Civil 3D Reference Pipe Network Issue

So I’ve been trying to resolve the Civil 3D Reference Pipe Network issue. If you are not aware of the issue, when you synchronize the reference pipe network, the layers and styles are reset back to default. I think I have a fix for it. As I was poking around in the data shortcut XML file for the pipe network, I decided to change the a few settings. I know there is a notice in the XML file to “<!--PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!-->” but this was on a test file. I changed the Layer and useLayer settings within DisplayProperties. The only thing is I'm not sure where the settings are in Civil 3D to have it change this are of the XML file.

Here are the steps for the test.

·         I created two different pipe networks in a source file called Existing Network – 1 and Existing Network – 2.

·         Created the data shortcuts.

·          I modified the XML for Existing Network – 1 as shown below.

·         Created the reference networks into a new file.

·         Changed the layer and style of the pipes and structures to meet my needs.

·         Flipped over to the source file and clicked save.

·         Flipped back to the reference file to synchronize the pipe networks.

·         Existing Network – 1 retained the layers and styles and Existing Network – 2 was set back to default.

 

 Below is the modified pipe network XML and the default XML. The modifications are in bold and red.

Modified XML:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<!--PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!-->

<ProjectInfo><ProjectDesc></ProjectDesc><Shortcuts><Shortcut name="S:\303\35601-TARGET_T1018\DWG\35601C-PFSTRM.dwg:Existing Network - 1"><DwgRelPath path=".\35601-TARGET_T1018\DWG\35601C-PFSTRM.dwg"/><Criteria><File name="S:\303\35601-TARGET_T1018\DWG\35601C-PFSTRM.dwg"/><Object type="AeccDbNetwork" useType="-1" name="Existing Network - 1" useName="-1" version="0" useVersion="0" handleLow="96155" handleHigh="0" useHandle="-1" parentHandleHigh="0" parentHandleLow="0" parentAlignmentShortcutName=""/><DisplayProperties layer="C-STRM-PIPE-E" useLayer="1" color="1" useColor="0" lineType="ByLayer" useLineType="0" lineWeight="-1" useLineWeight="0"/></Criteria></Shortcut></Shortcuts></ProjectInfo>

 

Default XML:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<!--PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!-->

<ProjectInfo><ProjectDesc></ProjectDesc><Shortcuts><Shortcut name="S:\303\35601-TARGET_T1018\DWG\35601C-PFSTRM.dwg:Existing Network - 2"><DwgRelPath path=".\35601-TARGET_T1018\DWG\35601C-PFSTRM.dwg"/><Criteria><File name="S:\303\35601-TARGET_T1018\DWG\35601C-PFSTRM.dwg"/><Object type="AeccDbNetwork" useType="-1" name="Existing Network - 2" useName="-1" version="0" useVersion="0" handleLow="96374" handleHigh="0" useHandle="-1" parentHandleHigh="0" parentHandleLow="0" parentAlignmentShortcutName=""/><DisplayProperties layer="0" useLayer="0" color="1" useColor="0" lineType="ByLayer" useLineType="0" lineWeight="-1" useLineWeight="0"/></Criteria></Shortcut></Shortcuts></ProjectInfo>

 

If you have any questions or comments on this, please email me and I'll be happy to talk about it a little more.