DDMLINK

The DDMLINK tag was created to make it easier to obtain area data that go into the DDM program in the Areas and volumes tab of the sources and demands.

1. To use, call the DDMLINK command and select a Sample Line, or click Enter to display the screen:


2. Select SampleLine or an Alignment
   
   Note: the function to get the areas is only available if you select SampleLine
   So, the button Update, is available:
   
   
   
   Note: In order for the areas to be read, temporary Section Views are created. In them, the sections should appear in a visible style. Otherwise, the areas will be reset.
3. If the program DDMLINK has already been used with the selected SamleLine, it will open the file *. DDM associated with the selected item.
   If the *.Ddm file does not open, use the command Open and select the corresponding file if there is one.
4. After the DDM program opens, you can update the areas if you have selected the sample line. But for this to work, there are Sources and Demands whose column value Equation:
   
   
   The equations can be evaluated using the Material List areas:
5. Check how to edit the equation in the Equation Editor:
   
   
   To access it, double-click the cell in the Equation column. See that it shows in the left frame a list with the materials in the Material List. Double click on any of them so that it enters the right frame, being part of the equation that will popular values in the areas and volumes

The DDMLINK is not just for getting data from the areas of Civil 3D.

It helps in visualizing the project by zooming in on Civil 3D for the selected item.

For example, if in the program DDM we select a line from the DMTs, the program will identify the corresponding station in the project:

Similarly, for the results:

Note that the position indication on the Civil 3D screen is made using polylines. These polylines are temporary, that is, by doing REGEN they disappear.

Obviously, the example of the images is simple. But the idea holds true for any size project.

The DWG DDM used in the example are in the ./DWG/ folder of the program package