Civil 3D Service Pack 3

Yes, it is finally out and here is where you can get it http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=8200184&linkID=3549304


Here is just a snip-it of what the service pack does, taken from the Autodesk Website. Don't forget to view the Readme before you install for more information.

In a continuing effort to provide high quality products, Autodesk has released Autodesk® Civil 3D® 2007 Service Pack 3, which fixes or addresses a variety of issues discovered by customers and by Autodesk's internal testing team. Numerous performance and capacity improvements, including:
2x increase in corridor processing
5x contour label regenerations, and more!)
Decreased creation and load time for drawings attached to Vault projects
Restoration of non-project shortcuts
Most recent updates to AutoCAD® 2007, Autodesk Map® 3D 2007
Note: This Service Pack is intended for all versions of Autodesk® Civil 3D® 2007 including those that already have Service Pack 1A and 2 installed. This Service Pack is for all language versions of Civil 3D except for German. The German release and non-English ReadMe Files will be available mid November 2006.

Ciao!

Can I create a Pipe Network from a Feature Line

YES you can!

Oh, you want to know how do you?

It's very easy, all you need to do is use your feature line creation tools to create the linework that you need with the proper elevations, slopes and grades. Your Feature line toolbar is located by right-clicking in the Gray area of program -->looking under Civil --> Select Feature Lines. You may also access these tools from the Grading pull-down menu --> Edit Feature Lines. Your Feature line tools were made to replace the 3D polyline tools that you may have been used to in Land Desktop. You can use them for Grading, Surfaces as Breaklines (or contours) and Pipes just to name a few.


After you have completed the creation of your Feature Line you then can go up to your Points pull-down menu --> Select Create From Objects and it will ask for your Flow Direction and then allow you to select your Network Name, Parts List, Pipes, Structures, Surface and Alignment.

This is a great way to create your pipes without having to dabble in the Pipe Rules (but those are cool too). The only downside to creating Pipes from objects vs. Create by layout is that there is an extra step to go through and label your network.

To then label your newly created Pipe Network you must to go the Pipes pull-down menu --> Add Labels. You have many labeling options, but if you select Label type: Entire Network Plan this will label all of your pipes and structures with one operation.

Hope you don't find this post too DRAINING (pun intended)!