This keypad is empty.
Drop a CAD file (.dwg / .dxf / .dwt) to auto-generate buttons from your layer table, or use Auto-fill for an AI-designed layout. You can also start from a saved template.
Upload a project spec PDF and Claude will extract layer definitions (name + color). The result is unioned with every layer name your keypad buttons reference, then exported as a LOADLAYERS.lsp you load once in AutoCAD via APPLOAD. Run LOADLAYERS at the command line and the layers appear in your current drawing — then File → Save As → DWG Template (*.dwt) to lock them into a project template.
No PDF selected — the AI will still pull layers from your keypad buttons.
End-to-end flow for a new project — PDF spec → layers → keypad buttons → AutoCAD setup → operator-ready .dkf. Each step opens the right tool. Click the circle on the left to mark a step done once you've completed it; checkmarks persist per-project.
Upload your project's .dwg, .dwt, or .dxf. The app scans its block definitions and flags any -INSERT macros on your keypad that reference blocks the drawing doesn't have. Catches breakage before the operator hits it mid-session.
No file loaded yet.
Save this as LBPLACE.lsp, then in AutoCAD run APPLOAD → browse to the file → click the Add to Startup Suite briefcase icon → close. Test by typing LBPLACE at the command line. Civil 3D 2018 may require the folder to be in Options → Files → Trusted Locations.
Keypad macro form for buttons that use this:
LBPLACE{RET}<layer>{RET}<block>{RET}<scale>{RET}<rotation>{RET}
Pick a .dkf or JSON backup file, or paste its contents below. Either is added as a new project (won't overwrite existing). Some .dkf features are flattened on import — see toast for details.
Drop a .dxf, .dwg, or .dwt file. The layer table is parsed and you pick which layers become buttons. DWG/DWT parsing uses an in-browser WASM build of LibreDWG; expect a one-time ~14 MB download on first use of that path (cached after).
Paste your feature code library, layer naming convention, or anything project-specific. The AI generator will use these exact names instead of generic placeholders.
Useful things to include: layer codes (BLDG, ROAD_EOP, HYDRO_EDGE, etc.), what each represents, project type (planimetric / topographic / utility), client conventions, surface naming, anything else specific to this job.
I'll design a full layout based on your project context: stereo controls, drawing tools, layer switches for your feature codes, OSNAPs, and navigation.
If you're new to keypad-driven aerial photogrammetry compilation in Civil 3D + DAT/EM Summit Evolution, this is the 5-minute primer. Skim once, come back when needed.
Every keypad button sends a command string. The DAT/EM keypad executes it as a stream of keystrokes, so the format mirrors what you'd type at the AutoCAD command line:
{RET} — the literal token for Enter. Use it between every prompt: -LAYER{RET}SET{RET}BLDG{RET}{RET} is dash-LAYER, Enter, SET, Enter, BLDG, Enter, Enter. The trailing {RET}{RET} exits the LAYER command — forgetting the second one leaves LAYER hanging and eating your next keypress._ — language-independent command name. _LINE works on French Civil 3D; bare LINE might not. Use it on every AutoCAD command.- — suppresses the dialog popup. LAYER opens the Layer Manager (breaks your collection rhythm). -LAYER runs at the command line. Always use the dash form while digitizing.' — transparent command. Runs inside the current command without ending it. Mostly for mid-feature OSNAP toggles: '_-osnap{RET}end.^C^C, no ;, no real newlines. The AutoCAD CUI conventions (^C^C for cancel, ; for Enter, multi-line macros with \n) do not work on a DAT/EM keypad — ^C^C arrives as literal text and breaks the next prompt. Use only the format above._3DPOLY, -LAYER, _AECCDRAWFEATURELINES — run in the AutoCAD command line. The bulk of your macros.Driver, RaiseZ, ZLock — drive Summit itself (the stereo viewer). Case-sensitive — driver won't work, only Driver.AUTOARC3D, PSQR, place cell — come from Capture for AutoCAD. Capture must be loaded in your Civil 3D session or these silently do nothing. Test with AUTOARC3D at the command line — if AutoCAD says "Unknown command," Capture isn't loaded.-LAYER{RET}SET{RET}V-ROAD-PAVE{RET}{RET}AUTOARC3D — DAT/EM Capture's 3D auto-arc, the default for ground-following linear features (roads, curbs, fences, edges, hydro).-LAYER{RET}SET{RET}V-BLDG{RET}{RET}PSQR2D — DAT/EM "place square" auto-squares 90° corners. Use for buildings, decks, foundations, porches, garages, retaining-wall corners, anything orthogonal.-LAYER{RET}SET{RET}V-UTIL-POWR-POLE{RET}{RET}-INSERT{RET}POLE{RET} — point features. Macro ends at the insertion-point prompt; you click in the stereo image to place.-LAYER{RET}SET{RET}V-TOPO-BRKL{RET}{RET}_AECCDRAWFEATURELINES — Civil 3D feature line. These can be added to a TIN as actual surface breaklines.-LAYER{RET}SET{RET}V-TOPO-SPOT{RET}{RET}_AECCCREATEPTMANUAL — surveyable, gets a number, drops on the right layer.'_-osnap{RET}end — transparent OSNAP set, doesn't interrupt the active drawing command.ZLock pins your cursor's elevation; draw the perimeter; ZUnlock when done. Without Z-lock you get a wavy surface no one wants.Three DAT/EM tools cover almost all linear feature work; pick based on the feature's geometry:
PSQR2D (place square, 2D) — buildings, decks, foundations, porches, sheds, garages, any right-angle structure. Auto-squares 90° corners as you collect — much faster + cleaner than freehand. Pair with ZLock for roof-level collection (constant Z).AUTOARC3D (3D auto-arc) — curves and organic linears: curbs, road edges, fences, hydro edges, tree lines, sidewalks. Streams a 3D linestring as you drive the stereo cursor._AECCDRAWFEATURELINES (Civil 3D feature line) — anything that's going into a surface as a breakline (drainage, retaining-wall toes, graded pavement edges). Has elevation-edit tools, plays nice with the TIN.Rule of thumb: right angles → PSQR2D, organic curves → AUTOARC3D, surface breakline → feature line. Don't bother with _3DPOLY or Bspline — they're worse versions of these for compilation work.
^C^C or ; — these are AutoCAD CUI conventions and arrive as literal text on a DAT/EM keypad, breaking the next prompt. Use {RET} tokens and no cancel prefix.LAYER instead of -LAYER — the dialog pops during your collection.{RET}{RET} on -LAYER{RET}SET{RET}NAME{RET}{RET} — LAYER stays open and consumes your next keypress.driver is silent, only Driver works.AUTOARC3D hits an unknown command and you're staring at an empty command line.POLE inserted 46× on V-UTIL-POWR-POLE, the layer button does both — one press switches the layer AND starts -INSERT POLE..dkf + a bitmaps/ folder ready to drop into C:\DAT-EM\Bitmaps\.datem.com/downloads-2/_AECCDRAWFEATURELINES, _AECCCREATEPTMANUAL, _AECCADDSURFBREAKLINES.The macro stops at the insertion-point prompt — on the keypad, press the button, then click where the symbol goes.
Click or drag to paint pixels. Saves as a real 24-bit BMP, gets bundled in the ZIP export.
Pick an existing project to clone (its buttons, grid size, context, and category colors). Projects you've marked with ★ are listed first — those are typically reusable starting points. The clone is a separate project; edits to it won't affect the original.
Each field below is independent — leave it on "(keep)" to skip that change. Only buttons whose macro matches the expected shape are affected (e.g. drawing-tool swap only touches buttons with a layer-set + tool macro).
Surgical layer-name replace — only touches the {RET}SET{RET}…{RET}{RET} position, not random text matches elsewhere.
Touches the -INSERT{RET}…{RET} block name only.
Replace text across 0 selected buttons. Case-sensitive.