Converting CTB to STB

CONVERTPSTYLES converts a currently open drawing from color-dependent plot styles to named plot styles, or from named plot styles to color-dependent plot styles, depending on which plot style method the drawing was created and saved with.
Converting Drawings from Color-Dependent to Named Plot Styles

A dialog box advises you to convert the drawing’s plot style tables before converting the drawing. You can convert the color-dependent plot style tables assigned to the drawing to named plot style tables using CONVERTCTB.

The Select File dialog box is displayed, where you select the named plot style table file to attach to the converted drawing.

CONVERTPSTYLES requires you to select a named plot style table that was converted using CONVERTCTB or created from a PC2 or PCP file. Normally you should pick the named plot style table that was converted from the color-dependent plot style table that in use.

CONVERTPSTYLES attaches the selected named plot style table to model space and to all layouts. Drawing layers are each assigned a named plot style (from the converted plot style table) that has the same plot properties that their color-dependent plot style had. Drawing objects that had the same color-dependent plot style as their layer are assigned the named plot style BYLAYER. Drawing objects that had a color-dependent plot style that was different from their layer are assigned a named plot style that has the same properties that their color-dependent plot style was.

After a drawing is converted to named plot styles, you can change the named plot style table assignment or assign other named plot styles tables to model space or layouts. You can also assign individual plot styles to drawing objects (a dangerous idea?).

Converting Drawings from Named to Color-Dependent Plot Styles

A dialog box advises you that the named plot styles attached to objects and named plot style tables attached to model space and layouts will be detached.

After a drawing is converted to color-dependent plot styles, you can assign a color-dependent plot style table. Plot styles will be applied by color.

Delete Button Not Working or Right Click Not Working?

If you are highlighting an object and right clicking on your mouse and the correct options do not appear you may have a pickfirst option problem. Or if the highlighted item does not delete when you press delete you may have a pickfirst problem.

Type 'PICKFIRST' and make sure the variable is set to '1'.

problerms with ltypes in xrefs???

linetypes are stored per drawing


if you update a linetype in one drawing it is not updated in the file that it is xrefereneced into

you need to reload the xref with visretain set to 0 to force it to reload the linetypes

unfortunatly this also resets the colors, layers that are frozen/thawed.......

Trimble Link Database Version Wrong

Just had Survey Controller on your data collector updated? Getting an error similar to the following when trying to dump your data?
“Database error; expects 12.45, actual 12.46″.

Then it’s time to update your Trimble DataTransfer utility. This is a utility that converts the data from the Survey Controller job file into a format that can be read by the various survey software processing packages.

This is basically a slimmed down version of Data Transfer that is also brought up to speed by installing the latest version of Data Transfer on your PC.
The current latest version of Data Transfer is v1.49 and can be downloaded from http://www.trimble.com/datatransfer.shtml. Keep an eye out for updates on this page whenever a new update to Survey Controller or Trimble Access is released.

Reconciled Layers

This was found by Randy:

I have found after looking into reconciled layers that we can turn off the notification that we all love every time that we plot by using the command
LAYEREVAL and change the variable from 1 to 0. If new layers are added to your x-ref, they still will be added to your layer properties manager "unreconciled layers" filter, but you will not have to battle that message. It is still beneficial to know when new layers are added and you can still review your new layers and reconcile them accordingly.

This command works on a drawing by drawing basis. So, you will need to change this variable for each drawing. I will change it in the template, that way with any new drawing we shouldn't have to deal with this "annoyance" anymore.

Civil 2010 Pipe Network Vista bug

When you try editing the network in the vista, the first network you created always comes up. This can be difficult in drawings when there are 3 or more pipe networks.

I still haven't figured out how to do it when you first open the drawing and go to edit the network for the first time. However, after you open the panorama close it immediately and then closed the pipe network toolbar. Then click edit network again and click on pipe panorama. When the window opens up, it will be on the correct pipe network to correct.

The key is to always close the pipe network panorama before you close the edit network toolbar.

Civil 2010 Scanning message

to fix the "Scanning the drawing" problem try


SHOWLAYERUSAGE was set to 1. Set it to 0 and stop being annoyed