CAD Import Workflows

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We show you 6 common workflows for importing CAD.

Recorded Webinar (1:10:43)

6 CAD Import Workfkows (2:25)

  1. Questions to ask about a CAD file you get
  2. Commong import CAD workflows

Using CAD files that are sent to you (5:48)

  1. See what’s in a CAD file so you know how to use it.

Convert CAD File Types (13:22)

If you are sending CAD files directly to your data collector, it may be limited to specific CAD files types and versions.

So, if you receive a CAD file for the project, and it is not one of those file types or versions, you can convert it to the proper type and version in the CAD View.

Importing a one-off CAD File to a TPC Drawing (18:54)

As a rule, we recommend that you not import CAD files into TPC drawings anymore. Instead, beginning with TPC Desktop 2018, we recommend that you consider

  1. inserting the drawing as an XReference
  2. select the entities or layers you want in the CAD View and send them to the Drawing View
  3. select the entities or layers you want in the CAD View and convert them to survey data

Inserting a CAD File as an XRef into a TPC Drawing (20:12)

In the Using CAD Files that are Sent to You above, you have determined that it will work best to insert the entire drawing.

  1. Inserting without Calilbration (21:37)
  2. Advantages of XRefs (26:11)
  3. Inserting with Calibration (28:52)
  4. Getting Revised CAD Files for XReferences (34:56)

Importing Specific Objects or Layers from a CAD File (36:29)

If you are contracted to locate certain design elements of a large project, it doesn’t make sense to bring the entire project into your a TPC drawing.  Rather, bring in just the elements you need.

Converting CAD Entities to Survey (47:15)

When you are asked to stake all the project elements on a layer and they are distinct elements, like light poles, this is a very fast way to get survey data for them.

Really fast way to convert multiple entities once you know how it works

TPC sequentially numbered the floorplans as it converted CAD entities, so they don’t match the lot number. LandXML takes care of this.

Corner Offsets is another advantage of having traverses to work with

Importing LandXML (55:12)

  1. LandXML communicates with Civil3D
  2. TPC correlates very well with LandXML – Points, Parcels, Alignments, Surfaces
  3. Show Lot Setbacks
CAD Import Workflows (1:10:43)