Being Civil

Export Styles from Drawing to Drawing

We are all aware that styles can be easily copied from drawing to drawing by drag & drop. The only requirement was the the drawing in which the styles are copied to is active and the other from which the styles are being copied from is opened. This was helpful but slow since styles needed to be copied individually. I am not aware of any way of copying only selected styles and would be glad to know if anyone figured it out already. But....what if you needed to copy all styles to the new drawing?  That’s when DWT file come handy.

If the drawing with desired styles are saved as a template it will also save the styles. Now, all we have to do is to import that DWT into the new drawing as a layout (also DWT) and styles will become part of the new drawing. So, to demonstrate…

1. Open your drawing with all styles you want to copy and add another style (for instance, a style called TEST under Profile Styles).

 

Deployment Basics, Part 2 (Moving an Image)

In my last post, we discussed how to create a Deployment from a workstation, but stored on your server.  There are also some times where you have already created the Deployment Image, but now you need to move it to a new location.  We typically don’t recommend doing this, because if it is done incorrectly, it can render the deployment and the client installations unusable. 

However, I am going to walk through this process.  It is very important to know that if you have already installed using this deployment, you can NOT move it, as it will cause problems if the users try to repair or uninstall.  But what you can do is copy the entire Image folder to the new location, leaving the original intact and in it’s original folder location.

Win a trip to Autodesk University!

The Autodesk University 2009 YouTube Contest is your chance to win one of three (3) AU 2009 Las Vegas 3-Day, All-Inclusive Passes (includes conference, classes and hands-on labs, hotel, meals, and social events).

Check out this link for more details.

Good luck!!

Video: Troubleshooting Tips for Civil 3D

It's that time again, for the monthly video over on the Autodesk YouTube channel.  As usual we create a Technical Solution in our knowledgebase that points to it, you can find it here.

This month features a review of Troubleshooting methods, helping you to pin down issues to one of the three main branches: computer, software or file.  While it is not offering some mind-blowing secret on any particular features in the product, what I think is more important is to review your general skills in troubleshooting - if you know how to do it and what to look for, then you are better at it every time.  If I just give you specific things (of course we already do this in the blog!!), then you aren't sharpening your skills, right?  So check it out and give us a review and some comments, thanks!

Autodesk Acquires Assets from Boss International, Inc.

As Dana said over on BIM On the Rocks, you’ll likely see this around the ‘net today. I feel that it’s important enough to post again, because it’s filling a nice void. Follow the link to read the full press release.

Beefing up the backend - new search Beta for Autodesk AEC content

Hey all, I wanted to let you know that on the backend we are working to provide better tools for you, one of them being search capabilities of our content.  There is a new Autodesk Search Beta going on which you can participate in, the search link is here.  Note this is focused on AEC Products and for English content only for this Beta.

Pretty simple on the front end, but even there note you have some options...

As you type in keywords it will suggest common topics.  Furthermore, search results go way beyond just our Knowledgebase, you get discussion groups, blogs, documentation, YouTube, etc.  In general we are providing search through Autodesk content options, however the blog search does index external blogs as well.  Per the Worldwide Marketing team:

Civil 3D User Assistance Survey - feedback on documentation

Hey all, the Technical Publications ("Tekpubs") team is conducting a Civil 3D User Assistance Survey to learn what you think of the Civil 3D documentation and how to make it better.  Pop on over and give them your thoughts!  Better yet, get everyone you know who uses Civil 3D to take it too.

Installation Error: Invalid Installation. Program Ending.

When trying to launch any of the Hydraflow applications from within Civil 3D 2010 program showed splash screen followed by "Invalid installation. Program ending" message.

 

This is caused by missing HHApps directory within user profile most likely caused by installer not creating thes files or by some unwanted work of some clean-up tool. In some cases resetting user profile was still unable to pupulate missing entries. To confirm if this is the case first go to following locations and check if Express, Hydrographs, StormSewer directories exist in the HHApps directory.

For XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2010\enu\HHApps

For Vista:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\C3D 2010\enu\HHApps

In some cases it is enough to reinitiate secondary installer to restore these missing files while in some other cases repair installation helped resolve this issue.

If none of that worked you may also try manually copying missing directories and files. To resolve this issue copy HHApps directory from any working machine and paste it in the location mentioned above and then restart Civil 3D 2010.