People call and ask when will the Framework for Civil 3D 2021 be available. Real soon now. We are head down finalizing a major upgrade to the Framework Release 8 for multiple releases of Civil 3D. The Framework products for Civil 3D 2020 already run great in 2021. The Framework Civil 3D Templates, Civil 3D Styles, and in-depth other resources already perform beyond expectations in 2021. We guarantee it.
Some our Framework customers Batch Save upgraded their on-going and current projects into Civil 3D 2021 as soon as they installed the latest and greatest Civil 3D. Seriously, a couple of crazies beat me through the Civil 3D 2021 upgrade process. As one customer said,
“The best thing about the Framework is that Civil 3D Upgrade hassles basically disappeared.”
Do we already deliver a proven vaccine for the Civil 3D software virus?
The problem isn’t the code. That is going to go on changing. As we like to say,
The Solution to the Madness is Beyond the Code
The fact that the Framework for Civil 3D somehow manages to support multiple releases of Civil 3D sort of unnerves and confuses folks. We don’t do Civil 3D release dependent software development. We build robust, consistent, and adaptive content for Civil 3D.
Content that Gets Better and Better
Continuously improved content allows us deliver new game-changing capabilities like interchangeable, robust Adaptive Standards for Civil 3D. How?
The Framework for Civil 3D is a Managed System
The Framework for Civil 3D is a Managed System. We manufacture project-tested high-performance parts for Civil 3D that are designed to work and be managed together in production Civil 3D project environments.
The Framework’s vast array of Managed System parts are customizable and interchangeable via a deep set of Framework SpreadSheet Tools and a set of simple principals and rules. Those Spreadsheet Tools help both us and you systematically manage all the parts and pieces. The Tools can easily be employed manage your custom parts as well.
Change a little or a lot. Use what you need. Ignore the rest. The less you change the less time and energy you must spend to maintain the whole. What’s not to like about that?
Functional and affordable solutions deliver the win-win for everyone who bothers to pays attention.
The managed synergy delivers demonstrable production results in unexpected ways.
Two Releases of the Framework for the Price of One
Customers who purchase the affordable Jump Kit Release 8 2020 between April 15, 2020 (the Civil 3D 2021 ship date) and our upcoming Jump Kit Release 8 for Civil 3D 2021 ship day will receive a free upgrade to Jump Kit Release 8 for Civil 3D 2021.
Upcoming Release 8 Framework Improvements
The new Release 8 Framework for Civil 3D 2021 and Release 8 Framework for Civil 3D 2020 will both include newly supported Civil 3D 2021 Object Model Styles and Label Styles and huge additions to the Framework’s Codes, Description Key Set, and Figure Prefix Db resources.
Release 8 2021 Changes
The Release 8 products include all resources delivered in the NCS 6.0 utility names layer system.
The Release 8 AIA products include all resources delivered in the NCS 6.0 AIA utility names layer system.
The Templates Only and Templates Only AIA trial products include only STB based templates and basic resources.
The updated Jump Kit and Jump Kit AIA resources include:
- Classic Civil 3D template resources in STB and CTB
- Reference (TREF) template resources in STB and CTB
- Update of all Assembly drawings
- Jump Kit Style Library Collection resources
- The numbering of resource folders has been updated to reflect the new Civil 3D Toolspace changes
- Symbol Set Point Styles resources
- Updates to Codes, Description Key Set, and Figure Db Spreadsheet Tools
- Sandbox Civil 3D Projects for both STB and CTB with built-in support for Reference Templates
- Updates to the supplied Framework Standards, Framework Installs, and Framework Cheat Sheet documentation PDFs
For both consistency and interoperability reasons all the supplied Release 8 Civil 3D Style Tool names, rules, and conventions are maintained.
By default there are no Description Key Sets and Point Groups in the basic Reference Template (TREF) .dwg and/or .dwt files supplied.
Compatibility and General Improvement Summary
Release 8 2021 Framework product Style library resources will run in Civil 3D 2021-2019 but will not run in previous Civil 3D releases.
Jump Kit Style library resources from Release 8 can be migrated back to Release 7 with Layer script adjustments.
Jump Kit and Jump Kit AIA library resources from Release 8 can be employed in Civil 3D 2020.4+.
- The AutoCAD DWG does not change in 2021 - All resource drawings are in the 2018 DWG format.
- The Civil 3D object model is specifically new in 2021
- The Object Model does include new Bridge Projection styles.
- All resource drawings are upgraded to the Civil 3D 2021 model.
- The Release 8 for Civil 3D 2021 changes are focused on added new Style resources, Style fixes, updated product documentation, and support resources.
A major new upgrade of the supplied Jump Kit library Description Key Set and Figure Db resources, new Description Key Set Tools, and new Figure Db Tools are included.
Bridge Projection Styles for Profile Views
The Bridge Projection Style, Label Style, and Set resources supplied may differ by product. Added Bridge Projection Styles, Label Styles, and Sets for the new Civil 3D 2021 Bridge Projection Feature. These include new naming conventions
Bridge Projection Styles
- Typical +NOPLOT and +INVISIBLE Styles for Bridge Projection Styles are supplied
- Multiple Existing and Proposed condition Bridge Projection Styles for use in Profile Views are supplied
- Styles for Types of Bridge construction including ROAD, RAIL, generic STRC (Structural), and more are supplied
- The supplied NCS 6.0 Layer Standards resources support the capabilities for classified Concrete, Steel, and Wooden bridges in multiple NCS official Disciplines if required
Bridge Projection Label Styles and Sets
The typical Framework Label Style Library types and naming conventions are employed for each of the many types of Bridge Projection Label Styles. Basic Bridge Projection Label Sets are supplied including No Labels, NOPLOT, Existing Bridge, and Proposed Bridge Label Sets.
- Typical +NOPLOT and +INVISIBLE Styles for all the many Types of Bridge Projection Label Styles are supplied
- All new Label Styles include the typical Framework Label Style Structure that includes Markers, Lines, and multiple Text Components to allow for easily display and publishing
- Prototype Label Style Parents for both Profile View Dimension anchor point and Insertion point managed Label Styles are supplied for each Type
- Dimension anchor based Label Styles are supplied in a default Top Down useage and configuration
- Typical Civil 3D Label Style Defaults Label Property management method and practice is honored
- Basic Label Styles with appropriate Civil 3D data behind content driven label content are supplied
- Multiple forms of rotated Label Styles are included that allow different bridge geometries and conditions to be easily annotated
- Functional and practical Dragged State support is included for the applicable Label Styles
New supplied Styles and Label Styles employ the classic NCS "C-" and "V-" Discipline Codes for Layer assignments. The supplied Layer Standards resources include potential support for other NCS official Disciplines which may be applicable for these Styles.
Codes, Keys, Points and Figure Civil 3D Resources
The Release 8 Framework for Civil 3D already supported the deepest set of resources for all things points and related to points in Civil 3D available anywhere at any price.
Back in February we released a major upgrade to the Framework for Civil 3D Codes Spreadsheet Tool and supplied content resources. See the Better Civil 3D Codes to Cry For post for the many details. We made more significant improvements to the Codes Spreadsheet Tool and supplied content resources.
We added over 3600 new and revised codes. The current Code list exceeds 5000+ unique Codes. These Codes include build-in support for hundreds of NOT Key and BESTWay figures.
We included in-depth NCS 6.0 Key compliant Key variations. These allow for better integration with NCS Layer Standards and better BIM for infrastructure compliance.
In-depth design focused integrations with the Framework’s Adaptive Building Block Style collections are now built-in.
If you want to survey or design it in Civil 3D, it’s in there and then some. The Framework includes the content, resources, and tools to manage and employ all of that.
Civil 3D Codes Spreadsheet Tool
The Civil 3D Codes Spreadsheet Tool will produce a host of sorted and filtered Code data for use in the other related Spreadsheet Tools. This functionality allows you to fully integrate both Design and Survey Codes systems into your Civil 3D customization.
Updates, additions, and improvements were made to the Civil 3D Codes Spreadsheet Tool previously supplied in an AddOn for Release 8.
There were additions, fixes, and updates to Code details and new Filter columns and sort detail capabilities added to the Sheets in the workbook.
- Previously supplied Sheets and Description Key Set resources are still supplied and continue to function with previously supplied resources.
- New collections of prototype Description Key Set Sheet, XML File, and DWG resources for the many new potential Key Codes were added.
- Generic resources are intentionally supplied to simplify the application of user preferences for Point Style and Layer assignment.
- Generic resources include support for both double digit (##) and single digit (#) numeric line codes for use in common left and right scenarios.
Additional support for specific Layer Standards support is on-going and may be supplied in AddOns
Description Key Set Spreadsheet Tools
This is a major upgrade to the supplied Framework for Civil 3D Description Key Set Spreadsheet Tools.
The updated Description Key Set Tools are optimized to produce Description Key Sets far faster and with more adaptive and flexible results.
Upgraded versions of the Description Key Set Tools can produce content to produce XML Import files compatible with the free downloadable Quux Software SINCPAC Description Keys tool and IMPORTDESCKEYS command. These Quux Software tools employ a simple XML format to externalize Civil 3D Description Keys and Description Key Sets.
Managed Content Libraries
An updated NewDescKeySet production prototype Sheet and numerous production Sheets with supplied pre-built XML files and DWG resources in organized libraries are supplied.
- Previously supplied Sheets and Description Key Set resources are still supplied and continue to function with previously supplied resources.
- New collections of prototype Description Key Set Sheet, XML File, and DWG resources for the many new potential Key Codes were added.
- Generic resources are intentionally supplied to simplify the application of user preferences for either or both Point Style and Layer assignment.
- Generic resources include support for Existing and Proposed Sets with:
- Both double digit (##) and single digit (#) numeric line codes for use in common left and right linecode scenarios.
- No Point Styles or Layer assignments - Points are routed to the CURRENT layer
- Choices of multiple common general NODE Layer assignments
- Detailed (DETL) Layer assignments based on the supported Layer Standards
- Detailed (DETL) Layer assignments based on the supported Layer Standards with relative Point marker Point Styles
- Detailed (DETL) Layer assignments based on the supported Layer Standards with fixed Point marker Point Styles
- Sets with detailed Point Style assignments and DETL layer assignment may be supplied
- Additional support for specific Layer Standards support is on-going and may be supplied in AddOns
Updated and New Production Sheets and Resources
Many design and survey Codes Lists are gathered by Sheet to support the use of Adaptive Building Block Feature Line annotation from Corridors and in-depth survey support.
The supplied Sheets were employed to produce both the supplied (editable) XML and the resolved Civil 3D DWG resources.
For each specialty type listed below there are supplied multiple Description Keys Set (12 or more) in both XML and DWG resource formats.
1000+ Description Key Sets are included with support for multiple versions of the Format property.
- Airfields - detailed Keys for typical airport structures and design
- Boundaries - typical political and project related boundaries
- Buildings - detailed Keys for buildings
- Easements and ROWs - detailed keys for easements and Right of ways
- Ecologic - detailed Keys for many specialty ecologic features
- Erosion - detailed Keys for erosion and erosion control
- Flood Control - detailed Keys for flood control structures and design
- Hazmat - detailed Keys for hazardous materials and contamination
- InstantOn Basic - detailed CORE Keys
- InstantOn Super - a detailed superset of Keys with extended Structures support
- Monumentation - Set and Found
- Pavement Markings - detailed Keys for pavement markings
- Pavement Stripes - detailed Keys for pavement stripping
- Pavement Words - detailed Keys for pavement words
- Railways - a generic resources with common Keys for railways
- Roadways - a generic resource with common Keys for roadways
- Signage - detailed Keys for roadway and site signage
- Structures - a large generic resources with all Key forms of man-made structures
- Topo - detailed Keys for topo and grading
- Traffic Signals - detailed Keys for traffic signals
- Trees - detailed Keys for trees
- USA Markup - detailed Keys for utility paint markup
- Vaults Sized - detailed Keys for sized utility vaults
- Vegetation - generic resources with common Keys for vegetation
- Wetlands - a generic resources with common Keys for wetlands
Multiple variants of all Sheet, XML file, and DWG Description Key Set resources may be supplied.
Both new Sheets and Search and Replace text methodologies within the output XML files were employed in the construction and maintenance of the supplied resources.
The Solution Beyond the Code
Get the Framework for Civil 3D Release 8