Not recognizing contour lines

I am using RiverCAD 3.5 and I can use your help in solving a problem that I am
having with the program. I merged some new topo into an existing RiverCAD project.
I inserted the new topo at the appropriate location in the existing RiverCAD file. I
tried to cutting new cross sections through the new topo using Input, Ground
Geometry, Screen 3D Map. RiverCad will not recognize the elevations of the new
contours. The program will recognize the elevations of the original (i.e., existing)
contours. How can I get the program to read the elevations of the new contours so
that I can cut new cross sections? The new topo was added to the existing topo in
order to cut cross sections outside the edge of the original file. Please email a
response to me as soon as possible. Thank you.

Rich Johnson
Harding ESE

In regard to the problem that I described to you in my previous email, here are some additional details.
1. I first opened the original topo (topo #1) in RiverCAD. This topo contains an HEC-RAS model with multiple cross sections (Meta Job 1).
2. In the CAD Drafting module, I selected Part, Merge External Part 1:1. I then selected the new topo (topo#2) and opened the file. When I was prompted, I inserted topo#2 at 0,0,0. Topo#2 was inserted at the proper location.
3. When I tried to cut new cross sections across topo#1 and topo#2, the program only recognized elevations on the contours of topo#1.
4. I did explode the contours on topo#2 in AutoCAD prior to importing into RiverCAD. Prior to merging topo#2 with topo#1, I saved topo#2 (exploded) in RiverCad as a .flx file. ItI was this .flx file that I merged with topo#1 (see 2 above).
5. When I opened topo#2 by itself, I was able to cut cross sections and RiverCAD recognized the elevations of the contours. But, when topo#2 is merged into topo#1, RiverCAD will not recognize the contour elevations of topo#2, only.
6. I am not sure if having a previous Meta Job is causing a problem with the new topo (topo#2).

Please advise me how I can resolve this problem. Thank you
Rich Johnson
Harding ESE

Dear Rich :

If the contours are part of a drawing file that got inserted into the original drawing as a block (or "part", as the CAD engine in RCAD refers to them), then the inserted block will need to be exploded inorder for RCAD to be able to access the elevation data of the contour lines. Also, if the inserted drawing file was from ACAD 14 or 2000, they may have used lightweight polylines--which RCAD version 3.5 does not support. RCAD 2000 does support lightweight polylines.

If you have any additional questions or need any further information, please contact me again.

Sincerely,

Chris E. Maeder, M.S.
Senior Technical Engineer
chris.maeder@bossintl.com

Dear Richard :

It is not quite clear whether the drawing file that was merged into RiverCAD was exploded AFTER it was placed into RiverCAD. If it was not, RiverCAD will not be able to read the elevation data from the contour lines. This is simply a restriction that AutoCAD (and, hence RiverCAD) places on us, since the only data that we can get back is that there is a block insert.

If you have any additional questions or need any further information, please contact me again.

Sincerely,

Chris E. Maeder, M.S.
Senior Technical Engineer
chris.maeder@bossintl.com

Dear Richard :

RiverCAD 3.5 had problems reading files that were originally developed (or even opened and then saved) from AutoCAD 14 and 2000. The manufacturer of the CAD engine that we use was alerted to this problem when we first ran into it. Unfortunately, RiverCAD 3.5 and 4.0 beta relie on that CAD engine. RiverCAD 2000 uses the new CAD engine that works with AutoCAD 14 and 2000 drawing files.

If you have any additional questions or need any further information, please contact me again.

Sincerely,

Chris E. Maeder, M.S.
Senior Technical Engineer
chris.maeder@bossintl.com


> Chris: In regard to the problem that I am having with RiverCAD (see text below) I have a few final comments.
> 1. The new contours that I am trying to import into the existing topo are indeed light weight polylines. I converted these lines to heavy weight polylines using the CONVERTPOLY command in AutoCAD14 and then saved the file as an AutoCAD13 file
> 2. Upon merging the new topo with the existing topo, I discovered that RiverCAD will still not read the elevations of the new contours.
> Therefore, I cannot remedy the problem. Is there anything else that I can try? I would like to finish the project in RiverCAD3.5 since I am 90% done. I realize that we need to order the RMS2000 upgrade from you, but until I can convince my supervisor of the need for it I am stuck with the version that we now own. I would appreciate your advise. Thank you.
>
> Rich Johnson
> Harding ESE