You can use several methods to share AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing data.
The following table lists the features of each method:
|
Data Sharing Method |
Use of objects in other AutoCAD-based applications |
Status of objects in other applications |
2D and 3D style display settings honored in different viewports |
Objects still exist when reopened in AutoCAD Civil 3D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Proxy Graphics |
View/plot objects and design data; no manipulation of objects. |
Objects are displayed as proxy graphics with no intelligence. |
No |
Yes |
|
Object Enabler |
View, plot, copy, and manipulate object labels. Design data is not editable. |
Objects are maintained as intelligent objects. |
Yes | Yes |
| Export Civil 3D Drawing (to DWG or DGN) | Objects are exploded to AutoCAD primitives. The visual integrity of the model is preserved. AutoCAD Civil 3D object design data is not available. | No objects in other applications. Only AutoCAD primitives. | No | No |
| Export to SDF |
Points, parcels, alignments, pipes and structures are exported to the SDF file. Can be used in applications that can read SDF. AutoCAD Map can import this data. |
Primarily a format for AutoCAD Map 3D. |
SDF is a separate file. Original drawing is not affected. |
SDF is a separate file. Original drawing is not affected. |
| Export to 3D DWF | Uses the 3D display representations of the objects for display. Some objects do not have a 3D display component so are not displayed in 3D DWF. There is also object meta-data exported with 3D DWF. All of the objects export the meta-data. | Autodesk Design Review or DWF Viewer is required. | Autodesk Design Review or DWF Viewer is required. 3D DWF uses the 3D display component when exported. | Original drawing is not affected. |
The following section list additional methods for sharing AutoCAD Civil 3D data.
Use the Export Surface to DEM utility to export surface data to a DEM file. The file can be of type USGS (.dem) or GeoTIFF (.tiff). For more information, see To Export Surface Data to a DEM File.
Use the LandXML export commands to export drawing data to LandXML format. For more information, see About LandXML Import and Export.
Use the Points export command to export drawing points to an ASCII (text) file or a Microsoft® Access .mdb file. For more information, see About Importing and Exporting Point Data.