Simplest method to export geometry from Civil 3D and import to HEC-RAS

The Civil 3D Output ribbon provides an Export to HEC-RAS button, and HEC-RAS provides an Import Geometry Data tool.  But getting river direction, river stations, banks, and cross section stations transferred right is not as easy or as obvious as it could be.  This is a method to export as completely as possible from Civil 3D and use as few fixes as possible in HEC-RAS to fix the data.
2016-08-19 Update.  It turns out my method was not quite working if you want to import banks or have everything display correctly in the Geometry Data map.  I have changed to a slightly different method that I think is more harmonious with the way Autodesk intended it to work.

Starting at 5:05, the video below is a good illustration of reversing cross sections as in steps 8 and 11 below.  And the entire video, though not produced for this post, is very closely related to this post.

Note: These were written toward Civil 3D 2016 and HEC-RAS 5.  But the general idea works with earlier Civil 3D and HEC-RAS 4.

1. Civil 3D Surface. Start with a ground surface that completely encompasses both the river alignment and the cross sections.
2. Stream alignment running downstream. Draw a stream alignment polyline (direction is not important).  Create a Civil 3D alignment from the polyline, and use the Reverse Alignment Direction tool if necessary so that the stations increase going downstream.  Having it point downstream is important so that the cross sections and banks read correctly (per long-standing convention) from left to right looking downstream.  We will address the downstream to upstream hydraulic calculations later.
3. Draw cross section polylines.  They should cross (not end at or short of) the centerline.
4. Create a section sample lines group.  After you select the alignment, a toolbox appears where you can choose to create the sample lines from polylines. The finished sample lines should all start on the left and run to the right.
   
   
5. Create bank polylines or feature lines.  Civil 3D will augment the cross sections wherever the banks cross the sample lines so that it can put the banks exactly there.
6. Export to HEC-RAS.  Use the Ribbon, Output, Export, Export to HEC-RAS tool (ExportHecRas or _AeccHecRASExport command) to save your stream geometry as Civil-3D-geometry-export or some other helpful name.  Choose the banks (left or right) as if looking downstream.
   
7. In the HEC-RAS Geometry Data editor, use File, Import Geometry Data..., GIS Format... to import the Civil-3D-geometry-export you created.  When you get to the Cross Sections and IB Nodes, STOP.
8. Rename cross sections to increase going upstream.  If you want, use the tools in the Cross Sections and IB Nodes tab to assign river stations to the sections, but DO NOT import yet. They will increase from upstream to downstream, which will make HEC-RAS calculate your stream backwards.  You may want to copy the stations to a LibreOffice (Go, Free/Libre Open Source Software!) spreadsheet, and subtract each River Station from the highest River Station.

   

   Use spreadsheet to fix cross section River Stations

   Then paste the resulting list (no reversing needed) back into the Cross Sections and IB Nodes, Import As column.
9. Import.  Now you can finish the import. 
10. Check XS directions.  In the Geometric Data, View, View Options, Cross Section Properties area, turn on the XS Direction Arrows check box. Verify that your cross sections run left to right (looking downstream) and your banks are in the right places.

    

    This stream has its narrower bank on the left, imported correctly. XS arrows point from left to right.
11. Move reach lengths.  In the HEC-RAS Geometry Data editor, use Tables, Reach Lengths to cut and paste the lengths upward one section so that the zero length is at the bottom.

    

    Move reach lengths upward one section so bottom XS has zero lengths.

12. Reverse stream arrow if pointing upstream.  In the Geometric Data editor, use the GIS Tools, Reach Invert Lines Table.., Reverse Order button to change the direction of the river to point downstream if it is pointing upstream (which is the case as of the versions of Civil 3D I have).
13.  Verify that your profile looks right and runs upward to the right.

    

    Profile runs upward to the right

    Please comment below if you have any questions or suggestions/updates.

And finally a conscientious plea: Go hug and thank a family member and then move your money from a bank to a credit union.