Murph has written an excellent post on creating contours from shape files with elevations. I have been using this method for a while now. In fact I have written scripts and macros to automate importation of contour data into my drawings. Read more »

Earlier I wrote about the NOTES command in Civil 3D 2008. This time I want to take it a step further. Read more »

Previously I wrote about using AutoLISP to create selection sets. While these are great, especially for use in scripts and macros, they are kind of clunky to use if you need a quick selection set. Here are a few quick and easy ways to create selection sets. Read more »

I like using the INSPECT (or AECINSPECT) command in Civil 3D 2008 instead of Express Tools XLIST. Read more »

There are some useful inquiry commands in Civil 3D 2008 & 2009. Similar commands used to be available in Map 3D, but from what I hear (and in my experience) they have stopped working. Read more »

I like the NOTES command in Civil 3D. I found out about it from Map 3D and Murphs Law. Read more »

Have you ever wanted to import just a portion of another drawing into your current drawing? I know the civil engineering world frequently needs to import specific data from one map to another. Since I work in that world and because I’m lazy, I created a quick method for importing data from standard maps into new drawings using queries and macros. Read more »

I found out that installing Raster Design Object Enabler for Map 3D or Civil 3D allows MrSID images to be inserted directly into AutoCAD through Map 3D’s image insert command (MAPIINSERT). I use it to directly insert georeferenced ortho photos in MrSID format into my drawings. This is really nice because instead of using another piece of software to cut out the ortho to insert, I can directly insert the lightweight MrSID image directly and clip it to my desired area. Read more »