• Civil 3D

Navigate the user interface in Civil 3D

Navigate the user interface to streamline your Civil 3D workflow.


00:03

Civil 3D has an easily navigable user interface that provides access to customizable workspace options,

00:09

and an array of features, tools, and palettes to enable your work.

00:14

With Civil 3D open, expand the Application menu for basic file-related commands.

00:20

Create New files from a drawing or sheet set, Open files, and save files using Save or Save As.

00:28

Export files to different formats like DXF, PDF, and other file types.

00:34

You can also Publish files, Print files, or access Drawing Utilities to compare drawings, audit drawings, and more.

00:43

Use the Quick Access Toolbar for your most frequently used commands.

00:48

To customize this toolbar, right-click a command from a different toolbar and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

00:56

Or, right-click any command in the toolbar and click Remove from Quick Access Toolbar.

01:02

Also in the Quick Access Toolbar is the Workspace Switching tool.

01:07

Expand this drop-down to choose a workspace with AutoCAD or AutoCAD Map 3D functionality,

01:13

such as 3D Modeling, or Planning and Analysis.

01:16

The InfoCenter is a set of tools on the right side of the title bar that enable you to access product-related information sources.

01:25

Expand the Account drop-down to sign in to and manage your Autodesk license and account information.

01:32

You can also access Help and other support tools from here.

01:37

The ribbon is organized into tabs, which contain the tools that you will use as you work in Civil 3D.

01:44

Optionally, you can add the menu bar, which has drop-downs for commonly used tools.

01:50

In the command window, type “menubar”, press ENTER, and then enter the value 1.

01:56

Now, for example, you can expand Surface to access the surface tools.

02:01

Each ribbon tab contains named panels of related tools.

02:06

For example, the Home tab includes the Create Design, Modify, and Layer panels.

02:13

In the Create Design panel, expand Corridor to use all the corridor tools.

02:19

The Insert tab contains tools to import data into your project.

02:24

The Annotate tab contains Civil 3D and standard AutoCAD dimensioning, annotation, and leader tools.

02:32

If you add additional software to Civil 3D, such as Vehicle Tracking, then the software adds its own tab to the ribbon.

02:40

Civil 3D also has contextual tabs that display only when you are working with specific objects in the drawing.

02:47

For example, selecting an alignment displays a tab that includes tools for working with alignments.

02:54

Additionally, the application contains several tool palettes.

02:59

In the Home tab, select Toolspace to open the Toolspace window.

03:04

Here, you can access the Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox tabs.

03:11

The Toolbox tab includes Miscellaneous Utilities and Reports Manager tools.

03:17

To dock the Toolspace or any palette, right-click the left side of the palette, and select Allow Docking.

03:23

Select Auto-hide to create more workspace when the palette is not in use, or choose Anchor Right or Anchor Left to anchor the palette.

03:33

Within the Toolspace, the Prospector and Settings tabs include all the project data.

03:40

In the Prospector tab, expand the drop-down and select Master View to view all open drawings,

03:45

then switch back to Active Drawing View.

03:48

You can expand collections within the Prospector or Settings tabs to view all the options available,

03:55

and you can right-click any of these for a menu of relevant commands.

03:59

Select the Settings tab to manage object and label styles for drawings.

04:04

In this case, expand Parcel > Parcel Styles and view the styles available.

04:11

Simply right-click Parcel Styles to add a new style, or right-click an existing style to copy or edit the style.

04:19

To access additional tool palettes, on the Home tab, click Tool Palettes.

04:25

Use the tabs to select palettes for corridor modeling, block insertion, miscellaneous utilities, and more.

04:32

Hover the cursor over a specific tool and a tooltip displays more information.

04:37

For some tools, hovering longer displays additional information or a video in an expanded tooltip.

04:44

While a tooltip is active, you can also press F1 to open the relevant Autodesk help page.

04:51

Once you are familiar with the Civil 3D user interface, you can easily access the tools and palettes you need for your design workflow.

Video transcript

00:03

Civil 3D has an easily navigable user interface that provides access to customizable workspace options,

00:09

and an array of features, tools, and palettes to enable your work.

00:14

With Civil 3D open, expand the Application menu for basic file-related commands.

00:20

Create New files from a drawing or sheet set, Open files, and save files using Save or Save As.

00:28

Export files to different formats like DXF, PDF, and other file types.

00:34

You can also Publish files, Print files, or access Drawing Utilities to compare drawings, audit drawings, and more.

00:43

Use the Quick Access Toolbar for your most frequently used commands.

00:48

To customize this toolbar, right-click a command from a different toolbar and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

00:56

Or, right-click any command in the toolbar and click Remove from Quick Access Toolbar.

01:02

Also in the Quick Access Toolbar is the Workspace Switching tool.

01:07

Expand this drop-down to choose a workspace with AutoCAD or AutoCAD Map 3D functionality,

01:13

such as 3D Modeling, or Planning and Analysis.

01:16

The InfoCenter is a set of tools on the right side of the title bar that enable you to access product-related information sources.

01:25

Expand the Account drop-down to sign in to and manage your Autodesk license and account information.

01:32

You can also access Help and other support tools from here.

01:37

The ribbon is organized into tabs, which contain the tools that you will use as you work in Civil 3D.

01:44

Optionally, you can add the menu bar, which has drop-downs for commonly used tools.

01:50

In the command window, type “menubar”, press ENTER, and then enter the value 1.

01:56

Now, for example, you can expand Surface to access the surface tools.

02:01

Each ribbon tab contains named panels of related tools.

02:06

For example, the Home tab includes the Create Design, Modify, and Layer panels.

02:13

In the Create Design panel, expand Corridor to use all the corridor tools.

02:19

The Insert tab contains tools to import data into your project.

02:24

The Annotate tab contains Civil 3D and standard AutoCAD dimensioning, annotation, and leader tools.

02:32

If you add additional software to Civil 3D, such as Vehicle Tracking, then the software adds its own tab to the ribbon.

02:40

Civil 3D also has contextual tabs that display only when you are working with specific objects in the drawing.

02:47

For example, selecting an alignment displays a tab that includes tools for working with alignments.

02:54

Additionally, the application contains several tool palettes.

02:59

In the Home tab, select Toolspace to open the Toolspace window.

03:04

Here, you can access the Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox tabs.

03:11

The Toolbox tab includes Miscellaneous Utilities and Reports Manager tools.

03:17

To dock the Toolspace or any palette, right-click the left side of the palette, and select Allow Docking.

03:23

Select Auto-hide to create more workspace when the palette is not in use, or choose Anchor Right or Anchor Left to anchor the palette.

03:33

Within the Toolspace, the Prospector and Settings tabs include all the project data.

03:40

In the Prospector tab, expand the drop-down and select Master View to view all open drawings,

03:45

then switch back to Active Drawing View.

03:48

You can expand collections within the Prospector or Settings tabs to view all the options available,

03:55

and you can right-click any of these for a menu of relevant commands.

03:59

Select the Settings tab to manage object and label styles for drawings.

04:04

In this case, expand Parcel > Parcel Styles and view the styles available.

04:11

Simply right-click Parcel Styles to add a new style, or right-click an existing style to copy or edit the style.

04:19

To access additional tool palettes, on the Home tab, click Tool Palettes.

04:25

Use the tabs to select palettes for corridor modeling, block insertion, miscellaneous utilities, and more.

04:32

Hover the cursor over a specific tool and a tooltip displays more information.

04:37

For some tools, hovering longer displays additional information or a video in an expanded tooltip.

04:44

While a tooltip is active, you can also press F1 to open the relevant Autodesk help page.

04:51

Once you are familiar with the Civil 3D user interface, you can easily access the tools and palettes you need for your design workflow.

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