Also, we need to make Machine control files for various brands in the field which Autocad cannot do.

Posted by Robert Hain on March 2, 2017 at 12:20pm in Surveying Equipment and Software Talk.

Trimble Terramodel Support Software Since I

We have been using Trimbles Terramodel software since I started working here 18 years ago right out of high school.

I went to the surveyors conference last year to check out Carlson and AutoCAD Civil 3D as we have been having many issues importing CAD files that we are getting from different design engineers when we go to prepare for construction stakeout.

I was told that AutoDesk was planning to invest some time and resources into improving the Civil 3D software to prevent it from crashing repeatedly.

Perhaps Ill revisit the idea of switching over once they work a few more bugs out.

Trimble Terramodel Support Cracked The Secret

Anyway, I was hoping that someone has cracked the secret to convert newer CAD files to something that can be imported into Terramodel.

We have IntelliCAD 2015, which works for some instances by saving back to Acad 2000 version DWG or DXF.

We have also used TrueView to save files back to 2000 version somewhat effectively.

Sometimes we are still unable to make the CAD file usable in TM.

Nothing seems to be a consistent fix, and I was hoping that someone somewhere may have unlocked the secret to what needs to happen to CAD files to make sure the data will import to TM properly.

But in recent years I have found several other programs that do all of that and more and since Terramodel is not supported I have given it up.

As far as Carlson and ACAD are concerned, Only Carlson Civil works with the 3D files and probably a bit iffy up until the 2017 version.

After doing so, we were told to stop and just do it in 2D and supply a point file so the engineer could run his own surface.

The problem is that 3D had so many particular templates and variables that are user specific and if yours does not match, then it is more of a hassle to fix.

However, it looks like theyre starting to incorporate some of the Terramode concepts in TBC, so they may not release it.

Trimble wanted machine control (Spectra Precision) and they ended up with everything that came in the box, including Terramodel.

I dont know why they then decided to re-invent the wheel with TBC.

Sometimes they will have exported an XML of the surface which may have to be imported.

Often, when we open a cad file, we can go to the Prospector and see if there are any broken references or surfaces with flagsexclamation pointsyellow triangles (yes there are even more different types of flags.go figure) that require to be rebuilt before the text and or contours will show.

EXPLODE is what needs to happen to Proxy objects like contours.

Having all the different Object Enablers or even knowing what version you would need is simply not an answer for us.

After this class we were convinced that it is too cumbersome for our work as well as not user friendly when trying to work with other software.