Error Msg

[Irishlad]

Modeling Operation Error:
Unknown surface type in make silhouettes.


I got this when I tried to put in a standard 6" pipe elbow. Anybody have a clue as to what this means or how to fix it? I've tried auditing, purging, updating the catalog (& selecting yes to every part), and purging the catalog. Still can't draw the elbow and still get the message. Can't see the elbow to delete it, but apparently PD3D still sees it as the error message shows up every time I do anything that causes a regen.

[JEDI]

Have you tried using the PD3D Purge Catalog command? Sometimes the data goes bad for some reason so I'll do the Purge Catalog, then Update Catalog. Be careful when using Update Catalog because if you changed any dimensional information in Data Editor and the associated parts are in that drawing, those fittings will be physically updated.

[Irishlad]

unfortunately, I did try that to no avail. I still have the error message showing up in my command line.

[JEDI]

Nice! Well, here comes the fun part. You're going to have to wblock all your model into a new drawing...Basically, what you'll want to do is set up a new drawing, xref all the xref's you had in the original drawing, then insert your block into the new drawing. Guarantee that fixes it. For some reason, PD3D corrupts the drawing you're trying to draw in and you have to go throught this fun exercise!

J

[Irishlad]

What do you mean by wblock? Is this a copy & paste or something more complex?

[JEDI]

It's kind of the same thing, but a little more complex. Just type "wblock" and a dialog box should open. You'll have to select an insertion point and then the objects. After you select them (non-xref entities), hit Enter and at the bottom of the dialog box, you'll see an ellipsis button. Click that and you'll be able to select where that block is going to go. This "block" is just creating a new drawing (while getting rid of 99% of any errors in the drawing.)

Back to step #1, create a brand new drawing and insert any xref's, then type "ddinsert" and browse to where you saved that block. Note: when you choose your insertion point when wblocking, pick a grid intersection so when you insert it into the new drawing, you can pick that same intersection for the insertion point.

[JEDI]

I should note that I'm almost positive you can copy and paste into a new drawing, but it's been so long since I've gotten that error, I can't quite remember.

[Eric Fox]

I would recommend Wblock over copy/paste. Copy/paste seems to cause more problems than it fixes. Before I wblock I usually delete any layouts, detach all xrefs, audit and purge first so I don't drag any potential problems to the new drawing. Then, after wblocking, close the drawing without saving the changes in case you find out later the drawing wasn't corrupt after all.

If that particular PD3D object causes problems in other drawings I would check it out in the Data Editor before blaming the drawing, though.