Data Shortcuts in Civil 3D

00:04

Now, I'm going to talk about the Civil 3D object.

00:08

In Civil 3D, we have six types of objects we can put in what we call DREF, data references.

00:15

So it's like external references put together, but now it's about the Civil 3D object.

00:21

So here in this table, you see the Surface, Alignment and Profile, the Pipe network, the Corridor.

00:28

These four elements obviously is the object, is the intelligent objects to make your infrastructure project.

00:34

And the tool has one sample lines, and view frame groups are used to create your 2D plans, cross-section, and plan and profile views.

00:42

So, to use this DREF, there is a certain series of steps to do.

00:47

Again, is to set up a working folder associates the Data Shortcut project to your drawing and then save the file.

00:55

So, for example, now I can delete my label of my previous example.

01:02

And what I can do is I will create a new working folder.

01:10

So, for example, I will create a new one, and I said, working folder.

01:20

I select this one.

01:22

Okay.

01:25

Then I create a new Data Shortcut project folder in this working folder.

01:32

It's possible to have different project folder inside the working folder.

01:36

You can have one, two, three, several, doesn't really matter.

01:40

So, for example, I would say Live-demo.

01:48

Okay.

01:50

Then for example, I will create an alignment, which is a Civil 3D object.

02:00

So, I will use just a tangent like this to represent my main road, for example.

02:12

Here is my alignment.

02:13

You see so far, I have nothing.

02:15

Why? Because I didn't add any reference.

02:19

So first, what I need to do is, like, I save my file so somewhere, then I associate my current drawing to the project, so Data Shortcut project.

02:35

And you see, this is the one I just created.

02:38

Okay.

02:39

And now, I will be able to create a Data Shortcut.

02:42

So, for example, here, obviously, I will add this element I just created.

02:50

And if I open a new file, I will be able to insert automatically this alignment.

03:05

So, this is a basic example that if I want to show you, I would say with on a real project, this is what we normally do.

03:14

We have the surface.

03:17

Okay.

03:18

And I call in reference my alignment.

03:21

As you can see here, I have no icon.

03:23

But I have this icon, arrow.

03:26

What that means that means that come from this reference. Okay.

03:32

And the thing is, you try to split as much as you can with data by using the Data Shortcut.

03:37

So, for example, in this file, I only have my surface, and I call my alignment as a reference.

03:43

And how to know it is a reference, I can see this arrow icon things that I see here.

03:49

So, my alignments come from this Data Shortcut.

03:54

And if I do the same steps, for example, here I have my surface in reference, and I have my alignment, which is in my file.

04:04

And I do the same, for example, for the pipe network.

04:07

My pipe network is here, as you can see in blue.

04:12

And I called in reference My surface.

04:16

And I do that also for the corridor.

04:19

So why do I do this?

04:21

Is because in AutoCAD and Civil 3D is not possible to open the same file with several users with several members of the project.

04:31

So, if you work in a complex and large project, you want all your colleagues to work.

04:36

And for example, here one person can be in charge to design to model the surface,

04:42

one other person can be in charge to design the alignment, and another for the pipe network, etcetera.

04:48

And the greatest thing here is, for example, if I take my surface and I do a modification in my surface, for example, here, I will add a grading.

05:03

You see, it's modified.

05:05

I need, first, to save my file.

05:15

And here for the person who will be in charge to design the Alignment, he will see this pop up hey, my reference has been updated.

05:23

I need to synchronize.

05:25

And then you give a bit of time to see if you need to see to work.

05:28

And you see here I could see the modification of my colleague.

05:32

And this is a way to enhance the collaboration because if you put all the data in one side, first it will be heavy, long to open.

05:40

And the second point is only one person will be able to work on your project.

05:44

That's why if you are able to speed your data.

05:47

It's always better for the collaboration.

05:50

And obviously, at the end, if you follow the same workflow.

05:53

Okay, so I added in reference my surface.

05:55

I added reference my alignment, my corridor.

05:58

You can have this result where you have your 2D deliveries.

06:04

So, for example, here is just a layout, and I can show you.

06:09

So, I have this layout where you can see my plan view and my profile view.

06:14

So, this is a PDF coming from this file.

06:17

As you can see, I have my plan view of my corridor, my path network.

06:20

I have here my profile view of my pipe network.

06:24

And I will be also able to do some cross section.

06:28

Also, it's not the topic of today, but that would be easy also with the references to insert that in your InfraWorks model.

06:37

And for example, here, if I change a bit the settings,

06:44

you can see that is exactly obviously is the project of my Civil 3D model with my path network and my corridor.

06:51

So that's what I wanted to show you that InfraWorks may be complicated, but this is how you work.

06:57

As I said in the working folder, you can attach different Data Shortcut project.

07:02

So, to know which one you are, obviously try to read the rest ones.

07:06

The Data Shortcut enhance the collaboration because you can insert copies of references.

07:13

One thing to know the objects you insert as references cannot be modified.

07:18

The objects can only be modified in the source drawing.

07:21

So, it's better for a choice.

07:24

Obviously, you will be able to change the size of the objects.

07:27

That's something I will explain that later.

07:29

And again, the lesson is if your colleague modify a Civil 3D object and save the file,

07:35

you will be able to see the pop-up asking you to synchronize the references.

07:40

Things to know when you use the data references there are a lot of benefit, but you have to use it carefully.

07:47

The first thing is if you delete a reference that can take time to delete it,

07:51

because in Civil 3D project, the object the most important is the surface.

07:56

Why? Because you design your alignment and profile based on the surface.

08:01

The corridor is designed based on the surface.

08:03

So, we can easily imagine that if you delete the surface, that will take a lot of time because all the elements have an interaction to each other.

08:11

The second point is don't exceed 128 characters for the name and the path location.

08:17

Otherwise, you will have a potential risk.

08:20

The third one is a recommendation.

08:22

Do not change the names and the locations of the references.

08:26

Obviously, the software will always point to the file, but if you change the name of the files, Civil 3D will not be able to recognize it.

08:33

So, it's a recommendation, but for a certain reason by experience, you will have to do that in certain project.

08:39

So, if you need to change the names, I advise you to use a tool Data Shortcut Editor.

08:45

I going to do a demo again.

08:47

I go to Data Shortcut Editor.

08:52

I open, obviously, the file I want, then I select my Working Folder.

09:01

And here, as you can see, I have all my references.

09:06

And the good thing is, like the reference manager, I can change and find and replace.

09:12

So that applies for the object name but also, for the best location.