going to recommend our CAD users to manually edit the XML file. There is a Data shortcut Manager built-in to Civil 3D 2017, it could be the replacement of the editor.

2. We typically set "DWG to PDF.PC3" as our default plot device, when we need to plot the drawings from the sheetset, we just right click on the sheetset, and then select publish to pdf (as shown on the image attached below)

3. as shown on the images in my original post, we have already set the pdf to be opened after plotting on the PC3 and Sheetset publish setting

4. the sheetset lock appeared on the image was caused by the re-save process.

@DJGinAZ wrote:
Well, there is a lot to unpack there.
1 - As far as updating the data shortcuts, I seem to remember there was a limitation to how many files the C3D Editor would read (70 I think?) so we ditched it for XML Notepad to perform a find and replace. Even better, I found some freeware the performs Find and Replace on multiple files in specified folders. I used this with just about every file type that isn't encrypted when we migrated to the cloud. Just google "FNR.EXE" and look for the one from ENTech Solutions. I'm not fond of following other people links to 3rd party software, so I'll let you decide if you trust it or not, but everyone should have that software in their tool box.

2 - Printing. Are you using the SSM "Publish using Page Setup Override" feature? If so, make sure to open and save your override template so it too is compatible with 2017. This should increase its speed as well. I think the 2017 release was when Autodesk started including the "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3" which, IMO, is far more reliable than the old DWG to PC3. While you're in your Override template, Try creating a page setup with it so help narrow down the plotter issue.

3- Make sure you check the Sheet Set PDF Publish settings (3a and 3b) if you haven't already. I'm pretty sure those will override others when printing from the SSM
3a3b

4- Your Sheet Set has a lock icon in the top pull-down. It might be because you were in the process of resaving when you took the screenshot. If it's locked before you try to resave, than someone might have files open and that prevent you from resaving. If that is the case, you'll have to get everyone to save and exit before resaving all. If no one else is in the files, you shoul check the folder directory for any "stuck" .dwl and dwl2 lock files. We occasionally have issues when AutoCAD crashes, lock files aren't released even though no on has the file open. Deleting both the .dwl and .dwl2 has worked for me.

DJGinAZ · ‎06-27-2018

1 - I misunderstood your issue with the editor. In the data shortcuts editor, have you tried to path to the "\c3d data" folder in the first image? Is that where the "_Shortcuts" folder resides? If you haven't tried opening different parent/sub directories in the editor, that would be my suggestion.

2 - Using the "Publish to PDF" Option in the SSM will use whatever page setup is applied to the layouts within the drawing. If you need to troubleshoot, you can use the Publish Page Setup Override option, after specifying the dwt to use. In that DWT, try setting up a named Page Setup using the newer (and better) OTB ACAD .pc3's. The will confirm or eliminate the plot driver. Of course you could also test it with a few of your layouts by changing the plotter for some test prints. Otherwise

3 - This AutoCAD issue sounds like your description (but I doubt any of these are appropriate solutions). If you're die hard about the DWG to PDF.PC3, at least make sure it's the latest OTB version from AutoCAD.

4 - Not sure what else to say about the resave....

CNinBC · ‎07-04-2018

just want to give an update on these issues

1. Apparently the solution posted by @deemanning in https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/data-shortcut-editor-is-blank/m-p/6735931#M324230 resolved the issue, but since that EXE file is not provided directly from Autodesk, I can't roll that out to all users.

2. the issue has been resolved by simply audit the pipe network source drawing.

3. "Publish to PDF" still can't open the pdf after publishing the whole sheetset, but it will open the pdf if I select single drawing to publish to pdf.

4. Still having issue when resave all drawings in the Sheetset manager.

CNinBC · ‎07-04-2018

Thanks @DJGinAZ for your suggestion.

1. the folder setting is correct, and i have tried both, none of them works.

2. all those PC3 files mentioned in your post are essentially using the same driver as "DWG to PDF.PC3", just with different resolution settings.

3. you might be right, but I don't want to reinstall C3D 2017 for all users. we are using the latest drive from C3D 2017

4. when the resave fails, it keep saying the folder or file is read only, I checked folder property, it does say "Read Only", I think that could be a user permission issue. however, C3D 2015 doesn't have this issue with the same folder security settings.

@DJGinAZ wrote:
1 - I misunderstood your issue with the editor. In the data shortcuts editor, have you tried to path to the "\c3d data" folder in the first image? Is that where the "_Shortcuts" folder resides? If you haven't tried opening different parent/sub directories in the editor, that would be my suggestion.

2 - Using the "Publish to PDF" Option in the SSM will use whatever page setup is applied to the layouts within the drawing. If you need to troubleshoot, you can use the Publish Page Setup Override option, after specifying the dwt to use. In that DWT, try setting up a named Page Setup using the newer (and better) OTB ACAD .pc3's. The will confirm or eliminate the plot driver. Of course you could also test it with a few of your layouts by changing the plotter for some test prints. Otherwise

3 - This AutoCAD issue sounds like your description (but I doubt any of these are appropriate solutions). If you're die hard about the DWG to PDF.PC3, at least make sure it's the latest OTB version from AutoCAD.

4 - Not sure what else to say about the resave....

CNinBC · ‎07-11-2018

Update 2018-07-10

1. a new "ShortcutEditor.exe" received from Autodesk, the issue has been resolved.

2. resolved.

3. Autodesk acknowledged this is a defect since 2016 version, and suggested to use "Publish Dialogue Box" as a workaround;

4. unresolved

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Civi3D 2017 Issues (Data shortcut Editor &amp; Sheetset Publish)