Cannot figure out how to make cross sections SS3

I'm trying to cut cross sections of my horizontal alignment which is preloaded in an .alg file. Here's the process i follow:

1.) I "View Active Horizontal" in order to display my horizontal alignment.

2.) I click "Create Cross Sections" under the Corridor Modeling task.

3.) It then prompts me to select the alignment graphic...i click on the line generated in the first step. 

4.) I set my intervals and all the settings

5.) It opens up a new model but this model is blank. No cross sections were generated. I tried to Fit to View but there is simply no info.

Note: After selecting the alignment in step 3, the dialog does not read out the alignments name which leads me to think that it didn't really select it. Photo attached below. 

  • The Corridor must be attached and a 3D model must exist in the current file. If you can view Dynamic sections and see an existing ground surface and the corridor elements in section, you are almost there. I found I had to manually attach the existing ground 3D model to the active file 3D model before both the corridor graphics and existing ground were displayed in my sections.

    Also, as I understand it, Bentley does not recommend the use of OpenRoads Ss3 but strongly suggests updating to Ss4. Remember, this is the Civil Platform Version and not necessarily the MicroStation version number..


    Charles (Chuck) Rheault
    CADD Manager

    MDOT State Highway Administration

    • MicroStation user since IGDS, InRoads user since TDP.
    • AutoCAD, Land Desktop and Civil 3D, off and on since 1996
  • Thank you for your reply. I have a ground surface in the form of a .dtm file that I load in along with the .alg alignments. I'm not sure how and where to pull the corridor from.

    Also, working in a 3D model does not allow me to select the alignment element for the cross section. It gives me an error saying "element is not valid for tool."

    Only in a 2D model can I select the alignment element. 

  • I tend to create a separate 2D model for cross sections... the default view has alignment, terrain file and proposed 3D corridor. you will need to check the default3d view to ensure it has everything referenced into it that you want shown on your section...... this should now produce a seperate model view... showing your cross sections 

  • To clarify, I'm trying to create cross sections of an existing alignment...so I don't have a proposed corridor. All I have is a .dtm file and an .alg file. I make sure that both files are referenced in but when the cross section model is generated, i don't see anything in it.