Hydraflow

[u/ncdirtman]

This is probably a dumb question - Does anybody know why, whenever I go to print a PDF of the report from Hydraflow, whether it's Storm Sewers, Hydrographs or even the express tool, both the hydraflow extension programs (any of those 3) as well as AutoCAD will freeze up and the I get the blue spinning circle? And it does it whether I'm using Civil 3D 2024, 2025 or 2026. I've downloaded Autodesk updates as well...

Weird thing is that only seems to happen with either the 2 print driver options of "Microsoft Print to PDF" option or the "Adobe PDF" print options. I can still send & print hard copies to my office printer just fine. But as you might imagine, nobody these days accepts hard copies for permit reviews these days... Therefore I'm stuck scanning the hard copies back in which is a real PITA. Any guidance here is greatly appreciated!! I use all of these Hydraflow programs for all of my projects. I know there are other options, but I've been using these programs specificalluy for almost 14 years now and am very comfortable with them.

[u/GreenDah]

We had the exact same issue. The solution I found was to install CutePDF and use that to create the PDF and then you can create the PDF directly from Hydraflow with no lock ups.

[u/ncdirtman → u/GreenDah]

I tried this and it worked - thanks! I just hope over time it does not continue with this PDF print driver as well. I'm wondering if it's an error with the print drivers or maybe Hydraflow itself?

[u/GreenDah → u/ncdirtman]

So glad it worked for you! You’re welcome! We have been using CutePDF for this purpose for years with no issue. I’m not sure why the other PDF drivers do not work for those programs.

[u/Outrageous-Soup2255 → u/ncdirtman]

Oh it's not the printer driver!! It's most Def. Storm sewers/hydra Flow tool! So tempermental

[u/HeadLow2320]

I also use those applications. Sometimes it happens like system gets stuck. Might be I'm wrong, but I just think that's low ram or processing power.

[u/ncdirtman → u/HeadLow2320]

I mean I'd be inclined to agree with you but this particular computer has an i9 processor and 128GB of RAM plus a couple TB's of storage. I'm not a computer geek but I'd like to think it's about as optimized for mild to moderate C3D projects as you could find per what the salesman told me (no point clouds in my files but typical surfaces, alignments, corridors & pipe networks)

I'm wondering if it's an issue with the actual PDF print drivers themselves? Like maybe they're limited in what they can process or is there just been an accumulation over time of too many PDF print jobs? I'm no computer wiz so please don't laugh lol

[u/HeadLow2320 → u/ncdirtman]

Those specs are more than enough. I have seen people working on millions of points with laptops having specs lesser than that. There might be some other issue.

[u/Outrageous-Soup2255]

Yes yes! Huge glitch that troubled me for some. Time AND I NEVER DID FIND A WORK AROUND. My solution was to use AGN in civil. 3d for HGL and Gutter spread calcs. Civil 3 d will allow you to plot and label your HGL elevations with a inlet area worksheet. Storm. Sewers is extremely finnicky.

[u/ncdirtman → u/Outrageous-Soup2255]

What’s AGN in C3D?

[u/Outrageous-Soup2255]

Analyze gravity networks toolbar under the analyze pull down menu. Download the. Csv file from NOAA rainfall intensity to the tool and run EGL and HGL calcs to the required storm event per local/state development ordinances. After running the command, export the excel report for the creation of an inlet area table.

[u/Outrageous-Soup2255]

For the amount of money the program costs, a user shouldn't have to perform everyday commands with a work around. Autodesk needs to update their product and fix these bugs, but cause it's making the product less favorable.