Separating Contours from Surface

User Q & A (Post Here)
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1

Hi,

Fairly regularly, I receive an xml from the engineer for their proposed surface and the dgw doesn’t have the proposed contours in it. It would be nice to be able to just create the contours from what they provide rather than having to reach out again and ask them to send the contours with the rest of the polylines.

I know how to create contours using their surface and the create contour command. However, is there a way to separate those contours from the surface once I create them so I’m only left with the contours? Whenever I try to delete the surface, it deletes all of the contours as well (I assume because they’re nested under the surface in the project explorer).

Thank you.

2

Jake

You can use the Explode command on the contours - that will separate them from the surface so you can delete the surface.

You can also do that using our convert to linesreing command but Wxplode does a good job

Alan

3

Hey, Alan.

It actually wouldn’t let me explode the contours for some reason. I tried, but it says, “No explodable objects are selected.” It lets me explode the surface. However, when I try to delete the surface, it deletes the contours as well.

I figured out that if I select just the contours and export to a dwg and then import the dwg, I am able to delete the xml surface and the contours remain behind.

Thanks!

4

copy > re-layer objects

5

Can you try not dragging the xml file into your project? Try the importer and then import points and break lines. Then maybe you can select all of it and use the explode command. Maybe this will help.

6

IT may be the difference between quick Contours and Contours that decides whether they are explodable or not.

7

Good Morning,

I don’t know if this will work in your situation. Below is my process.

Import the file per standard method.

Use the quick contour command. (Under the Surface Tab.)

This allow for separation to a specific layer, colors, intervals. Once created you can provide elevation text and adjustments as required.

Then turn off the surface leaving the contours viewing and use as required.

I have found that this does not work in all cases.

Hope this helps,

Jason

8

If you go into the Project Explorer and find the surface and then find the Quick COntours, ytou can thgen select them there and then run the explode command - that does work and it creates polylines that you can use.

Alan