Convert Profile to Polyline

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to extract a simple polyline from a profile in Civil 3d 2010?  I simply want to offset the proposed profile to indicate another feature, but can't seem to find a way to create an offset-able polyline out of the proposed profile.

[AllenJessup]

Offset horizontally or vertically? What version are you using?

Allen

[Anonymous]

I want to offset the profile vertically within the profile view.  I'm using Civil 3d 2010.

[neilyj666]

Change it to static, offset as you wish then change the original back to dynamic. (The offset isn't dynamic but creating and sampling another surface would get a dynamic profile)

[Sinc]

Why try to turn a Profile into a polyline?  A polyline can't represent the curves in a Profile, so if you have any vertical curves, the polyline would have to be tesselated.

Why not just copy the Profile?  (Select the Profile, right-click -> Edit Geometry, then use "Copy Profile" in the Profile Geometry tools.)  Then raise/lower the copy by the desired amount.  This also gives you the benefit of being able to put Labels on your offset Profile.

[AllenJessup]

Not that I don't agree that you should stick with Civil 3D objects as much as possible and I don't know the OPs intentions. But your suggestion runs into the same problem as you would with a Surface. Raising or lowering is not an offset.

Since most design is based on a height above ground of some other reference. Raising or lowering a copy would be appropriate. But in a case where an actual offset is required (can't think of an example myself) then is doesn't work.

Allen

[neilyj666]

I presumed the OP wanted to "offest" by raising or lowering which won't obviously be a true offset but sometimes is adequate for the purpose- perhaps he/she will clarify the intent

[AllenJessup]

I agree. As I said I couldn't think of any reason why you would need a true offset. But the OP may have more imagination than I do of his bosses may be crazier than those I've worked for!

Allen

[jim.poole]

Quick dirty method for creating polylines from profiles.

1) Save the drawing as a new version.

2) Delete the surface that the profile is generated from - the profile becomes an editable entity.

3) explode it into a block, then into lines.

4) JOIN the lines - bingo

[Anonymous]

jim.poole, yours is the only true answer. Thank you Jim, this worked perfectly.
Several examples of things not answering the OP's question:
Change it to static, offset as you wish then change the original back to dynamic.
Why try to turn a Profile into a polyline?
Why not just copy the Profile? Then raise/lower the copy by the desired amount.
I don't know the OPs intentions.
I presumed the OP wanted to "offest" by raising or lowering...
I couldn't think of any reason why you would need a true offset.

[cwr-pae]

One more option that may give desired results. Create a feature line from the alignment, project it to the profile view, then raise/lower as is or explode, rejoin and offset.

[cwr-pae]

An easier quicker way. Explode the profile, copy to clip board with base point 0,0 and undo twice to get the profile back. Then paste to 0,0.

[KirkWM]

I believe there are a few apps in the app store that can speed this up as well. There's a free one called "

Reference Polyline From Profile" seems like what you are after, and Red Light has one for $10.

https://apps.autodesk.com/CIV3D/en/Detail/Index?id=3240925303390256952&appLang=en&os=Win64