Civil 3D Tip: Importing Codes into Figure Prefix Database

  1. Create a new Figure Prefix Database on the Survey Tab.
  2. Add at least two codes to the database.

  3. Open the .fdb_xdef file in Excel. File is located here: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D20xx\enu\Survey\.
  4. Excel will pop up with a couple alerts:



    Click Yes on the first, and then OK on the second and third pop-ups.
  5. Delete these columns:
  6. Delete these rows:
  7. Set the kRevision column to 0 and copy rows for however many field codes are needed.
  8. Paste list of field codes into this column:
  9. After adding the codes, Save As XML Data (*.xml).
  10. An alert will pop up. Click Continue.
  11. Close out of Excel.
  12. Open the .fdb_xdef file in an XML editor like Notepad++.
  13. Open the .xml file that you just saved.
  14. Each Record in the .xml file is formatted just like each Record in the .fdb_xdef file.
  15. Copy each Record in the .xml file and paste into the .fdb_xdef file after <Table>. Make sure the end of the .fdb_xdef file after the last </Record> has </tableRoot>.
  16. Refresh the Figure Prefix Databases.
  17. Manage the Figure Prefix Database that you just created.
  18. Now you can set the Breakline, Lot Line, Layer, Style, and Site settings.

Geoff Ashworth

Geoff has been working in the civil/survey industry since 2000 as a survey crew chief and civil designer. He has worked on a variety of projects from survey field to finish surveys, DOT plans, lead grading on landfills and site plans. Geoff has experience working in both MicroStation and Civil 3D and has led the transition to Civil 3D from previous design softwares at several engineering firms.

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