mms file and proxy graphics

[LyleHardin]

We've dealt with .mms files in the past without many problems, but today we're having issues.

I've imported an .imx file from Infraworks (2016 IW and C3D) to create a surface. Success. Contours show up fine.

The .mms file is created. It's about 3 gig. No problem.

Here's the issue: When I save, I got this warning (see below) about the .mms file being created but also about the surface border showing as a proxy object. The heck? I don't recall seeing this proxy issue before.

When I exited the drawing (after saving) then opened the drawing again, the surface was not a surface. It was a proxy object. (just like the warning said)

The .mms file is where it should be and all that good stuff.

We've done this twice now on two machines.

Does anyone know what is going on and how can I prevent this surface from turning into a proxy object?

Is there a setting somewhere giving me a choice of "saving proxy graphics" ?

[Jay_B]

Is PROXYGRAPHICS set to 1?

This saves an image of the proxygraphics.

[LyleHardin]

PROXYGRAPHICS was set to 0 when I was having the problems.

I've tried setting it to 1 and saving again. Still the same thing. I open the drawing and it's just a proxy object representing the border of the surface. No surface exists in the prospector.

[LyleHardin · Accepted solution]

Update:

After discussions with Autodesk on this issue, it turns out it is a problem and AutoCAD (Civil 3D) is not behaving as it should. They have let the design team know what is going on and apparently they are working on it.

My work around in the mean time has been to make a cropped surface as soon as the surface shows up once it's imported from the .imx file, then I simplified the cropped surface. Once the .mms file was down to about 220MB (1/4 Gig) everything works okay. I don't know what the magic file size is (if there is one, but 1.4 Gig was apparently too big) but it's working now and the project is progressing and we have other things to do, so the experimentation is over now on our end. At least until next time.

[Anonymous]

Civil 3D 2018.1.1 German - still same problem

• Import a lot of data (2 mio pts)
• Create a surface
• Save - get the message shown above. It creates a DWG with 38 MB and a MMS with 78 MB.
• Close Civil
• Rename the MMS to MMSx (or other)
• Open the DWG with Civil or AutoCAD.
• The command line displays:
  "The external file 鸈ʖ associated with the surface Gelände (1) could not be found"
  
  Google translator tells me that 鸈ʖ is German ... ???)
• Only a proxy which looks like the boundary is displayed

                      ACAD_PROXY_ENTITY  Layer: "C-DGM"
                      Bereich: Modellbereich
                      Referenz = 2890
                     DXF Name:         AECC_TIN_SURFACE
                     Name der Klasse:       AeccDbSurfaceTin
                     Name der Anwendung: AeccLand120
                     Product Desc: AutoCAD Civil 3D
                     Company: Autodesk,Inc.
                     WEB Address: www.autodesk.com

As I understand the topic correctly it should display an AutoCAD element and not a proxy-frame?

[Anonymous]

I'm struggling with this mms creation issue in C3D 2018.  I've researched large surfaces and mms work-arounds.  This mms was created for a surface that from 1M Lidar IMX import. Cropped and snapshot removed -reducing to 88,827 kb -587,485 total points.

I've been checking dwt settings for new surface creation storage. extracting contours to make new surfaces, data clipping and simplifying.

Am I going crazy?  Whats the deal here?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[LyleHardin]

Civil 3D 2022 still does not fix this issue.

I got just a border with a 1.8 Gig mms file.

I finally was able to see the contours again when I exported a smaller area from Infraworks and got the mms file down to under 1 gig at 962 Meg.

[jefflambert9091]

After you make your surface from lidar data, simplify it by 90% using edge extraction. Then simplify again by 50%. Your points should be reduced around 90%. After that, export the surface to an xml. Use that for you final surface. The simplified surface still keeps track of all the points. By exporting to a LandXML it just takes the needed data. Also, be careful with the contour smoothing in your surface style. It will create points if you are using it. Disclaimer here. When you are simplifying make sure you don't go too far, but the 90% is what I have seen in AU. There is a point where the software can only hold so much data. May have to split up excessively large areas.