GIS Exchange

Updates!

Map 3D 2011 Update 2 was released a few weeks ago, as was MapGuide Enterprise 2011 Update 2 for Windows and Linux.  Topobase 2011 just released Update 2 today for Client and Web.

 

Finally, we would be remiss to not mention that Map Server 2012 is now available for download from the Subscription Center for Linux (Red Hat) users.

Industry Models for Utlities, formerly known as Topobase

By now you might have heard through the grapevine that Map and Topobase have merged into one product for the 2012 release.  So we still have a Map 3D product, but no longer a separate product called 'Topobase'.  And this imported functionality is referred to in the product docs as Industry Models for Utilities.  So if you just search in the Help section of Map 3D 2012 for Topobase, you will come up empty handed.

There are however, two flavors of Map - Map 3D 2012 and Map Enterprise 2012.  Which is right for you?  The main difference between the two is the Enterprise version allows for the use of the Industry Models for Utilities to work with Oracle spatial databases.  There are a few enhancements that you get if you are working with Oracle vs. non Oracle like jobs (synonymous with versioning) and the fact that you are storing your spatial data within a database, as opposed to within the drawing file.

Enjoy the new tools!  Here is some additional info to get you started: 

• For more product info please visit here.
• For support related info, please visit here.

Topobase 2011 Wastewater Module Digitize Fix

This hotfix resolves an issue in the Wastewater module when digitizing a section with more than two points snapped to vertices.

Topobase 2011 Update1 Hotfix 1 for Electric and Land Management Modules

This hotfix resolves several issues for Electric and Land Management modules after applying Topobase 2011 Update 1.

Looking for your feedback...

Now that this blog has some followers (all 2 of you!) I wanted to reach out to the audience and ask for your help.  What type of troubleshooting content would YOU like to see? 

It's easy for me to sit at my desk and spit out info that I think you might need or like, but to know what the users actually are looking for and searching for would be helpful!

So, I ask you - what info do you need about your Autodesk GIS products?

Some examples:

I need info about -

• reprojecting raster data
• using bulk copy to edit an shapefile schema
• making a legend for my map
• publishing my map to MapGuide
• installing Map or MapGuide
• etc...

So ball is in your court - please use the comments section below to give me your 'wish list' for content and I will do my best to deliver.

Thanks for reading and participating!

Topobase 2011 Update 1 is now available

Downloads

Topobase Web

Topobase Client

Autodesk Topobase 2011 Update 1 includes AutoCAD 2011 Update 1 as well as AutoCAD Map 3D 2011 Update 1 and also resolves the following Topobase 2011 related issues:

Changes Included in this Update:

Topobase Client

Export to DWG (TBEXPORTDWG)

• Export to DWG does not consider the scale ranges for enhanced line styles.
• Features in some view feature classes are missing in export result.
  

Interlis Import

• Default values for Horizontal and Vertical alignment stored in tbm-Files are not recognized.

Label

• The position of automatically created label is not updated when its parent feature is moved.

Coordinate File

• Screen refreshes for every imported point when using field code distribution.

Jobs

• Delete job hangs when an attributive dialog is open.
• Setting a job to pending state sometimes fails unexpectedly in Swiss Land Management document.
• Change maintenance job status causes the program to fail unexpectedly with a configured topology checker.

COGO

• Only Feature Classes of one Document are shown in CoGO's save calculated point list box if you have more than one document in one workspace.
• Missing Topic names in COGO's save calculated point list box.

Other

• SNAPs don't work on some boundary points.
• Stretch command doesn't work with OSNAPS in map space.
• Checkboxes in style editor for points are partly hidden.

Topobase Web

• User Interface Settings don't take effect in TBWeb.
• Can browse only first document in TB Web2011 if the workspace contains multiple documents.
• Parent feature id is not filled in Form automatically when digitizing child feature of compound feature.

MapGuide

• FDO WMS – Better quality when requested image height or width > 2047

ODBC on X64 operating systems

Until recently, you may have noticed that it was hard (if not impossible) to use your FDO ODBC connections to Excel and Access on x64 operating system (or to do anything else that leveraged ODBC, such as link templates)

Luckily, my associate in support, Zac, came up with a great video on how to set up Map/Windows with updated drivers from Microsoft.  You can watch it here: http://www.screencast.com/t/MWJjNjdmNWY

It may be fairly obvious, but I should point out something that's not in the video.  When creating a DSN for Excel files, choose the Excel driver, instead of the Access driver.  You'll also find that since the drivers have changed recently, a few things that you might be used to don't work as previously.  One thing I've noticed is that you can't drag and drop Excel or Access files into Map explorer any more.  If you are having a hard time getting those initial link template connections set up on that lovely x64 machine, try using DBCONNECT to create the .udl files that you need.

 

Lastly, I should also point out that this solution doesn't work for users of 64-bit Windows XP.  The 64-bit edition of Windows XP unfortunately is the one 64-bit Windows operating system for which the Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers is not available. (It is included with 32-bit editions of Windows XP.)

 

(Thanks to my colleague Roy for those last two sentences!)

In case anyone needs it, here is a link to Microsoft's page for downloading the 2010 drivers:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C06B8369-60DD-4B64-A44B-84B371EDE16D&displa...

 
Not sure if you have a 64 bit operating system?  Go to Control Panel, System, and check out the system information.  On Windows 7, you'll have something like this:
Have fun!

AutoCAD Raster Design 2011 Object Enabler is here!

The wait is over, the Object Enabler for Raster Design 2011 was released earlier this week, yey!  For those of you scratching your head, thinking, what the heck is the OE for, it's very simple - the OE is a FREE add-on for some core AutoCAD based products that enables the viewing of certain raster file formats, such as MrSid (.sid).  Make sure to read the Readme for the OE before downloading it to see if it is right for your needs.

AutoCAD Raster images can be enabled in the following Autodesk products:

• AutoCAD^® 2011
• AutoCAD^® Architecture 2011
• AutoCAD^® Civil 3D® 2011
• AutoCAD^® Electrical 2011
• AutoCAD^® Map 3D 2011
• AutoCAD^® Mechanical 2011
• AutoCAD^®MEP 2011
• AutoCAD^® P&ID 2011
• AutoCAD^® Plant 3D 2011
• AutoCAD^®ecscad 2011
• Autodesk^®Topobase 2011

For earlier versions of these products, please refer to www.autodesk.com/oe for the correct version to download.

Please note, this is NOT the release of AutoCAD Raster Design 2011, that is expected out later this summer.  This post is referring to the Object Enabler for Raster files.

Also, if you are using the Raster FDO connection within Map 3D or Civil 3D, you need not install this add-on to view MrSid images.  This OE refers to when you are using the old skool command mapiinsert (in Map 3D) to insert a raster image into your DWG.

Autodesk Topobase 2010 Update 2 for Client and Web – released!

Autodesk has released Update 2 for Topobase Client and Topobase Web 2010.

Topobase is an infrastructure design and management software that enables your entire organization to have accurate information about the location and status of your assets. 

Built on AutoCAD Map 3D software and Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise software, Topobase is an open solution with industry-specific workflows that allow you to see the big picture, make better decisions, reduce backlogs, and improve operational efficiency.