I am trying to open two fairly large (123MB and 143MB) dtms. Originally there was supposed to be one huge dtm but because of the file size it was split into two. I can open one but when I go to open the other I get the screen saying "Duplicate surface. Do you want to overwrite 'file name'?" The surfaces are different, have different names, filenames, perimeters and descriptions so I can't understand why I can't open both of them. I am trying to run a template through both and i dont want to have to keep switching between them.
This happens because InRoads saves an internal identifier in a surface that is independent from any Surface name or file name. What usually has occurred is that someone used the Save As dialog box to save a "new" copy of a file. But doing so preserves the original internal identifier. The correct method is to use the Copy Surface command which will assign a new identifier to the new copy, allowing one to open both surfaces at the same time.
So your solution, is to open one of the surfaces and use the Copy Surface tool to make yet another copy of the surface. Then, close the original surface and then rename the new surface back to the desired name and save it, overwriting the first file. Now, you will be able to open the second file and get no warnings.
Charles (Chuck) Rheault CADD Manager
MDOT State Highway Administration
Excellent explanation!
I know my stuff!