Release 6 has been a work in progress of continuous development for almost 12 months. If you read this blog regularly, "Thank you". You've certainly seen hints of what's detailed in here. To say the least, there is a lot of detailed integration and quality assurance embedded into our new Release 6. In truth, our Production Solution product releases have little to do with the Autodesk releases of AutoCAD Civil 3D or the Infrastructire Design Suites. Our products support multiple releases of Civil 3D.
Civil 3D Productivity is Built In
We don't promise or deliver pipe dreams. We deliver AutoCAD Civil 3D productivity. As we wrap up the final packaging and pricing details for Release 6 here's an advanced peek at the upcoming improvements to the best Civil 3D template and Civil 3D Style collections on the planet.
I must ask, "Can your current Civil 3D templates and Civil 3D styles do this?"
Probably not...but we know Civil 3D can run out-of-the-box. We prove it.
The Fast Way to Better CAD Standards
The Production Solution Release 6 upgrade is focus on producing better AutoCAD Civil 3D Style tools; more in-depth coverage for common infrastructure systems; unsurpassed customization detail combined with ease of use; and more rapid production of AutoCAD Civil 3D Plan and Profile related data.
Release 6 demonstrably produces better output to other CAD and GIS applications which in-turn supports better interoperability standards in organizations of any size. Release 6 can produce edit ready dumbed down ACAD and DGN output in multiple Layer or Level Standards.
If you are a governmental organization you can deploy, implement, and employ Release 6 products in less time with less integration and customization work required. Any customization you must make are now easier to do and much easier to maintain.
Release 6 changes affect all Production Solution products delivered for:
- AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016
- AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015
- AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014
Release 5 detailed changes listed here.
2014 and 2013 Release 5 detailed changes listed here.
Release 6 Changes
Release 6 is a major refinement to Release 5 and includes subtle fixes and changes throughout the Production Solution resources.
For the most part Release 5 resources will for the most part function in Release 6 with Layer Standards caveats.
- The Fast Way to Better CAD Standards
- Standard Keys
- Template Summary
- Layers
- Layer Properties
- Layer Descriptions
- City Standards
- Example Drawing and Project
- Customization Tools and Documentation
- Description Key Sets
- Survey Codes
- Figure Prefix Dbs
- Blocks and Symbol Set
- NCS 4.0/5.0 Linetype Resources
- Textstyles
- Sheet Template Additions and Updates
- Civil 3D Object Layer Changes
- Style Additions, Fixes and Cleanups
- Assembly Sets and Resources
- Feature Style Resources and Fixes
- Jump Kit by Feature Drawings
- AddOns
Summary
The Fast Way to Better CAD Standards
The Production Solution Release 6 upgrade is focus on producing better AutoCAD Civil 3D Style tools; more in-depth coverage for common infrastructure systems; unsurpassed customization detail combined with ease of use; and more rapid production of AutoCAD Civil 3D Plan and Profile related data.
Release 6 demonstrably produces better output to other CAD and GIS applications which in-turn supports better interoperability standards in organizations of any size. If you are a governmental organization you can deploy, implement, and employ Release 6 products in less time with less integration and customization work required. Any customizations you must make are now easier to do and much easier to maintain.
Implementation of new color, lineweight, and plotstyle Layer properties generated by spreadsheet formulas based on our Open NCS Standard Key tables and our easy to learn and use last-digit color Rules.
If you are upgrading, many Release 5 colors, lineweights, and plotstyles remain the same. There are fewer changes between black and white background color schemes. There is a lot more consistency, predictability, and ease of use for users in the improved Layer Standards system.
Standard Key Layer properties are easier to customize from the Standard Keys table in the spreadsheet. Layer State Scripts are easy to generate to update existing templates, project work, and new templates.
Standard Keys Table includes Precedence properties to compute resolved properties based on Preferences. Customizers can easily tune Layer Properties based on the importance of Keys included in the Layer Name.
For example: By default Major Key will produce a set of standard properties but in the case of a specific Minor Key override (for example: –PATT) will systematically modify the resolved Layer Properties.
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Standard Keys
The major benefits of better and more detailed Standard Keys are the abilities to produce and maintain project work in a wider variety of NCS variants and/or entirely different Layer schemes. Change the values in a couple of tables and you can modify a Production Solution product to quickly produce work and output in different Layer scheme with detailed control of all the layer property mechanics and necessary user support tools – aka Layer States etc.
Added the Standard Keys table to maintenance and customization spreadsheet.
Added a Key Assignment Translator to the spreadsheet
The TRANS table allows changes from one set of Keys to another set of Keys to be easily automated. (e.g. ALIN to ALGN)
Updates to the public open Standard Civil Standard Keys list
Added additional infrastructure keys for typical county, township, and municipal jurisdiction.
(e.g. Street light power systems, recycled water, and multiple variations of communication systems)
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Templates Summary
The new Layer Standards and the listed in detail changes here are reflected in all the supplied Production Solution product resources.
Drawing Templates
Default sizing of Points Styles left intentionally @ (0.2) twice normal. This helps identify new Point Styles added from the Symbol Set to templates. Points Styles should be edited to size per customer requirements.
Existing textstyle set back to 11 degree oblique of Arial font.
See below for Layer and Style changes
Layer and Textstyle Standards (dws)
Updated Layer Standards and included Layer States for both black and white backgrounds in Design and Survey forms
A new Layer Standard for City resources and respective included Layer States for both black and white backgrounds in Design and Survey forms
Revised AutoCAD Scripts for existing templates and project drawing updates
Update to the Layer Standards tool to add fast Layer properties customization by Key systems including the NCS. (see the Production Solution Spreadsheet Tools documentation.
Sheet Templates
New versions of examples of both Vertical and Horizontal titleblocks
Sheet Set Template
Updated for the above
Project Template
Updated for the above
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Layers
The new core or default Layer scheme is easier to employ in production.
The scheme is both in detail and in general more NCS 4.0/5.0+complaint.
The layer list will easily produce functional Layer Key filtering.
The layer scheme better addresses software conversions and GIS standards implementations while preserving the important survey and civil design capabilities of AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Rename of Layers to conform to published Layer Key changes from NCS 4.0 specification to NCS 5.0 specifications
Corrections to Layer property inconsistencies in previous releases
All Layer properties generated automatically from the Keys Table and spreadsheet
All Layers comply with the NCS compliant 3 (three) Key Group pattern
<Discipline>-<Major Key>-<Minor Key>-<Minor Key>-<Status or Phase>
No fourth Keys are employed. The fourth Key is reserved for Status or Phase (e.g. C-UTSS-MHOL-LABL-1)
All Civil 3D View Feature Layers employ VIEW as the Major Key.
All the output to Profile Views, Section Views, Superelevation Views, Mass Views, and Cant Views is predictable, consistent, and far easier to filter and modify in daily production use.
Rename, Delete, Update and Add Scripts supplied for drawing and project upgrades
- Add Scripts for Erosion control
- Add Scripts for typical Site Structures
- Add Scripts for typical Boundaries
- Add Scripts for Parcels
Added Layers for design support for Landscape utilities
Added Layer for design and survey support for Erosion control
NODE, TEXT, DIMS, DTLS, NOTE, LCTN, LOGO, moved to final Key Group position to comply with PATT, FRAM and GRAT conventions. Simplify annotative layer identification.
Implemented final Status or Phase Key position compliance with NCS 5.0 Standard
All layer names include ONLY a Discipline Key and three Keys
- No default Layers are produced that employvStatus or Phase Keys
- Customization spreadsheet will produce Status or Phase Keys
- Standard Key Table includes Status and Phase Keys
Release 6 NCS 5.0+ Layer Key significant changes:
- Major Key ALIN changed to ALGN
- CONT employed as Major Key for Surface Contour display
V-TOPO-CONT-MAJR>>V-CONT-MAJR - VIEW is the Major Key employed for all Layers used by Civil 3D View Features (Release 5)
- Viewer grids employ new Keys
GMJR, GMNR, and GEOM keys for Profiles and Section Grid components
A standard GRID key may be still be employed to produce Grids with identical properties - TOPO is employed as the default final Key for sampled surfaces output in Viewers
C-VIEW-PROF-TOPO and C-VIEW-SCTN-TOPO - STAN key is deprecated for use in Profile and Section Labels
SMJR, SMNR, and SGEO keys for Profiles and Sections - LTOF and RTOF keys are deprecated for OFLT and OFTR keys
- Added PAVE, SWLK, EROS as a Major Keys
- Added REFR Key (External References) and Layers to core scheme
- Added UTCA, UTFB, and UTRW utilities to the core scheme
Added support for additional utilities in Easements, Profiles, Sections, etc. - COND key replaces the PIPE key in the appropriate utilities
Added MAIN and LATR keys in the appropriate utilities - NODE typically not employed as a Major Key and moved to final Key Position
e.g. V-NODE-ABUT becomes V-ABUT-NODE and C-CTRL-NODE-SHOT becomes C-CTRL-SHOT-NODE
Removed most NODE layers from the core Layer list
Layer Properties
All layer properties in Release 6 layer are automatically generated and maintained from a single Standard Key Table in the Layer Standards spreadsheet.
The supplied support Layers spreadsheet produces core script code for layer property customization and updates to Layer scheme and supplied basic Layer States.
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Layer Descriptions
In Release 6 layer descriptions are automatically generated and maintained from a single Standard Key Table. The supplied support Layers spreadsheet produces core script code for customization and updates to Layer scheme and supplied basic Layer States.
Customizable in the Standard Key Table in the spreadsheet
Updated Layer Descriptions to Standard Key Table
Used “|” bar character separator instead of commas for better readability in Descriptions. This can be easily changed.
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City Standards
- Add Scripts for typical county, township, parish, and municipal utilities
For example: traffic signaling, street lighting, more forms of communication and/or power systems, and secondary utilities systems- recycled water. - Add Scripts for typical county, township, parish, and municipal structures and features
For example: medians, complex curbs, bridges, parking, etc. - Add Scripts for in-depth BNDY support and Layer detail
- Add new LayerStandardsCity dwg and dws support
These include a new City Standard Set of Layer States.
Example Drawings and Projects
All project drawings, databases, and resource files updated to Release 6.
Updated the Example Corridor drawing for Templates Only
All example Pipe Networks now supplied as Data Shortcuts.
Updated the project Sheet Set and all example Sheet drawings
Additional example site surveys provided for a typical park with ball field and a complex new winding residential road. New examples are geolocated with the example project. Survey Dbs and raw data files are supplied.
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Customization Tools and Documentation
Updates to the Layer Standards generation spreadsheet (see Layer Standards above)
Updates to the supplied Standard Codes and Description Key set generator spreadsheet for InstantOn Survey and Jump Kit
Major updates to supplied product documentation in both depth of coverage and detail
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Description Key Sets
All Description Key Sets updated to the Layer Standards for Release 6
Description Key Set documentation and spreadsheet tools updated for Release 6
Summary List of Key changes listed in Survey Codes below
Description Key Set Tools usage documentation available on the website
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Survey Codes
The integrated Survey Codes provide the basis for the consistency in generated points and linework in Release 6 exactly like the did in Release 5.
Release 5 Keys will work in Release 6. Minor layer assignment and generation issues can be fixed sfter input with the AutoCAD Standards Checker
and supplied LayerStandards6.dws file bu manual layer assignment. Less the ten layers assignments were changed.
The Match Keys spreadsheet documents all the detailed changes made.
A summary of details supplied below:
- Added CABs and appropriate NOT KEYS (search on the website for "Not Key" blog posts)
- Added and/or Updated Keys to include references to new City Utilities (see blocks and symbols)
- Fixed known errors in Keys and updated documentation to include the same
- Updated Layer references in Description Key Sets and Figure Dbs to Release 6 Layer Standards
- Updated all supplied resource files in templates and Style resources
- Updated Core Descriptions - Core used for meaning and identification matching
- Updated Basic Descriptions - Basic used for label generation via Format column in Description Key Sets
- Keys typically used to produce detailed labels now include a standard Format string of "$1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6 $7"
- Updated Key Format strings for typically labeled utility structures manholes, DI's, etc. (see above)
- Updated Key Format strings for typically labeled survey control, property corners, etc.(see above)
All Survey Codes updated to the Layer Standards for Release 6
Survey Codes documentation and Match Keys spreadsheet tools updated for Release 6
Survey Code Spreadsheet Tools usage documentation available on the website
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Figure Prefix Dbs
All Figure Prefix Db updated to the Layer Standards for Release 6
Figure Prefix Db documentation updated for Release 6. See Match Keys in Survey Codes above.
Summary List of Key changes listed in Survey Codes above.
Survey Code Spreadsheet Tools usage documentation available on the website
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Blocks and Symbol Set
Added variations of comm systems UTCA, UTFB
Added variations of water systems – recycled water and irrigation UTRW and UTIR
Added Pullboxes (small square vaults) and Cabinets for appropriate utilities
Added Pullboxes and Cabinets to supplied typical Point Styles file resources where appropriate
Added Point Styles and insert Layer system improvements
Updates to Point Styles drawings
- Release 6 layer scheme improvements and fixes
- Added new Symbol content
- New build of all INSERT and Update scripts
- Updated and added scripts – Insert scripts automatically PURGE old blocks
- Added SO (square vault) resource Point file drawing
- Updated all Point Style resource drawings
Added new Symbol Set spreadsheet tool documentation
Updated Symbol Set documentation
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NCS 5.0 Linetype Resources
Updated supplied example linetype drawings and resources
Annotative Alignment Group Label Styles to replace these are supplied in the Jump Kit Alignments resources
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Textstyles
Changed Existing textstyle back to 11 degree oblique based on customer preference feedback
The Existing textstyle was changed to a standard italic font in Release 5
- Customers may change easily change this font preference to meet their needs in the supplied Layer Standards dws file and quickly update templates and project drawings to comply with their preference with the Standards Checker.
Removed all extraneous textstyles from all supplied resources.
Includes textstyles employed in Sheet template titleblocks.
“anno-arial” is changed to “Annotative”, “Titleblock” changed to “Proposed”
Historical AutoCAD civil product textstyle resources are still supplied with all products
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Sheet Template Additions and Updates
Added and updated current parametric Annotative blocks to the Set templates
(e.g. tags, north arrows, scales, titles, views, etc.)
Added a new Horizontal titleblock example Sheet template
Horizontal version contains the same array of Layouts as the Vertical version
Viewports are maximized and arranged consistently throughout all Layouts
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Civil 3D Object Layer Changes
Updates to Object Layer Assignments in Design and Survey templates based on changes to the Layers
Layers with ALIN keys changed to Layers with a new ALGN key
See the ObjectLayer spreadsheets in the Documentation folder –
Design and Survey spreadsheets holds both old Release 5 details and the new Release 6 object assignment details in separate sheets.
The main Product Solution documentation also includes specific details
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Style Additions, Fixes and Changes
Added additional Plan and Profile Point Labels
Added Point Styles – see Symbol Set changes and updates
Added View based Point Style labels for faster Plan and Profile annotation.
Updated all Feature Line Styles to ByLayer for Plotstyles – change in Civil 3D default for Feature Line features
Many Section Marks simplified to C-VIEW-SCTN-MARK
Utilities are targeted in Views to appropriate UTIL layers (e.g. C-VIEW-SCTN-UTWR) for Parcels, Profiles, Alignments, Pipes, and Pressure Pipe components.
Style Layer assignment updates to:
- Alignments
- Parcels
- Profiles
- Cant Views
Added new Utilities support to Style libraries (see Feature Style changes below)
InstantOn products include more Utilities Style support and variations
Extra Gravity Pipe systems removed in favor of Pressure Pipe systems.
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Assembly Sets and Resources
Updated supplied Assembly Sets, drawings, and resources
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Feature Style Resources and Fixes
Added additional View based Plan and Profile Point Label Styles for traditional sheet production labeling
Added Point Styles – see Symbol Set changes and updates
Updated all Feature Line Styles to ByLayer for Plotstyles – change in Civil 3D default for Feature Line features
Note Feature Line Styles do NOT currently update with the Style Import tool.
Use Drag and Drop methods to update these Styles.
Added additional Description Key Sets and Codes for Pullbox, Cabinet, and Plan and Profile output
New Utilities support in Style Libraries
- UTCA
- UTFB
- UTRW
Added new Utilities to Parcels, Profiles, Alignments and associated Label Styles
Added new Utilities to Pressure Pipes and associated Label Styles
- COND Key replaces PIPE Key where appropriate to the system
Gravity Pipes include only UTSD, UTSS, and UTWR systems
- Removed unnecessary systems Styles and Label Styles
replaced these with Pressure Pipe systems
Added Pressure Pipe systems including Single Line, Double Line, and Filled lines support for all appropriate and supplied Utility systems. Label Styles for all parts are included.
No default Pressure Pipe Parts Lists supplied.
Added annotative Alignments for all new Utility systems
These include typical Major Station Group Labels for the above.
Updated Utility Alignments to display Marks by the Utility in Section Views
Updated Utility Profile to display to display Marks by the Utility in Section Views
Updated Utility Parcels and Easements to display Marks by the Utility in Profile and Section Views
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Jump Kit by Feature Drawings
Updates to Styles drawings
These reflect Release 6 layer scheme improvements and fixes
Updated supplied Subassembly example drawings including examples with Code Set Styles
Updates to all Feature Line Styles (see Style changes above)
New Utilities support in Style Libraries
- UTCA
- UTFB
- UTRW
- STLT (limited)
Added new Utilities to Parcels, Profiles, Alignments and associated Label Styles
Added new Utilities to Pipes and Pressure Pipes and associated Label Styles
Updated Utility Alignments to display Marks by the Utility in Section Views
Updated Utility Profile to display to display Marks by the Utility in Section Views
Updated Utility Parcels and Easement to display Marks by the Utility in Profile and Section Views
Insert Scripts for Utilities typically PURGE existing blocks for the Utility and insert new blocks
Allows for faster replacement of different types of AutoCAD blocks in base drawings
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AddOns
All previously supplied Release 5 AddOn Styles and resources updated to Release 6.
These include Topo Grids, Erosion Control, and Legends and List AddOns
All previously released AddOn Styles now included in Release 6 Jump Kit resources
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