Importing Horizontal & Vertical Alignments AUTOCAD

Sam Glenn

Member
Good Evening.

I am new user to the Javad Triumph world and have loved the jump so far. Currently I Am trying to work out the kinks in my brain regarding importing horizontal and vertical alignments from AutoCAD. I am coming from using Topcon software so definitely a learning curve on what all I can actually import into the J Field Software. I do a fair amount of layout work using horizontal and vertical alignments to layout multiple features on site. I am trying not to have to get back in the habit of picking points and downloading them to the controller. Can anyone give me some insight on importing horizontal and vertical alignments directly from AutoCAD to J-Field?

I figured out how to import the horizontal alignment by simply creating the alignment in CAD and then exporting it as an xml file. My biggest problem is creating the vertical alignment portion and having it import correctly. Honestly, I have not figured out how to even get the vertical imported. I searched the manuals, and the forums briefly and am coming up short on any process to make this happen. I am making an assumption that it is possible considering the software has options for importing both H and V alignments from the stake screen.

Any insight if this is possible within the software would be greatly appreciated. Also, if there is an easier way to bring in the horizontal alignments, I would love to hear it too.

Thanks. Sam Glenn
 

Clay Davidson

Active Member
Good Evening.

I am new user to the Javad Triumph world and have loved the jump so far. Currently I Am trying to work out the kinks in my brain regarding importing horizontal and vertical alignments from AutoCAD. I am coming from using Topcon software so definitely a learning curve on what all I can actually import into the J Field Software. I do a fair amount of layout work using horizontal and vertical alignments to layout multiple features on site. I am trying not to have to get back in the habit of picking points and downloading them to the controller. Can anyone give me some insight on importing horizontal and vertical alignments directly from AutoCAD to J-Field?

I figured out how to import the horizontal alignment by simply creating the alignment in CAD and then exporting it as an xml file. My biggest problem is creating the vertical alignment portion and having it import correctly. Honestly, I have not figured out how to even get the vertical imported. I searched the manuals, and the forums briefly and am coming up short on any process to make this happen. I am making an assumption that it is possible considering the software has options for importing both H and V alignments from the stake screen.

Any insight if this is possible within the software would be greatly appreciated. Also, if there is an easier way to bring in the horizontal alignments, I would love to hear it too.

Thanks. Sam Glenn

I import dwg into LS. I pick 3d polylines in CAD (I like to use the option to manually enter my elevation for each node). Then I wblock the line work I want to import. Then I have to use dwg trueview to convert the file to autocad 2010 formate. Then just import the dwg into the LS. Whatever layer the line work is in is what the name will be in the LS.

Hope this helps,

Clay
 

Matt Johnson

Well-Known Member
5PLS
Both horizontal and vertical alignments can be imported in LandXML format. If you have Carlson you can use "Export RoadXML File" to create the XML file. What software package are you using to create the XML file?
 

Sam Glenn

Member
I am using AutoCAD Civil 3d 2019 to create the xml file. My problems lies directly with the vertical portion. I can create feature lines very easily in CAD, however they do not import directly to the LS. I am trying the 3d polyline option as suggested by Clay, however this is something I am not used to doing. Would love the ability to directly import the feature lines, but will see if I can get the 3d polyline command to work for now.

Thanks Matt and Clay for the help on this issue.
 

Sam Glenn

Member
It can be exported as an xml. I attempted to export the feature line i created as an xml, however when it imported, it said that it was an unsupported file type.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
I am using AutoCAD Civil 3d 2019 to create the xml file. My problems lies directly with the vertical portion. I can create feature lines very easily in CAD, however they do not import directly to the LS. I am trying the 3d polyline option as suggested by Clay, however this is something I am not used to doing. Would love the ability to directly import the feature lines, but will see if I can get the 3d polyline command to work for now.

Thanks Matt and Clay for the help on this issue.
I too import 3d polylines for stakeout. I have not tried the xml import in a long while. I know zero about Civil 3d, what are feature lines and aren't they just simple 3d polylines?
 

Matt Johnson

Well-Known Member
5PLS
A 3d polyline with both horizontal and vertical curves translates into a 3d polyline with thousands of nodes and short segments. In LandXML format you need both a horizontal alinement and profile alignment. The XML file should look like this.

8714
 
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