Frequently Seen Tabs

When creating or editing an object style, you will be opening a Style dialog containing several tabs. Some of the tabs contain settings that are unique to the object. Some tabs are common to all or several types of objects. In this section, you will learn about those tabs.

Information Tab

The Information tab (Figure 19.3) contains the field where the name of the style is entered or changed.

The description is optional. However, a description may be helpful to others who will be using your template. If you do use descriptions, be sure to revise them when you copy your styles for other purposes to avoid confusing your users. The description can be seen in tooltip form as you search through the Settings tab, as shown in Figure 19.4.

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

Display Tab

On the Display tab, you will find a list of components available for display within the object. You will see this tab in every Object Style dialog. The Display tab controls the look of the object in Plan, Model, Profile, and Section view directions. Not every style type will have all of these view directions available. In Figure 19.5, you can see that a surface style has Plan, Model, and Section view directions with multiple components, a point style has an extra view direction for Profile but with only two components, while a view frame style has only one view direction and one component.

This is 3D software, so objects exist in three dimensions. View Direction controls the display of an object depending on how you are looking at it. Certain items, such as a profile view, are intended to be seen only in plan, so they do not have multiple view directions listed. Alignments can be seen in plan, model, and section views. Profiles can be seen in profile, model, and section views, as shown in Figure 19.6.

While other tabs in an object style control the specifics of how certain components look or behave, the Display tab controls if the component displays at all. The Visibility lightbulb indicates whether or not the component will be displayed when the style is applied to the object. In the Surface Style dialog shown in Figure 19.5, you can see that borders, major contours, and minor contours will all display for the surface object style, but the other components will not be displayed in plan view. In the Profile Style dialog shown in Figure 19.6, all components will be displayed, except the Arrow component.

Each component can have a layer designation. The component layer will override the display properties of the object layer, which was set initially in the Drawing Settings Object Layer tab. When the component is set to layer 0, it will display using the display properties of the object layer as long as all other properties on the style's Display tab are set to ByLayer. This is another example of the parent-child settings. A setting of ByBlock will allow you to manage its display settings through the AutoCAD object Properties palette.

Summary Tab

The Summary tab contains a list of all the settings configured on the other tabs of the style's dialog. Settings are editable on the Summary tab. Figure 19.7 shows the Summary tab of a profile style.

You can click the plus (+) or minus (–) button next to each category branch to expand to see further settings. At the bottom-right corner of the dialog are three buttons. The top button collapses all of the category branches, and the middle button expands all of the category branches. The bottom Override All Dependencies button can also be found on a Label Style Summary tab, but it is inactive for object styles. At the bottom of this dialog, additional information will be shown for the property selected.

General Settings

On the Settings tab of Toolspace, the General collection (or branch) contains settings and styles that can be applied to multiple object types in various scenarios. The General branch has three collections:

• Multipurpose Styles
• Label Styles
• Commands

You learned about the Label Styles collection in Chapter 18, “Label Styles,” and now you will look at the Multipurpose Styles and Commands collections.

Multipurpose Styles

If you expand the Multipurpose Styles collection, you will see seven folders, as shown in Figure 19.8.

These style types are used to control the display of components in various objects. For example, Marker Styles, Link Styles, and Shape Styles are typically used in section views containing corridors and assemblies; whereas Feature Line Styles, shown in Figure 19.9, are used when grading linear features and displaying corridors in plan.

Commands

A Commands folder will reside in almost every object branch of the Settings tree. Each item listed in this folder represents a command in that object category and is named after the keystrokes necessary to execute that command at the command line, as shown in Figure 19.10.

Point and Marker Object Styles

Markers are used in many places throughout Civil 3D. They are called from other styles to show vertices on Civil 3D objects such as feature lines, alignments, profiles, and figures. They can also be attached to the origination point on labels such as alignment station offset labels or surface spot elevations. Markers can even be used to indicate the start of a flow path.

Marker Tab

Marker styles and point styles both contain a Marker tab (Figure 19.11). The Marker tab controls what symbol or block is used, its rotation, and how it should be sized when it is placed in the drawing.

Three symbol types can be used. Use Custom Marker and Use AutoCAD BLOCK Symbol For Marker are the most popular options. Use AutoCAD POINT For Marker doesn't actually produce an AutoCAD point but uses the AutoCAD point style and size specified by the DDPTYPE dialog. When you choose the Use Custom Marker option, you can produce a marker similar in appearance to an AutoCAD point but it will use the size options on the right side of this tab instead of the DDPTYPE dialog.

When you choose the Use AutoCAD BLOCK Symbol For Marker option, you will be able to access a list of blocks in your drawing. If the block you want to use does not yet exist in the drawing, you can right-click the block list and choose Browse, as shown in Figure 19.12.

The Size options control how the marker is scaled when inserted in the drawing (Figure 19.13).

1. Use Drawing Scale Use Drawing Scale allows you to specify the plotted size of the symbol. The modelspace size of the symbol will be the size specified in the style multiplied by your annotation scale.
2. Use Fixed Scale Use Fixed Scale will scale the symbol based on the X, Y, and Z scale entered in the Fixed Scale area, just like a block. This option will also apply the Fixed Scale factor in the description key set when configured to a point.
3. Use Size In Absolute Units Use Size In Absolute Units is the option you will use to specify a real-world size for the symbol regardless of scale. For example, if you want a manhole to always show as 5 feet in diameter, you could use this option. In the case of survey points used with description keys, if this option is set to .0833 (1 inch) and a size parameter is included in the point description, the symbol will be scaled to the value measured in the field.
4. Use Size Relative To Screen Use Size Relative To Screen allows you to specify the size of the symbol as a percentage of your screen. The marker will change size as you zoom in or out similar to how points resize in GIS applications.

Two orientation buttons (as shown on the right side of the dialog in Figure 19.11) control whether the symbol stays rotated to the world coordinate system or the view.

Alignment Styles

Alignment styles can be helpful in identifying key design components, as well as showing the stationing direction. Use multiple alignment styles to visually differentiate centerline alignments from supplemental alignments such as offset alignments and curb return alignments.

In the following exercise, you will create a style that restricts radius grip edits to five-foot increments and displays basic alignment components:

1. Open the 1901_PointObject_FINISHED.dwg (1901_PointObject_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg) file.

   You can download either file from this book's web page.

2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Alignment Alignment Styles.
3. Right-click Alignment Styles and select New.
4. On the Information tab, set Name to Centerline.
5. On the Design tab, do the following:
   1. Verify that Enable Radius Snap is selected.
   2. Verify that Radius Snap is set to 5 (or 1 for metric).

      To see the Help document about any dialog, press F1 on your keyboard to be taken directly to the help section for that topic or click the Help button on the tab when you have a question regarding a specific tab on a dialog.

6. On the Markers tab, do the following:
   1. Set the Point Of Intersection marker by double-clicking the current value of <None>.
   2. In the Pick Marker Style dialog, select PI Marker from the marker listing, and click OK.
   3. Using the same procedure, set the Through Points marker and the Station Reference Point marker both to <None>.

      Note that <None> is located near the top of the list.

7. On the Display tab with the View Direction set to Plan, do the following:
   1. Using the Shift key to select Arrow, Line Extensions, and Curve Extensions together, click one of their lightbulb icons to turn off the display of these three components.
   2. Using the Shift key to select Line, Curve, and Spiral, click in the Layer column to display the Layer Selection dialog.
   3. In the Layer Selection dialog, set the layer to C-ROAD-CNTR and click OK. This will set the layer for all three of the selected components.

      The Warning Symbol displays when design criteria or design checks are violated only if its display is turned on in this dialog. Design criteria and design checks were covered in Chapter 6, “Alignments.” Leave its default display setting at On.

      Leave the Model and Section view directions at their defaults.

8. Click OK to finish creating a new alignment style.

   This alignment will display the line, curve, and spiral on layer C-ROAD-CNTR, and a marker will be shown at the Point Of Intersection, as shown in Figure 19.20.

   

When this exercise is complete, you can save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing file, 1902_AlignmentObject_FINISHED.dwg (1902_AlignmentObject_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Parcel Styles

The parcel styles have several unique features that make them different from other styles.

In the Design tab of a parcel (shown in Figure 19.21), you see parcel-specific options. A fill distance can be specified to place a hatch pattern along the perimeter of the parcel. This setting is used to help differentiate special parcels such as parks, limits of disturbance, or environmentally sensitive areas.

The fill distance indicates the width of the hatch pattern. The Component Hatch Display characteristics, including the pattern, angle, and scale, are specified at the bottom of the Display tab. Be sure to turn on Parcel Area Fill and configure a layer for it so it can be turned off independently from the parcel itself, since hatches tend to slow down the graphics. Figure 19.21 also shows the parcel graphic resulting from the design settings shown.

Feature Line Styles

Feature lines are found in quite a few different places. They are created automatically as part of corridors, created as a result of generating a grading group, or can be created independently by the user. Because their scope crosses functionality, you will find feature line styles in the General Multipurpose Styles collection in Settings tab.

By definition, a feature line is a 3D object; therefore, its style can be controlled in plan, model, profile, and section. As shown in Figure 19.22, a feature line can use markers at geometry points.

Contour Styles

Contouring is the standard surface representation on which land development plans are built. In this example, you'll create a new surface contouring style and modify the interval to a setting more suitable for commercial site design review:

1. Open the 1903_SurfaceStylesContours.dwg (1903_SurfaceStylesContours_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Surface Surface Styles.
3. Right-click Surface Styles and select New.
4. On the Information tab, do the following:
   1. Set Name to Exaggerated Existing Contours.
   2. Add the description 2′ minor contours with a 5× exaggeration when viewed in 3D (or 1m minor contours with a 5× exaggeration when viewed in 3D for metric).
5. On the Contours tab, do the following:
6. 1. Expand the Contour Intervals category.
   2. Set the Minor Interval to 2′ (or 1 m).

      Notice that the Major Interval automatically adjusts to 10′ (or 5 m) or to whatever the minor interval is set times five.

   3. Expand the Contour Smoothing category (you may have to scroll down).
   4. Set Smooth Contours to True, which activates the Contour Smoothing slider bar near the bottom.

      Don't change this Smoothing value, but keep in mind that this gives you a level of control over how much Civil 3D modifies the contours it draws.

   The Contours tab will now look similar to Figure 19.23.

   

7. On the Triangles tab, do the following:
   1. Change Triangle Display Mode to Exaggerate Elevation.
   2. Set Exaggerate Triangles By Scale Factor to 5 (see Figure 19.24).

      

8. On the Display tab with the View Direction set to Plan, do the following:
   1. Shift+click to highlight all the components.
   2. Click in the Color column of one of the components to display the Select Color dialog.
   3. In the Select Color dialog, click the ByLayer button and then click OK.
   4. While all the components are still highlighted, set Linetype to ByLayer using a similar procedure to steps b and c.

      You will be using only the Minor Contour in this style, but later on you will copy this style and your efforts will be carried forward.

   5. With all the components still selected, click one of the lightbulbs that are on to turn off all components. Then select only the Minor Contour component and turn on its lightbulb.
   6. Set the Minor Contour layer to C-TOPO-MINR.

      Your Display tab should now resemble Figure 19.25.

      

9. On the Display tab, change View Direction to Model and do the following:
   1. Shift+click to highlight all the components.
   2. Using the same procedure previously used, set all the Colors and Linetypes to ByLayer.
   3. Verify that Triangles is the only component displayed.
   4. Set only the Triangles layer to C-TINN-VIEW.

      To see the surface in the Object Viewer or in any other 3D view, you must have triangles set to display in the Model View Direction.

10. Click OK to complete the style. Save the drawing.
11. From the Prospector tab of Toolspace, expand Surfaces, right-click the EG surface, and select Surface Properties.
12. On the Information tab, set Surface Style to Exaggerated Existing Contours, and click OK.

The surface should be rendered faster than you can read this sentence, even with the contour interval you've selected with only the minor contours displayed. After the style is applied to the surface model, you should see simple contours in plan view (the left image in Figure 19.26) and an exaggerated surface model in the Object Viewer (the right image in Figure 19.26).

You skipped over one portion of the surface contours that many people consider a great benefit of using Civil 3D: depression contours. If this option is turned on via the Contours tab, ticks will be added to the downhill side of any closed contours leading to a low point. This is a stylistic option, and usage varies widely.

You can save and keep this drawing open to continue to the next exercise or use the saved copy of this drawing, 1903_SurfaceStylesContours_FINISHED.dwg (1903_SurfaceStylesContours_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's web page.

Triangles and Points Surface Styles

The next style you create will help facilitate surface editing. To work with the Swap Edge or Delete Line Surface edits, you must be able to see triangles. To work with the Delete Point, Modify Point, and Move Point commands, you must be able to see surface points.

It is important to note that the points you see in the surface style do not refer to survey points. The points you are working with in this exercise are triangle vertices. The triangle vertices and survey points will initially be in the same locations for a surface built from points. However, as breaklines are added or edits are made to the triangle vertices, the surface model will differ from the original survey.

1. Open 1903_SurfaceStylesContours_FINISHED.dwg (1903_SurfaceStylesContours_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg).

   You can download either file from this book's web page.

2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Surface Surface Styles.
3. Right-click the Exaggerated Existing Contours style you created in the previous exercise, and select Copy, as shown in Figure 19.27.

   

4. On the Information tab, do the following:
   1. Rename the surface style to Surface Editing.
   2. Remove the text in the description file and type the description Points and triangles.
5. On the Points tab, do the following:
   1. Expand Point Size and set the Point Units to 3′ (or 1 m).
   2. Expand Point Display and click the ellipsis for Data Point Symbol.
   3. Set the point type to the X symbol, as shown in Figure 19.28.

      

6. On the Triangles tab, remove the exaggeration by setting the Triangle display mode back to Use Surface Elevation.
7. On the Display tab with View Direction set to Plan, do the following:
   1. Use the lightbulb icons to turn off visibility for Minor Contour and turn it on for Points and Triangles.
   2. Click in the Layer column for the Points components to display the Layer Selection dialog.
   3. In the Layer Selection dialog, click the New button to create a new layer for the Points components.
   4. In the Create Layer dialog, set Layer Name to C-TINN-PNTS, set Color to Red, and click OK to finish creating the layer.
   5. In the Layer Selection dialog, set the layer to C-TINN-PNTS and click OK.
   6. Click in the Layer column for the Triangles components to display the Layer Selection dialog.
   7. In the Layer Selection dialog, set the Triangles layer to C-TINN-VIEW and click OK.

      Your Display tab will resemble Figure 19.29.

      

8. Click OK to complete the style.
9. Use the same procedure from the previous exercise to apply the Surface Editing style to the surface.
10. Your surface will resemble Figure 19.30.

    

With the points and triangles displayed, you can edit the surface, such as deleting points or swapping edges.

You can save and keep this drawing open to continue to the next exercise or use the saved copy of this drawing, 1903_SurfaceStyleTriangles_FINISHED.dwg (1903_SurfaceStyleTriangles_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's web page.

Analysis Styles

Analysis styles are unique in several ways. To see the style applied to your design, you must run the analysis in the surface properties in addition to applying the style to the surface. Although layers can now be configured to these styles, colors and behavior are configured on the Analysis tab. Visibility can be controlled by turning off the layer assigned on the Display tab of the style, turning off the Analysis component in the style, or by assigning another style that doesn't display that component.

You can choose distribution methods to apply to your analysis on the Analysis tab. The distribution method is selected by configuring the Group By option under each analysis type. Here's what they mean:

1. Equal Interval This method uses a stepped scale, created by taking the minimum and maximum values and then dividing the delta into the number of selected ranges. For example, if the surface has elevations from 0 to 10, with four ranges they will be 0 to 2.5, 2.5 to 5.0, 5.0 to 7.5, and 7.5 to 10. This method can create real anomalies when extremely large or small values skew the total range so that much of the data falls into one or two intervals, with almost no sampled data in the other ranges.
2. Quantile This method is often referred to as an equal count distribution and will create ranges that are equal in sample size. These ranges will not be equal in linear size but in distribution across a surface. For example, if the surface has elevations from 0 to 10 with most of the surface at the higher elevations, with four ranges they may be 0 to 4.78 (25 percent of the surface), 4.78 to 6.25 (25 percent of the surface), 6.25 to 7.95 (25 percent of the surface), and 7.95 to 10 (25 percent of the surface). This method is best used when the values are relatively equally spaced throughout the total range, with no extremes to throw off the group sizing.
3. Standard Deviation Standard Deviation is the bell curve that most engineers are familiar with, suited for when the data follows the bell distribution pattern. It generally works well for slope analysis, where very flat and very steep slopes are common, and would make another distribution setting unwieldy.

You looked at an elevations, slopes, and slope arrows analysis earlier in Chapter 4, “Surfaces.” In the following exercise, you will create a surface style for watershed analysis. To apply the new style to the surface, you must also run the analysis.

1. Open 1903_SurfaceStylesTriangles_FINISHED.dwg (1903_SurfaceStylesTriangles_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg).

   You can download either file from this book's web page.

2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Surface Surface Styles.
3. Right-click the Exaggerated Existing Contours style you created in the earlier exercise and select Copy.
4. On the Information tab, do the following:
   1. Rename the surface style to Watershed Analysis.
   2. Remove the current description and type Display watersheds and slope arrows.
5. On the Triangles tab, change Triangle Display Mode to Use Surface Elevation.
6. On the Watersheds tab, do the following:
   1. Expand the Boundary Segment Watershed category.
   2. Set Use Hatching to False.
   3. Expand the Multi-Drain Watershed category.
   4. Set Use Hatching to False.

   Your Watersheds tab will look like Figure 19.31.

   

7. On the Analysis tab, do the following:
8. 1. Expand the Slope Arrows category.
   2. Change Scheme to Hydro.
   3. Change Arrow Length to 2′ (or 1 m).

   The Analysis tab will resemble Figure 19.32.

   

9. On the Display tab with View Direction set to Plan, do the following:
   1. Turn off visibility for the Minor Contour component, and turn it on for Slope Arrows and Watersheds—you may have to scroll.
   2. Set the Watershed layer to C-TOPO-WSHD.
10. Click OK to complete the surface style.
11. Select the surface, and from the contextual tab in the Modify panel click Surface Properties.
12. On the Information tab, set Surface Style to Watershed Analysis and click Apply.
13. On the Analysis tab, do the following:
    1. Set Analysis Type to Watershed.
    2. Set Merge Depressions to 0.4’ (or 0.1 m).
    3. Place a check mark next to Merge Adjacent Boundary Watersheds.
    4. Click the Run Analysis arrow in the middle of the dialog to populate the Range Details area.

       Your Surface Properties Analysis tab should resemble Figure 19.33.

       

14. Click OK to close the Surface Properties dialog.

    Your surface model should resemble Figure 19.34.

    

Now that the watershed analysis has been run, you could provide further information by generating a dynamic Watershed table similar to how you generated a table showing other surface information in Chapter 4.

When this exercise is complete, you can close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1903_SurfaceStylesWatershed_FINISHED.dwg (1903_SurfaceStylesWatershed_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Pipe Styles

It seems like no two municipalities want pipes displayed the same way on construction documents. Fortunately, Civil 3D offers many variations for pipe display that will satisfy miscellaneous submittal requirements. With one pipe style, you can control how a pipe is displayed in plan, profile, and section views. You can use multiple pipe styles to graphically differentiate larger pipes from smaller ones. This section explores all the options.

1. Information Tab This tab allows you to define the name for the style and its description.
2. Plan Tab The tab you see in Figure 19.35 controls how your pipe is represented when you're working in plan view.

   

   Options on the Plan tab include the following:

3. Pipe Wall Sizes You can choose between having the program apply the part size directly from the part catalog (that is, the literal pipe dimensions as defined in the catalog) and specifying your own constant or scaled dimensions.
4. Pipe Hatch Options If you choose to show pipe hatching, this part of the tab gives you options to control that hatch. You can hatch the entire pipe to the inner or outer walls, or you can hatch the space between the inner and outer walls only, as shown in Figure 19.36. There are also options to align the hatch to the pipe and to clean up pipe-to-pipe connections.

   

5. Pipe End Line Size If you choose to show an end line, you can control its length with these options. An end line can be drawn connecting the outer walls or the inner walls, or you can specify your own constant or scaled dimensions. The pipes from Figure 19.36 are all shown with pipe end lines drawn to outer walls.
6. Pipe Centerline Options If you choose to show a centerline, you can display it by the lineweight established in the Display tab, or you can specify centerline widths based on the pipe inner or outer wall dimension, a scaled dimension, or a constant dimension. You could use this option for your waste water pipes in places where the width of the centerline widens or narrows on the basis of the pipe diameter.
7. Profile Tab The Profile tab (see Figure 19.37) is almost identical to the Plan tab, except the controls here determine what your pipe looks like in profile view. The only additional settings on this tab are the Crossing Pipe Hatch Options. If you choose to display crossing pipe with a hatch, these settings control the location of that hatch.

   

8. Section Tab If you choose to show a hatch on your pipes in section, you control the hatch location on this tab (see Figure 19.38). There is also the option to display the pipe as sliced pipe, where its display in section view uses the actual position of where the sample line crosses the pipe.

   

In the examples that follow, you will create various types of pipe styles.

The first style is for a situation where the pipe must be shown in plan view with a single line, the thickness of which matches the pipe's inner diameter. In profile, the pipe will show the inner diameter lines, and in section, it will show as a hatch-filled ellipse.

1. Open the 1904_PipeStyle.dwg (1904_PipeStyle_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Pipe Pipe Styles.
3. Right-click Pipe Styles and select New.
4. On the Information tab, set Name to Proposed Sanitary CL.
5. On the Plan tab, do the following:
   1. Verify that Pipe Centerline Options is set to Specify Width.
   2. Set Specify Width to Draw To Inner Walls.
6. On the Profile tab, no changes are needed.
7. On the Section tab, verify that Crossing Pipe Hatch Options is set to Hatch To Inner Walls.
8. On the Display tab with the View Direction set to Plan, do the following:
   1. Turn off the display for all components except Pipe Centerline. You may need to change the column width in order to read the component names.
   2. Set the Pipe Centerline layer to C-SSWR-PIPE.
9. On the Display tab, change View Direction to Profile and do the following:
   1. Turn off the display for all components except Inside Pipe Walls.
   2. Set the layer to C-SSWR-PROF.
10. On the Display tab, change View Direction to Section and do the following:
    1. Set Crossing Pipe Inside Wall to the C-SSWR-PIPE layer and make it visible.
    2. Set Crossing Pipe Hatch to the C-SSWR-PIPE-PATT layer and make it visible.
    3. Turn off Crossing Pipe Outside Wall and Sliced Solid Pipe Walls.
    4. At the bottom of the dialog, click in the Pattern column for the Crossing Pipe Hatch component type to display the Hatch Pattern dialog.
    5. Set Type to Solid Fill, as shown in Figure 19.39, and click OK.

       

11. Click OK to finish creating a new pipe style.
12. From the Prospector tab of Toolspace, expand and select Pipe Networks Networks Sanitary Network Pipes.
13. Using the Shift key, select all of the pipes in the item list.
14. Right-click the heading of the Style column and select Edit.
15. In the Select Pipe Style dialog, select Proposed Sanitary CL and click OK.
16. Examine the pipe in plan, profile, and cross section, as shown in Figure 19.40.

    

You can save and keep this drawing open to continue to the next exercise or use the saved copy of this drawing, 1904_PipeStyle_FINISHED.dwg (1904_PipeStyle_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), available from the book's web page.

In the next pipe style example, you will create a style that uses several options for hatching pipe walls for a pipe:

1. Open 1904_PipeStyle_FINISHED.dwg (1904_PipeStyle_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg).
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Pipe Pipe Styles.
3. Right-click Pipe Styles and select New.
4. On the Information tab, set Name to Proposed Hatch Wall.
5. On the Plan tab, do the following:
   1. Verify that Pipe Hatch Options is set to Hatch Walls Only.
   2. Verify that Align Hatch To Pipe is selected.
6. On the Profile tab, do the following:
   1. Verify that Pipe Hatch Options is set to Hatch Walls Only.
   2. Verify that Align Hatch To Pipe is selected.
7. On the Display tab with View Direction set to Plan, do the following:
   1. Verify that the only components turned on are Inside Pipe Walls, Outside Pipe Walls, Pipe End Line, and Pipe Hatch components.
   2. Set all four layers to C-SSWR-PIPE.
   3. Click the Component Hatch Display Scale field and type in a new value of 0.1.
8. On the Display tab, change View Direction to Profile and do the following:
   1. Verify that the only components turned on are Inside Pipe Walls, Outside Pipe Walls, Pipe End Line, and Pipe Hatch.
   2. Set all four of these layers to C-SSWR-PROF.
9. Click OK to complete the creation of a new pipe style.
10. From the Prospector tab of Toolspace, expand Pipe Networks Networks Sanitary Network Pipes.
11. Select all of the pipes in the Item list using the Shift key.
12. Right-click the heading of the Style column and select Edit.
13. In the Select Pipe Style dialog, select Proposed Hatch Wall, and click OK.
14. Examine the pipe in plan and profile, as shown in Figure 19.41. It looks very similar in both views.

    

    Depending on your drawing's scale, it may or may not be worth it to you to add a pipe wall hatch because with thin walls it may be hard to see, as shown in Figure 19.41.

When this exercise is complete, you can save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1904_PipeStyleHatch_FINISHED.dwg (1904_PipeStyleHatch_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

You could do this same exercise for a Pressure Pipe style. The only difference would be setting the layers to C-WATR-PIPE instead of C-SSWR-PIPE, or C-WATR-PROF instead of C-SSWR-PROF.

Structure Styles

The following tour through the structure-style interface can be used for reference as you create company-standard styles:

1. Information Tab This tab allows you to define the name for the style and its description.
2. Model Tab The Model tab (Figure 19.42) controls what represents your structure when you're working in 3D. Typically, you want to leave the Use Catalog Defined 3D Part radio button selected so that when you look at your structure, it looks like your flared end section or whatever you've chosen in the parts list.

   

1. Plan Tab The Plan tab (Figure 19.43) enables you to compose your object style to match any particular standard.

   

Options on the Plan tab include the following:

1. Use Outer Part Boundary This option uses the limits of your structure from the parts list and shows you an outline of the structure as it would appear in the plan.
2. User Defined Part This option uses any block you specify. In the case of your flared end section, you chose a symbol to match the CAD standard. When using User Defined Part, you also must provide Size Options. The options in this drop-down are similar to what you see in other styles, such as point or marker styles in Civil 3D.
   • Use Drawing Scale will treat the object like an annotative block.
   • Use Fixed Scale allows you to enter X, Y, and Z scale factors as you would do when inserting a block.
   • Use Size In Absolute Units is a common way to represent a manhole at actual size.
   • Use Size As Percentage Of Screen keeps the part the same size whether you zoom in close or are far away.
   • Use Fixed Scale From Part Size will stretch the block around the part even if the dimensions of both don't match.
3. Enable Part MaskingThis option creates a wipeout or mask inside the limits of the structure. Any pipes that connect to the center of the pipe appear trimmed at the limits of the structure. This will mask the pipes entering and exiting the structure based on where they intersect the actual walls of the structure as modeled. Keep in mind that when using a block, these locations may not match the extents of the block.
4. Profile Tab The Profile tab (Figure 19.44) is where you configure what your structure will look like in profile view.

   

1. Options on the Profile tab include the following:
   1. Display As Solid This option uses the limits of your structure from the parts list and shows you the mesh of the structure as it would appear in profile view.
   2. Display As Boundary This option uses the limits of your structure from the parts list and shows you an outline of the structure as it would appear in profile view. You'll use this option for the sanitary manhole.
   3. Display As Block This option uses any block you specify. When using a structure displayed as a block, you also must provide Size Options. The Size Options are the same as the ones described for the Plan tab.
   4. Enable Part Masking This option creates a wipeout or mask inside the limits of the structure. Any pipes that connect to the center of the pipe appear trimmed at the limits of the structure.
2. Section Tab The Section tab (Figure 19.45) is where you configure what your structure will look like in section view.

   

1. These options look (and behave) very much like the Profile tab options listed earlier with the following exception: the 2015 release allows the option to display the sliced section of the structure.

In the following exercise, you'll create a new structure style that uses a block in plan view to represent a sanitary manhole. Because the block is drawn at actual size, you will use the size option Use Fixed Scale.

1. Open the 1905_StructureStyle.dwg (1905_StructureStyle_METRIC.dwg) file, which you can download from this book's web page.
2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Structure Structure Styles.
3. Right-click Structure Styles and select New.
4. On the Information tab, rename the style to Simple Sanitary Manhole.
5. On the Plan tab, do the following:
   1. Verify that User Defined Part is selected.
   2. Set the Block Name to _Wipeout_Circle using the list box.
   3. Set Size to Use Fixed Scale.
   4. Set the X and Y scale factors to 3 (1 for metric).
6. On the Display tab with View Direction set to Plan, set the Structure layer to C-SSWR-STRC.
7. Repeat step 6 with View Direction set to Profile, and then repeat with View Direction set to Section.
8. Click OK to complete the style.
9. From the Prospector tab of Toolspace, expand Pipe Networks Networks Sanitary Network Structures.
10. Using the Shift key, select all of the structures in the Item list.
11. Right-click the heading of the Style column and select Edit.
12. In the Select Structure dialog, select Simple Sanitary Manhole and click OK.
13. To observe the style change in plan, select any one of the structures, right-click, and click Zoom To. Run a regen command to refresh the representation of the data in the file.

When this exercise is complete, you can save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1905_StructureStyle_FINISHED.dwg (1905_StructureStyle_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

While this example discussed creating object styles for a structure, you will find that the same procedure is applicable to the Appurtenances and Fittings styles used in pressure pipe networks.

Profile View Bands

Data bands are strips of labels and/or schematics that display additional information about the profile or alignment that is referenced in a profile view. The most common band type is the profile data band.

Bands can be applied to both the top and bottom of a profile view, and there are six band types: Profile Data Bands, Vertical Geometry Bands, Horizontal Geometry Bands, Superelevation Data Bands, Sectional Data Bands, and Pipe Network Bands. These band types were discussed in Chapter 7, “Profiles and Profile Views,” but graphic reminders of the various band types are shown in Figure 19.54, Figure 19.55, Figure 19.56, Figure 19.57, Figure 19.58, and Figure 19.59.

Bands can be assigned to band sets. Like alignment label sets and profile label sets, a band set determines which bands are applied to a profile view and how they are positioned. The most common use for a band set is to create a single, viewable band and an additional nonvisible band for spacing purposes in plan and profile sheet generation. However, depending on your jurisdictional requirements, you may have to put together a more extensive band set.

In the following exercise, you will create a band that contains existing and proposed profile elevations:

1. Open the 1906_ProfileViewBand.dwg (1906_ProfileViewBand_METRIC.dwg) file.

   This file contains a profile view and an empty band on the bottom of the view. You will be adding information to the Profile Data Band.

2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Profile View Band Styles Profile Data.
3. Right-click the style called Mastering EG & FG and select Edit.
4. On the Band Details tab, do the following:
   1. Change Band Height to 1.0” (or 25 mm).
   2. On the right side of the Band Details tab, highlight Major Station, and click the Compose Label button, as shown in Figure 19.60.

      

   3. On the Layout tab of the Label Style Composer – Major Station dialog, click the Create Text Component button and make these changes:
      • Set Name to Station.
      • Use the drop-down to change Anchor Point to Band Bottom.
      • Use the drop-down to change Attachment to Top Center.
      • Change the Y offset to –0.1” (or –0.5 mm).
      • Click the Contents value, which currently reads Label Text, and click the ellipsis to display the Text Component Editor dialog.
      • In the Text Component Editor, remove all text in the Text Component Editor window and select Station Value from the Properties list.
      • Set Precision to 1.
      • Click the arrow button to add the Property field to the Text Component Editor window.
   4. Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor.
   5. Click the Create Text Component button again, and make these changes:
      • Set Name to Existing El.
      • Use the drop-down to change Anchor Point to Band Middle.
      • Set Rotation Angle to 90.
      • Use the drop-down to change Attachment to Bottom Center.
      • Change the X offset to –0.02” (or –0.5 mm).
      • Click the Contents value, which currently reads Label Text, and click the ellipsis to display the Text Component Editor dialog.
      • In the Text Component Editor window, remove the Property field and select Profile1 Elevation from the Properties list.
      • Set Precision to 0.01 (or 0.001 for metric).
      • Click the arrow button to add the Property field to the Text Component Editor window.
   6. Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor.
   7. Click the Copy Component button and make these changes:
      • Change Name to Proposed El.
      • Verify that Anchor Point is set to Band Middle.
      • Verify that Rotation Angle is set to 90.
      • Use the drop-down to change Attachment to Top Center.
      • Change the X offset to 0.02” (or 0.5 mm).
      • Click the Contents value and click the ellipsis to display the Text Component Editor dialog.
      • In the Text Component Editor window, double-click the existing Property field and select Profile2 Elevation from the Properties list.
      • Verify that Precision is 0.01 (or 0.001 for metric).
      • Click the arrow button to add the Property field to the Text Component Editor window.
   8. Click OK to exit the Text Component Editor.
   9. Click OK to finish working with the Major Stations Label Composer and return to the Band Details tab.
5. On the Display tab, use the lightbulb icon to turn off visibility for Minor Tick. Click OK.
6. In the profile view properties, make sure that on the Bands tab for the selected profile view Profile1 is set to EG - Cabernet Court and Profile2 is set to Cabernet Court FG. Click OK.

The completed band should resemble Figure 19.61.

As you can see, profile bands can provide a lot of information in a compact manner. In this example, you provided information only at the major stations, but you could also provide information at minor stations, horizontal geometry points, vertical geometry points, station equations, and incremental distances.

When this exercise is complete, you can save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing, 1906_ProfileViewBand_FINISHED.dwg (1906_ProfileViewBand_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg), is available from the book's web page.

Group Plot Styles

Group plot styles determine how sections are arranged on a sheet. When multiple section views are created, the group plot style uses the Section template file discussed in Chapter 15, “Plan Production,” and places sections inside the paperspace viewport:

1. If your file isn't still open from the previous exercise, open 1907_SectionStyles_FINISHED.dwg (1907_SectionStyles_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg).

   You can download either file from this book's web page. This file contains section views created with the default settings.

2. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Section View Group Plot Styles.
3. Right-click Basic and select Edit.
4. On the Array tab, change the column spacing to 4” (or 100 mm). Change the row spacing to 2” (or 50 mm), as shown in Figure 19.63.

   

   These spacing changes should allow a more aesthetic arrangement of cross sections per page and ample room for moving the views up and right to fit on the page better in the upcoming steps.

5. On the Plot Area tab, leave all the default settings, as shown in Figure 19.64.

   

   This is where you configure grid spacing per sheet.

6. On the Display tab, do the following:
   1. Verify that the visibility is turned on for Major Horizontal Grid and Major Vertical Grid.
   2. Verify that the visibility is turned off for Minor Horizontal Grid and Minor Vertical Grid.
   3. Verify that the layers for all of the grid components are set to C-ROAD-SCTN-GRID.
   4. Verify that the layers for Print Area and Sheet Border are set to C-ROAD-SCTN-TTLB.
   5. Set Color for Major Horizontal Grid and Major Vertical Grid to 9.
   6. Set Color for Print Area to Cyan and Sheet Border to Green. Your Display tab will look like Figure 19.65.

      

7. Click OK to complete the group plot style edits.

   Your section view sheets should be shaping up to the point where you could almost generate sheets. There may be instances when some text is placed outside the cyan line that represents the viewport border. In the next steps, you will use a nonvisible section band to prevent this from happening and push the views onto the page.

8. From the Settings tab of Toolspace, expand Section View Band Styles Section Data.
9. Right-click Section Data and select New.
10. On the Information tab, set Name to _NO DISPLAY.

    Prefixing the style name with the underscore ensures it will appear at the top of the Style list.

11. On the Band Details tab, do the following:
    1. Set Band Height to 0.2” (or 5 mm).
    2. Set Text Box Width to 0.2” (or 10 mm).
    3. Set Offset From Band to 0” (or 0 mm).

       Even though the band will not be visible, the Civil 3D program still accounts for this spacing when placing the views on the sheet. In this step, you are using this to your advantage.

12. On the Display tab, verify that the visibility is turned off for all components.
13. Click OK to finish creating a new section data band style.
14. Select any section view by clicking the station label or the elevation label.
15. From the Section View contextual tab Modify View panel, choose View Group Properties to display the Section View Group Properties dialog.
16. On the Section Views tab, do the following:
    1. Click the ellipsis in the Change Band Set column, as shown in Figure 19.66. You may need to widen the column to view the full titles.

       

       The Section View Group Bands dialog will appear.

    2. Verify that Band Type is set to Section Data.
    3. Set the band style as _NO DISPLAY and click Add.
    4. Set the Gap distance to 0, as shown in Figure 19.67, and click OK to dismiss the Section View Group Bands dialog.

       

    5. Click OK to exit the Section View Group Properties dialog.
17. From the Section View contextual tab Modify View panel, select Update Group Layout.

The cross-section sheets should look like Figure 19.68.

When this exercise is complete, you can save and close the drawing. A saved copy of this drawing is available from the book's web page with the filename 1907_GroupPlotStyles_FINISHED.dwg (1907_GroupPlotStyles_METRIC_FINISHED.dwg).

With all of the object styles, you have a great deal of control over every detail, even ones that may seem trivial. Instead of being bogged down trying to understand every option, don't be afraid to use a “trial and error” approach. If you make a change you don't like, you can always edit the style until you get it right.