Civil 3D: Slow Performance in Large Data Sets

November 24, 2021 Jeff Arbogast

Issue:

When working with Civil 3D files with large Data Sets, performance is slow.

The list below may cause crashes.

Trim Commands
Exporting data
Selecting Imagery and having Imagery in the Background
Selecting External References
Moving the Cursor
Selecting and Hovering over Surfaces and 3D Polylines
Plotting large Sheet Files
Saving the File
Loading the File

Causes:

Files containing large Data Sets.

Solution:

Files with Large Data Sets, slow performance is expected behavior.

Somethings that can help.

Turn off your selection preview.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-lt/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-LT/files/GUID-4DB29C49-8936-4773-8B8C-262C7F4F8B54-htm.html

Install a supported test Video driver from the link below (All verticals software that is AutoCAD based such as Civil 3D use AutoCAD as the software in this chart).

www.autodesk.com\hardware

You could also try turning off hardware acceleration.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-enable-or-disable-hardware-acceleration-in-AutoCAD.html

Install all available updates for AutoCAD, Map 3D and Civil 3D.

Clean the file using Purge.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Optimizing-the-AutoCAD-drawing-file-Purge-Audit-Recover.html

Check and fix corruption.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/civil-3d/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCAD-File-Corruption.html

Clean and simplify Surfaces (You must be careful here because you do not want to effect the accuracy of your Surface).

Bring larges Surfaces and imagery into their own Master files and then use External References and Data Shortcuts to reattach.

External References

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-lt/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-LT/files/GUID-3E6FFC2C-B509-47EA-88D7-5287347BA1E7-htm.html

Data Shortcuts

About the Author

Manufacturing Solution Center Team Lead<br><br>Jeff is responsible for manufacturing Technical Support for both internal staff and customers. In addition to the daily activities of the support center, he helps write for the National Support Center blog, and has written online classes for the IMAGINiT training on demand site.
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Civil 3D: Slow Performance in Large Data Sets

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