Essentials of Points and User-Defined Properties in Autodesk Civil 3D

11/28/2005-5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Room:S. Hemispheres (Salon III) (The Dolphin) Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Orlando, Florida Essentials of Points and User-Defined Properties in Autodesk Civil 3D Robert Todd - Autodesk CV15-2 We'll cover the features and benefits of the Point functionality in Civil 3D including import/export of point files, creating and using user-defined properties, point groups, and display control. About the Speaker: Robert is a product design engineer at Autodesk responsible for designing features for Autodesk Land Desktop, Autodesk Civil Design, Autodesk Survey, and Autodesk Civil 3D. He is a licensed professional Land Surveyor in New Hampshire with 10 years of experience with land development projects prior to joining Autodesk. Robert's educational background includes both survey engineering, computer programming, and software design. rob.todd@autodesk.com

Table of Contents Essentials of Points and User-Defined Properties in Autodesk Civil 3D... 1 Table of Contents...2 Concepts of Civil 3D Point Groups and Points... 3 Point Groups... 3 Point Group Properties... 3 Points... 3 Point Properties... 4 Point Display Components... 5 Point Style...5 Point Label Style... 5 Point Group Display Order... 6 Point Groups Collection... 6 _All Points Point Group... 6 Point Group Display Order... 6 Individual Point Style References... 6 Display Order of Precedence... 7 Layers... 7 Point Group Layer... 7 Individual Point Layer Reference... 7 User-Defined Properties (UDP) Definition and Management... 9 Classifications...9 User-defined Property (UDP) Attributes... 9 Sample Classifications and User-defined Properties... 13 Point Group Classification Property... 14 Importing User-Defined Property Values from External Files... 16 Point File Formats... 16 UDP User Point File Format... 16 UDP User Point Database Format... 17 Importing UDP Values... 18 Point Label Styles with User-Defined Properties... 21 Adding User-defined Properties to a Point Label Style... 21 Labeling UDP Values... 27

Concepts of Civil 3D Point Groups and Points The goals of this section are to: Describe the basic concepts of Point Groups Describe the basic concepts of Points Point Groups The point group is a database object that contains a list of points that share a common set of properties. The common set of properties is known as the point group s query. The point group s query can be as simple as a point property that matches a specific Raw Description, or a more complex to include conditional criteria such as a specific Raw Description AND an Elevation of a certain value. As points are added or removed from the drawing, a point group s list of points (resulting from its query) may be affected and will require updating to contain additional points, or to remove points from its list of points. A point group is responsible for drawing its list of points. An individual point can belong to more than one point group, but can only be drawn by one point group at a time. Therefore the drawing s Point Groups collection has a notion of Display Order. The point group that is the highest in the Point Groups display order will draw the point in the case where a point belongs to more than one point group. Point Group Properties The properties of a point group are as follows: Name. This is a unique name assigned to the point group by the user. Description. This is a meaningful description that is assigned the point group. Point style. This is the point style that will be used to draw the marker of the points that contained in the point group s list of points. Point label style. This is the point label style that will be used to draw the point label of the points contained in the point group s list of points. Query. This is the criteria that determine the point group s list of points. This query can be simple (Include/Exclude OR conditions), or complex (using AND/OR/NOT set operators and <,>,<=, >=,!=). Overrides. These are parameters that will override certain properties of points contained in the point group s point list, such as Raw Description, Elevation, Point Style, and Point Label Style. Point Style and Point Label Style overrides are absolute and will always be used to draw the point regardless of styles that may be assigned to a specific point within the point group. Point list. This is the point group s list of points determined by the point group s query. Points Individual points are not database base objects (entities). They are sub-components of a point group object. The point group is responsible for drawing an individual point, such as the point marker (symbol) and the point label (Number/Name, Elevation, Description, etc). Each point within the drawing is unique. The point Number OR Name properties make the point unique, both the Number and the Name properties for each Civil 3D point must be unique. Therefore, points cannot have duplicate numbers or names within the drawing. Civil 3D will alert the user if an attempt is made to create a duplicate point number or point name.

Point Properties The following is a list of the built-in Point properties. Some of which are properties that affect point display by overriding the properties assigned to point group that may be drawing a point. Name. This property is a unique name that is assigned to the point. This property can be labeled. Number. This property is a unique number that is assigned to a point. This property can be labeled. Northing. This property is the local Y-coordinate of the point. This property can be labeled. Easting. This property is the local X-coordinate of the point. This property can be labeled. Elevation. This property is the Z-coordinate of the point. This property can be labeled. Raw Description. This property is the raw description of the point. The raw description is the original description assigned to the point and is used to match a Description Key when the point is created. This property can be labeled. Full Description. This property is the full description of a point that is derived from a Description Key. If there is no match to a description key, the full description equals the raw description. This property can be labeled. Latitude. This property is determined by the Coordinate Zone and Transformation settings applied the drawing. This property can be labeled. Longitude. This property is determined by the Coordinate Zone and Transformation settings applied the drawing. This property can be labeled. Grid Northing. This property is determined by the Coordinate Zone and Transformation settings applied the drawing. This property can be labeled. Grid Easting. This property is determined by the Coordinate Zone and Transformation settings applied the drawing. This property can be labeled. Scale Factor. This property is determined by the Coordinate Zone and Transformation settings applied the drawing. This property can be labeled. Convergence. This property is determined by the Coordinate Zone and Transformation settings applied the drawing. This property can be labeled. Point Style. This is property can override the point style assigned to the point group, unless the point group has a Point Style override. This property can be assigned to a point if a description key match occurs when the point is created. Point Label Style. This is property can override the point label style assigned to the point group, unless the point group has a Point Label Style override. This property can be assigned to a point if a description key match occurs when the point is created. Point Layer. This is property can override the layer assigned to the point group. This property can be assigned to a point if a description key match occurs when the point is created. When a point references a layer, the point display can be affected by the layer s properties. Project Version. This property is only assigned if the drawing is attached to a project and the point as been added to the project database. 4

X-Y Scale. This property is can be assigned manually of from a description key match when the point was created. This property overrides the X-Y scaling of the point marker defined by the point style. Z Scale. This property is can be assigned manually of from a description key match when the point was created. This property overrides the Z scaling of the point marker defined by the point style. Rotation. This property is can be assigned manually of from a description key match when the point was created. This property overrides the rotation of the point marker defined by the point style. Point Display Components When a point is drawn by its point group, there are two components that are drawn, the point s marker and the point s label. The display of the marker (symbol) is determined from a Point Style and the display and contents of the label are determined from a Point Label Style. Figure 1 - Point display components Point Style The point style is used to draw a marker that the point s X-Y location in the drawing. The point marker can reference an AutoCAD point mode, or can be configured to use a custom point mode, or can use a block reference. Point Label Style The point label style is used to label specific point properties of the point. The label style contains label components where each label component contains one or many point properties. The label components are attached to the point marker (feature) or relative to other label components within the label style. For example, the Point Elevation label component may be anchored to the Middle Right of the point marker; the Point Number text label component may be anchored to the Top Left of the Point Elevation label component; and the Point Description may be anchored to the Bottom Left of the Point Elevation. 5

Point Group Display Order The goal of this section is to demonstrate the Display Order of point groups to affect the display of a point when it belongs to more than one point group. Point Groups Collection This collection is where all point groups in the Civil 3D drawing are managed. A property of the Point Groups collection is display order of the point groups in the Civil 3D drawing. The order that the point groups appear in the Prospector tree view represent the display order assigned to the collection of the points groups. The point group that appears first in the tree has the highest display order. _All Points Point Group In an empty Civil 3D drawing, as soon as a point is created, the _All Points point group is created and the point is added to it. All subsequent creation of points, using point creation command or importing of point from point files, the points are added to the _All Points point group. This point group will always be present to contain all the points in the drawing even if no other point groups are created. _All Points is a built-in point group which has a limited set of properties that can be modified by the user. Name. This property is read-only. Description. This property is read-only. Point style. This property can be modified by the user. If a point is not drawn by another point group, or is not referencing a point style, this point style will be used to draw the point. Point label style. This property can be modified by the user. If point is not drawn by another point group, or is not referencing a point label style, this point label style will be used. Point group layer. This property can be modified by the user. Query. This property is read-only and is set to always include all points in the Civil 3D drawing. Overrides. These properties can be modified by the user. The _All Points point group is always contained in the Civil 3D and cannot be deleted. Point Group Display Order Point groups draw point in an order that is set on the Point Groups collection in the Prospector palette of the Civil 3D Toolspace. The display order determines the order in which the point groups draw their respective points. A point can only be drawn by one point group at a time. If a point belongs to more than one point group, the point group with the highest display order is the point group that will draw the point. The point group display order also determines the display of overridden values that have been applied to a point group, such as Elevation and Raw Description. Individual Point Style References An individual point in the drawing can directly reference a point style and a point label style. These styles can be manually assigned to a point using the point command settings, by editing the point after it has been created, or the can be automatically assigned to point via a Description Key is a description key code matches a point s raw description when it is created.

If a point directly references a point style and point label style, these styles are used to draw the point, unless the point group has a Point Style or Point Label Style Override set. An individual point does not have to reference a point style or point label style. If there is no direct reference to either, the point will be drawn using the point group styles. Display Order of Precedence The _All Points point group is the default built-in point group and always resides in a Civil 3D drawing that contains points. Therefore, when a new point group is created it is automatically placed at the top of the display order above the _All Points point group. The following describes the order of precedence in which point styles and point label styles are used to display a point in a Civil 3D drawing. 1. Point group override styles. This is the highest order of precedence. If a point group is at the top of the display order; AND has a point style or point label style override; the overridden styles will draw the point. 2. Individual point style references. This is the second highest order of precedence. If a point group is at the top of the display order; AND if a point group does not have style overrides; AND if a point that directly references a point style or a point label style; the referenced styles will draw the point. 3. Point group default styles. This is the third highest order of precedence. If a point group is at the top of the display order; AND if a point group does not have style overrides; AND if a point does not directly reference a point style or a point label style; the point group s default styles will draw the point. 4. The _All Points point group. This is the fourth and lowest order of precedence. When a point does not belong any other point group, the _All Points point group will draw the point using is current point style and point label style settings. Layers Point Group Layer Layers can also affect the visibility of points. As mentioned above, the point group is the actual database object (AutoCAD entity) and its points are subcomponents of the point group. The point group as a layer property and this value is where point group object resides. If point group s layer is frozen, the points in the point group are not displayed. If a point group s layer is turned off, the points in the point group are not displayed. Individual Point Layer Reference An individual point can directly reference a layer. A layer can be assigned to a point by the following methods: Edit Points command. In the Point Editor a point can be assigned a layer in Point Layer column. A point layer can be to set to <None> here also which will remove the point s layer reference. Description Key. When a point is created and its raw description matches a description key, the layer defined in the description key will be assigned to the point. Create Points command. A default layer can be specified when creating points. When a point is directly referencing a layer the behavior will occur when freezing or turning off the its point group layer: 7

Point group layer is frozen. If a point directly references a layer and its point group s layer is frozen, the point will not display. Point group layer is turned off. If a point directly references a layer and its point group s layer is turned off, the point will display. 8

User-Defined Properties (UDP) Definition and Management The goals of this section are to: Demonstrate how to mange classifications of user-defined properties Demonstrate how to define user-defined properties Demonstrate how to assign a User-defined Properties Classification to a point group Classifications Classifications are named folders to group user-defined properties together that pertain to a specific purpose or use. A classification and its user-defined properties are managed in the in Settings tab of the Civil 3D Toolspace of the open drawing. Figure 2 - User-defined Property Classifications To create a new classification, select the User-Defined Property Classifications Right-click New command. Figure 3 - Create a new UDP classification User-defined Property (UDP) Attributes Once a named classification has been created, you can start to define user-defined properties within it. To create a new UDP, select the <User-defined Property> Right-click New command.

Figure 4 Create a new UDP This command displays the New User-Defined Property dialog. Figure 5 - New User-Defined Property dialog Within this dialog the following attributes can be assigned to a new user-defined property. Name. This is the name that the user assigned to the UDP. NOTE: A naming convention is suggested to be able to efficiently select a UDP for later use in composing point file formats, and point label styles. For example, MH_Material, MH_Diameter, MH_Pipe In Invert, etc. 10

Description. This property describes the intended use of the UDP in detail. Property field types. o Basic types. Basic types are as follows. o Boolean. This type is used for True/False values. If this type is selected, the user can specify a true value such as Yes, and a false value such as No. Double. This type is used for generic values of real numbers, such 100.01 and -100.01. Unitless Ambient Settings are used for formatting this type. Enumeration. This type is used to define index based values, such as the following enumeration example of Condition: 0. Excellent 1. Good 2. Fair 3. Poor Integer. This type is used for generic integer values, such as 0, 1, -100, etc., and is not formatted. String. This type is used for alphanumeric character values, such as a Common Name, Genus Name, and Species Name user-defined properties of a tree. Built-in types. Theses are all of type Double, but take advantage of the input and output formatting of Ambient Settings of the Drawing Settings. The ambient settings can be accessed by the selecting Civil 3D Toolspace Settings tab <Open drawing> item Right-click Edit Drawing Settings Edit Drawing Settings dialog Ambient Settings tab 11

Figure 6 - Ambient Settings NOTE: Because these types are all of type Double, they can be changed to another built-in Double type in the future, but any existing assigned values will appear differently due to formatting of the Ambient Settings. The built-in types are as follows: Angle. This type is formatted by the Angle property category of the Ambient Settings. Area. This type is formatted by the Area property category of the Ambient Settings. Azimuth. This type is formatted by the Azimuth property category of the Ambient Settings. Coordinate. This type is formatted by the Coordinate property category of the Ambient Settings. Dimension. This type is formatted by the Dimension property category of the Ambient Settings. Direction. This type is formatted by the Direction property category of the Ambient Settings. Distance. This type is formatted by the Distance property category of the Ambient Settings. Elevation. This type is formatted by the Elevation property category of the Ambient Settings. 12

Grade/Slope. This type is formatted by the Grade/Slope property category of the Ambient Settings. Grid Coordinate. This type is formatted by the Grid Coordinate property category of the Ambient Settings. Latitude. This type is formatted by the Latitude property category of the Ambient Settings. Longitude. This type is formatted by the Longitude property category of the Ambient Settings. Percent. This type is formatted by the Percent property category of the Ambient Settings. Station. This type is formatted by the Station property category of the Ambient Settings. Volume. This type is formatted by the Volume property category of the Ambient Settings. Lower bound. This option is enabled if the type is of Integer or Double, and provides the ability to check against a minimum value. An assigned value must be greater than the lower bound, or if the Inclusive option is checked, the assigned value must be greater than or equal to the lower bound. Upper bound. This option is enabled if the type is of Integer or Double, and provides the ability to check against a maximum value. An assigned value must be less than the upper bound, or if the Inclusive option is checked, the assigned value must be less than or equal to the upper bound. Default value. Check this option if you want to assign this to all points in the drawing. Sample Classifications and User-defined Properties See below for some examples of classifications. Classification: Manhole Structures User-defined Property Type Example values MH_Material String Concrete MH_Diameter Dimension 48 MH_Pipe In Invert Elevation 96.38 MH_Pipe In Diameter Dimension 12 MH_Pipe In Material String Reinforced Concrete MH_Pipe Out Invert Elevation 96.28 MH_Pipe Out Diameter Dimension 12 MH_Pipe Out Material String Reinforced Concrete MH_Sump Depth Dimension 24 Classification: Monuments User-defined Property Type Example values 13

Monument_Description String Granite bound found at SE corner of Monument_Category Enumeration Benchmark, Central, Reference, Rural, Standard Traverse, Urban Standard Traverse Monument_Condition Enumeration Damaged, Destroyed, Disturbed, Not Accessible, Not Found, Not Specified, Reliable, Removed, Submerged, Temporary, Threatened, Unstable Monument_Purpose Enumeration Boundary, Natural Boundary, Origin, Traverse, Witness Monument_State Enumeration Adopted, Disturbed, Replaced, Original, New Monument_Type Enumeration Disk, Nail, Not Monumented, Other, Peg, Pin, Plaque, Plug, Post, Spike, Tube, Unknown Classification: Trees User-defined Property Type Example values Tree_Common Name String Eastern White Pine Tree_Genus String Pinus Tree_Species String Strobus Tree_Diameter Dimension 24 Tree_Total Height Distance 48 Tree_Crown Height Distance 20 Tree_Crown Diameter Distance 40 Tree_Condition Enumeration Excellent, Good, Poor, Dead, Point Group Classification Property When user-defined properties are defined in a classification, a data column is automatically appended to the built-in data columns in the Points item list view in Prospector. Figure 7 - Points list with appended UDP data columns To make the management of assigned UDP values more efficient, an existing named UDP classification can be assigned to a point group. 14

Figure 8 - Assigning a UDP classification to a point group Each UDP within the assigned classification becomes a data column appended to the end of the point group s built-in data columns, displayed in the point group s point list view. Figure 9 - Point group point list view with UDP columns The point group s built-in and UPD column views can be configured and is saved in the Windows Registry database under the current user. Therefore, each time the drawing is opened in a Civil 3D session, the point group s point list view will have the same column configuration. 15

Importing User-Defined Property Values from External Files The goals of this section are to: Demonstrate how to compose Point File Formats for use with User-defined Properties Demonstrate how to import User-defined properties into the current Civil 3D drawing Point File Formats Point file formats can be used to import user-defined property values from an external source into the drawing and assigning them to points. When composing a point file format to support userdefined properties, the classification and its user-defined properties must be defined first. It is important to note that when importing UDP values into a drawing with existing points is that the external point file should only contain one point identifier column is common with the existing points in the drawing. The point identifier column identifies which points in the drawing will be assigned the UDP values being imported. The point identifier column can be either the Point Number or Point Name property. UDP User Point File Format When composing a user point file, be sure to match the user-defined properties with the column order in the external point file. Figure 10 - Comma delimited UDP point file content To create a new user point file format select the Point File Formats Right-click New command. Figure 11 - New point file format command This command will display the Point File Formats dialog. Select the User Point File option.

Figure 12 - Point File Formats dialog The first column of the point file format must be a point identifier, such as Point Number or Point Name, and the remain columns must match the order that they appear in the external point file. Figure 13 - UDP point file format UDP User Point Database Format User-defined properties can also be imported from a Microsoft Access database (MDB). Figure 14 - UDP values in a Microsoft Access database To create a new user point file format select the Point File Formats Right-click New command. This command will display the Point File Formats dialog. Select the User Point Database option. When composing a user point database format, first load the external database, then be sure to match the user-defined properties with the table and column order in the external database. 17

Figure 15 - UDP point database format Importing UDP Values To import UDP values in from an external file you use the Import Points command located on the Create Points window. Select the Points Right-click Create command. Figure 16 - Create points command in Prospector The Create Points dialog is displayed. The Import Points command is the right most command button. Figure 17 - Import Points command on Create Points window When the Import Points command button is selected the Import Points dialog is displayed. 18

Select either a point file format or a point database format that was composed for use with userdefined properties. Then select the source file that matches the previously selected point file or point database format. Figure 18 - Import Points dialog After selecting OK from the Import Points dialog, the Duplicate Point Number dialog will be displayed. This normal behavior due to the fact that the external file contains a point identifier column that matches existing points in the drawing. When importing UDP values from an external file it is recommend that, other than the point identifier column, the file only contain UDP values, but not required. This makes the assignment of UDP values easier due to the fact that built-in properties are not affected by the Import Points command. If this is the first time that UDP values are being imported into the drawing, select the Merge from the Resolution options. If existing UDP values are being updated, select Overwrite from the Resolution options. Then check the Apply to all duplicate point numbers option so that this dialog does not appear again for each duplicate point. 19

Figure 19 - Duplicate Point Number dialog To view the UDP values that have been imported, assign the UDP classification, that pertained to the file that was previously imported, to an existing point group from the Points Groups collection item list view. Figure 20 - Assigning a UDP classification to a point group Select the point group that was assigned the UDP classification and the UDP data columns will appear with the UDP values that were imported. Figure 21 - Imported UDP values 20

Point Label Styles with User-Defined Properties This section describes how to do the following: How to compose a point label style with User-defined Properties How to label points with user-defined property values Point label styles can be used to label user-defined property values that have been assigned to points in the drawing. When composing a point label style to support user-defined properties, the classification and its user-defined properties must be defined first. Adding User-defined Properties to a Point Label Style To create a point label style with user-defined properties: Select the Label Styles Right-click New command to display the Label Style Composer dialog. Figure 22 - New point label style command In the Label Style Composer dialog, select the Information tab to modify the style name and description to identify its use with user-defined properties.

Figure 23 - Label Style Composer dialog/information tab In the Label Style Composer dialog, select the Layout tab to compose the label style components. Figure 24 - Label Style Composer dialog/layout tab 22

On the Layout tab, select the Text label component button to create a new text label component to contain a user-defined property. Figure 25 - Text label component button menu item In the General category, modify the Name property to assign a meaningful name to the text component. Figure 26 Text component Name property In the General category, modify the Anchor Component property to specify which component this new component will be anchored to, such as the point marker (Feature), or another existing label component. Figure 27 Text component Anchor Component property In the General category, modify the Anchor Point property to specify where the new text component will attach to the anchor component specified above. Figure 28 Text component Anchor Point property In the Text category, select the contents [ ] button to display the Text Component Editor dialog where you can specify a user-defined property and its formatting. 23

Figure 29 - Text component Contents property In the Text Component Editor, select the existing text. The existing text can be deleted, or leave it selected so it can be updated with new content. Figure 30 Selected text in Text Component Editor From the Properties combo box drop-list, select the user-defined property that is to be added to the label style. Figure 31 Select UDP from Properties combo box From the Properties tab, change the appropriate Modifier values, such as Unit, Precision, Rounding, etc., and then select the arrow button to add the user-defined property 24

Figure 32 Add UDP to Text Component Editor Select the arrow button to add the user defined property and it s formatting to the text component editor. The updated text will appear as follows. Figure 33 UDP contents in Text Component Editor Edit the text in the text component editor to add prefix or suffix text that you want to appear on the text component. The Format tab can be selected to specify an existing AutoCAD Text Style, Font, Justification, Color, etc. 25

Figure 34 Formatting UDP in Text Component Editor Upon completion of the text formatting, select OK to return to the Label Style Composer dialog. In the Text category, specify the Text Height in plotted units, Rotation Angle, and Attachment properties. The Attachment property is the location on the text component where it will be attached to the Anchor Point of the Anchor Component. Figure 35 UDP text component Attachment property Change other appropriate component properties; add other text components following the above steps, then select OK to save the change in the point label style. 26

Labeling UDP Values To label a UDP value, a point label style with text components containing user-defined properties must exist in the drawing. To label UDP values: Select the point group in Prospector that has the UDP classification assigned to that is to be labeled; then right-click and select the Properties command to display the Point Group Properties dialog. Figure 36 Point Group Properties command In the Point Group Properties dialog, select the Overrides tab. 27

Figure 37 Point Group Properties Overrides tab Check the Point Label Style property, and then click in the Override column of the Point Label Style property to display the Point Label Style dialog. In the Point Label Style dialog, select the point label style that can be used to label the UDP values assigned to the points in the point group. 28

Figure 38 Point Label Style override Select OK in the Point Label Style dialog to return to the Point Group Properties dialog. Select OK in the Point Group Properties dialog to return to the drawing session. In the point group s point list view, select a point, then right-click and select the Zoom to command to see the labeled user-defined properties. Figure 39 Selected Point Zoom To command 29

The selected point now displays the labeled UDP values. The label appearance is according to the user-defined properties defined in the point label style, which was assigned to the point group s point label style override. Figure 40 Label UDP values 30