Creating a surface with 3d Polylines

[a.szwyd]

Hi is it possible to create a surface just by using 3d Polylines? Rather than creating points on the line 

[jroot]

Yes it is possible.  Is this a proposed surface or existing with points?  If you have points and want to use 3dpolys you'll need to have OSNAPZ set to zero and connect the points with node snaps on.  If this is a proposed surface you are better off with Featurelines - you can edit the elevations easily in table form.

[jroot]

Oh - and then add the 3dpolys as breaklines to the definition of your surface.

[ThomasBHansen_]

I would say, if there is a lot of 3dpolys, just add them as breaklines like @jroot  says. If there is just a few, and they are likely to need an edit - convert to Featurelines. You can always convert a 3dpoly to featureline, even after its added as a breakline 🙂

[a.szwyd · Accepted solution]

Thanks that's great 

[Anonymous]

3DPOLYs are a lot easier to create than feature lines, so if it doesn't have to be dynamic I would go with 3DPOLYs. You can supplement them with additional vertices like any other object when added as breaklines. And they will not react with other 3DPOLYs like feature lines do with each other. You end up with a wireframe model of the surface which is fine. To check spin the 3DPOLYs around in 3DORBIT to make sure it looks good.

PS you can also use lines and polylines for breaklines. Polylines are a single elevation, though, so be aware of that. Sometimes if you get a surface consisting of polyline contours and that's all it works best to add them as breaklines not contours.

[neilyj666]

@Anonymous I have found I get best results by adding polyline contours as contours and checking all the available tickboxes.

@a.szwyd I'd advise using contours to create a surface as a last resort if you have no other information with the caveat that closely spaced  contours e.g. 0.1m would create a reasonable surface but it may be unmanageable due to the amount of data used