Civil 3D Drawing transfer (CAD/Software/Computers)
We are in the process of setting up and converting our CAD seats to C3D.
I have one seat on my computer, but not totally set up yet, just able to view drawings and make a few edits. The bulk of our work is still be done in LDD 2008.
So I open a small survey drawing the other day, make a few text edits, print the plat and sign and deliver. My CAD tech goes to open the drawing in 2008 and all the menus on his GUI are disabled and the drawing does not open all the way.
We didn't do a LDD to C3D conversion or anything like that, just opened the 2011 C3D and made some text edits and saved back to 2007 version so we could open in 2008.
Any ideas as to why this happened? Is there a setting I am missing to allow us to open drawings back up in 2008 once opened and saved of 2011 C3D?
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
by John 
, Baltimore, MD, Monday, April 23, 2012, 06:15 (391 days ago) @ Renegade2438
My guess is that the newer version automatically saved in Civil 3D format, conversion or not. It seems to me that when I have dealt with two different versions of CAD, one has to explicitly "save to" the the older format, and that has been known to go sideways (not save properly in the older format) for me at least.
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
by wv-stroj , Lost in, WV, Monday, April 23, 2012, 06:35 (391 days ago) @ John
Some of the other CAD experts who frequent this site may know a better answer but I have never been able to simply "Save as" when trying to save a backward compatible version of my work. I currently use C3D 2010. My work around involves using the "Export as" routine in C3D, which is located right under the "Save As" on the file drop down. You'll have to give the file a new name but this new file shouldn't cause any grief in the older CAD version.
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Now where the hell did I put that....
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
by John , Baltimore, MD, Monday, April 23, 2012, 06:44 (391 days ago) @ wv-stroj
It was a couple years ago that I was playing with two different versions at home and honestly can not remember for sure if I tried the "export" or "save as".....
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
by mmm184 , Laceyville, PA, Monday, April 23, 2012, 06:30 (391 days ago) @ Renegade2438
I'm not a CAD wizard, but maybe try "exporting as" a v2008, rather than the "save as".
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
mmm, give yourself more credit. that should be the answer, the C3D is likely saving some of the objects in a later format. it's a wonderful method the autodesk folks came up with to force us to upgrade. look for the export under file and send it down to the earlier format.
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It's a Thadd state of affairs...
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
Just tried that. When I typed in export, it did not give me the option for any version of a dwg file. Only files types such as dwf, pdf etc.
Any other ideas?
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
Nevermind. Found it and that works great.
Thanks for the heads up.
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
by VA LS 2867 , Virginia Beach, VA, Monday, April 23, 2012, 06:30 (391 days ago) @ Renegade2438
You need to open the drawing in C3D and EXPORT it to Autocad 2007. Using a saveas command to save as an earlier version will still keep the C3D objects and data in the file.
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Jason Gordon
VA LS 2867
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
You have just learned (probably not the first time) that AutoCAD is NOT reverse compatible. Hope that's not a surprise. You can't run two different versions successfully in the same office. Pick one or the other, get rid of the other, or be prepared for frustration and complete loss of productivity.
Civil 3D Drawing transfer
Completely understand that. Just trying to get going.
We will be doing all of our work in 2008 until such time as we have everything completley setup and are readt to go.
