Create DEM from XREF

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

I was tasked with creating a DEM for the purpose of creating a profile for a job we are working on. The contour lines I am working with are in the form of an XREF. Is it possible to create a DEM from an XREF? I have scoured the forum, etc. and am pretty sure I need to create a surface first, then export as a DEM; however, I am not able to create a surface.

Any help would be appreciated as I am self-taught. I have had no formal training on AutoCAD software. Thanks!

[Pointdump]

Deborah,

Best to see what you've got. Please post your drawings. This Forum will accept files up to 75 MB.

Dave

[Hidden_Brain]

You can open that XREF directly (read only if you want to prevent accidental changes to it), and then copy all contour lines by 0,0,0 over to your working drawing.

One other thing, if you click select the XREF contour lines and check its properties (command CH), what does it list as?

[antoniovinci · Accepted solution]

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deborah4R5CG wrote:
I have had no formal training on AutoCAD software

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Please press the F1 key, and read all about the BIND option of the XREF command, sir.

[Hidden_Brain]

That will work as well, although, it is my understanding that in addition to the contours, xref bind will bring in everything else from the other drawing into the current drawing.

[AllenJessup]

To directly answer your question. No. You cannot create a Surface from an Xref. What kind of entities are the contours in the Xref? Are they polylines or an actual surface?

[Anonymous]

I was able to bind the xref, then explode the block to have each polyline separate from each other. I shouldn't have a problem creating a DEM from here. Thanks!