The latest and greatest Framework for Civil 3D 2022 products are on the street. Whew. Updates to the the Framework’s backend documentation and website support plays an important part in customer success with the products. We do try to pay attention to the details. I had the pleasure of rewriting the Framework Install instruction PDF to synch those written instructions with the supplied install videos. Oh. Goody.
That improved documentation effort brings up a couple of things worth repeating - perhaps some things you might want to consider or reconsider carefully.
At Times the Painfully Obvious is Not
One of the common Civil 3D user complaints is about the repetitive way we must crawl around the Windows OS file system to find and get to resources. This literally is a forest and trees deal.
Ever wonder how many production project man-hours get conscripted to these types of Open and Browse tasks?
We must do this seek and find stuff so often we fuhgeddaboudit.
This is certainly one of my Civil 3D pet peeves.
We can proactively do important things to reduce the never ending seek and find.
Civil 3D has a lot of potential resources.
Back in the day, we called the default Civil 3D install’s resource structure…
Down the Autodesk Rabbit Hole
The reference to Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland still seems appropriate. For new and inexperienced AutoCAD users the Autodesk/Microsoft Windows user Rabbit Hole is bewildering. The multiple rabbit holes for Civil 3D are worse.
Can I get an Amen?
Autodesk continues to exacerbate the problem as new software features, tools, and resource pools are added to Civil 3D. Dynamo in Civil 3D, Batch Save Utility, and Project Explorer pose some interesting new project file management challenges for example. Gotta love the latest renditions of Autodesk’s Windows 10 Public Documents folders. It’s a Windows 10 compliancy thing.
Don’t hold your breath. There is apparently no improved Autodesk software management setting solution for the many Open and/or Browse dialog boxes in sight for Civil 3D users.
Thankfully, Autodesk stopped moving around the key resources to load Civil 3D successfully releases ago. They handle the important ones from AutoCAD/Windows Profile locations…
AutoCAD resource support files are user Roaming.
The default AutoCAD and Civil 3D Template locations remain user Local.
Well, mostly the default Civil 3D resources are from AutoCAD/Windows Profile locations…
Civil 3D code specific resources remain hidden in ..\ProgramData\Autodesk\<C3D Release>\enu.
So, why are there content libraries stuck away in there?
Survey in Civil 3D remains a red-haired stepchild after all.
Survey in Civil 3D still runs on its own Settings and Working Folder there means something else?
Hopefully, you save and manage your typical .user_set files from a common shared location(s).
Why do we still need a Civil 3D setup training video just to make all the Civil 3D things work well and perform consistently?
Ah, Dave. Because we do.
Many Civil 3D Open locations default to the classic what folder you visited last or else a specific tool-based location. There is nothing confusing or maddening about that?
We must proactively handle, manage, and organize the locations of files on our own.
Shared Expectations
You, the Civil 3D user, and the OS are supposed to standardize all of this from Autodesk’s perspective. We are free to make a genuine mess of structures and file locations for the Civil 3D resources and inside our projects. Good news and bad news.
Smart folks employ one or more Civil 3D Project Templates to get a grip on the problem.
Have you tried multiple task-based Civil 3D Project Templates? Yes. We can do that.
The links to a series with videos on Project Start Up can be found here.
Shared User Skills
It is assumed, but left unsaid, that there are a set of basic Windows Explorer skills that every Civil 3D user has. All the people who work with you understand the Windows tools available in the Open box and the differences between them…Right?
This oldy goldy video uses Survey Queries and Query Library resource locations as an example.
Build & Manage Civil 3D Resource Shortcuts
It seems appropriate to review these Windows Open box essentials even if a Survey Query, where it comes from, and what this form of Civil 3D resource does seems inconsequential to your work.
I already said that some of these Window’s tricks you can and should build into your Civil 3D Project Template.
The Framework for Civil 3D’s managed system and structure intentionally supports both generally shared Civil 3D resource implementations and project-specific resources. Some customers even mix and match both forms of resource management depending on the project need. That is a higher-level, Civil 3D user skill thing.
We document all of this - even how to systematically maintain and upgrade Civil 3D projects. Who knew?
What Do You Know?
Inspiration arises from afar?
A while ago someone who doesn’t employ the Framework for Civil 3D templates and Civil 3D style libraries emailed me that our website help and documented management approach made their company Civil 3D implementation easier. Glad to be of help. Thanks.
You can Register and see all that detail, help and support here for free.
See the Install videos page and the Shared Resources for Civil 3D resource location directions.
Two Releases of the Framework for the Price of One
Customers who purchase the affordable Jump Kit Release 8 2021 before June 1, 2021 will receive a free upgrade to Jump Kit Release 8 for Civil 3D 2022.
Two Upgrades Your Framework for Civil 3D
Existing Framework for Civil 3D customers who upgrade to Jump Kit Release 8 2021 before June 1, 2021 will receive a free upgrade to Jump Kit Release 8 for Civil 3D 2022.
We do try to make Civil 3D more productive and affordable to all.
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