Most Civil 3d users can easily adapt to ProjectWise. Most changes are going to affect the Administrative user or CAD lead.  This section reviews the basic skills and considerations for working with ProjectWise.  

3.1       Opening a file from Civil 3d

1.  Open Civil 3d 

2.  Login to ProjectWise 

You can Select Open Files or a Recent Document. 

If the recent document was opened from ProjectWise it will open from ProjectWise 

Open Files will Open the ProjectWise “Open Document” Dialog 

3.  Open a File from the Start Page 

You can Select Open Files or a Recent Document. 

If the recent document was opened from ProjectWise it will open from ProjectWise 

Open Files will Open the ProjectWise “Open Document” Dialog 

4.  Open a File from Drawing 1 

You can Select Open Files or a Recent Document. 

If the recent document was opened from ProjectWise it will open from ProjectWise 

Open Drawing will Open the ProjectWise “Open Document” Dialog 

3.2       Setting the Data Shortcut Working Folder in ProjectWise

1.  Open AutoCAD Civil 3D and log in to ProjectWise 

2.  Create a new blank drawing. 

Notice that the Toolspace typically opens prepopulated with the last working folder that you set. 

3.  In the Toolspace, right-click the Data Shortcuts and select Set Working Folder… 

4.  Navigate to the Civil 3D Working Folder for the data shortcut project and select OK

After you hit Ok, you should see the data shortcut path. 

If no path is displayed in between the brackets next to Data Shortcuts you may need to reset the Project Folder. 

5.  Right click on Data Shortcuts and select Set Data Shortcuts Project Folder. 

6.  Then select the data shortcut project you want to use. 

If there is still no path showing in the dialog, then you will want to check with the C3d lead for the correct path.

3.3       Working with Data Shortcuts

Note that there are no special requirements for creating and referencing data shortcuts, this document will list the steps without detail. If you are an experienced Civil 3d user, you may want to skip this section. 

Create a Data Shortcut

Note: Models must be saved and associated with the project before Civil 3D will allow the user to create Data Shortcuts 

1. Open AutoCAD Civil 3D and log in to ProjectWise

2. Open a Civil 3D source model (DWG that contains the definition for a Surface, Alignment, Pipe Network, Pressure Network or Corridor)

3. Ensure that the correct Data Shortcut Project is listed under Data Shortcuts in the AutoCAD Civil 3D Toolspace.

4. In the Toolspace, right-click Data Shortcuts and select Create Data Shortcuts…

5. Select the objects that need to be made available as Data Shortcuts. Objects already shared will be grayed out.

6. Save and check-in the model

Creating Data References

1. Open a Civil 3D model that requires a Data Reference

2. In the Toolspace, browse the available Data Shortcuts, right-click the desired Civil object and select Create Reference…

3. Follow the standard Civil 3D object creation dialog.

4. Save, Close and Check-in the document when work is complete

3.4       ProjectWise Session File Manager 

The ProjectWise session manager is a tool that is added to Civil 3d during integration. It basically gives the user access to the ProjectWise Explorer from inside of Civil 3d. There is an excellent section explaining the ProjectWise Session File Manager in the ProjectWise Help.

Using the ProjectWise Session File Manager

1.  Open the ProjectWise Ribbon

2.  Open the ProjectWise Session File Manager from the ProjectWise Ribbon

The dialog opens showing thumbnails of your recently used files.

3.  Select a file to open it.

4.  The controls for the Session File Manager dialog are at the top.

• One - is the option to show recent or most used files Selecting the thumbnail opens the file. Right-clicking gives you three options.

• Two – switches to the session manager model

• Three – Switches to Reference View, which is a tree view or what you would see in the dependency Viewer. This view is linked to ProjectWise and right-clicking on a file offers ProjectWise options.
• Four – Switches back to Most Recently Used.
• Five – Clears the list.

Working in Reference View

Toggling between Session and Reference view changes from a flat structure (Session) to the Tree Structure (Reference).

1.  Select Reference Mode and right click on a file.

The commands in this menu correspond to the same commands as in PW. Highlighting a few of the most useful here.

· Open - will open the file to a new tab.

· Update Server Copy – will allow you to send your changes to the server after a save, so that other users can also see it.

· Properties – will allow you to fill out the file attributes that you can use in your titleblock.

2.  If an error message is displayed stating the Data Shortcuts Project could not be locked, the correct permissions have not been applied for this user. Contact a ProjectWise Administrator immediately.

3.5       Best Practices Using ProjectWise Integrated Civil 3d

In general, normal Civil 3d good practice will keep a C3d project working smoothly. The main difference is the users need to be aware of where the data is coming from., it need to come from ProjectWise

· If a dialog opens and it is a windows dialog not a ProjectWise dialog, stop and seek out the CAD Lead or PW Admin.

· If you get an error message that is not a typical Civil 3d error, stop and seek out the CAD Lead or PW Admin.

The real issue is if the data isn’t coming from ProjectWise, then it isn’t managed. Other users may not be able to see it. Civil 3d will spend a lot of time reconciling that problem and the project will slow down.