what method do you use?

[salf]

WHat method do you use to work with AutoCAD files on VIZ? and why?

 

For instance, i use the "import file" method, to import a .dwg model into VIZ, but i noticed a few days ago that a coworker didnt use this method, he uses the "file link manager" to open the .dwg files.

 

Only good thing i see in that method is that you can select various elements within the same layer, i mean, if i model a house in AutoCAD, i use one layer for all the walls, this means that whenever i click on any wall of the model it will select all the walls cause theyre the same layer (this is using the "import file" way), but with the File Link Manager way, if i click on any wall it will select only that particular wall i clicked, and not all the walls in the model.

 

Now, what method do you use and why? pros and cons.

[STRAT]

i use .3DS files. dunno why really, always have done. very stable, never had 1 complaint in over 14 years, does every thing i want it to do.

[Jason Matthews]

I use file link manager.. The advantage to using it is that I can work back and forth between cad and viz. Any changes I make in cad update in viz also. Secondly, I t is great if the client wants something change in the cad file. This way, you don't have to redo all the Viz stuff that you have already done. I have not worked with importing or 3ds very much so I am not sure if you can do the same things with it.

[salf]

I tried the File Link Manager, but for some reason when i use this method, i cant use the AEC Extended "terrain" feature.

 

When im working with a topographic terrain , i make all the levels in autocad to fit the real life level, i mean, i draw a line, and i change its elevation to whatever high it supposed to be, that way when importing into VIZ, i select that Terrain layer, and apply AEC Extended terrain to it, so i could have a nice terrain, but when using the FILE LINK MANAGER i cant do this.

 

Any idea why?

[Jason Matthews]

I'll look into it today.

[Jason Matthews]

What do you mean when you say that you cannot use the terrain tool? Does it not allow you to use it or does it not come out right? I just tried it and it works, however, it doesn't look correct. It's like the terrain does not elevate as high as it should.

[Onslaught]

The good thing about .3ds is that you only update the entity that you revise. Example is if you revise a wall, you just select that wall to be exported into a .3ds file and import it into VIZ.

[Jason Matthews]

OK, I just did it and it works. First make sure your contour lines are closed polylines. Then elevate the accordingly. Then filelink into Viz. Next, select the lines, and hit the terrain button in the AEC extended toolbar. This should give you the results you want. I guess the key is to make sure the contour lines are closed polylines.

Good Luck!

[Joosti Ink]

Closed ploys are not necessary, but yes, makes it easier.

What should be noticed is that you make sure your polys have enough vertex points.

For example when you import a simple line from acad, you only would have 2 vertex points at the start and the end. For more complicated terrains you need more vertex points for max to compute a accurate terrain model. You can do this by deviding the segments in max for example. You even can do this after you made your terrain in max and select the segments that needs more points where needed.

 

Bart

[Joosti Ink]

Use 3ds when you need the solids or surfaces you made in acad. Use dwg when you need the (3d) lines from acad to use in max (for lofting for example).

 

I prefer to import the basic lines from acad and do the modeling in max, because that gives you much more flexibility and no pain with flipped faces.

 

Bart

[Alfonso Lee]

By the way, any chance that such a similar way that will work with Acad + Max 6.x?

 

Regards,

Alfonso Lee

[salf]

Originally posted by Saturn:

What do you mean when you say that you cannot use the terrain tool? Does it not allow you to use it or does it not come out right?

It doesnt allows me to use the TERRAIN feature, if i go to SHAPES, then STANDARD PRIMITIVES, and on te roll out menu i select AEC EXTENDED, the option for "terrain" is not available, only the others (foliage, railing and wall)

 

DUnno why, the file is at the office, tomorrow ill look into it again.

[Jason Matthews]

I guess just make sure that you are selecting the lines first. And then try to use the terrain tool. If not, then I don't know what to say. Sorry if I have wasted your time more than I have helped.

 

Regards

[Joosti Ink]

It doesnt allows me to use the TERRAIN feature, if i go to SHAPES, then STANDARD PRIMITIVES, and on te roll out menu i select AEC EXTENDED, the option for "terrain" is not available, only the others (foliage, railing and wall)

you sure it aren't groups?

[salf]

i solved the problem, the thing is that all my polylines in each level were closed, so i just deleted a few ones.

 

But is strange that this issue only happens with the FILE LINK MANAGER and not when IMPORTING the file.