March 24, 2009

Profile View Labels Overlapping

I am sure we have all seen this, at the end of a profile view, the last two labels sometimes overlap. There is an option to turn off the beginning station label, but not the end station. (For Profile Views turning off the end station (both horizontal & vertical) is on the wish list DID 918219).

Until this wish is granted, a work around is to use wipeout and then re-label using a custom general note.

Step 1: Rotating the labels 90 degrees can help. This is done in the Profile View Style. Note that there is a checkbox that can be unchecked here that will turn off the Start Station Tick and Label. So if you have overlap at the beginning of the Profile View, its as easy as unchecking the box.

Step 2: Create a closed polyline around the text and then use the WIPEOUT command. You will also want to turn off the frame.

Step 3: Now that the offending labels are no longer visible, we need to recreate one of the labels (or both and then you can adjust them as needed) using the General>Add Labels.


Some time will be needed to create the Note Label Style to match that of the Profile View labels. But, once you have it created you are good to go. You will want to match the Y-offset, anchor points, text style, etc.
- Rebecca Ferguson, Ideate Inc

NavisWorks - OE's for Bentley

Many of us have heard that NavisWorks can open Bentley files. This is super cool! However, if you have used NavisWorks before, you probably know that you need OE's (Object Enablers) to open files from software you do not have installed on your computer. You will notice that you need the OE, when you bring in a file and it appears all wireframe. You can go to View>Scene Statistics to see if you are missing any OE's.

Where are the Bentley OE's?? Well they are not super easy to find. My colleague, Ron Palma, discovered where they are after some major googling around. After witnessing his frustration, I thought I should post these steps to try and alleviate others from the same.

First, go to this link. Here, you will have to fill out a user registration form. (ughhh!). Once you have a U/N and P/W, go back to that first link and login. Then you will see this:


Leave everthing as shown, and hit SEARCH, it will take a while. When that is complete, look for a link called "Free Updates/Utilities." Hit that and you will see a list of all the free downloads. Many of the first few on the list are OE's for various Bentley products. You will notice that not all Bentley products have OE's yet. Hmmm. Hopefully soon.

Civil 3D Update 2.1 and Surface Analysis

I have noticed a few computers that have the new Update 2.1 installed that are having a problem displaying the surface analyses. The only way we could get the surface analysis to show up in the drawing was to go in to the surface style, analysis tab, change the Display Type to anything but 2D Solid
That is not a desireable workaround. I recently learned that the real fix is to install Service Pack 1 to Raster Design. Wow!