Open Roads SS3 Bentley Civil Survey- Is there a way to save the Terrain Model perimeter to an exterior boundary linear feature in Bentley Civil Survey?

If you export out the clean terrain model and open it in the old SS2 explorer menu you can then use the old SS2 explorer to view the perimeter and add that as your boundary.  Let me know if that makes any sense.

This makes sense but we're trying to develop workflows for our office that doesn't use any of the legacy inroads files.  I anticipate our office going this route at some point in the future and I'm just making sure all of our current workflow can be apapted to Open Roads.

For PowerGEOPAK, here's what I've put together as a workflow recommendation for our users, based partially on work in this and related forums.  I don't know if something similar would make sense for InROADS, as I don't use it. 

1. Finish editing your source data for your surface (don't edit triangles yet)
2. Right-click on survey project in Project Explorer “survey” tab, select “deactivate survey processing rules”.  Otherwise, it will show up as “not an editable terrain”.  (Note: either the data is editable, or the terrain is editable.  Not both.)  
3. Triangles can now be edited.  Survey data is NOT live; points cannot be added or moved and have triangles follow the changes.  
4. It makes no difference if the terrain model (in the civil model tab of Project Explorer) is locked (rules deactivated) or unlocked (rules activated).  
5. IF RULES ARE REACTIVATED in the Project Explorer “Survey” tab, ALL TRIANGLE EDITS WILL INSTANTLY REVERT.  
6. To save a clip boundary to protect the triangle editing along the boundary follow this process.
   1. Exit MicroStation and make a copy of the file containing the terrain.
   2. Open that copy
   3. Select the boundary
   4. Activate the “drop element” tool
   5. In the “Drop Element” dialog, uncheck all boxes except “Application Elements”.  Click a data point to accept.
   6. Export this boundary line, using FileFence or something similar
   7. Exit this file, re-open your original terrain file
   8. Import the new boundary line (ref merge)
   9. Select this line
   10. Open the survey tab in Project Explorer, right-click on “ALL Linear Features” under the appropriate field book, and select “Add graphic linear feature”.  
   11. Left-click on the line and hold to get to the Properties menu.
   12. Change the feature definition to CLIP and the Terrain Model Attribute to “Determine by feature definition”

RECOMMENDATIONS

Note that saving a clip boundary using the method outlined here will ONLY preserve your triangle edits along the boundary of the project.  No internal edits will be preserved.  Our suggestion is to NEVER edit the internal triangle structure; rather, you should edit the source data to fix any issues, so that the triangles reflect your intent.  

Don't forget that one of the best advances in SS3 terrain modeling is that ALL functions can be undone.  If you do something and your triangle edits revert, stop, take a breath, and UNDO.  Now take time to think about what you need to do, and prevent the problem if possible. 

(Note-  I posted this previously here: https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/f/5922/t/98064.aspx)

For PowerGEOPAK, here's what I've put together as a workflow recommendation for our users, based partially on work in this and related forums.  I don't know if something similar would make sense for InROADS, as I don't use it. 

1. Finish editing your source data for your surface (don't edit triangles yet)
2. Right-click on survey project in Project Explorer “survey” tab, select “deactivate survey processing rules”.  Otherwise, it will show up as “not an editable terrain”.  (Note: either the data is editable, or the terrain is editable.  Not both.)  
3. Triangles can now be edited.  Survey data is NOT live; points cannot be added or moved and have triangles follow the changes.  
4. It makes no difference if the terrain model (in the civil model tab of Project Explorer) is locked (rules deactivated) or unlocked (rules activated).  
5. IF RULES ARE REACTIVATED in the Project Explorer “Survey” tab, ALL TRIANGLE EDITS WILL INSTANTLY REVERT.  
6. To save a clip boundary to protect the triangle editing along the boundary follow this process.
   1. Exit MicroStation and make a copy of the file containing the terrain.
   2. Open that copy
   3. Select the boundary
   4. Activate the “drop element” tool
   5. In the “Drop Element” dialog, uncheck all boxes except “Application Elements”.  Click a data point to accept.
   6. Export this boundary line, using FileFence or something similar
   7. Exit this file, re-open your original terrain file
   8. Import the new boundary line (ref merge)
   9. Select this line
   10. Open the survey tab in Project Explorer, right-click on “ALL Linear Features” under the appropriate field book, and select “Add graphic linear feature”.  
   11. Left-click on the line and hold to get to the Properties menu.
   12. Change the feature definition to CLIP and the Terrain Model Attribute to “Determine by feature definition”

RECOMMENDATIONS

Note that saving a clip boundary using the method outlined here will ONLY preserve your triangle edits along the boundary of the project.  No internal edits will be preserved.  Our suggestion is to NEVER edit the internal triangle structure; rather, you should edit the source data to fix any issues, so that the triangles reflect your intent.  

Don't forget that one of the best advances in SS3 terrain modeling is that ALL functions can be undone.  If you do something and your triangle edits revert, stop, take a breath, and UNDO.  Now take time to think about what you need to do, and prevent the problem if possible. 

(Note-  I posted this previously here: https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/f/5922/t/98064.aspx)

I should probably just have reposted the items listed under "item 6", rather than this whole process.  

Thank you Frank.  This is what I was trying to accomplish.  Have you ever had a problem with the boundary becoming corrupted when you File Fence to a new DGN.  I'm experiancing the problem with the boundary shown in the two screen captures below.

I've probably seen something like this, but not necessarily due to a file fence operation.  (Unfortunately, we've all seen more than our fair share of corrupt Microstation elements!)  I'm guessing the boundary was corrupt before you exported it.  Try doing a reference merge of just that boundary line into a clean file.  Perhaps you can find - or eliminate - the corruption that way.  It has worked for me in the past, for various types of corruption.  If that doesn't work, try using a tool that forces the line to be redrawn, such as "change curve direction" or something similar.  

Frank Boston

Michigan Dept of Transportation

Survey Support

Not quite sure of your workflow... but watch the minute long video for perhaps an easy more efficient way to get the boundary.

HTH

Also wanted to add if its desirable to have a shape. The horizontal offset boundary line can be copied (becoming a "Line String") then selected and made into a complex shape.