Disapearing MMS file

[tpennerNXGJH]

This is really getting old.  So I have a massive surface for my project.  300mb MMS file has been generated into my C:\Temp folder. No idea why it's not being placed in the project folder.  The production drawings are xreffing the surface from the base drawing and sometimes when I open a drawing the surface isn't there despite that it's in an xref.  Sometimes the mms is deleted from the temp folder and I've made a backup of it but constantly have to copy it back.  This is really getting old.  Is there a way to fix this issue?

[brian.strandberg]

That's very weird as every time I have seen mms files used, they are saved in the same folder as the drawing.  This autodesk documentation even says that, so I have no idea why it would go to temp.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/civil-3d/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Large... 

Let me know if the workflow above helps.  Thanks.

[rl_jackson]

What is scarier is actually trying to use a file that is creating an MMS file. That's just a no go, IMO. I turn out 5-10gb+ drawings with a surface from cloud data and have thus far not exceeded 10mb for the surface file on 250 acres from Lidar data.

[tpennerNXGJH]

Would love to know how you're doing that.  I processed the lidar using Recap.  Attached it using Keurig at 1m decimation to make it more manageable.  Any more than that and I was losing definition in my contours.

[rl_jackson]

I don't attach the cloud to the drawing file. I create the RCP an analyze the data in Infraworks. Create breaklines and cross sections then export a gridded data (1m grid). along with additional data for breaklines for curb, or ditches as shape files. You can't really go RCP to C3D on super-sized data sets, there has to be a stop in-between to weed the dataset to a more manageable level. 

[tpennerNXGJH]

Ah I see.  I don't have Infraworks and I highly doubt my company will purchase the program so... Stuck with this unfortunately.  I'll look into it though. Thanks for the lead

[rl_jackson]

There are other options, I'll not be the one to say that this is the "Tried and True-End All Be All". You can check out things like Cloud Compare (free open source) which I've been dabbling with, some with fees, some that may have fees that don't bust the budget. If you firm has the AEC Collection, you have Infraworks available, just not installed. I'd start with what was purchased first.

[tpennerNXGJH]

I managed to import the model into my civil3d but it's still generating a 100mb MMS file.  Any pointers into the right direction would be great.  I'm not sure how to export JUST the contours from Infraworks.

[brian.strandberg]

You are better off fixing it outside of Civil 3d (recap) if possible, but if you can't do that there is simplify surface in Civil 3d. 

The other thing that is super important, is don't import more data than you are going to use.  Create a dataclip boundary to remove what you don't need.

3rd thing is if you are importing points to create a surface, you can create your own POINT FORMAT to have it import 1 point for every 500.  Not the best way to do it, but in a pinch I have used this on occasion. 

[tpennerNXGJH]

Thanks Brian, appreciate the input.  I actually started the surface in recap - decimating it as much as possible.  Brought it into Civil3d and that resulted in a massive file.  If I simplify the surface too much we lose too much contour definition.

So I gave Infraworks a try as per rl_jackson's message and that actually did show some improvement.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to do away with the mms file entirely.  I may have to go take some infraworks training for sure, but I'm hoping to find a solution for today that will help me dispose of this mms file completely.

I've reduced the surface boundary to only what I need to see - and I've also made sure the contour density is only as detailed as we need it.  I don't know what else to do at this point unfortunately.  The MMS file is still at about 96mb in size, a big improvement over 300mb but still a hassle I'd like to do without.

Thanks again

Travis

[brian.strandberg]

You may want to look into tiling your data.  I do this on large projects.  You can keep your data source as one object, just import the north half, add a data clip boundary to remove the south.  Then, vice-versa.

Thanks.

[brian.strandberg]

I just re-read your reply.  If you are adding the boundary in Civil 3d, make sure it is a DATA CLIP boundary.  For this to work, it needs to be above the import in the Surface definition order.  

In the case below, the data clip boundary won't do much.  It needs to be above the Import XML file in the Surface Definition order.

[tpennerNXGJH]

Just re-read this and I guess getting it down to 100mb is probably as good as it's going to get for 1283 hectares of contours. LOL

[rl_jackson]

I'd say!  I'd be wanting another software that is designed for that sort of data or do as @brian.strandberg stated and tile your dataset. I'd stay around a 1 mile square or 260 hectares per tile which would give you 5 tiles.

[tpennerNXGJH]

I've been thinking about what@brian.strandberg said and I'm afraid i don't quite understand how to do that. How to set it up and how to make it work with how we structure our drawings.

[rl_jackson]

You could check out @TerryDotson Lidar Tools in the App Store, it may get you where you need to go as far as setting up the tiles which is a free version, and he has other tools available for purchase that will classify the data as along with may other things. Check out DotSoft.com

[brian.strandberg]

Not quite sure which one you are unsure of.  I said alot of things in this post.