Prospector Tab Objects Missing

[ad_sherratt]

Hi All,

I'm new to this Civil 3D game, so this might seem like a no-brainer for some of you more experienced users.

Basically the Prospector tab in my Toolspace palette does not seem to be displaying correctly, i.e. it is missing a whole bunch of items; it simply shows 'Data Shortcuts'.

The first screenshot is how it appears on my machine, whereas the second one is what I understand to be the correct view. It's extremely frustrating as I'm unable to follow any of the tutorials otherwise.

I've tried trawling through similar posts in this forum but none of them seem to solve this particular problem.

If it makes any difference, I'm using the 2016 version.

Any help would be gladly appreciated.

Cheers,

Adam

Wrong

Right

[MikeWu]

Hi Adam,

May I know more details about your machine's environment, such as OS, what are installed besides C3D?

Does it for sure happens in your machine? Or just appear when opening some particular drawing?

I will let you know my thoughts if I have any finding on it.

Regards,

Mike

[Jeew-m]

Dear Friend,

To me it seems like you are opening a dwg which is created using a recent version in an old version. For example if you opened a dwg which is created/last saved in 2017 version in 2014 version you will get this window. When openeing it will say this is saved in newer version and will only show proxy graphics... bla..bla,.........

From civil 3d 2017 it is not backword compatible. From 2014-2014 it is backword compatible.

Best thing you can do is open this dwg in Civil 3D 2018 and see it shows what you actually see in your second image. 

Thanks.

[ad_sherratt]

Hi Mike,

The OS in my workplace is Windows 8. Other design software installed includes standalone AutoCAD 2016, Revit and 12d, but I'm not sure how any of those would affect the C3D display?

My work colleagues are able to open the same files as I have, also using the same version of C3D (2016), and on their PCs the prospector tab displays exactly as it is meant to. I haven't opened any files created using a later version (e.g. 2018) either.

Have uninstalled and reinstalled on my machine at least 3 times now, and yet still the same frustrating result each time. I'm completely stumped!

cheers,

Adam.

[MikeWu]

Hi Adam,

Thanks a lot for your information, Win8, Revit, C3D 2016. Got it.

As you said that it worked well in other machines, it seems an individual cases, but we will do some research on it.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Mike

[M_c3d]

As @Jeew-m says, this happens when you open a civil 3d drawing from a newer version in an older versions, i.e. open a 2017 civil 3d file in 2016. It proxies all civil 3d objects etc.

Can you share the file and we can see how it opens for us?

[ad_sherratt]

Hi mmcgovern, yes I'm aware of that. But this problem occurs with every file I open, not just one specifically. And I've been careful to only open those files I know have been created with older versions (2016 or earlier). Therein lies the cause of my vexation...

[M_c3d]

Ok, so you said you reinstalled c3d, I assume it kept your custom settings after reinstall?

In that case the next step I would try is to reset civil 3d and see if the problem still occurs.

You will find the reset option under the start menu.

The reset will change the software back to OTB and should fix anything else. A reinstall doesn't reset as it keeps your custom settings.