Data Referenced Pipe Network Won't Hold Alignment Reference

[tgladden]

I have a data referenced pipe network with structures that reference an alignment that is NOT data referenced.  The structures will NOT hold the alignment reference.  If I synchronize the pipe network or close and reopen the drawing, the structure stations read as "???".  Also, apparently there is no way to select all the structures of the network in Toolspace and restore the alignment reference to all structures in one step.  I have to reattach the alignment to each structure one at a time -- EVERY TIME I OPEN THE DRAWING.  PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

[m_kingdon]

I am not an expert on pipe networks but I am unsure about your workflow. When I do pipe networks, my alignments and pipe network objects live in the same drawing with no referencing. I actually draw my pipe network first then create the alignment using the "create alignment from network objects command". Is it possible to keep the alignment and pipe network in the same drawing for you? It sounds like your current workflow is causing more hassle than it is worth.

[civilman1957]

I agree with m.kingdon on this...the alignment and network should be in the same drawing. If you want to create the network in a separate drawing, also create the alignment in that drawing, then data reference both...

[tgladden]

Yes, the alignments for the pipe runs are in the same file as the pipe network.  That's a no brainer.  The alignment that I am now trying to keep referenced to my structures is a roadway alignment.  The roadway is profiled in a separate file and I need to show some of my storm network in that roadway profile.  I guess I should have explained that further in my original post.  I apologize!

However, if my data referenced storm structures will reference my roadway alignment in the roadway profile for one plot (they will), then they should hold that reference in my roadway profile drawing when I open it up to plot again (they won't).

Thanks for all your help!

[tgladden]

See my response to m.kingdon.

[civilman1957]

So, let me see if I have this right...

you have an alignment created in one drawing...

you have a network in another drawing which you have referenced into the alignment drawing, and you have associated the alignment with the network...that right?

[tgladden]

I don't like calling it an alignment drawing (as you do), because it makes it sound like I have my storm network alignments in a separate drawing from my storm network (I don't).  It is a roadway profiles drawing which has roadway alignments in it.  My storm networks design drawing has storm network alignments and my roadway profiles drawing has roadway alignments.

But I need to show some of my storm pipes and storm structures in my roadway profiles and have them labeled with the road alignment station and offset, which would be a different station from my storm alignments.

So the answer to your question is close to yes, you have this right, essentially, but let me repeat with clarifications.  I have a roadway alignment created in one drawing, I have a storm network in another drawing, which I have data referenced into the roadway alignment drawing and I have associated the roadway alignment with the storm network.

But, the data referenced storm network will not hold the roadway alignment association in the roadway profile drawing.  This last sentence is simply the problem.

Thanks for your consideration.

[civilman1957]

Got it...

The problem is that the original pipe network is associated with it's own alignment, and it can't be associated with two different alignments. So, it might take the re-association temporarily (don't know because I've never tried this), but it won't stay.

You could do two things - neither of which are ideal -

1. you can bring in the network,, do an alignment station inquiry for all the structures, write them down, then manually station the structures by "editing structure label" and typing in the road station.

2. you could data reference the pipe network in, promote it into the drawing, then re-associate the network with the road alignment(s). That, of course, breaks the data reference, so if any of the structures or pipes change in the original drawing, you'd have to repeat the process.

[tgladden]

Makes sense, thanks!  I will implement option #1.  While it may take a little more time to type in the stations manually, option #2 would probably take more time in the long run as the storm network will likely be modified in the future; therefore, I will want to maintain the data reference.

Thanks for your help!

[civilman1957 · Accepted solution]

You're quite welcome...glad to help. Please mark it as a solution to help anyone else who come along...enjoy your day 😁