Think Outside of the Lot

The reason for using sites is to separate objects of the same type from interacting with each other. For example, you may have a set of parcels that represent impervious areas for drainage calculations. In the same location, you may have an overlay of parcels representing property boundaries. By keeping these items on separate sites, you will be able to keep area information separate.

Dynamic area labels are useful for delineating and analyzing soil boundaries; paving, open space, and wetlands areas; and any other region enclosed with a boundary.

Like all Civil 3D objects, parcels utilize styles. With parcel styles, you can assign different layers, colors, hatch patterns, and other graphical properties to the parcel objects to differentiate between parcel types.

The default styles for the parcels and its labeling are defined within the Site Parcel Properties dialog that you can access by right-clicking the Parcels branch of the selected site in Prospector and then selecting the Properties option. On the Composition tab shown in Figure 5.1, besides the default styles, you can also define the order the styles are graphically displayed and the default user-defined property classification.

The styles can be assigned individually for each of the parcels using their properties dialog that you can access by right-clicking the name of the desired parcel and selecting Properties.

1. Information Tab The Information tab of the dialog shown in Figure 5.2 allows you to assign a specific style to the parcel. Pay attention to the option Use Name Template In Parcel Style because once this is checked, the naming template of the parcel is set to use the style and a custom sequencing that is managed within the Settings tab of Toolspace.
2. Composition TabThe Composition tab allows you to assign an area label style to the parcel, as well as look at the data defined within the Parcel Statistics section.
3. Analysis Tab The Analysis tab displays the selected analysis that was performed on the parcel, and within the Calculation settings the Point Of Beginning setting for this analysis is predefined. You can change the Point Of Beginning setting by using the selection box, and you can even define whether the processing should be done in a reverse order.
4. User Defined Properties Tab The User Defined Properties tab allows you to assign values to the parcel for stock-defined properties or custom ones defined for parcels within the Settings tab of Toolspace.

Next, it's important to understand how site geometry objects react to one another. Figure 5.3 shows a typical parcel that might represent a property boundary.

When an alignment is drawn and placed in the same site as the property boundary, the parcel splits into two parcels, as shown in Figure 5.4.

You must plan ahead to create meaningful sites based on interactions between the desired objects. For example, if you want a road centerline, a road right-of-way (ROW) parcel, and the lots in a subdivision to react to one another, they need to be in the same site (see Figure 5.5).

The alignment (or road centerline), ROW parcel, and lots all relate to one another. A change in the centerline of the road should prompt a change in the ROW parcel and the subdivision lots.

If you'd like to avoid the interaction between site geometry objects, place them in different sites. Figure 5.6 shows an alignment that has been placed in a different site from the boundary parcel. Notice that the alignment doesn't split the boundary parcel.

It's important that only objects that are intended to react to each other be placed in the same site. For example, in Figure 5.7 you can see parcels representing both subdivision lots and soil boundaries. Because it wouldn't be meaningful for a soil boundary parcel segment to interrupt the area or react to a subdivision lot parcel, the subdivision lot parcels have been placed in a Subdivision Lots site, and the soil boundaries have been placed in a Soil Boundaries site.

If you didn't realize the importance of site topology, you might create both your subdivision lot parcels and your soil boundary parcels in the same site and find that your drawing looks similar to Figure 5.8. This figure shows the soil boundary segments dividing and interacting with subdivision lot parcel segments, producing unintended modifications to those parcels.

Another way to avoid site geometry problems is to do site-specific tasks in different drawings and use a combination of external references and data references to share information. For example, you could place soil boundaries in one drawing file and subdivision lots in another drawing file and then use external references to show both drawings together.

You should always consider keeping your legal site plan in its own drawing. Because of the interactive and dynamic nature of Civil 3D parcel objects, it can be easy to accidentally modify a parcel segment when you meant to modify a manhole and unintentionally edit a portion of your plat.

You'll see additional examples and drawing divisions later in this chapter, as well as in Chapter 16, “Advanced Workflows.”

If you decide to have sites in the same drawing, here are some sites you may want to create. These suggestions are meant to be used as a starting point. Use them to help find a combination of sites that works for your projects.

1. Roads and Lots This site could contain road centerlines, ROWs, platted subdivision lots, open space, adjoining parcels, utility lots, and other aspects of the final legal site plan.
2. Grading Feature lines and grading objects are considered part of site geometry. If you're using these tools, you could look into making at least one site for them. You may even find it useful to have several grading sites.
3. Easements If you'd like to use parcels to manage, analyze, and annotate your easements, you may consider creating a separate site for easements.
4. Impervious Areas If you'd like to use parcels to manage, analyze, and annotate paved areas, a separate site will be useful. Drainage areas can be tracked using a separate object called a catchment, so there is no need to create a site for drainage areas. You can read more about catchments in the bonus chapter, “Storm and Sewer Analysis,” found on this book's web page, www.sybex.com/go/masteringcivil3d2016.
5. SoilsMany projects require knowledge of the different soil types present on the site. You will want soils in a separate site so that their boundaries don't interact with other objects in the drawing.

As you learn new ways to take advantage of alignments, parcels, and grading objects, you may find additional sites that you'd like to create at the beginning of a new project.

Creating a New Site

You can create a new site in Prospector. You'll find the process easier if you define the needed sites at the beginning of your project and create those sites right away—or, better yet, have them defined as part of your Civil 3D template. You can always add or delete sites later in the project, if needed.

You can access the Sites collection in Prospector, along with the other Civil 3D objects in your drawing.

The following exercise will lead you through creating a new site that you can use for creating subdivision lots:

1. Open the 0501_CreateSite.dwg (0501_CreateSite_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page at www.sybex.com/go/masteringcivil3d2016.

   Note that the drawing contains alignments and the boundary for a future parcel, as shown in Figure 5.9.

   

2. On the Prospector tab of Toolspace, go to Sites.
3. Right-click the Sites collection and select New to open the Site Properties dialog.
4. On the Information tab of the Site Properties dialog, enter Subdivision Lots for the name of your site.
5. Confirm that the settings on the 3D Geometry tab match what is shown in Figure 5.10.

   

   As you create parcels, Civil 3D will automatically number them for you. The values in the Numbering tab are the starting point. Note that there is a Site Display Mode property that you can use either to have the parcel data drawn at the elevation or to have all the data drawn at the elevation specified in the Site Elevation box.

6. Confirm that both values on the Numbering tab are set to 1. Click OK.
7. Expand the Sites collection on the Prospector tab of Toolspace, and note that your Subdivision Lots site appears on the list, as shown in Figure 5.11.

   

   You can repeat the process for all the sites you anticipate needing over the course of the project.

   Please note that you also have the option of creating a new site when a parcel-creation command is issued within the Parcel Layout Tools toolbar or when parcels are created from objects.

8. Save and close the drawing.

If you would like to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0501_CreateSite_FINISHED.dwg (0501_CreateSite_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Using Parcel Creation Tools

When you don't have existing lines to work with, the best option is to draw parcel segments using the tools in the Parcel Layout Tools toolbar. Figure 5.14 shows the many commands available to you.

Although you may never have thought of things such as wetland areas or easements as parcels in the past, you can take advantage of the parcel tools to assist in labeling, stylizing, and analyzing these features for your plans.

This exercise will teach you how to create a parcel representing wetlands using the transparent commands that you got used to in previous chapters and the Draw Tangent-Tangent With No Curves tool from the Parcel Layout Tools toolbox:

1. Open the 0503_WetlandsParcel.dwg (0503_WetlandsParcel_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.

   Note that this drawing has several alignments and parcels. For the wetland point data, you will import them from a LandXML file using the tools you learned in Chapter 2, “Survey.”

2. Go to the Insert tab and from the Import panel select the LandXML import option.
3. Browse and select to import the file 0503_WetlandParcelData.xml.
4. Click Open, accept the defaults, and click OK.

   The point data should be imported and ready to be used for parcel definition.

5. Right-click the Sites branch of Prospector, create a new site called Wetlands, and click OK to go to the next step.
6. On the Home tab Create Design panel, choose Parcel Parcel Creation Tools.

   The Parcel Layout Tools toolbar appears.
   

7. Click the Draw Tangent-Tangent With No Curves tool on the Parcel Layout Tools toolbar.

   The Create Parcels – Layout dialog appears.
   

8. From the drop-down menus, select Wetlands, Wetland, and Name Square Foot & Acres (or Name Square Meter Hectares) in the Site, Parcel Style, and Area Label Style selection boxes, respectively.

   Keep the default settings for all other options.

9. Click OK.
10. At the Specify start point: prompt, click the Point Number Transparent command available in the Transparent Commands Toolbar (or type ‘PN ↲ at the command prompt).
    
11. At the Enter Point Number: prompt, enter 1-11,1 ↲.

    You will see a line form through the wetland boundary points in the northwest corner of the project and immediately form the parcel.

12. Press Esc once to exit the transparent command and press Esc a second time to complete the parcel.
13. Press Enter to start a new lot line. Then repeat steps 10 through 12 for the other wetland points using points 12 through 22, entering 12-22,12 for the transparent point input.
14. Press Esc three times to exit the command.

    Your drawing should look similar to Figure 5.15.

    

    To illustrate how to change the styles that are in use on a parcel, you will next change the parcel style and the area selection label style.

15. Select the northern wetland parcel's area label. From the Parcel contextual tab Modify panel, click the Parcel Properties icon.

    The Parcel Properties dialog appears.

16. On the Information tab, select Mitigated Wetland from the drop-down menu in the Object Style selection box and then click Apply to observe the change.

    Remain in the Parcel Properties dialog. The parcel hatch pattern will change from a full hatch to one that follows the inside of the parcel perimeter.

17. To change the parcel area label style, switch to the Composition tab in the Parcel Properties dialog.
18. From the Area Selection Label Style pull-down, select Name Area & Perimeter, and click OK. Press Esc to deselect the parcel.
19. Select the south wetland parcel by clicking its area label. From the Parcel contextual tab Modify panel, click Parcel Properties, as you did in step 15.
20. In the Composition tab, change the Area Selection Label Style setting to Parcel Name and click OK.
21. Save and close the drawing.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0503_WetlandsParcel_FINISHED.dwg (0503_WetlandsParcel_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Your parcels will look like Figure 5.16.

Creating a Right-of-Way Parcel

The Create ROW tool creates ROW parcels on either side of an alignment based on your specifications. The Create ROW tool can be used only when alignments are placed on the same site as the boundary parcel. The resulting ROW parcel will look similar to Figure 5.17.

The Create ROW tool includes the following options:

• Offset distance from alignment
• Fillet or chamfer cleanup at parcel boundaries
• Alignment intersections

Figure 5.18 shows an example of chamfered cleanup at alignment intersections.

Once the ROW parcel is created, it's no different from any other parcel. It should be noted that the ROW parcel doesn't maintain a dynamic relationship with the alignment that created it. A change to the alignment will require the ROW parcel to be edited or, more likely, re-created.

This exercise teaches you how to use the Create ROW tool to automatically place a ROW parcel for each alignment on your site:

1. Open the 0504_CreateROWParcel.dwg (0504_CreateROWParcel_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.

   Note that this drawing has some alignments on the same site as the boundary parcel, resulting in several smaller parcels between the alignments and boundary.

2. On the Home tab Create Design panel, choose Parcel Create Right Of Way.
3. At the Select parcels: prompt, pick all existing parcels by selecting each of their area labels.

   On selection, feedback is provided through a change in the way the selected parcels display.

4. Press ↲ to stop picking parcels.

   The Create Right Of Way dialog appears.

5. Expand the Create Parcel Right Of Way branch, and enter 22.5' (7 m) as the value for Offset From Alignment.
6. Expand the Cleanup At Parcel Boundaries branch.
7. Change the Cleanup Method setting to None.
8. Expand the Cleanup At Alignment Intersections branch.
9. Enter 25' (8 m) as the value for Fillet Radius At Alignment Intersections.
10. Select Fillet from the drop-down menu in the Cleanup Method selection box.
11. Verify that the Create Right Of Way dialog matches Figure 5.19.

    

12. Click OK to dismiss the dialog and create the ROW parcels. Exit the command by pressing Esc.
13. Save the drawing, but keep it open for the next exercise.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0504_CreateROWParcel_FINISHED.dwg (0504_CreateROWParcel_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

1. Your drawing should look similar to Figure 5.20.

Adding a Cul-de-Sac Parcel

In this section you will add a cul-de-sac at the end of ROAD G and one at the end of the ROAD H alignment layout. Although drawing the cul-de-sac requires only basic drafting techniques, there are numerous steps. To save time, a block will be provided so that you don't have to draw it yourself. After inserting this block, you will convert its components into a parcel. This exercise also introduces some editing tools.

You will need to have completed the previous exercise before continuing or open the finished version of the drawing.

1. Continue working in the drawing from the previous exercise or open 0504_CreateROWParcel_FINISHED.dwg (0504_CreateROWParcel_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available on the book's website.
2. Locate 0504_CulDeSac.dwg (0504_CulDeSac_METRIC.dwg) in the chapter's directory and insert the file using the settings shown in Figure 5.21.

   

3. From the Home tab Create Design panel, expand Parcel Create Parcel From Objects.
   
4. At the Select lines, arcs, or polylines to convert into parcels or [Xref]: prompt, select the two polylines that represent the outside of the cul-de-sac and press ↲.
5. In the Create Parcels – From Objects dialog, verify the following settings:
   • Site is set to Subdivision Lots.
   • Parcel Style is set to Property.
   • Area Label Style is set to Name Square Foot & Acres (Name Square Meter & Hectares).
   • Erase Existing Entities is checked.
6. Click OK.

   Your drawing should look similar to Figure 5.22.

   

   Both cul-de-sacs are now defined as parcels, but there are some extra lines that need to be taken care of. Let's see how to clean this up a bit.

7. Change the drawing scale to 1” = 20' (1:250).

   This will cause the parcel area labels to scale down, making the next few steps easier.

8. From the Home tab Create Design panel, expand Parcel Parcel Creation Tools.

   The Parcel Layout Tools toolbar opens.

9. Select the Delete Sub-Entity tool.
   
10. At the Select subentity to remove: prompt, select the right of way that interferes with the cul-de-sac, as shown in Figure 5.23. Apply the selected edits to both cul-de-sacs.

    

11. Press Esc twice to exit the command.
12. Save and close the drawing.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0504_CreateROWParcelsCDS_FINISHED.dwg (0504_CreateROWParcelsCDS_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Your cul-de-sacs are complete, as shown in Figure 5.24.

Attached Parcel Segments

Before learning about the parcel sizing tools themselves, let's discuss attached parcel segments. Parcel segments created with the precise sizing tools are called attached segments. Attached parcel segments have a start point that is attached to a frontage segment and an endpoint that is defined by the next parcel segment they encounter. Attached segments can be identified by their distinctive diamond-shaped grip at their start point and no grip at their endpoint (see Figure 5.25).

In other words, you establish their start point and their direction, but they seek another parcel segment to establish their endpoint. Figure 5.25 shows a series of attached parcel segments. You can tell the difference between their start points and endpoints because the start points have the diamond-shaped grips.

You can drag the diamond-shaped grip along the frontage to a new location, and the parcel segment will maintain its angle from the frontage. If the rear lot line is moved or erased, the attached parcel segments find a new endpoint (see Figure 5.26) at the next available parcel segment.

Parcel Sizing Settings

Before using the precise parcel sizing tools, you should understand that a number of settings affect the behavior of these tools. You can find these settings by expanding the Parcel Layout Tools toolbar, as shown in Figure 5.27. Each of these settings is discussed in detail in the following sections.

Parcel Sizing Tools

The precise sizing tools consist of the Slide Line, Swing Line, and Free Form Create tools (see Figure 5.28).

Forming Parcels from Segments

Earlier in this chapter, you saw that parcels are created only when parcel segments form a closed area (see Figure 5.45).

Parcels must always close. Whether you draw AutoCAD lines and use the Create Parcel From Objects menu command or use the parcel segment creation tools, a parcel won't form until there is an enclosed polygon. Figure 5.46 shows four parcel segments that don't close; therefore, no parcel has been formed.

There are times in surveying and engineering when parcels of land don't necessarily close when created from legal descriptions. In this case, you must work with your surveyor to perform an adjustment or find some other solution to create a closed polygon.

You also saw that even though parcels can't be erased, if you erase the appropriate parcel segments, the area contained within a parcel is assimilated into neighboring parcels. Remember that you can delete parcels if you move them to a new site and delete that site. This is an easy way to delete those parcels that are not needed in the drawing.

Parcels Reacting to Site Objects

Parcels require only one parcel segment to divide them from their neighbor (see Figure 5.47). This behavior eliminates the need for duplicate segments between parcels, and duplicate segments must be avoided.

As you saw in the section on site interaction, parcels understand their relationships to one another. When you create a single parcel segment between two subdivision lots, you have the ability to move one line and affect two parcels. Figure 5.48 shows the moved parcel segment from Figure 5.47 once the parcel segment between them has been shifted to the right. Note that both areas change in response.

A mistake that many people new to Civil 3D make is to create parcels from closed polylines, which results in a duplicate segment between parcels. Figure 5.49 shows two parcels created from two closed polylines. These two parcels may appear identical to the two shown in the previous example because they were both created from a closed polyline rectangle; however, the segment between them is actually two segments. You can notice that in the figure when the Selection Cycling toggle (Ctrl+W) is enabled.

The duplicate segment becomes apparent when you attempt to grip-edit the parcel segments. Moving one vertex from the common lot line, as shown in Figure 5.50, reveals the second segment. Also note that a sliver parcel is formed. Duplicate site geometry objects and sliver parcels make it difficult for Civil 3D to solve the site topology and can cause unexpected parcel behavior.

Creating a subdivision plat of parcels this way almost guarantees that your labeling won't perform properly and could lead to inaccurate data.

Parcels form to fill the space contained by the original outer boundary. You should always begin a parcel-division project with an outer boundary of some sort (see Figure 5.51).

You can then move road centerline alignments to the site, which divides the outer boundary parcel, as shown in Figure 5.52.

It's important to note that the boundary parcel no longer exists intact. As you subdivide this site, Parcel 1 is continually reallocated with every division. As road ROW and subdivision lots are formed from parcel segments, more parcels are created. Every bit of space that was contained in the original outer boundary is accounted for in the mesh of newly formed parcels (see Figure 5.53).

From now on, you'll consider ROW, wetlands, parkland, and open space areas as parcels, even if you didn't before. You can make custom label styles to annotate these parcels however you like, including a “no show” or none area label.

Constructing Parcel Segments with the Appropriate Vertices

Parcel segments should have natural vertices only where necessary and should have split-created vertices at all other intersections. A natural vertex, or point of intersection (PI), can be identified by picking a line, polyline, or parcel segment and noting the location of the grips (see Figure 5.54).

A split-created vertex occurs when two parcel segments touch or cross each other. Note that in Figure 5.55 the parcel segment doesn't show a grip even where each individual lot line touches the ROW parcel.

It's desirable to have as few natural vertices as possible. In the example shown in Figure 5.55, the ROW frontage line can be expressed as a single bearing and length from the end of the arc through the beginning of the next arc, as opposed to having several smaller line segments.

If the foundation geometry is drawn with a natural vertex at each lot line intersection, the resulting parcel segment won't label properly and may cause complications with editing and other functions. This subject will be discussed in more detail in the section “Labeling Spanning Segments” later in this chapter.

Parcel segments must not overhang. Spanning labels are designed to overlook the location of intersection-formed (or T-shaped) split-created vertices. However, these labels won't span a crossing-formed (X- or + [plus]-shaped) split-created vertex. Even a very small parcel segment overhang will prevent a spanning label from working and may even affect the area computation for adjacent parcels. The overhanging segment in Figure 5.56 would prevent a label from returning the full spanning length of the ROW segment it crosses.

Labeling Multiple-Parcel Segments

The following exercise will teach you how to add labels to multiple-parcel segments:

1. Open the 0509_SegmentLabels.dwg (0509_SegmentLabels_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.

   Note that this drawing contains many subdivision lot parcels.

2. On the Annotate tab Labels & Tables panel, click the Add Labels icon.
3. From the drop-down menus in the Add Labels dialog, select Parcel, Multiple Segment, Bearing Over Distance (from the Parcel Line Label Style section ), and Delta Over Length And Radius in the Feature, Label Type, Line Label Style, and Curve Label Style selection boxes, respectively, as shown in Figure 5.61.

   

4. Click Add.
5. At the Select parcel to be labeled by clicking on area label: prompt, pick the area label for Property : 100.
6. At the Label direction [CLockwise/COunterclockwise]<CLockwise>: prompt, press ↲ to accept the default and again to exit the command.

   Each parcel segment for Property : 100 should now be labeled.

7. Continue picking Property : 101 through 105 in the same manner.

   Note that segments are never given a duplicate label, even along shared lot lines.

8. Press ↲ to exit the command. Close the Add Labels dialog.
9. Save the drawing, but keep it open for the next exercise.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0509_SegmentLabels_FINISHED.dwg (0509_SegmentLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

The following exercise will show you how to edit and delete parcel segment labels:

1. Continue working in the 0509_SegmentLabels.dwg (0509_SegmentLabels_METRIC.dwg) file, or you can open 0509_SegmentLabels_FINISHED.dwg. (0509_SegmentLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.
2. Zoom in on the label along the frontage of Property : 102.
3. Select the segment label.

   You'll know your label has been picked when you see a diamond-shaped grip at the label midpoint (see Figure 5.62).

   

4. On the Labels – Parcel Segment Label contextual tab Modify panel, click Flip Label, as shown in Figure 5.63.

   

   The label flips so that the bearing component is outside the parcel and the distance component is inside.

5. On the Labels – Parcel Segment Label contextual tab Modify panel, click Reverse Label. Press Esc to clear your selection.

   The label reverses so that the bearing now reads SW instead of NE.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for several other segment labels, and note their reactions.
7. Select one of the labels along the back lot lines of parcels 100–105.
8. Once the label is picked, execute the AutoCAD Erase tool or press the Delete key.

   You will notice that the label disappears, since even though it is dynamically linked to the segment object, it acts independently as an annotation object that can be managed in the same way as other Civil 3D objects.

9. Save and close the drawing.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0509_EditSegmentLabels_FINISHED.dwg (0509_EditSegmentLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Labeling Spanning Segments

Spanning labels are used where you need a label that spans the overall length of an outside segment, such as the example in Figure 5.64.

Spanning labels require that you use the appropriate vertices, as discussed in detail in the earlier section “Constructing Parcel Segments with the Appropriate Vertices.” Spanning labels have the following requirements:

• Spanning labels can span only split-created vertices. Natural vertices will interrupt a spanning length.
• Spanning label styles must be composed to span the outside segment.
• Spanning label styles must be composed to attach the desired spanning components (such as length and direction arrow) on the outside segment (as shown previously in Figure 5.64), with perhaps a small offset.

Once you've confirmed that your geometry is sound and your label is properly composed, you're set to span. The following exercise will teach you how to add spanning labels to single-parcel segments:

1. Open 0510_SpanningLabels.dwg (0510_SpanningLabels_METRIC.dwg), available from the book's website.
2. Zoom in on the inner right-of-way parcel segment that runs from Parcel 100 through Parcel 105.
3. Change to the Annotate tab and select Add Labels Parcel Add Parcel Labels from the Labels & Tables panel.
4. From the drop-down menus in the Add Labels dialog, select Single Segment, (Span) Bearing And Distance With Crows Feet, and Delta Over Length And Radius in the Label Type, Line Label Style, and Curve Label Style selection boxes, respectively.
5. Click Add.
6. At the Select point on entity: prompt, pick somewhere near the middle of the outer parcel segment that runs from Parcel 100 through Parcel 105.

   A label that spans the full length between natural vertices appears (see Figure 5.64).

7. As time permits, create other span labels along the other inner lot lines in the project.
8. Save and close the drawing.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0510_SpanningLabels_FINISHED.dwg (0510_SpanningLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Adding Curve Tags to Prepare for Table Creation

To keep plans tidy, it is common to show labels that reference a table for curves and lines. Civil 3D parcels provide tools for creating dynamic line and curve tables. You can keep lines and curves together or create separate tables for each.

Parcel segments must be labeled before they can be used to create a table. They can be labeled with any type of label, but you'll likely find it to be best practice to create a tag-only style for segments that will be placed in a table.

The following exercise will show you how to replace curve and line labels with tag-only labels:

1. Open 0511_TagLabels.dwg (0511_TagLabels_METRIC.dwg), available from the book's website.

   Note that usually the labels along tight curves, such as the cul-de-sac, would be better represented as curve tags.

2. Change to the Annotate tab Labels & Tables panel and select Add Labels Parcel Add Parcel Labels.
3. From the drop-down menus in the Add Labels dialog, select Replace Multiple Segment; for Line Label Style, use Line Tag Only, and for Curve Label Style use Curve Tag Only.
4. Click Add. At the Select parcel to be labeled by clicking on area label: prompt, pick the area label for Parcel 5.

   Note that the line and curve labels for Parcel 5 are replaced by tag labels.

5. Repeat step 4 for Parcels 107 through 114.
6. Press ↲ to exit the command.
7. Save the drawing, but keep it open for the next exercise.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0511_TagLabels_FINISHED.dwg (0511_TagLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Now that each curve and line label has been replaced with a tag, it's desirable to have the tag numbers be sequential. The following exercise will show you how to renumber tags:

1. Continue working in the previous drawing or you can open 0511_TagLabels_FINISHED.dwg (0511_TagLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.
2. Zoom to the curve on the northwest corner of Parcel 5 (see Figure 5.65).

   

   Your curve may have a different number than the one in the figure.

3. Click one of the parcel area labels. Then from the Parcel contextual tab Labels & Tables panel, select Renumber Tags.
   
4. At the Select label to renumber tag or [Settings]: prompt, type S and then press ↲.

   The Table Tag Numbering dialog appears (see Figure 5.66).

   

5. Within the Table Tag Renumbering branch, change the value in the Line Starting Number and Curves Starting Number selection boxes to 100 and click OK.
6. At the Select label to renumber tag or [Settings]: prompt, click the curve tag label at the northwest corner of Parcel 5.

   The command line may say Current tag number is being used, press return to skip to next available or [Create duplicate], in which case you should type C ↲ to create a duplicate.

7. Continue clicking curve tag labels working east and then south.

   As you do so, you'll eventually resolve all of the duplicates and end up with a sequential set of curve tag numbers increasing as you move east and then south along the lot frontages.

8. When you're finished, press ↲ to exit the command.
9. Save and close the drawing.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0511_TagLabelsRenumbered_FINISHED.dwg (0511_TagLabelsRenumbered_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.

Creating a Table for Parcel Segments

The following exercise demonstrates how to create a table from line and curve tags:

1. Open 0512_SegmentTable.dwg (0512_SegmentTable_METRIC.dwg), available from the book's website.
2. Select a parcel area label. From the Parcel contextual tab Labels & Tables panel, select Add Tables Add Segments.
   
3. In the Table Creation dialog, use the one and only option from the drop-down menu in the Table Style selection box.
4. In the Select By Label Or Style area of the dialog, click the Apply check box for the Parcel Curve: Curve Tag Only and Line Tag Only entry under Label Style Name.

   You might have to make the style name column wider to make it easier to pick up the name for the previously mentioned styles.

5. For both label styles, change the Selection Rule to Add Existing And New.

   The Add Existing And New option will ensure that the table updates as more labels fitting this criteria are added to the drawing. Keep the default values for the remaining options. The dialog should look like Figure 5.67.

   

6. Click OK.
7. At the Select upper left corner: prompt, pick a location in your drawing for the table. If the parcel area label is still selected, press Esc to deselect it.

   A segment table appears, shown in Figure 5.68. You will notice that the elements are not sorted in the table. You can enable sorting within the Data Properties tab of the Table Style dialog, which you can access by selecting the table, right-clicking, and choosing the Edit Table Style option from the context menu.

   

8. Save and close the drawing.

If you want to see what the drawing should look like at this point, you can open 0512_SegmentTable_FINISHED.dwg (0512_SegmentTable_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's website.