General Labels

On the Settings tab, you'll see a complete list of objects that Civil 3D uses to build its design model. Each of them has special features unique to the object being described, but there are some common features as well. The General collection contains settings and styles that are applied to various objects across the entire product.

The General collection serves as the catchall for styles that apply to multiple objects and for settings that apply to no objects. For instance, the Civil 3D General Note object doesn't really belong with the Surface or Pipe collections. It can be used to relate information about those objects, but because it can also relate to something like “Don't Dig Here!” or a northing-easting of an arbitrary location, it falls into the General category.

The Label Styles collection allows Civil 3D users to place general text notes or label single entities while still taking advantage of the flexibility and scaling properties. The various label styles shown in Figure 18.1 can give you some idea of their uses.

Label styles are a critical part of producing plans with Civil 3D. In this chapter, you'll learn how to build a new basic label and explore some of the common components that appear in every label style throughout the product.

Frequently Seen Tabs

To get into a label style, find the appropriate label type in the Settings tab of Toolspace. The Settings tab is organized into object collections. For each of the objects that can be labeled, the Label Styles branch will organize its labels based on their function, which makes it very easy to find the label style you need to edit. When you locate the desired label style, right-click the style to display Label Style menu options:

1. Edit Opens the label style for modification.
2. New Copies the label style as a child style, a style that inherits its settings from a parent.
3. Copy Creates a duplicate label style.
4. Delete Erases the label style. Visible only if the style is not is use.
5. Find References Visible only if label style is in use. Searches settings and objects and lists where label styles are in use. The result of the search is displayed in a References dialog box.
6. Replace With Visible only if label style is in use. Finds a label style in use in the drawing and replaces it with another.

All styles, regardless of type, have a few things in common:

1. Information Tab The Information tab, shown in Figure 18.2, controls the name of the style.

If desired, you can create a description. This information will appear as a tooltip as you browse through the Settings tab.

On the right side of the dialog, you will see the name of the person who originally created the style, the date when it was created, and the last person who modified the style. These names are initially pulled from the Windows login information, and only the Created By field can be edited.

1. General Tab The General tab (Figure 18.13) contains basic settings for the label style and consists of the following:
   1. Text Style This option refers to the AutoCAD text style used in the label. Text styles must already be created in the drawing.
   2. Label Visibility This option allows the label to be not shown even if applied.
   3. Display Mode Allows a label to be displayed either in a Label mode or Tag mode. This setting is available only for specific object types including lines, curves, parcels, and alignments.
   4. Layer In Chapter 1, “The Basics,” you learned that the Object Layer tab in the Drawing Settings dialog is where you configure insertion layers for object types, labels, and tables. Freezing an object layer will, of course, make any object contained on that layer disappear. The Layer setting here on the General tab allows you to specify a layer that will override the layer properties of the object layer and also add another layer for controlling visibility of specific label types. For example, the object layer for alignment labels could be set to C-ALIGN-LABL. However, Major Station label styles could be configured to place the label on C-ROAD-STAN-MAJR. When C-ALIGN-LABL is frozen, all alignment labels disappear. When C-ROAD-STAN-MAJR is frozen, only Major Station labels disappear. If this setting is left set to layer 0, then the label using this style will default to the object layer display properties.
   5. Orientation Reference This option controls how text rotation is controlled. Figure 18.3a shows the label aligned with the object. Figure 18.3b shows the text rotated to the view. Even though the view has been rotated, the text still appears parallel with the bottom of the screen. The last, and least used, option for orientation reference is the World Coordinate System option, which is shown in Figure 18.3c. The view is rotated, and the direction of the text rotates with the World Coordinate System.

1. Forced Insertion This option makes more sense in other objects and will be explored further. The Forced Insertion feature allows you to dictate the insertion point of a label on the basis of the object being labeled. Figure 18.4 shows the effects of the various options on a bearing and distance label.

1. Plan Readable When this option is enabled, text maintains the up direction in spite of view rotation. Rotating 100 labels is a tedious, thankless task, and this option handles it automatically.
2. Readability Bias This option specifies the angle at which readability kicks in. This angle is measured from the 0 degree of the x-axis that is common to AutoCAD angle measurements. When a piece of text goes past the readable bias angle, the text flips 180 degrees to maintain vertical orientation, as shown in Figure 18.5. The default Readability angle is 110. A common desired default is 90.1, which would flip any text just after passing a vertical direction.

1. Flip Anchors With Text Most users leave this setting at its default, False, and never give it another thought. Figure 18.6a shows what happens to the text insertion points when this option is set to False and readability kicks in. The SW bearing is followed by its distance as originally configured. Readability has been applied to the NW bearing because it was configured to be oriented to the object it is labeling. Without readability, the label would be upside down. Distance and bearing have been flipped individually so it appears the two values are out of order. When this setting is set to True, the distance text flips to the other side of the bearing, as shown in Figure 18.6b. You'll have the opportunity to work with this setting in a later exercise.

1. Layout Tab Each label can be made up of several components. A Label component can be text, a block, or a line. Depending on the type of label style, other options can include Reference Text, Ticks (station labels), Direction Arrow (line labels), or Text For Each (structure styles only). The top row of buttons controls the selection, creation, and deletion of these components, as shown in Figure 18.7.

1. Component NameFrom the Component Name drop-down, choose the component you want to modify. The components are listed in the order in which they were created. When you make changes to properties on the Layout tab, pay attention to which component is active. Any changes you make to the properties will apply only to the active : component. It is important to note that in the label's dragged state the displayed order reflects the order in which the components were created.
2. Create Component The Create Component button lets you add new components to : enhance your labels. A component can be Text, Line, Block, Tick, Direction Arrow, Reference Text, or Text For Each. The options will vary depending on the object you are labeling. Not every option is available in every label. For example, Text For Each is available only in structure labels.

   The ability to label one object while referencing another (reference text) is one of the most powerful labeling features of Civil 3D. This is what allows you to label a spot elevation for both an existing and a proposed surface at the same time, using the same label. Alignments, COGO points, parcels, profiles, surfaces, and survey figures can all be used as reference text. Text For Each is a type of component that can label properties of connected pipes in a structure label.

3. Copy Component The Copy Component button copies the component currently selected in the Component Name drop-down. This will be helpful when you're creating label styles that contain multiple pieces of similar information.
4. Delete Component The Delete Component button deletes components. Components that are configured as anchors for other components can be deleted, but you will receive a warning. Table tag components, found in curve, line, alignment segment, and parcel segment labels, cannot be deleted.
5. Component Draw Order The Component Draw Order button lets you shuffle components up and down within the label. This feature is especially important when you're using masks or borders as part of the label.

   Once a component is added, the component properties can be addressed one by one by starting at the top and working your way down to the bottom of the dialog. There are three groups of property types: General, Text, and Border.

The General properties consist of the following:

1. Name This option defines the name used in the Component Name drop-down and when selecting other components for anchor components. Once a component is configured as an anchor component, the name cannot be changed until the reference is removed. When you're building complicated labels, a descriptive name goes a long way.
2. Visibility When this option is set to True, the component can be seen onscreen. When a component can't be seen, you can do some cool tricks with styles, as you'll see in the “Pipe Labels” section later in this chapter.
3. Used In Available for labels of specific elements such as lines, curves, parcels, and alignments. The component can be assigned to be displayed in either Label or Tag mode.
4. Anchor Component This setting allows you to position the component relative to the feature being labeled or to another component.
5. Anchor Point The options here may vary depending on the Anchor Component setting. When the feature is being used as an Anchor component, the anchor point can be a location relative to the feature offering combinations of middle, top, and bottom vertical positions with left, right, and center horizontal positions. Line components offer start, middle, and end anchor points. Also note that for specific elements like points, pipes, and structures, there is an option to set the anchor point to the element's dimension (see the Attachment property on the Layout tab for more on anchor points).

The settings available for label layout under the Layout tab of the Label Style Composer dialog are displayed in Figure 18.8.

The Text properties consist of the following:

1. Contents This is where the information contained in the label is composed. Click the Value field to reveal an ellipsis. If the ellipsis is clicked, the Label Style Composer dialog opens to where property fields and text can be configured. Also under Contents you can find a Format tab that allows you to apply text justification and override the font used in the style among others.
2. Text Height This option determines the plotted height of the label. This setting overrides the height configured in the text style. Regardless of how the text style is configured in the label, text placed by Civil 3D is always annotative. The two viewports in Figure 18.9 show some COGO points along a road. Even when the viewport scales differ, the text is the same size. For a block component this setting will be called Block Height, while for a line component this will be the Line Length.

1. Rotation Angle, X Offset, and Y Offset These options give you the ability to adjust the placement of the component by rotating or displacing the text in an x or y direction. Set your text as close as possible using the anchors and attachments, and use the offsets as additional spacing. If border gap is used, this will affect spacing as well.
2. Attachment This option determines which of the nine points on the Label Components bounding box are attached to the anchor point. Figure 18.8 defines the place where this setting can be changed, while Figure 18.10 illustrates the relationship between the anchor points and attachments.

1. Color and Lineweight These options allow you to override the color and lineweight assigned by the layer configured on the General tab.
2. Maximum Width Some labels can be rather lengthy. Instead of letting the Label component continue indefinitely across the page, you can use Maximum Width to force word wrap after a specified plotted length. The default setting of 0.00 will not force word wrap.

The Border properties consist of the following:

1. Visibility Use this option to turn the border on and off for the component. Remember that component borders shrink to the individual component; if you're using multiple components in a label, each will have its own Border component.
2. Type This option allows you to select a rectangle, a rounded rectangle (slot), or a circle border. Figure 18.11 shows examples of the three types of borders.

1. Background Mask This option lets you determine whether linework and text behind this component are masked. This option can be handy for construction notes in place of the usual wipeout tools. The surface labels in Figure 18.11 show the background mask in action.
2. Gap This option determines the offset from the Component bounding box to the outer points on the border. Setting this to half of the text size usually creates a visually pleasing border.
3. Color, Linetype, and Lineweight These options allow you to override the display properties assigned by the layer configured on the General tab.
4. Dragged State Tab Typically, dragging a label in Civil 3D creates a leader and rearranges the text. The settings that control these two actions appear on this tab (see Figure 18.12).

   

   Many of the property types found on this tab appeared on the Layout tab, so they don't need to be defined again. There are two groups of property types: Leader and Dragged State Components.

   Settings found in the Leader properties sections include the following:

   1. Arrow Head Style This allows you to set the appearance of the leader. The same Arrow Head styles that appear in Dimension styles are available in Dragged State.
   2. Arrow Head Size This setting controls the length of the arrow head as well as the length of the landing leading to the text object.
   3. Type This option specifies the leader type. The options are Straight Leader and Spline Leader. Civil 3D labels can have only one leader.

   Settings found in the Dragged State Component properties include the following:

   1. Display In this option, you can choose Stacked Text or As Composed. The Stacked Text option will remove any blocks, ticks, lines, dimensions, or borders that are components of the label, and it will stack the Text components as a list in the order in which they were created, realign the text to horizontal, and justify based on the direction you drag. The As Composed option leaves blocks, ticks, lines, text, dimensions, or borders intact, and it adds a leader next to the attached component that is anchored to the feature.
   2. Text Height Text Height was mentioned for the previous setting. However, there is a separate setting for Text Height when in dragged state and the label style Display property is configured to Stacked Text.
   3. Leader Attachment When the label style Display property is configured to Stacked Text, this property sets the location of the landing relative to the top line, bottom line, or middle of the stacked text.
   4. Leader Justification When the label style Display property is configured to Stacked Text, this property determines if and how text is justified. When set to True and the leader is to the left of the text, the text will be left justified; when set to True and the leader is to the right of the text, the text will be right justified. When set to False, the leader is always left justified.
   5. Maximum Text Width This property works in the same way as Maximum Width on the Layout tab.

Figure 18.15a shows an alignment label as it was originally placed. Figure 18.15b shows the same label in a dragged state with the Stacked Text option set. Figure 18.15c shows the label in a dragged state with the As Composed option set.

1. Summary Tab The Summary tab is exactly what it sounds like—that is, a summary of all other settings that exist in the style. The information from other tabs in list form, as well as their override status, is shown in Figure 18.14.

As with other settings in Civil 3D, a hierarchy helps determine which styles take precedence over other styles. There are also defaults that can be set or changed at a drawing-wide level and overridden at an object level. Make sure to put some thought into using these hierarchical settings and relationships. By using them efficiently, you can save a lot of time because you won't need to tweak every setting in each label you create—and you will be creating many labels.

In this first exercise, you will set all the labels to use the same initial text style:

1. Open the drawing 1801_LabelBasics.dwg (1801_LabelBasics_METRIC.dwg), which you can download from this book's web page at www.sybex.com/go/masteringcivil3d2015.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, right-click the name of the drawing and select Edit Label Style Defaults, as shown in Figure 18.16.

   

3. Expand the Label category and, clicking within the cell and the ellipsis button, change Text Style to Arial. Click OK.
4. Click the arrow in the Child Override column to force all the label styles in this drawing to use the same text style, as shown in Figure 18.17.

   

5. Do not make any more changes to this dialog. Examine the various options and settings, and click OK.
6. Keep the drawing open for the next exercise.

General Note Labels

General Note labels are versatile, non-object-specific labels that can be placed anywhere in the drawing. There are several advantages to using these instead of base AutoCAD Mtext. Notes will leader and scale the same as the rest of your Civil 3D labels—and best of all, they can contain reference text.

Continuing with the previous exercise, you'll create an alternative parcel label that contains reference text.

1. Continue working in 1801_LabelBasics.dwg (1801_LabelBasics_METRIC.dwg).
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, choose General Label Styles Note.
3. Right-click Note and select New (as shown in Figure 18.18).

   

4. On the Information tab, name the style Easement Parcel Text.
5. On the General tab, set Layer to C-PROP-TEXT and set Orientation Reference to View.
6. On the Layout tab, click the Value field next to Contents under the Text category.

   Clicking this will cause an ellipsis button to appear.

7. Click the ellipsis button to enter the Text Component Editor dialog.
8. On the right side of the Text Component Editor dialog, delete the existing text and replace it with Drainage Easement, as shown in Figure 18.19. Click OK.

   

9. Back in the Layout tab, set Border Visibility to False.
10. Click the flyout next to Create Text Component and select Reference Text.

    You will be prompted to select the type of reference text, as shown in Figure 18.20.

    

11. In the Select Type dialog, select Parcel and click OK.
12. Click in the Value field next to Name under the General category, rename Reference Text.1 to Parcel Area, and make the following changes.
    1. Set Anchor Component to Text.
    2. Set Anchor Point to Bottom Center.
    3. Set Attachment to Top Center.
    4. To enter the Text Component Editor dialog, click the Value field next to Contents and click the ellipsis.
13. In the Text Component Editor dialog, delete the default label text.
14. On the left side of the Text Component Editor dialog, do the following:
    1. Set the Properties drop-down to Parcel Area.
    2. Set Unit to Acre (Hectares for metric users).
    3. Set Precision to 0.01.
15. When you have set the properties, click the arrow to place the text in the right side of the editor.
16. Click to place your cursor after the previously inserted text and add a space. Type ACRES (or HECTARES for metric users) after the coding.

    The Text Component Editor dialog will resemble Figure 18.21.

    

17. Click OK.

    You will still have question marks in the preview, but this is completely as expected.

18. Set the gap under the border to 0.05″ (2.00 mm for metric users). Click OK to complete the command.
19. On the Annotate tab Labels & Tables panel, click the top half of the Add Labels button.
20. With Feature and Label Type both set to Note, change Note Label Style to Easement Parcel Text, and click Add.
21. At the Pick Label Location: prompt, click anywhere in the example parcel.
22. At the Select parcel for label style component Parcel Area: prompt, click the label on Property : 1.
23. Press Esc to finish placing the labels.

    Your completed and placed label should resemble Figure 18.22.

    

Save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, with the filename 1801_LabelBasics_FINISHED.dwg (1801_LabelBasics_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Point Label Styles

If you have used other software packages for surveying work, odds are that you controlled the display of point label text with layers, but Civil 3D is different. In Civil 3D, you can control what information is showing next to a point by swapping the label style applied to a group of points.

In the following exercise, you will create a new point label style. Your first point label style will show only Point Number and Description, so you will need to delete the default Elevation component.

1. Open the drawing 1802_PointLabels.dwg (1802_PointLabels_METRIC.dwg), which you can download from this book's web page.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Point Label Styles.
3. Right-click Label Styles and select New.
4. On the Information tab, name the style Point Number & Description.
5. On the General tab, set the layer to V-NODE-TEXT, and leave all other General tab options at their defaults.
6. On the Layout tab, do the following:
   1. Set the Active Component to Point Number.
   2. Change the Anchor Component to <Feature>.
   3. Set Anchor Point to Middle Right.
   4. Set Attachment to Middle Left.
   5. Change the Active Component to Point Elevation.
   6. Click the red X to delete this component.

      You will receive a warning that reads “This label component is used as an anchor in this style or in a child style. Do you want to delete it?”

   7. Click Yes.
   8. Change the Active Component to Point Description.
   9. Change the Anchor Component to Point Number.
   10. Change the Anchor Point to Middle Right.
   11. Change the Attachment to Middle Left.
   12. Change the X Offset to 0.05” (1 mm for metric users).
7. Click OK to complete the label style.
8. On the Prospector tab of Toolspace, locate the point group named TOPO; right-click TOPO and select Properties.
9. On the Information tab, set the Point Label Style to Point Number & Description.
10. Click OK to close the Point Group.

    All the points in the group will change to resemble Figure 18.23.

    

In the previous exercise, you created a simple new label style and made some modifications to the default components. In the following exercise, you will remove all the default components and add Northing and Easting values to the label using the Text Component Editor dialog.

1. Continue working in the drawing 1802_PointLabels.dwg (1802_PointLabels_METRIC.dwg). You need to have completed the previous exercise.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, choose Point Label Styles.
3. Right-click Label Styles, and select New.
4. On the Information tab, name the style Northing & Easting.
5. On the General tab, set the layer to V-NODE-TEXT, set the Orientation Reference to View, and leave all other General tab options at their defaults.
6. On the Layout tab, do the following:
   1. Click the red X until all three default components are gone.

      For the second component being deleted, you will receive a warning that reads “This label component is used as an anchor in this style or in a child style. Do you want to delete it?”

   2. Click Yes and delete the last component.
   3. Click the Create Text Component button to create a new Text component, and rename the component to N-E.
   4. Set the Anchor Point to Bottom Center.
   5. Set the Attachment to Top Center.
   6. Click the Value field next to Contents and click the ellipsis to enter the Text Component Editor dialog.
7. In the Text Component Editor dialog, do the following:
   1. Highlight the default label text and delete it by pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.
   2. From the Properties list, select Northing.
   3. Set the Precision to 0.01 (two decimal places).
   4. Click the arrow to place the text to the right.
   5. Before the label text, place an N: as a static text. Move to the end of the line. Press the Enter key to move to the next line.
   6. From the Properties list, select Easting, and set the Precision to 0.01 (two decimal places).
   7. Click the arrow to place the text to the right.
   8. Before label text, place an E: as static text.

      The Text Component Editor dialog will now resemble Figure 18.24.

      

   9. Click OK to dismiss the Text Component Editor dialog, and click OK to complete the style.
8. On the Prospector tab of Toolspace, locate the point group named Group2; right-click it and select Properties.
9. Set the Point Label Style to Northing & Easting, and then click OK.

The labels will resemble Figure 18.25.

Save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1802_PointLabels_FINISHED.dwg (1802_PointLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Single Segment Labels

In the following exercise, you will create a new line label style that uses default components. You will remove the direction arrow and change the display precision of the direction component.

1. Open the 1803_LineandCurveLabels.dwg (1803_LineandCurveLabels_METRIC.dwg) drawing file, which you can download from this book's web page.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Parcel Label Styles Line; right-click Line and select New.
3. On the Information tab, name the style Parcel Segment.
4. On the General tab, set the layer to C-PROP-LINE-TEXT.

   Leave all other General tab options at their defaults.

5. On the Layout tab, do the following:
   1. Change the Active Component to Direction Arrow, and click the red X to delete this component.
   2. Change the Active Component to Distance.
   3. Click the Value field next to Contents, and click the ellipsis to enter the Text Component Editor dialog.
6. In the Text Component Editor dialog, do the following:
   1. Click the text to highlight the Segment Length contents on the right.

      All of the text should highlight as a unit.

   2. On the left side of the Text Component Editor dialog, change the Precision value to 0.01.
   3. Click the arrow to update the text.
   4. Click OK to dismiss the Text Component Editor dialog, and click OK to complete the style.
7. Select the Annotate tab Labels & Tables panel and click the top of the Add Labels button to add labels to the parcels. In the Add Labels dialog, do the following:
   1. Set Feature to Parcel.
   2. Set Label Type to Single Segment.
   3. Set Line Label Style to Parcel Segment.
   4. Click Add and select for labeling the segments from Parcels 2 and 3.
   5. Close the Add Labels dialog and press Esc.

The completed labels will resemble Figure 18.26.

Compare your drawing at this point against 1803_LineandCurveLabels_A.dwg (1803_LineandCurveLabels_A_METRIC.dwg) if needed.

Spanning Segment Labels

When you look at the labels you created in the previous exercise, you may notice that they stop at each parcel vertex. If there is a series of back lot lines that share the same bearing, most plats show this using a single label outside the overall property line displaying the bearing and the combined distance of these lot lines. To label this in Civil 3D, a separate label style is needed.

Spanning labels can be used in both line and curve parcel labels. In the following exercise, you will create line labels that span multiple parcel segments:

1. Continue working in the finished drawing from the previous exercise or open 1803_LineandCurveLabels_A.dwg (1803_LineandCurveLabels_A_METRIC.dwg).
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Parcel Label Styles Line, right-click Parcel Segment, and select Copy.
3. On the Information tab, name the style Parcel Spanning Segment.
4. On the General tab, under Plan Readability, change Readability Bias to 90.1 and change Flip Anchors With Text to True.
5. On the Layout tab, do the following:
   1. Change the Active Component to Table Tag.
   2. Change the Span Outside Segments setting to True.
   3. Change the Active Component to Bearing.
   4. Change the Span Outside Segments setting to True.
   5. Change the Active Component name to Distance.
   6. Change the Anchor Component to Bearing.
   7. Change the Anchor Point to Bottom Right.
   8. Change the Span Outside Segments setting to True.
   9. Change Attachment Point to Bottom Left.
   10. Change X Offset to 0.2″ (3 mm for metric users) and make sure that Y Offset is set to 0.
6. Click OK to complete the style.
7. Using a technique similar to the one you used in the previous exercise, add a spanning label to the parcels along the east side of the right-of-way just north of Parcel 3. This time use Spanning Segment as the line label style. Your completed label will resemble Figure 18.27.

   

   Compare your drawing at this point against 1803_LineandCurveLabels_B.dwg (1803_LineandCurveLabels_B_METRIC.dwg) if needed.

   When you place spanning labels on segments, the Distance component must be forced to the outside of the parcel line. You may need to use the Flip Label command on occasion to move the Distance component to the right location. To access the Flip Label command, select the label and then click the contextual tab Modify panel.

Curve Labels

In base AutoCAD, creating curve labels is a chore. If you want text to align to curved objects, you won't be able to use it as traditional Mtext. Luckily, Civil 3D gives you the ability to add curved text without compromising its usability.

In the following exercise, you will create a curve label style with a delta symbol (Δ) and text that curves with the parcel segment:

1. Continue working in the finished drawing from the previous exercise or open 1803_LineandCurveLabels_B.dwg (1803_LineandCurveLabels_B_METRIC.dwg). You need to have completed the previous exercise to continue.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Parcels Label Styles Curve, right-click Curve, and select New.
3. On the Information tab, rename the style to Delta Length & Radius.
4. On the General tab, set Layer to C-PROP-LINE-TEXT.
5. On the Layout tab, do the following:
   1. Change the Active Component to Distance And Radius.
   2. Click the Value field next to Contents and click the ellipsis to enter the Text Component Editor dialog.
   3. Highlight the segment length property on the right and change the precision to 0.01.
   4. Click the arrow to update the style.
   5. Highlight the Segment Radius property and change the precision to 0.01.
   6. Click the arrow to update the text.
   7. Delete the comma that appears as static text in the Text Component Editor dialog, and click OK.
6. Click the Create Text Component button and do the following:
   1. Rename the new text component to Delta.
   2. Change Attachment to Bottom Center.
   3. Change the Y Offset to 0.025” (1 mm for metric users).
   4. Set Allow Curved Text to True.
7. In the Contents field, click the ellipsis button to bring up the Text Component Editor dialog and do the following:
   1. Remove the default label text.
   2. Switch to the Format tab, click the Symbol button, and select Other.

      You should now see the Character Map dialog (Figure 18.28).

      

   3. Browse through the symbols of the dialog to find the delta symbol; when you locate it, click the symbol, click the Select button, and then click Copy. Click the red X to close the Character Map dialog.
   4. Back in the Text Component Editor dialog, click the right side of the dialog, right-click, and select Paste.
   5. Press the Backspace key if the cursor jumps to the next line of text.

      You should see the delta symbol appear in the Text Component Editor dialog.

   6. Enter the equal sign (=) as static text after the delta.
   7. Switch back to the Properties tab.
   8. From the Properties drop-down, select Segment Delta Angle, and do the following:
      • Set the Format to DDºMM'SS.SS”.
      • Set the Precision value to 1 Second.
      • Click the arrow to place the text in the right side.
      • Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor dialog.
8. Click OK to complete the style.
9. Add labels to Parcel 1 using the same technique you used in the previous exercise.

   Remember to make sure that your style selection is set correctly for both the curve and line before adding labels.

10. Set the active curve label style to Delta Length & Radius and add labels to some curves. If labels overlap, drag one of the labels by selecting it, and then pick the square-shaped grip and drag it to a new location.

When it is applied to the design, your completed label should resemble Figure 18.29.

Save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1803_LineandCurveLabels_FINISHED.dwg (1803_LineandCurveLabels_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Pipe Labels

Pipe labels have two separate label types: Plan Profile and Crossing Section. Both label types have many of the same options, but those options are used in different view directions.

In the following exercise, you will use a common trick. When a nonvisible component acts as an anchor to visible objects, you can use the flow direction arrow to force text to be placed at the ends and middle of the pipe regardless of the pipe length.

1. Open the 1804_PipeandStructureLabels.dwg (1804_PipeandStructureLabels_METRIC.dwg) drawing file, which you can download from this book's web page.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, choose Pipe Label Styles Plan Profile, and then right-click Plan Profile and select New.
3. On the Information tab, name the style Length Diameter Slope.
4. On the General tab, set the layer to C-STRM-TEXT.
5. On the Layout tab, delete the existing Pipe Text component by clicking the red X.
6. Expand the Create New Component drop-down and select Flow Direction Arrow; then adjust these settings:
   1. Set Visibility to False.
   2. Set Anchor Point to Top Outer Diameter.
   3. Set a Y offset of 0.1” (0.3 mm).
7. Expand the Create New Component drop-down and select Text. Change these settings:
   1. Rename the Text Component to Length.
   2. Set Anchor Component to Flow Direction Arrow.1.
   3. Set Anchor Point to Start.
   4. Set Attachment to Bottom Left.
8. In the Contents field, click the ellipsis button to bring up the Text Component Editor dialog and do the following:
   1. Delete the default label text.
   2. From the Properties list, set 2D Length – Center to Center current.
   3. Set Precision to 1 and Rounding to round up. This causes the pipe length value to round to the next-highest whole unit.
   4. Click the arrow to place the text in the editor.
   5. Add a foot symbol (or m for meters) after the text component.
   6. Click OK.
9. With Length as the current component, click Copy Component. Then change these settings:
   1. Rename the component to Diameter.
   2. Change Anchor Point to Middle.
   3. Change Attachment to Bottom Center.
10. Enter the Text Component Editor dialog and do the following:
    1. Delete all of the text.
    2. From the Properties list, select Inner Pipe Diameter.
    3. Set the Precision to 1 and click the arrow to add the text.
    4. Add the inch symbol (or mm for millimeters) after the Text component.
    5. Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor dialog.
11. With Diameter as the current component, click Copy Component. Then change these settings:
    1. Rename the component to Slope.
    2. Set Anchor Point to End.
    3. Set Attachment to Bottom Right.
12. Enter the Text Component Editor dialog and do the following:
    1. Delete all of the text.
    2. Set Pipe Slope as the current property.
    3. Click the arrow to add the text.
    4. Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor dialog.
13. Click OK to complete the style.
14. Add the label to the pipe by doing the following:
15. 1. On the Annotate tab Labels & Tables panel, click the top half of the Add Labels button.
    2. Set the Feature option to Pipe Network and Label Type to Single Part Plan.
    3. Set Pipe Label Style to Length Diameter Slope.
    4. Click Add. Select any pipe in plan view.

    Your labeled pipe will resemble Figure 18.30.

    

    Compare your drawing at this point against 1804_PipeandStructureLabels_A.dwg (1804_PipeandStructureLabels_A_METRIC.dwg) if needed.

Structure Labels

Structure labels are unique because they possess a special component that references information from each connected pipe, allowing you to place pipe properties in structure labels. Examples would be pipe invert, pipe direction (NE, SW, etc.), and flow direction (in or out).

Label Sets

A label set is a grouping of labels that apply to the same object. In lieu of having one big style that accounts for multiple aspects of an object, the labels are broken out into specific types to allow you more control.

Label sets come into play with alignments and design profiles. When you look at an alignment or profile and see labels, you are usually seeing multiple label styles in action.

Consider the alignment shown in Figure 18.31. How many labels are on this alignment? The geometry points, the major stations, the minor ticks, superelevation critical points, and design speed are all different label types.

How did those labels get there? When you first created the alignment or profile, one of the options was to specify a label set (as shown in Figure 18.32a). All label types included in the label set by default are placed on the alignment at all locations where they can be applied with their associated style. Also after the creation you can select the alignment, and from the contextual tab you can add specific labels, as shown in Figure 18.32b.

To edit which labels are applied to an alignment or profile, click one of the alignment labels, and from the Labels - Alignment Geometry Point Label Group contextual tab Modify panel, select Edit Label Group. Note that the contextual tab name will be different depending on which alignment label you choose.

Label sets also control some aspects of the location of the annotation. An alignment label set controls the major and minor station labeling increment and the type of geometry points that are labeled. A profile label set can control whether labels are positioned with respect to the graph top or bottom edge or to the profile. Figure 18.33 shows the two columns, Dim Anchor Opt and Dim Anchor Val, where this positioning is configured.

Alignment Labels

You'll create individual label styles over the next couple of exercises and then pull them together with a label set. At the end of this section, you'll apply your new label set to the alignments.

Station Offset Labeling

Beyond labeling an alignment's basic stationing and geometry points, you may want to label points of interest in reference to the alignment. Station offset labeling is designed to do just that. In addition to labeling the alignment's properties, you can include references to other object types in your station-offset labels. The objects available for referencing are as follows:

• Other alignments
• COGO points
• Parcels
• Profiles
• Surfaces
• Survey figures

In Chapter 10, “Advanced Corridors, Intersections, and Roundabouts,” you used special alignment labels that referenced other alignments to make adjusting your design easier. In this exercise, you will make a similar type of label. The label you create in the following exercise finds the intersection of two alignments. You need to have completed the previous exercise in order to begin working on the following exercise:

1. Continue working with the finished version of your previous exercise; otherwise use the 1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_A.dwg (1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_A_METRIC.dwg) drawing file.
2. On the Settings tab, expand Alignment Label Styles Station Offset.
3. Right-click the Station And Offset style, and select Copy to open the Label Style Composer dialog.
4. On the Information tab, change the name of your new style to Alignment Intersection.

   Make it a habit to update the description of the new label to reflect the intent of that label every time you copy or define a new label style.

5. Switch to the Layout tab. In the Component Name drop-down, select Marker, and click the red X to delete the component.
6. Change the name of the Station Offset component to Main Alignment.
7. In the Contents field, click the ellipsis button to bring up the Text Component Editor dialog.
8. Select the text in the preview area and delete it all.
9. Type Sta. in the preview area; be sure to leave a space after the period.
10. In the Properties drop-down field, select Station Value, and set Precision to 0.01.
11. Click the arrow in the Text Component Editor dialog; add a space after the inserted text.
12. In the Properties drop-down field, select Alignment Name.
13. Click the arrow to add this bit of code to the preview.
14. Click your mouse in the preview area, and add a space after the inserted text and an equal sign ( =).

    Your Text Component Editor dialog should look like Figure 18.37.

    

15. Click OK to return to the Label Style Composer dialog.
16. Under the Border property, set the Visibility field to False.
17. Click the Create Component drop-down and select Reference Text.
18. In the Select Type dialog that appears, select Alignment and click OK.
19. Change the name to Intersecting Alignment.
20. In the Anchor Component field, select Main Alignment.
21. In the Anchor Point field, select Bottom Left.
22. In the Attachment field, select Top Left.

    When you choose the anchor point and attachment point in this fashion, the bottom left of the Main Alignment text is linked to the top left of the Intersection Alignment text.

23. Click in the Contents field, and click the ellipsis button to open the Text Component Editor dialog.
24. Delete the default label text that currently appears in the preview area.
25. Type Sta. in the preview area; be sure to leave a space after the period.
26. In the Properties drop-down, select Station Value, and set Precision to 0.01.
27. Click the insert arrow in the Text Component Editor dialog and add a space after the inserted text.
28. In the Properties drop-down, select Alignment Name.
29. Click the insert arrow.
30. Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor dialog, and click OK again to exit the Label Style Composer dialog.
31. Add the label to the drawing by selecting the Annotate tab Labels & Tables panel and clicking the top half of the Add Labels button.
32. Change the label settings to match those shown in Figure 18.38, and click Add.

    

    The same label could have been added using the Station Offset - Fixed Point option. This option is more likely to be used if the point of intersection between the alignments does not change. Therefore, consider your intent when using either of the labeling options.

33. Watch the command line for placement instructions. You will be prompted to select the main alignment, the station along the alignment, which is the intersection point of both alignments, and the offset. You will then be prompted to select the intersecting alignment.
34. Press Esc to complete the labeling command.
35. Click the label to select it and reveal the grips. Select the square grip and drag it away from the current location to form a leader.

Your completed label should look like Figure 18.39.

Compare your drawing at this point against the file 1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_B.dwg (1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_B_METRIC.dwg) if needed.

Line Labels

Line labels in profiles are typically used to convey the slope or length of a tangent segment. In this exercise, you'll add a length and slope to the layout profile. You will need to have completed the previous exercise in order to begin working on the following exercise:

1. Continue working in the 1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels.dwg (1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_METRIC.dwg) file.
2. Switch to the Settings tab of Toolspace.
3. Expand the Profile Label Styles Line branch.
4. Right-click Percent Grade, and select the Copy option to open the Label Style Composer dialog and create a duplicate style.
5. On the Information tab, change the name to Length and Percent Grade.
6. Switch to the Layout tab and make these changes:
   1. Change Attachment to Top Center.
   2. Set the Y-offset to -0.025” (-1 mm).
   3. Set Background Mask to True and Border Visibility to False.
7. Click the Value field next to Contents and click the ellipsis to enter the Text Component Editor dialog.
8. Change the Properties drop-down to the Tangent Slope Length option and the Precision value to 0.01, as shown in Figure 18.44.

   

9. Put your cursor at the beginning of the existing text in the preview window, click the arrow, and then add a foot symbol (or m for meter), a space, an @ symbol, and another space in the editor's preview pane so that it looks like Figure 18.44.
10. Click OK to close the Text Component Editor dialog, and click OK again to close the Label Style Composer.
11. Pick the layout profile. From the Profile contextual tab Labels panel, select Edit Profile Labels to display the Profile Labels dialog.
12. Change the Type drop-down to the Lines option. The name of the Style drop-down changes to Profile Tangent Label Style. Select the Length And Percent Grade option.
13. Click the Add button, and then click OK to exit the dialog.
14. Press Esc to deselect the layout profile.

The profile view should look like Figure 18.45.

Curve Labels

Vertical curve labels are one of the most confusing aspects of profile labeling. Many people become overwhelmed rapidly, because there's so much that can be labeled and there are so many ways to get all the right information in the right place. In this quick exercise, you'll look at some of the special label anchor points that are unique to curve labels and how they can be helpful. You will need to have completed the previous exercise in order to begin working on the following exercise:

1. Continue working in the 1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels.dwg (1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_METRIC.dwg) file.
2. Pick the layout profile. From the Profile contextual tab Labels panel, select Edit Profile Labels to display the Profile Labels dialog.
3. Choose the Crest Curves option from the Type drop-down.

   The name of the Style drop-down changes to Profile Crest Curve Label Style.

4. Select the Crest Only option.
5. Click the Add button to apply the label to the list.
6. Choose the Sag Curves option from the Type drop-down.

   The name of the Style drop-down changes to Profile Sag Curve Label Style.

7. Select the Sag Only label style. Click the Add button to apply the label.
8. Click OK to close the dialog.
9. Press Esc to deselect the layout profile.

Your profile should look like Figure 18.46.

Most labels are applied directly on top of the object being referenced. Because typical curve labels contain a large amount of information, putting the label right on the object can yield undesired results. In the following exercise, you'll modify the label settings to review the options available for curve labels. You will need to have completed the previous exercise in order to begin working on the following exercise:

1. Continue working in the 1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels.dwg (1805_Alignment&ProfileLabels_METRIC.dwg) file.
2. Pick the layout profile. From the Profile contextual tab Labels panel, select Edit Profile Labels to display the Profile Labels dialog.
3. Scroll to the right, and change both Dim Anchor Opt values for Crest Curves and Sag Curves to Graph View Top. You may need to make the columns wider to view the names.
4. Change the Dim Anchor Val for both curves to -2.25” (-40 mm), and click OK to close the dialog.
5. Press Esc to deselect the layout profile.

Your drawing should look like Figure 18.47.

The labels can also be grip-modified to move higher or lower as needed. By using the top or bottom of the graph as the anchor point, you can apply consistent and easy labeling to the curve, regardless of the curve location or size.

Table Styles

Civil 3D does a beautiful job of placing dynamically linked data tables that relate to your objects. The tables use the Text Component Editor to grab dynamic information from your data. You also have control over fill colors, table headings, and how the data is sorted.

For the table style, the Data Properties tab contains all the column information. You can add columns by clicking the plus sign. You can remove columns by highlighting the column you want to remove and clicking the Delete button. You change column order by dragging them around and dropping them where you want them to go, as shown in Figure 18.50.

In the following exercise, you will see the basic steps of modifying a table style. Now that you understand the ins and outs of the Label Style Composer, this procedure should be a breeze:

1. Open the 1806_Tables.dwg (1806_Tables_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.

   This file contains a parcel line table whose style you will modify.

2. Zoom into the parcel line table.

   Notice that there are several things you will want to change:

   • The line numbers are out of order.
   • The directions have far too much precision.
   • The length does not display units.

   All that is about to change.

3. Click the table to select it. From the Table contextual tab Modify panel, select the Table Properties drop-down and choose Edit Table Style.
4. Switch to the Data Properties tab.

   The Data Properties tab (Figure 18.51) is the main control area for all table styles. This is where you set behavior, text styles, and sizes for fields.

   

5. Place a check mark next to Sort Data, and set the Sorting column to 1.

   Column 1 corresponds to the Column Value containing the Parcel Line Number. Set the Order option to Ascending. The Ascending option will ensure that the parcel numbers are listed in the table from the lowest to highest value.

6. Double-click the column heading field for Length.

   Doing so opens a stripped-down version of the Text Component Editor dialog. Headings and table titles are static text only; therefore, only the text formatting tools are shown.

7. Add (feet) or (meters) after the column heading to add a proper units heading to the column, as shown in Figure 18.52, and click OK.

   

8. Double-click the Direction Column Value field below the column heading.

   Doing so opens the Text Component Editor dialog, similar to what you've used in earlier exercises.

9. Click the text in the preview area so that it becomes highlighted.
10. Change Precision to 1 Second.
11. Click the arrow to update the text. Click OK.
12. Click OK to complete the table style modifications.

Save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1806_Tables_FINISHED.dwg (1806_Tables_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Code Set Styles

Code set styles determine how your assembly design will appear, and they are used in many places. A code set style is in play when you first create your assembly. One is used in corridor creation and in the Section Editor. The most apparent use of a code set style is in section views.

A code set style is a collection of many other styles. In a code set style you will find the following:

• Link styles and link label styles
• Points styles, point label styles, and feature line styles
• Shapes styles and shape label styles
• Quantity takeoff pay items
• Render materials for visualization tasks

When naming your code set style, you'll find it helpful to have the name of the set reflect its use. Multiple code set styles are needed because of different applications of their use. When you are designing an assembly, you may want to see more labels than when you are getting ready to plot the assembly in a cross-section sheet. Labeling that is useful in a cross-section sheet may obstruct your view of the design when working with it in the corridor cross-section editor.

The hardest part of working with code set styles is figuring out the name of the link or point you want to label. Luckily, it is unusual for users to label shapes, so you won't need to worry about those. The names of each point or link can be found in the subassembly properties. Most of the links and points are logically named, but there's no harm in a little trial and error if you are not sure.

Links and Link Labels

You learned in Chapter 8, “Assemblies and Subassemblies,” that a link is the linear part of a subassembly. The object style for the link itself is very simple—just a single linear component. The label for a link is usually expressed as a percent grade or as a slope ratio.

In the following exercise, you will modify a code set style to apply link labels to an assembly:

1. Open the 1807_CodeSetStyles.dwg (1807_CodeSetStyles_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.

   This file contains corridor and cross-section views. Zoom into one of the cross-section views so you can observe the changes as you apply them to the code set style.

2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand General Multipurpose Styles Code Set Styles; right-click All Codes, and select Edit.
3. On the Codes tab under the Link category, select Pave, and click the Label Tag icon in the Label Style column, as shown in Figure 18.53.

   

4. In the Pick Style dialog, select the Flat Grades label style and click OK; then click Apply to examine the change on the cross sections.

   You should see that the lanes now have slope information labeled.

5. Under the Link category, locate Daylight; click the Label Tag icon in the Label Style column, and select Steep Grades as the label style.
6. Click OK, and then click OK to dismiss the All Codes label style and see what is happening with the cross section.

The cross sections should resemble Figure 18.54.