Repairing data shortcuts and data references

Info: All data shortcuts and data references should be fully functional prior to a project migration effort to a new version of Civil 3D.

All data shortcuts must by synchronized and working properly to create new data references in consuming files.

1. Ensure all project files are closed. This may require communication with the entire project team
2. Toolspace > Prospector tab > Right-click Data Shortcuts > Set Data Shortcuts Project Folder.. to view all available data shortcuts for a project.
3. Toolspace > Prospector tab > right-click Data Shortcuts > Validate Data Shortcuts
4. Expand the entire Data Shortcut tree for each object, and search for any exclamation symbols

5. Use the right click menu to Remove or Repair Broken Shortcuts

   

6. An additional dialog box may prompt to Repair All Broken Shortcuts
   1. YES
7. This may repair the rest of the broken Shortcuts in the project depending on the data shortcut issue.
8. Search for any more Exclamation symbols in the Data Shortcut tree in the Prospector tab

9. Close and reopen Civil 3D to save Data Shortcut edits

Civil 3D also includes a tool to assist users in repairing broken data references within a drawing. Information on how to use the Data Shortcut Manager is published on Autodesk's website.

Data Shortcut Manager Dialog Box

Manage Data Shortcuts

Scenario

1. Data shortcut has already been created
2. Civil object has been data referenced into another drawing
3. Civil object is now renamed in source file

4. Source Civil 3D file has been saved and closed

Solution

Validate and repair data shortcuts #validate and repair and synchronize broken references in consuming files.

In the file consuming the data reference created by the data shortcut...

1. Manage tab > Data Shortcuts panel > Synchronize References

   

   1. Update the reference name

2. The data shortcut name has been updated and synchronized.

   

3. Save the file.

Test repair

1. Select data referenced object in the consuming DWG file
2. Right-click > Open Source Drawing
3. DWG that contains the data shortcuts source Civil 3D object is opened

Scenario

1. Data shortcut has already been created

2. DWG that contains the source Civil 3D object is renamed, saved, and closed

Solution

Validate and repair data shortcuts #validate and repair and synchronize broken references in consuming files.

In the file consuming the data reference created by the data shortcut...

1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > Data Shortcuts > Alignments > Centerline Alignments

   

2. Right-click 51 alignment data shortcut > Repair Broken References...
   1. Browse to the file that contains the Civil object used for the data shortcut
   2. Open
   3. Repair all broken references
3. Manage tab > Data Shortcuts panel > Synchronize References

4. Save the file

Test repair

1. Select data referenced object in the consuming DWG file
2. Right-click > Open Source Drawing
3. DWG that contains the data shortcuts source Civil 3D object is opened

Scenario

1. Data shortcut has already been created
2. User decides that the source civil object referenced by the data shortcut should be kept and maintained in a different file.

3. Data referenced object is promoted into a new drawing

Solution

Validate and repair data shortcuts #validate and repair and synchronize broken references in consuming files.

In file consuming the data reference..

1. Manage tab > Data Shortcuts panel > Manage Data Shortcuts
   1. Data Shortcut Manager dialog box > Data Shortcuts panel (right side of dialog box)

      1. Source File: Select folder and browse to new file that be the source of the data shortcut

         

   2. OK
   3. Additional broken shortcuts may happen as a result of changing the source file.

      1. Select Repair all broken shortcuts

         

2. Save the file.

Test repair

1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > Data Shortcut
   1. Check that Data Shortcuts folder is set for the current project
   2. Right-click Data Shortcuts > Validate Data Shortcuts
      1. Check for error messages
   3. Select the data shortcut for the moved object
      1. The source file name should be correct in the table at the bottom of the Prospector tab
2. Open drawing using updated data shortcut
   1. Select the data referenced object > right-click > Open Source Drawing

Scenario

1. Data shortcut has already been created

2. The original civil object no longer exists

Solutions

Validate and repair data shortcuts #validate and...

1. If the new source object has the same name and is in the same file - Civil 3D will associate the new source object with the existing data reference.

2. If the new source object has the same name but is in a different file - See The civil object is moved to a different source file after the data shortcut has been created #civil-objct-mov

Test repair

1. Select data referenced object in the consuming DWG file
2. Right-click > Open Source Drawing
3. DWG that contains the data shortcuts source Civil 3D object is opened

Scenario

1. Data shortcut has already been created
2. A duplicate object that is not data referenced or an object representing the same design entity exists in a file that is not the source drawing

3. The duplicate entity is to be replaced with a data reference of the source object

Solution

In the file with the duplicate object, replace it with a data shortcut.

1. Manage tab > Data Shortcuts panel > Manage Data Shortcuts

   

2. Additional information on how to use the Data Shortcut Manager is published on Autodesk's website.
   1. Manage Data Shortcuts

Test

1. Select data referenced object in the consuming DWG file
2. Right-click > Open Source Drawing
3. DWG that contains the data shortcuts source Civil 3D object is opened

Scenario

1. Data reference has already been created for the civil object that will be replaced

2. There is a new source object that has a different name and it is located in a different file

Solution

In consuming files with the incorrect data reference, promote the incorrect data reference to a civil object and replace it with the correct data shortcut.

1. Promote the data referenced object in the consuming file
2. Rename the civil object in the consuming file to match the name of the new source civil object
3. Create a new data shortcut from the new object in the new source file

4. Manage tab > Data Shortcuts panel > Manage Data Shortcuts

   

5. Replace drawing objects with data shortcut references
   1. Additional information on how to use the Data Shortcut Manager is published on Autodesk's website.
      1. Manage Data Shortcuts

6. Delete the old data shortcut

Test repair

1. Select data referenced object in the consuming DWG file
2. Right-click > Open Source Drawing
3. DWG that contains the data shortcuts source Civil 3D object is opened

Scenario

1. The object for a data shortcut is deleted and the source file is then saved.
2. The object has been data referenced into another drawing

3. The data shortcut still exists

Solution

1. Open a dwg file where the object has been data referenced
   1. A cached copy of the object still exists within the consuming drawing
2. Output tab > Export panel > Export to LandXML
   1. Export to LandXML dialog box
      1. Pick from drawing
         1. Select data shortcutted object that was deleted
         2. Enter
      2. OK
   2. Browse to the desired location and save the LandXML file
3. Close the dwg file
4. Open the drawing that will be the source file for the data shortcutted object
5. Insert tab > LandXML > browse and select xml file > Open > OK

6. Save and close the file

Test

1. Open a dwg file that is using the data shortcut
2. Check that the data shortcut is working properly
   1. If errors or warnings occur - See The civil object is moved to a different source file after the data shortcut has been created #civil-objct-mov.

The Data Shortcuts Editor can be used to re-path Civil 3D data shortcuts from one location to another location. This is important when moving a Civil 3D project from one storage location to another (N drive to C drive for instance).

1. Close Civil 3D
2. Windows Start > All Programs > Autodesk Civil 3D 20XX - English > Data Shortcuts Editor
3. File > Open Data Shortcuts Folder... > C:\Civil 3D Projects\<project folder>\_Shortcuts folder

4. View the data shortcuts in the Editor window. You will notice the path is pointing to the original location of the files. Take note of this folder path only up to and including the project number.

   

5. Edit > Find and Replace...

   

   1. Find and Replace dialog box
      1. Find = <old folder path> (Example: N:\PDS\C3D\XXXXXXXX)
         1. Only enter the part of the path up to and including the project number
      2. Replace with = <new folder path> (Example: C:\Civil 3D Projects\XXXXXXXX)
         1. Only enter the part of the path up to and including the project number
      3. Replace All

         

6. Verify the new path is correct in the Editor window.

   

7. Save
   1. You must click the "Save" button before exiting the Data Shortcuts Editor or you will lose any changes made.
8. File > Exit