Introduction
To maintain design document consistency and conceptual designs, the use of standardized blocks, hatches, and even basic AutoCAD geometry-to-proper-layer methods are paramount in achieving a consistent output. Some processes involved include manually inserting blocks, while referring to printed or electronic documentation for company standards, and even copying existing geometry into a current design. This remains a time-consuming and inefficient method of working through CADD modeling.
First, to reduce or eliminate redoing the entire catalog later, it would be beneficial if a structure is determined for multiple palettes (tabs) and sections. This document illustrates a test situation palette known as Proposed, using random blocks from a local DWG containing blocks.
This will also, for illustrative purposes, show the catalog being published to a locally mapped drive which serves to mimic a network server location.
Helpful note: Always keep a safe copy of any ‘Images’ directory that may be generated!
Civil 3D comes installed with several tool palettes out-of-the-box. There are several blocks to be found on the various tabs. In a corporate environment, it is common to want a refined listing of blocks available to users to minimize the confusion of what content to use. These blocks may also adhere to corporate layering standards as well. We will access the Autodesk Content Browser, found in:
START menu à Autodesk Civil 3D {version number} à Autodesk Content Browser
Note: This white paper assumes that a basic tool palette has already been created and may be in use by users. This may be in the form of a locally installed tool palette that is deployed among users without the ability to update unless deleted and reimported. It may also be in the form of a static tool palette that has been deployed and can only be updated on the user side by deleting and reimporting the palette. This tool palette calls upon blocks that may reside in a separate DWG file which houses several blocks. For the purposes of this paper, such a tool palette will be referred to as ‘static’.
Creating a Catalog
Click the lower left icon to ‘Create a new catalog’ (this generates a new .atc file in the path location shown). Since it is usually the task of a dedicated team member or CAD Manager to assemble and manage design team content, the catalog can be stored locally. If you want to add to an existing catalog and want to simply manage its existing content, choose the second option, ‘Add an existing catalog or web site’.
Note: It is necessary for the person in charge of the catalog/tool palette to have read/write permissions to the location of the catalog files.
Name the catalog and click Browse to change the location where it is to be stored. The name of your catalog will be the name under which it is stored. Click OK. The new catalog now shows as a new icon tile with a solid color fill in the listing.
Catalog Properties
To access the properties of the new catalog, right-click on the icon and select Properties.
From this dialog box, you can change the image of the tile, for branding purposes or better visual appeal, by clicking on the image to the left. Browse for an image file you want to use and click Open.
You can also change the catalog name, description, and file path. You can also give it a Cover Page which informs the end user of the contents and usage of the catalog, along with any other informative details. The page is in HTML format.
Open the catalog by clicking on the new tile.
In Windows Explorer, browse to the location of the .atc file created and uncheck its read-only status in Properties if it is set.
Adding Catalog Content
Create a new tool palette in the current catalog by clicking on the 3rd icon in the lower left area. This opens a dialog box where you fill in the name, description, keywords, and publisher information.
Go into the palette, by clicking on its icon, to add/modify content. Drag and drop items directly from open tool palette in CAD to the ACB.
When completed, return to the home screen, showing the catalogs. Right-click on the custom catalog and select Publish '<catalog name>' (to \\Projects3\CAD\02-AutoCAD Standards\11-Content Library\Catalogs\Content Catalog for this document)
Move… if you do not want a safe copy to update.
Copy… is a best practice option to immediately 'go-live'.
Leave… to test the palette locally before publishing a live version.
Choose a path to place the file/folder structure:
Specify the root directory location where users will have access to the tool palettes (this is the path needed in Options --> Files)
When completed, the shared catalog will show as a "Copy" but will only be labeled so in the ACB.
Right-click to see the greyed-out properties of the shared catalog.
Before having this 'share' generated through publishing, you can set a cover page graphic, publisher information and type (optional, I created a Corporate type in the Preferences, before creating my catalog.). Note that only the Type can still be set at this point. The others must be set prior to publishing.
For the shared tool palette published to be seen by users, the path to the .atc would need to be set in Options --> Files. Location shown has been added for these instructions to reflect testing location shown in prior images. Production location is shown without arrow.
The tool palette will automatically show for users when Civil 3D is launched and the Tool Palette window is opened.
To further develop the palette after initial publishing, continue to work in the original catalog, reorganizing as needed. This is helpful to correct any issues that may come up without interfering with the production (copy) TP. When ready to publish the updated catalog/TP for users to access, follow the same procedure as above, pointing to the same location/path as previously done.
Users will not see the updated version, or added tools/structure, until Civil 3D is relaunched.
Helpful note: Always keep a safe copy of the Images directory
About the Author
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