Being Civil

FDO Provider OSGeo.SHP.3.7 Not Registered

No need to panic here...

AutoCAD Map/Civil 3D 2014 shipped with some updates to the FDO Providers. Some of those updates were not reflected in the providers.xml file that comes with the program, so when some users run MAPIMPORT or MAPEXPORT, they get a FDO Provider ### Not Registered error message.

The current solution (and it seems to only affect users that have a previous release of Map/Civil 3D installed) is to replace your providers.xml file with the one attached here. Download providers.xml

File is generally located in:
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D 2014\bin\FDO or
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014\bin\FDO

A Hotfix should be posted soon to autodesk.com.

Binding a Raster Image in AutoCAD...

Not too long ago one of our customer asked me this question, how can I bind a raster image in AutoCAD?... As you probably already know raster images can only be referenced into AutoCAD drawings. If you send the drawing to someone else, you must send the image file also, if not you will end up with a broken reference.
One way to get it done is inserting the image as an OLE object.
Go to the Insert Tab and look for OLE Object or just type INSERTOBJ on the command line.
Choose "Create New", and then choose "Paintbrush Picture".

Next, Windows Paintbrush should open up.

In Paintbrush, choose from the ribbons -> Paste, then Paste from...

Select your existing image file (JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF, etc.)

Close Paint and save your AutoCAD drawing.

Check Out features BEFORE you attempt to edit in bulk!

"Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally." Remember that from algebra class? This memory aid is helpful to understand the order of operations required to get the correct answer when solving algebraic equations.

Similarly, when it comes to working with FDO, sometimes, it's all about order of operations.

The following workflow, innocent as it is, will result in a freeze/indefinite hang:
1. Connect to an FDO data source in AutoCAD Map 3D.
2. Select many features (I selected 809 points)
3. In the AutoCAD Properties Pane, try to "globally" edit the value of one attribute for all of your selected features.

Sadly, even if Auto Checkout is enabled, you're just not gonna get anywhere. You'll likely have to End Process for acad.exe in Task Manager.

Now, augment your workflow by adding a step:

Photo © Eric Gevaert

1. Connect to an FDO data source in AutoCAD Map 3D.
2. Select many features (I selected 809 points).
3. Hit Check Out (same as running MAPCHECKOUT).
4. In the AutoCAD Properties Pane, try to "globally" edit the value of one attribute for all of your selected features.
Result: almost an immediate change!
Finally, be sure to Check In your features by clicking the button or by running MAPCHECKINALL.

Lesson: if you follow order of operations, you're almost guaranteed smooth sailing!

Check your PHP

Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server (AIMS) has several components that have prerequisites, one of which is PHP. If PHP is not installed on the server, or if PHP is out-of-date, it can cause problems, sometimes as serious as not being able to log into your site!

So if you are having problems with AIMS, it's good to know how to find out which version of PHP your server is running. This is easy to find. Here is an example of how you might do it on your server:

1. In a text editor, start a new file and enter the following:
<?php
phpinfo();
?>

2. Save it as phpinfo.php in:
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Infrastructure Web Server Extension 2013\www\mapadmin

3. Now browse to:
http://localhost/mapserver2013/mapadmin/phpinfo.php



4. Check your php version against the System Requirements for AIMS. For AIMS 2013, you can find them in the installation media folder here:
en-US/Help/files/AIMS-sys-reqs.htm


The System Requirements for AIMS 2013 specify PHP 5.3.8. Is this the same PHP as you are running?

How to identify a 4th generation MrSID®

While we await support for the 4th generation MrSID® file format in AutoCAD, how can you know if your MrSID® image is a 4th generation or not? Because all generations have the .sid extension, the file extension won't tell you. Here's one way you can find out:

1. Launch the program GeoViewer (a free download from www.lizardtech.com).
2. Go to File > Add Layer > Local Layer to bring in the image.
3. Once the image appears, go to Layer > View Layer Metadata.
4. Look under "Image properties". In the value for Format, a generation 4 MrSID will show MRSID/MG4RASTER.
Other generations will show other formats (e.g. MG2 if it's a MrSID generation 2).

You can also use GeoViewer to Export to TIFF (Tools menu). The file size will grow a bit, but it won't crash AutoCAD! :)

AutoCAD Map 3D 2013 SP1 Hotfix 1 released

A hotfix was prepared to fix a number of issues with AutoCAD Map 3D 2013 SP1. You need to have SP1 applied already in order to apply this hotfix. Please read the readme for more instruction on this. A big thank you to customers who regularly submit CERs (Customer Error Reports) to Autodesk!

Take Your Labels to the Limit!

By default, the maximum number of labels displayed with Data Connections is 2000. This is to help systems not get bogged down when rendering labels on screen or when plotting. This max value also affects the Save Current Map to AutoCAD (AKA MAPEXPORTCURRENTMAPTODWG) command, so that the output stops at 2000 MTEXTs.

The way to override this is to create a registry key with the value of your choice for MAX_LABELS. The following TS, written originally for the 2008 release of AutoCAD Map/Civil 3D, is still valid, and is still valid on 64-bit systems.

Increasing maximum number of Display Manager Feature Labels displayed
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS1077666

Take Your Labels to the Limit!

Transform Tab Missing

Before we all go off for a well-deserved weekend I wanted to share something with you. When inserting raster images (such as MrSID or ECW, TIFF,…) through Civil 3D or Map 3D with Raster Design out of 4 dialog one tab is not showing. If you remember once you select Image to insert you were given the wizard with 4 dialogs.

• Pick Correlation Source
• Modify Correlation Values
• Transform
• Insertion

In case you are not seeing Transform dialog check if your drawing has assigned coordinate system. If coordinate system is not assigned, you will not be able to make transformation. It’s very clear.

So to resolve this issue type: MAPASSIGN command and assign coordinate system.

Then just continue with insert and you will notice that Transform dialog is now available.

In case you still don’t see it then most likely you are on the path which may result in reinstall or repair.

Have a nice weekend, all!