z coordinates

[massala13]

I'm working on a drawing sent to me by another company. I inserted it as an x-ref into a new file and started my drawing. Unfortunately, not all the polylines or other objects I draw end up on the same plane and I can't fillet, pick intersections, etc. When I pick the line and go to change properties the boxes for the coordinates are greyed out and I can't set z to 0. It's making what should be a fast project take all day and I have a dead line!!!! I'm sure there must be a fix. As usual, the AutoCAD help doesn't help me. I'd be grateful for guidance.:banghead3

[CarLB]

If you had EXpress Tools, you could use the FLATTEN command to set all z's to 0. So only other option I'd suggest is the "move up and back" method, which sets z's of most objects to 0. In moving objects to ridiculously high z (1e99), then in a negative z the same amount, AutoCAD loses track of original z values and sets them to 0.0

Command: move
Select objects: all
xxx found
Select objects: <enter>
Specify base point or displacement: 0,0,1e99
Specify second point of displacement or <use first point as displacement>:<enter>
Command: m
MOVE
Select objects: p
xxx found
Select objects: <enter>
Specify base point or displacement: 0,0,-1e99
Specify second point of displacement or <use first point as displacement>:<enter>

[massala13]

Thanks for the suggestion, CarLB, but it didn't work for me. Is there a posssibility that I have EXpress Tools and don't know it? Is something that I have to activate in my AutoCAD 2002LT program?

[CarLB]

LT versions do not have capability to use Express Tools, without an add-on program such as LT-Extender.

What do you mean it didn't work? Did you run this within the drawing that has varying elevations (as opposed to the drawing where it was an xref)? Did you check elevations (z values) of an object beforeand after running it?

If it still doesn't work, what types of objects are they? I've only known it not to work on some 3d objects or on some blocks with varying elevations.

[massala13]

I followed instructions within my drawing which is giving me problems. The base from others is x-refed into my dwg. I haven't checked the alien dwg. Maybe I should do that. My test was this. I drew some new lines within my dwg after following instructions and tried to edit. I had the same problems so checked the coordinates and got information about their gobal somethings or other instead of xyz coordinates. The other strange thing that is happening is when I offset - if it will- the line offsets to the side opposite of the one I chose. I'm sure this is related to the other problem. I'll give it another go in both drawings to see if that helps.
:beer:
Thanks,
Massala

[CarLB]

Something strange is definitely going on there with that drawing. Is it in WCS (World Coordinate Sysyem)? Are the coordinates of objecys not extremely high? Having x-y values over 1,000,000 or so causes problems with offsets, fillets, joining, etc.

[massala13]

Well, I checked some of the lines. Some had z coordinates of -2,0000E+99. Another had vertex 1110087.041, y 312533.4226 and Global Width 0.000, elevation --2,0000 E+99. I haven't tried your techinque for cleaning up the drawings yet. Had to take a break. Could it have something to do with the drawing coming from an engineering program not so compatiable with AutoCAD? I don't know if that's the case. It has been passed to me from a second party.
Massala13

[massala13]

I tried your procedure in both drawings and when I typed in 0,0,le99 I was told it was an invalid entry in both cases.

[CarLB]

Is that first digit a "one" (i) or an "el" (L) - it should be a 1. That expresssion (1e99) is shorthand for 1 x 10^99, or 10 raised to the power of 99, or a 1 with 99 zeroes after it.

[massala13]

I used the method with both drawings using a 1 instead of l. The coordinates sill say the same thing.

[CarLB]

It sounds like because of the strange elevations of the original drawing (up to +e99 and -e99), the method isn't working. Only other thing I can suggest is to have someone with "full" version use the Express Tools "flatten" on the drawing.

[massala13]

By the way, thanks for your input. One more clue that may not help but I'll mention it anyway. When I go into model space and zoom extents the drawing is a small dot in the middle of the screen. I've tried erasing around the edges but found nothing there. I guess this is related to the high coordinate numbers.

massala13

[CarLB]

If you don't mind posting or rmailing me the drawing I'd be glad to take a look at it, and try using FLATTEN on it. The fact that a zoom extents leaves a dot could be explained by an "off "layer, "blank" text that is unselectable, and other stuff.

[massala13]

O.K. I'll try to send it to you. After double checking the alien dwg I realized it's my drawing that has the high z coordinates but it still must be related to the alien dwg. It is x-refed into my at 0,0. Thanks for your time. 47 I've never done this before. I hope it works. :D

massala13

[Exxit]

Hi,

here's a link http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?id=2875571&linkID=2475874&siteID=123112
It's like Carl's tip.
If it's not working, attach the objects with the z-value unequal 0 in a dwg, and we will flatten it...

Lothar

EDIT: I can see it, You attached... What is Your profession? Astronaut? High values in Your *.dwg... :yikes:

L.

[massala13]

I do have high values and I'm a Landscape Architect. ;) I'll try your link. Thanks!

massala13

[CarLB]

I looked at the drawings. The "Layiut & materials" drawings looks OK - it has normal Z values. However it does have two different "work areas" with duplication. One area is at 2700,2600 and the other at 1110100,312500. These high coordinates could cause editing problems.

In your drawing "ashlayout", the "layout...." drawing is inserted at a poit of 0,0,-2e99. This is what is causing problems. So new dimensions and lines you've placed also have these very "low" z values. I tried "FLATTEN" on this and it didn't work - something about "invalid point". you could re-insert the xref using a point of 0,0,0 or move the xref using the "insert point" as the base point and "0,0,0" as the "to" point.

OK with a little lisp I thiink I got it flattened. I did get the warning "dimensions disassociated.

[massala13]

CarLB, I tried to open the drawing you returned to me but I get the message that it is a read only document. When I elect to open the drawing anyway it says that it was created in an incompatible version. I have AutoCAD 2002LT. can you try again? Please and thank you.

Exxit, I followed the instructions on your link and managed to fix the lines and arcs that were already drawn but when I draw a new line I'm back to the wacky coordinates. And I cannot pick some of the lines in the x-refed dwg to edit to or from.

What a pesky drawing. :nowork:

[CarLB]

Sorry, try this one, saved to 2000 format.

I'm not surprised new objects you draw are at -2e99 elevation, if you're snapping to the xref which has been inserted at that elevation.

The "read only" may have to do with how you copied it or downloaded it. You can change the file properties, or do a "save as" to a different name.

[massala13]

I've done a little work in the flattened file and everything seems to be straightened out. Thanks for the extra effort on your part. :drinks:

massala13