surfaces through xref or dS section views and compute materials

[lambertb]

I created a new file, data shortcut an alignment and xref'd a file containing a corridor, top corridor surface and datum corridor surface and existing ground surface.

I then created sample lines. I was allowed to choose the surfaces as a sample source. When I created multiple views, the surfaces didn't show on the cross sections. When I computed materials, I was allowed to select the existing ground and datum surface for calculations. I then ran a volume report and it shows 0 for everything.

I then data shortcut my datum surface. I think checked my sample line sources ans was able to add this DS surface to the sample lines. Then the surface showed up in my cross sections.

I am having trouble explaining the deal with xref surfaces and duplicate data shortcut surfaces and why some work and others don't. Is there a workflow documented somewhere on surfaces through xref files? Thanks. 

[Jay_B]

It sounds like you understand the xref vs dref well. As your screen shot shows the surface symbol absent the black arrows are the drefd surfaces.

Even though corridor surfaces may be read through xref's they are not stable enough.

When I only sample drefs of every surface and attach corridor as attachment type xref the sections and materials are far more stable IMO.

The reason a surface can show up multiple times in the sampled sources listing is, every source drawing that is attached to cross section file as an xref that has the drefd surface or source surface it appears for each occurrence.