Expert: Bill DeShawn - 1/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

When I preview a drawing in the File > Open dialog box (Autocad 2008) I can see 2 layers that do not show up in the drawing.  I have turned on and thawed all layers, and all Xrefs have been updated, and their file paths are current.  How can I find and show these layers in the drawing?  This is happening to the same layers in 2 different drawings.

Thanks!

ANSWER: Lauren:

More info please:
Are you working in the Model Tab or in a Layout?  If you're working in a Layout, go to the layer dialog and to the right side, it says something similar to "Current VP Freeze".  Make sure that's turned on.  If that doesn't help.  Get back to me for more instructions.

Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The layers show up in the neither the Layout nor Model tab.  All layers are thawed in all viewports in the layout tab.  The layers that aren't showing up are topography contours.  Could the linetype have something to do with the problem?  Could the contours be an object that Autocad isn't recognizing?

ANSWER: Thanks for mentioning contours.  Yes, we should probably address this problem.  First, it might be a good idea to make sure the PROXYSHOW system variable is turned on.  Go ahead and do that and get back to me.

Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, I believe the PROXYSHOW system is turned on.  When I open the drawing, I am prompted to choose to show proxy graphics or not, and I chose to show them.  The contours still aren't showing up.  Are there additional steps I need to take to show them?

Answer
Well, Hmm.  There is a step you can take to make sure you have the ability to see and manipulate proxy objects.  

You will need to go here:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=2753223&linkID=92406
and download the appropriate object enabler.  You will need to ask the supplier of your civil drawing what software and version he is using.  Hopefully he is using Autodesk software.

If after you have taken all the steps as explained therein and you are still unable to view and plot these objects, you will need to ask the supplier of the drawing (probably a surveyor) to explode the contours before sending you the drawings.  (This is the easiest solution, but annoying on the part of the engineers who supply the drawing, because it has to be done every time you receive a topo drawing from them.)  So, it's a courtesy from Autodesk to give us the object enablers and a courtesy from you and me to download and use them so that the engineers don't have to jump through a bunch of hoops so we can use their proxy objects.  If the supplier of your civil drawings is not using Autodesk software, you need him to explode or convert the contours into polylines.  Hopefully this does it.  I won't be able to respond again for about 10 hours.  I'm headed off for work.

Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn