AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013
What in the World is this thing in Civil 3D called a Connection Point?
A Connection Point in Civil 3D is a way for you to connect to objects from other programs. An example would be to connect Pipes to Objects from other programs. This would also allow you to create a Point of connection for users in other programs such as AutoCAD MEP and AutoCAD Plant 3D.
Create a ACP
1.) Ribbon, Insert Tab-\Connection Point-\Insert
2.) In the Drawing window select the object you would like to add the ACP to.
3.) Select the location on th object you would like the ACP to be placed (ie Center of Pipe,End of a Line, Quadrant of a circle, Etc).
4.) Select you 2 directions. These will control the connection. So if you were to select the start of a Pipe and then the end the ACP will follow the direction of the Pipe.
5.) Specify if you would like to create Engineering data. This will populate properties that can have data assigned to them later.We now have an ACP created.
Connecting to ACP's
1.) In the Pipe Network settings under Pipe Network defaults make sure that Use 3D location during Pipe Network Layout is set to yes.
1.) On the Toolspace select the settings tab
2.) Right click on the Pipe Network header
3.) select Edit Feature settings
4.) On the Edit Feature settings dialog expand the Pipe Network defaults header
5.) Next to Use 3D Location During Pipe Network layout make sure this is set to YES
6.) Select OK
3D location during Pipe Network Layout is now set to yes.
2.) When starting to create Geometry that is going to connect to the ACP. Hover over the ACP and click. This will make the new Geometry connect to the ACP.
3.) Draw as you normally would. The new object is now connected to the ACP.
Notes:
You can connect to Autodesk Connection Points that are attached as an external reference.
You do not need Object Enablers to use Autodesk Connection Points (also known as ACP's).
ACPTOOLTIPS - This is a variable that will allow you to turn on and off Tool Tips for ACP's.
Turn on ACP Tool Tips
1.) Type ACPTOOTIP at the command line and select <Enter> on the keyboard.
2.) Type O and select <Enter> on the keyboard.
Turn off ACP Tool Tips
1.) Type ACPTOOTIP at the command line and select <Enter> on the keyboard.
2.) Type F and select <Enter> on the keyboard.
The command line name of the Autodesk Connection Point command is AUTODESKCONNECTIONPOINT
for more information about Autodesk software please visit www.imginit.com