I need help with adding pipes to a profile.

Question

Heya, 
 
 I'm trying to create a profile showing a pipeline versus terrain. Both of them are lines. I also have a fake surface at elevation '0', just to get things started. I've managed to create a profile over my surface, and I've added the terrain-line. I'm not sure how I did that. But now I'm trying to add my pipelines, and it won't work. I try "Evaluation" --> "Profile" --> "Alignments to profile", and then I select the first pipeline alignment, using the Microstation View, to add the first pipeline alignment I wish to add. I chose a different color so it stands out, and the message bar says "Successful Completion", but no pipelines appear in my profile. 
 Here is a picture of the alignments/pipes I need to get into the profile: 
 
 I need to get all the alignments call 'Gas' into the the profile. I can't really make them into a single line because some of the stretches are measured directly while some are directional boring, so the profile needs to destinguish between the two. 
 Most of what I've tried to do so far is trial an error, so don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions. I have made sure my elevation range is set properly. I've set my profile range from -10 to +30 and the pipe/terrain range is -1 to +20, so it should show up. 
 
 Best regards, 
 
 Jacob

The Zen Dude · Answer

Jacob, what you describe should work, so there must be something else going on. Have you tried to just push those alignments into the DTM and "Project" them to the Profile from the Surface? Also, you don't need a 'fake' surface to do what you are trying to do.

The Zen Dude · Answer

Jacob, first, the process you initially tried should work, so that makes me suspicious about what you have. 
 
Second, the Create Profile command doesn't need a surface if you set the "Create" to "Window Only" on the "Source" leaf, and then manually define your "Elevation" range on the "Controls" leaf. 
 
Lastly, using the File > Import Surface > From Geometry tab, you can 'push' your H & V geometry to a surface (generating a 3D breakline). Once a proper "Style" is attached to those Features (that are set up for Profile Projection) you can then display that surface data on the Profile either during creation or after the profile is created using the "Update Profile" command. 
 
I know this might be a lot of information for someone relatively new to InRoads (which I suspect that you are), but you have to understand the ins and outs of the software to be able to make it play a nice tune.