We have this thing we call CAD Standards to improve our ability to communicate complex ideas and information to others consistently. When we talk "Standards" this means we are talking about forms of human language and interpretation. This is truly deep stuff. I won't go there. This is this practical post.
Seek and Find the Known Good
We need to take the time to assess if our current model-based "Standards" do that or if they really only reflect our myopic historic preference. Don’t get me wrong. I believe Preference and Choice is great thing. That’s a big part of what our Production Solutions are all about. Where else can you get thousands of tested and supported Civil 3D Styles and templates for a song?
We do need to understand the difference between preference and productive performance.
In practical Civil 3D terms, the work is in the Managed Dynamic Model. I’ve talked on that lately in posts. Second, we need structured methods to manage Style. This is key to getting to those standards and the productive power of…
Publish on Demand
We have that ETERNAL and EVERLASTING problem...What is the known good?
Style in AutoCAD Civil 3D is always temporary especially when you have the power of choice and more ability to decide because of more choice of Style. How do you practically simplify after those mission critical design and quality control decisions have been made?
Style Purge
Manage>>Styles>>Purge (PurgeStyles) is the power chipper for unreferenced Style removal. Like all power tools Style Purge can suck you in. You can lose a limb. Read the operating instructions before starting. Backup before use and/or work on a copy. Practice and experience are required. Practice the continuous development mantra. Plan...Do...Check...Act.
In principal the Style Purge tool is pretty easy to get. It gets rid of all the unreferenced Styles in a classic Purge command way. A complete wipe will take more than one pass.
Is It Really This Simple?
The tool allows you to get rid of most of the "unnecessary" Civil 3D Style references in project drawings.
Therefore, you can employ PurgeStyles to FREEZE the current presentation of Civil 3D Features to one fixed FORM in a drawing. Therefore, this is a great way to build a set of publishing Styles – aka those somewhat elusive standards. This is great for publication, reducing confusion, KISS, and improving presentation and annotative consistency.
Style Purge is Not Permanent
Words of caution: Style Purge will also kill "Standard" Styles too. I wish for a Standards checkbox in the tool's dialog box. Please, don’t purge the built-in Civil 3D ones. You may need those generic references to disconnect the named Style references that remain. Think before you just say OK. You can employ the Style Import Tool in your post op procedure to slap the Standards back in.
Two Style Tools Combined Are More Than One
Style Purge cannot remove Styles and Sets currently referenced in Command and Feature Settings. They are still referenced and are in use. Perhaps employing a Style Import before you Style Purge with that sneaky little Import Settings checkbox checked and nothing imported in is what you want to really produce a better KNOWN good.
Huh? Ok. I admit that’s a bit confusing. Put another way you can import from a dwg or dwt with the Command and Feature Settings all set to Standard. This rids your drawing of unnecessary Command and Feature Style settings. Your repetitive Purges will be more effective more quickly.