Copy surface and paste to anther drawing

[Anonymous]

Can I do that? I want to import a surface from another drawing to my design drawing. Can someone please shows me how?

Thank you,

Dennis

[SethHall · Accepted solution]

Hi Dennis-

How about using Data Shortcuts instead of copy/paste? Of you could also WBLOCK the surface as well, but Data Shortcuts will allow you make changes to the original file and synchronize the new file so you can keep a "link" between the two.

Hope this helps!

[AlmasSuljevic]

The best way to achieve this is to use LandXML. If you want to go that route go to your drawing and type LANDXMLOUT command. Then select your surface and save the XML file somewhere. Finally, open your new drawing and import the surface’s XML file via LANDXMLIN command. There are other ways but this one is the one I’d prefer.

[Anonymous]

It's sucessfull when the surface is an independent object...
when we have two surfaces linked with others.. or we need to duplicate a group with different values in Z... i did this test with LANDXTIN/OUT in two archives... every same feature lines and sites upload.

[Anonymous]

Really, exporting XML is the best mode to not subscribe every object group.

[isaac]

This is an old thread, but it answered my question! 

[Anonymous]

When I used landxmlout/landxmlin my spot elevations generated from the new surface didn't match the elevations from the original. They were close, but should have been exact as they were the points used to create the original surface. When I cut and pasted the surface they came in exactly (it did bring in the points used to create the surface though)

[Anonymous]

Cut and Paste worked better for me, When I used landxmlout/landxmlin my spot elevations generated from the new surface didn't match the elevations from the original. The contours were off too. They were close, but should have been exact as they were the points used to create the original surface. When I cut and pasted the surface they came in exactly (it did bring in the points used to create the surface though)

[jmayo-EE]

As mentioned above data shortcuts is the recommended method. You will always get the exact same surface and you don't get all the data defined in the surface (points, breaklines, pasted surfaces) imported into your working file slowing Civil 3D down.

[Anonymous]

I have found that LandXML will bring the surface in but retriangulate/rebuild the surface on occasion.  The flipping of tin lines and other surface edits don't seem to be linked to the LandXML.

[TiStars]

Please click on "Accept as Solution". this may helps others like me.

Thanks.

[_Hathaway]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have found that LandXML will bring the surface in but retriangulate/rebuild the surface on occasion.  The flipping of tin lines and other surface edits don't seem to be linked to the LandXML.

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We have found this to be true as well which is why if anyone ever wants a landxml surface we tell them it is at there own risk and the surface contained within our Civil3d drawing will control.  On straight of square surfaces this isnt much of an issue but if you have irregular areas this can become the most important part of the project trying to explain why the surface xyz contractor is using is not correct.

[TiStars]

Thanks but, no answer for this post/question?

[_Hathaway]

As Jmayo has pointed out you simply need to use data shortcuts.  I tested it this AM and it works just fine.  

Hopefully you have knowledge of how data shortcuts work.  Be sure you have created shortcuts for your surfaces through the data shortcuts area of the toolspace.  Open your drawing with one of the surfaces in it>  Create reference from your other surface(s) > that surface is now in your current drawing with your other surface(s) > now you can use the surfaces>paste surface command to meet your needs. 

[jmayo-EE]

"I have found that LandXML will bring the surface in but retriangulate/rebuild the surface on occasion.  The flipping of tin lines and other surface edits don't seem to be linked to the LandXML"

Do you have any examples to post? I have never seen xml not recognizing the final tin correctly.

[TiStars]

Thanks Mike, I am learning how to create a data shortcut according to your advice, it is a good way to share data within a team.

[Anonymous]

The best way I have found to do this is to 'create a cropped surface', which copies your surface to another file.  I like doing it this way because it copies over your exact surface, without any other details (breaklines, points, etc.) that went into creating it.  Often I'll get drawings from other companies and I don't want to have to reference their drawing and want to build my construction set to my liking.  

Simply create the drawing you want to save the new surface to, then go to the 'surfaces' drop down menu > create cropped surface, and it walks you through the process from there.  And you don't have to actually 'crop' the surface.  I just create a boundary around the entire surface and select it that way, and any areas outside of the original surface are just omitted.  Works pretty well.