Chapter

Chapter 1 Introduction to AlignDB

AlignDB has been designed to provide the Pipeline, Telecommunication and Civil Engineering industries with an effective foundation to quickly generate Alignment sheets using the industry standard CAD/GIS platforms while creating an external GIS database. The following documentation will instruct Users on how to use AlignDB in three different platforms, AutoCAD, MicroStation and ArcGIS.

his chapter will review starting AlignDB in AutoCAD, MicroStation[t1] , and in ArcGIS. All Documentation applies to all Platforms unless designated with the specific Platform symbol:

AutoCAD & MicroStation

ArcGIS

Creating Toolbar and Pull Down Menu in AutoCAD

Add AlignDB to Support Path in AutoCAD

Start AutoCAD. Go to the Tools pull down menu and select Options, or type Options in the command line, to open the Options dialog box for AutoCAD. Go to the Files tab and click on Support File Search Path, and click the Add… button. Click the Browse button and path to the AlignDB folder (typically located under C:\Program Files\BSDI\AlignDB) and click OK. This will direct AutoCAD to the proper icons for the AlignDB toolbar. Select OK to close Options dialog box.

Add AlignDB CUI File to AutoCAD: Pull Down Menus & Toolbar Icons

In AutoCAD go to the Tools pull down and select Customize, then select Interface…, or type Menuload at the command line. This will open the Customize User Interface window. Select the adbmain file from the (C:\Program Files\BSDI\AlignDB) folder.

Adding the adbmain file also adds the AlignDB Pull Down Menu and AlignDB Toolbar Icons in AutoCAD.

Add AlignDB to the AutoCAD Startup Suite

In AutoCAD go to the Tools pull down and select Load Application…, or type appload in the command line. Then click on Contents, this will open the Startup Suite window. Click add and select the aligndb.lsp and aligndb.dvb file from the (C:\Program Files\BSDI\AlignDB) folder. This will load the BSDI application on AutoCAD startup.

Creating Toolbar in ArcGIS

AlignDB for ArcGIS is accessed through the AlignDB.mxt Template; therefore there is no need to add the toolbar to ArcGIS. When the template is loaded correctly the toolbar will be visible. Right click on the Main Toolbar to select or deselect ‘BSDITools’ from the toolbar.

Executes the AlignDB Program

Continues AlignDB after the application is hidden or in object selection mode

Used to skip to the next Extracted Sheet

Starting AlignDB - AutoCAD

To start AlignDB, press the blue icon on the BSDI: AlignDB Toolbar (). You can also access AlignDB from the Blue Sky Pull Down menu or type ‘aligndb’ in the command line.

AlignDB

PlatDB

PermitDB

PODS Manager

DMLoader

NOTE: To view AlignDB splash screen including software version and Validate Serial Number click the Blue Sky icon.

Starting AlignDB - ArcGIS

NOTE: Because AlignDB for ArcGIS resides inside of the AlignDB.mxt Template, a Map will need to be created using this Template. Once the Map is created, attach the Border Data to the Border Data Set, and any existing Base Map Data to the BaseMap Data Set.

Select File pull down menu and New… or Crtl + N. Then Select the ‘BlueSky’ tab and the AlignDB .mxt file. Press OK.

After AlignDB start 2 layers will be created in the ArcGIS Table of Contents, they are as follows:

BaseMap Data Set – Used to hold polyline, points, and imagery layers

Border Data Set – Used to hold border annotations and polygons

To start AlignDB, Press the Execute icon () on the BSDITools Toolbar.

NOTE: To view AlignDB splash screen including software version and Validate Serial Number click the Blue Sky icon.

Seed File

The Seed File is a Microsoft Access (.mdb) formatted file designed to aid in maintaining both data and drafting standards. For more information on how to populate a Seed File, please review the additional Seed File Documentation. The changes made to the Seed file will be replicated to all new Project files. Changes made to the Project file will not be automatically updated in the Seed file, and changes made to the Seed file will not be inherited by existing Project files. Understanding the relationship between Seed and Project files is very important and will help determine where changes need to be made.

Location of Seed File

The Seed File will should be located in a shared folder on the network, but can also be located on the local hard drive.

For others to access a common Seed File, it should reside on a network drive. First, create a new Folder in Explorer on the desired network drive. Next, give this folder a name that reflects the Client or Company Standard. Finally, copy the file Seed.mdb into this folder. If multiple Seed Files for multiple different Clients are used, then it is recommended keeping these Seed Files in separate folders. Rename the Seed.mdb file to a name that reflects the Client or Company Standard (throughout this document this file will be referred to as the Seed File). Each time a new Project is created using AlignDB, that new Project folder will be located under the Seed File’s current folder.

If the Seed File is located on a shared network drive, then multiple Users can access the same Seed File and Project Files. If each person using AlignDB has a separate Seed File on their local drive, then every time there is a change or update made on the Seed File it will have to be updated on each machine. NOTE: These Users will be unable to share projects.

Changing Seed Files

A User can easily change to another Seed file when required to work on a different client’s project. Open the AlignDB Configuration Utility, and click on the Browse(…) button and point the program to the desired Seed file. Click the Apply button, and the OK button to close the AlignDB Configuration Utility dialog box.

Each Project will reflect the contents of the Seed file selected at the time that Project was created.

Editing Seed File

The seed file can easily be edited clicking the Seed File Defaults button on the Align DB main dialog. To access the seed file defaults the Project and Alignment boxes must read None.

NOTE: Changes to the seed file defaults will affect all projects created under that seed file. The Seed File Defaults button is only available when there are no projects or alignments selected.

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Chapter

Chapter 2 Projects

This Chapter will review creating New Projects and Selecting Existing Projects.

rojects are mdb files that contain information for one Project, and one or more Alignments. Projects are created from the Seed File, and then Project related information is added to the Project file.

Create Project

Start Platform.

Start AlignDB, and from the Main dialog box select the Project button.

In the Project dialog box, select the Add button.

NOTE: The exclamation icon () on the bottom right corner can be used to temporary hide the AlignDB windows by right-clicking the mouse bottom or to exit the AlignDB application by left-clicking the mouse button. (The right-click feature will only work with the AutoCAD platform)

The New Project dialog will appear.

Type the Name and Description of the new project. Select the correct Units from the Units: field. There are now two Metric options. One uses Meters in Paper Space (Metric M-MS/M-PS) and the other uses Millimeters in Paper Space (Metric M-MS/Mil-PS). Select the type of Project from the Project Type: field. AlignDB will automatically retrieve the Username and the date from the Operating System.

To select a coordinate system from a list of coordinate systems provided by USGS select the … button in the Coordinate System field. The Projection Parameters dialog box will open. Select an option from the Projection Class field. Then select an option from the Projection List field. The User can sort the Project List by clicking on one of the Headers, such as Name. Select an option from the Projection Units field.

The User can select the Add button to save the selected Projection to the Seed File. This will make it easier to select the proper coordinate system each time in the future.

By checking Create Extended Directories AlignDB will create different folders within the project folder to aid in handling xrefs.

Select the OK button to return to the New Project dialog box.

In all Platforms, the User is allowed to edit the Projection Parameters manually. In the Projection Parameters dialog box the User can modify the projection in the Edit Parameters field and select the Add button. This will create a new User-defined projection, and will not modify the USGS list of projections.

In the New Project dialog box, select OK and AlignDB will create a new project database in a directory under the seed file directory.

NOTE: The projection parameters can be modified in this dialog and will only affect the current project. If the Project Coordinate System in AlignDB uses different Units that the Data Frame in ArcGIS, then the following message box will appear:

This message is for reference, and will not cause any errors in AlignDB. The dialog can be avoided, by the User setting the PCS parameters, prior to creating a new project. Select OK to continue.

Select Existing Project

Start Platform. Start AlignDB. Verify that AlignDB is pointing to the correct Seed File. Select the Project button. From the list of available Projects, select the desired Project to open.

The User can double-click on the project to open it, or highlight it and click OK. Projects are stored in the Seed file folder.

FAQ: If the incorrect Seed File is active, the desired Project will not appear in the list of projects.

Relocate Project

This option will allow the User to change the source of the Project. After pressing the Relocate Project button a Browse dialog will appear. Open the file to be replaced.

Deleting Projects

To delete project, highlight the desired project and press the Delete button. This will be followed by a Warning Dialog and password dialog. Press OK to continue and delete, press cancel to terminate delete. Then, enter the correct password and press OK.

WARNING: After pressing ok on the password dialog the project, including all project and alignment data, will be permanently deleted.

NOTE: Password Projected Deletion is only available in the AutoCAD platform.

Chapter

Chapter 3 Project Utilities

This Chapter will review what options are available in the Project Utilities.

roject Utilities are settings that apply to an entire Project and all Alignments associated within that Project. They are first defined in the Seed File. When the New Project is created, it is created with these settings. The User can modify these settings, per Project, under the Project Utilities.

Project Utility Tables

From the Main Dialog Box, select the Utilities button under Projects. The Project Utilities dialog box will open.

From the Main Dialog Box, select the Utilities icon () in the Projects box. The Project Utilities dialog box will open.

The Utility Tables include:

· Codes

· Layers

· Borders

· Symbols[t2]

· Event Categories / Desc. (Event Features)

· User Points

· Error Log

· User Defined Bands

· Linear Styles (Graphic Styles)

· Text Styles

· Error Log

The Import Utilities include:

· Import ASCII File (XY Data)

· Import PLLZD (LL Data)

· Separate By Sub-Code

· ViewData

· Import Points

· Generate Linework

· Clear Import Table

· Import Data Dictionary

· Linear Descriptions

· Annotate Point

· Convert Map Data

· Asbuilt Tools

Details for each of these Utilities are available in later Chapters.

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Chapter

Chapter 4 Codes and Sub-Codes

This chapter will review Codes and Sub-Codes.

odes and Sub-Codes need to be defined to match company standards. These company standards can be maintained with a Seed File. For more information on the Seed File, please review the Seed File Documentation.

Removing Codes from the Project File

Once a Project has been created, the User may desire to remove any undesired Codes or Sub-Codes. Open AlignDB. Open the desired Project.

First, from AlignDB’s main dialog box, click on the Project Utilities button.

Select the Codes button.

Go through the existing list and find those Codes to be removed.

First, from AlignDB’s main dialog box, click on the Project Utilities icon.

Select the Codes button.

Go through the existing list and find those Codes to be removed.

For both Platforms: Highlight the codes one at a time and click the Delete Code button. A Warning dialog will appear letting the User know, this will delete the current Code. The User can click Cancel to abort deleting the Code or click OK to continue and delete the Code.

Adding Codes to the Project File

Repeat the process above: Open AlignDB. Open the desired Project. From AlignDB’s main dialog box, click on the Project Utilities button/icon. Click on the Codes button.

In the Code field type the new Code.

In the Description field type in the description of the new Code. In the Sheet Extraction dialog, the User will have the option of displaying the Code or the Description of the Code in the Station Band.

To associate a Symbol with the new Code either use the pull-down in the Symbol field to select an existing Symbol, or click the Symbol button to define a new Symbol. If the User does not want to associate the new Code with a Symbol they can select NA. When the User inserts Symbols into the drawing this is the Symbol that will be inserted.

In the Layer field select an existing Layer from the pull down arrow, or type the name of the new Layer. When the User inserts points into the drawing, the User will have the option of inserting Points on the Code Layer (the Layer designated here). This Layer does not have to be pre-existing, nor does it have to be defined in AlignDB’s Layer Table.

The Include Blanks in DB Scan checkbox allows the User to control whether empty fields from the survey file will be displayed in the Station Band of the Alignment sheet. For example, if the survey file does not contain a value in the field for Diameter of the Code Tree, and the checkbox is checked, the Station Band would display 1+20 Oak Tree, “ Diameter. With this checkbox unchecked, the Station Band would display 1+20 Oak Tree.

The Include in DB Scan checkbox allows the User to control if the Code will be displayed in the Station Band. If the checkbox is checked, then when the User Scans for SubCodes the Code will be displayed. If the checkbox is unchecked, then when the User Scans for SubCodes the data will be added to the Project Database, but will not be displayed in the Station Band.

Once the information for the new Code is entered click the Add Code button.

The Centerline Definition checkbox defines codes that will generate the center line.

The Match Exact Code checkbox is a global command and will affect all of the Codes. If the checkbox is checked, then the Survey File’s Codes must match the Codes exactly. If this checkbox is not checked, then the Survey File’s Codes do not have to match exactly. For example, if the Code for Fence is FNC, and the Survey File contains values like “FNC barbed wire”, or “FNC chain link”, then the checkbox needs to be unchecked. AlignDB will find all of the Codes with FNC and append any additional text. If the Match Exact Code is checked, then AlignDB will separate “FNC barbed wire” and “FNC chain link” into their own individual Codes FNC barbed wire and FNC chain link.

The Code for Material Asbuilt Changes drop down menu sets the code for which material changes are recorded.

After settings have been defined press the Add Code button.

Modifying Codes in the Project File

Open AlignDB. Open the desired Project. From AlignDB’s main dialog box, click on the Project Utilities button/icon.

Click on the Codes button. Highlight the desired Code to modify, change the information listed in the Code field, the Description field, the Symbol field, the Layer field, check/uncheck the Include Blanks in DB Scan button, or the Include in DB Scan button; then click Update. This will update the information on the current Code.

Define Sub-Codes

NOTE: If the User checks the Has Sub-Codes option, make sure to click the Add button or the Update button before clicking the Has Sub-Codes button. This will open the Sub-Code Definition dialog box. This is where the User will define the Sub-Code (also referred to as Attribute) information per Code.

The first column is labeled Column. This column shows the number of rows being utilized. The second column is Attribute. This column will display the attributes associated with each row. The third column is Dictionary. This column determines what type of format the data must come from the Survey File. The fourth column is Suffix, which will hold any suffix text to be displayed with the attribute in the Station Band. The last column is Display. The Display column lets the User decide which attributes will be displayed in the Station Band, and in what order. If the Display for an attribute is set at 0, then it will not display that attribute in the Station Band. If the Display is set at 1, then it will display that attribute in the station band, and it will be the first attribute displayed. If the Display is set at 2, then it will be the second attribute displayed, and so on.

The first seven rows are standard point information. They include the Point_ID which is set as an “AutoNumber”, the IMPORTID which is set as “LONG,” the Point_No which is set as “Text50”, the Code which is set as “Text50”, the Northing which is set as “Number”, the Easting which is set as “Number”, and the Elevation which is set as “Number”. The Point_ID and IMPORTID are columns entered by AlignDB. The Point_No, Code, Northing, Easting, and Elevation are columns that will be retrieved from the Survey Files. The only fields the User can modify in these first seven columns are the Suffix and Display.

To add Sub-Code information, highlight the next empty column, column number 8, and fill in the information in the empty fields at the bottom of the screen. The Column box will automatically populate, then type in the Attribute to be added and use the pull-down to specify the Dictionary type to be used. Type in a Suffix, if applicable. Use the up and down arrows under Display to designate the Attribute to be displayed in the Station Band, and in what order it is to be displayed. It’s important to put the correct Dictionary type here, and to verify that the Survey File imported reflects the correct Dictionary Type. If the User adds an Attribute with the Dictionary Type of “Number”, and the Survey File shows 19’ or 19ft in the corresponding field then an error will be generated when trying to import this data. If the Dictionary type is “Number”, then the field cannot contain any text or punctuation except for a period. If the Dictionary type is “Text50”, then the corresponding field cannot contain over fifty characters.

If the User chooses Menu for the Dictionary Type of an Attribute, he will have to click the Add button to add that Attribute to the Code before adding Menu Items. Then the User can highlight the Attribute to activate the Menu Items button. Click the Menu Items button. The Sub Code Menu Items dialog box will open.

At the top of this dialog box Code, the Description of the Code, and the Attribute are all displayed. At the bottom of the dialog box is the New Menu Item text box, and Symbol field. Type the first Item into the New Menu Item field and use the pull-down to select a symbol to be associated with this attribute if applicable. After typing in the Item and selecting a symbol, click the Add button. Continue to do this until all of the Items are listed in the Menu Items list box, then click Done. Remember that the Dictionary Type “Menu” has to be maintained the same as “Number” or “Text50”. The Survey File will have to have one of the Menu Items listed in the corresponding field. If not, then AlignDB will generate an error on import.

Once the User has finished editing the Sub-Code Definitions click the OK button. A message box ‘Warning! Do you wish to Build the new Sub-Code Table?!’ will appear. Clicking the Yes button will generate a Sub-Code Table for the Code. Clicking the No button will not create the Sub-Code Table, instead it will be created when the data is imported.

Later, after the User has imported the Survey File into the project, he will have the option of Separating by Sub-Code. This will separate all of the Codes that have the Has Sub-Codes checkbox checked into their own tables. If the checkbox is unchecked then the Code will go into the No-Codes Table. Even if no additional fields or Sub-Code information is added to the Codes, the User can still check the Has Sub-Codes checkbox so that later on the Codes will separate into their own tables.

The User is not allowed to edit or delete any Sub-Code information from AlignDB interfaces. The User or Administrator can, however, edit or delete Sub-Codes from the mdb file.

Chapter

Chapter 5 Layers

This chapter will review Layers and Layer Setup in the Project File.

he Layers dialog box is where the User will define which Layers to set as Crossing, and which to set as Ignore Points. The Layer Setup dialog box is where the User will define the Layers they want to create in AutoCAD from AlignDB. This means that if the Setup Layers are defined according to the Client/Company Standards, then AlignDB will generate the Client/Company Standard Layers in each new drawing. And if the Layers are also defined as Crossing and/or Ignore Points according to the Standards, then every drawing will maintain Layer consistency, no matter who creates them.

Layers – AutoCAD

Removing Layers from the Project File

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button/icon, then the Layers button. The User can either click the Delete All Layers button, or highlight the layers one at a time and click the Delete button for each one. Be careful when clicking the Delete All Layers button because it will delete all the Layers, including the Setup Layers.

Removing Setup Layers from the Project File

From the Layer dialog box click the Setup Layers button. Select the Delete All Alignment Layers, Delete All Permit Layers, or Delete All Plat Layers. These buttons will not remove any Layers from the Layer dialog box. Users can also highlighting the Layers one at a time and click the Delete button for each one.

NOTE: Do NOT select the Route layer when adding layers.

Populating Layers in the Project File

If an AutoCAD drawing exists containing the Client/Company Standard Layers, then the quickest way to populate the Layer Table is to open this Drawing. Open AlignDB and click the Project Utilities button. Click the Layers button and click Import Code Layers on the Alignment Database dialog box (as seen above). The application will display the following warning.

If the User clicks Crossing, AlignDB will go into the Drawing and pull all of the Layers and place them into the Project File. This puts all of the Layers in as Crossing. The User will need to double-click all of the Layers and type in a Description and set the Layer as either Crossing or Ignore Points. The Description is what will be displayed in the Station Band if the Layer is set to Crossing. The User can also Add Layers by clicking the Add button. The New Layer dialog box will appear. Use the pull-down to select an existing Layer, or type in the name of the new Layer. Then type in a description. This description is what will be displayed in the Station Band if this Layer is designated as a Crossing Layer.

For the Layer type, choose either the “Crossing Layer” option or the “Ignore Points on Layer” option. If the layer is set as “Crossing”, then when a “Scan for Crossings” is executed, AlignDB will locate all the Lines, Polylines, and Arcs on that Layer that are crossing the current Alignment. It will display the station for these crossings with the Layer’s description in the Station Band. If a Layer is defined as “Ignore Points”, then when a “Scan for Point” is executed, AlignDB will ignore the Points on that Layer. If the Layer appears in the Table twice, once as “Crossing” and once as “Ignore”, then when a “Scan for Crossings” and “Points” is executed, the application will find all Lines, Polylines, and Arcs on that Layer as Crossing, and it will also ignore any Points on that Layer. If a Layer does not appear in the Layer Table, then when a “Scans for Crossings” and “Points” is executed, the application will not find any Line, Polylines or Arcs on that Layer as Crossing, but will still find the Points on that Layer. Attached at the end of this document is the Layer Table Diagram. It will help show how the Layer Table decides what is and what is not displayed on the Station Band.

Auto-Populating Setup Layers in the Project File

From the Alignment Database dialog box select the Setup Layers button. If the User has opened an AutoCAD Drawing that already has the Client/Company Standards in it, then he can Click the Auto-Add All Layers. The application will prompt the User, if the Layers are Alignment, Plat, or Permit Layers.

Each of these should be setup in the Project File. If the current Drawing is an Alignment Layer Standard Drawing, then select Alignment Layers. Then open a Plat Layers Standard Drawing and click the Auto-Add All Layers and select Plat Layers. Do this same step with Permit Layers. When the Users create a new Project they will have the option to Create Layers. It will ask them if they want to add Alignment Layers, or Plat Layers, or Permit Layers. This will help maintain Layer Standards in Alignments, and Plats, and Permit Drawings.

Auto-Add Code Layers

When the Codes table was populated, the User had the option to assign a Layer to the Code. Later on, when the User Imports Data, then Inserts the Points into the Drawings, the User will have the option to Insert the Points on their Code Layers. The User has the ability to add these Code Layers to the Layer Table, and assign them as Crossing or Ignore before inserting them into the drawing. From the Layer Table dialog box click the Import Code Layers button (this button will import all layers defined in the code definitions). It will prompt the User to import all the points as Crossing or Ignore.

Once the new layers have been added to the Layer Table, the User will be able to change them to Crossing or Ignore. If a Survey Code Point exists on a Layer set as Crossing, then AlignDB will put the Description of the Code, not the Layer, in the Station Band.

Contours

If contours or 2D Polylines at elevations need to be included when generating the profile, the User must set the layer with those contours to Crossing. These entities by default will be displayed in the Station Band. The User can modify the display of these contours by opening the Points Table in the Project Database File and change the column StaDisplay from 1 (display) to a 0 (do not display). This can also be done at sheet Extraction by changing the display option for the description, found under Station Filter options.

FAQ: Make sure the correct layers are select in the Layers dialog or Alignment will not be scanned correctly. Refer to Chapter 16: Scanning Utilities for more information.

Layers – ArcGIS[RRR3]

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities icon, then the Layers button.

Adding Layers

To add individual layer press the Add button, which will be followed by a confirmation dialog box verify the addition of a layer. Press OK to continue and select a layer, press Cancel to terminate.

NOTE: After pressing OK use the Add Data () function to browse for a Layer to be added.

Auto-Add Crossing Layers

Press the Auto-Add Crossing Layers button to add the current layers in the ArcMap TOC. Two dialogs will follow, warning the user ‘This will add ALL layers as Crossing Layers,’ press OK to continue and Cancel to terminate. The next dialog to appear will ask Users if they would like to add any CAD layers in the list. Answer accordingly.

Removing Layers

The User can either click the Delete All Layers button, or highlight the layers one at a time and click the Delete button for each one. Be careful when clicking the Delete All Layers button because it will delete all the Layers, including the Setup Layers. Warning dialog will appear after pressing the above buttons. Press OK to confirm, Cancel to terminate.

FAQ: Make sure the correct layers are select in the Layers dialog or Alignment will not be scanned correctly. Refer to Chapter 16: Scanning Utilities for more information.

Chapter

Chapter 6 Borders

This chapter will review using AlignDB to populate Borders in the Project File.

The Border dialog box is where the User will define the Project File Borders. Defining the Borders will help generate Alignment Sheet, Plats, or Permits efficiently.

Editing Borders in the Project File

To Edit a Border double-click on the Border [RRR4] or highlight the desired border and press the edit button. It will open the Edit Border dialog box, which is very similar to the Add Border dialog box. Follow the same steps listed in the Adding Borders to the Project File section of this chapter to Edit the Borders.

Viewing Border Properties

Users may view Border Properties by clicking on the Properties button.

Removing Borders from the Project File

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button/icon, then the Borders button. From this dialog box highlight the Border to be removed, and click the Delete Button.

Adding Borders to the Project File

Create New Border

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Borders button. From this dialog box click the Add button. The New Border dialog box will open.

The Name of the Border will be the same as the name of the file selected to be the Border. Click the Browse button to select the drawing file. Path to the Border drawing to be used and click Open. AlignDB will automatically put the path of the drawing into the Path field. If the drawing is moved or renamed, but the Border is not updated in AlignDB, an error will occur and AlignDB will not be able to find the Border.

Type a Description for the Border. This Description will help distinguish between different Borders.

Type the Layer the Border will be on when inserted, and what color it will be (0 represents ByLayer).

Opening Border Drawing

The next step in creating a Border is setting the locations of all of the Bands. To do this the Border drawing must be open, the border must be located in Model Space, and be at a Scale of 1 to 1. To manually open the selected border drawing double click on the red Name text in the upper left corner of the Edit Border dialog. A prompt to open the border drawing will also appear when selecting a band coordinate, press Yes to open the selected border drawing in model space.

Set Band Locations

The different Bands all have their own defined Y-Dist and Height. The X-Dist and length will be determined according to the amount of stationing per sheet, and the scale selected. The Y-Dist represents where the Band will be located in the Y direction. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the specified band.

NOTE: Take notice of the command line when selecting a point to define a band. This will tell the user which point to select to set the band in the desired area.

NOTE: If a point in AutoCAD is selected, then we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If the Ortho is Off, then AlignDB may calculate an inaccurate Location.

Go through these steps of setting the Location and Height for each of the following Bands:

· Station

· PI

· Material

· Pipe

· Property

· Location (under development)

· Environmental

· Profile

· Workspace (under development)

· Legends

If a Band will not be displayed on the Alignment Sheets, then it will not matter what is typed there. There will be an option later on, during Sheet Extraction to not display that Band.

Define the Draw Area

The Draw Area is the location where the Viewport will be in the Border. Set the X-Dist, the Y-Dist, the Length, and the Height.

In the New or Edit Border dialog box, in the Draw Area there are four fields. The first is X-Dist. In this field either type in the distance from the Origin to the bottom of the draw area or define it in AutoCAD. In the Y-Dist field either type in the distance from the Origin to the side of the draw area or define it in AutoCAD. In the Length field either type in the length of the draw area or select it in AutoCAD. In the Height field either type in the height of the draw area or select it in AutoCAD. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the specified draw area for each field.

NOTE: We recommend either using the perpendicular command, or have ortho on.

Draw Area

In the Origin area of the Border dialog box type in the X: and Y: values of the origin in AutoCAD. Typically the origin is kept at 0,0 (X: 0, Y: 0). The origin is the location where the border block will be inserted, and is also the reference points for all of the bands.

Set Border Dimensions (BDR Info)

The Border Dimensions area of the Border dialog box is where the Width and Height of the Border is typed. This is for reference only, and will be displayed in the Border Data dialog box, where it shows the list of Borders to choose from. It will help the Users quickly tell what size border they are selecting. If the border is 24 inches by 36 inches, in the Width field type 36, and in the Height field type 24. When the User selects the border they want to use they will see not only the name of the Border but also the 36 x 24.

Set North Arrow Location

In the North Arrow Locations area enter the X-Dist and Y-Dist for where the North Arrow will be inserted. Either type in the value for the X-Dist and Y-Dist or click the X-Dist button and the Y-Dist button to select the distance in AutoCAD. If typing in the values, put the distance from the Origin to the X location in the X-Dist field and then the distance from the Origin to the Y location in the Y-Dist field (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Either type in the distance (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen) or select the X or Y distance in AutoCAD. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the north arrow, we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate distance may be calculated. The values put in the X and Y Dist fields will be what AlignDB uses to insert the North Arrow into the drawing. There will be an option later in Sheet Extraction to not display the North Arrow. The North Arrow block will also be selected in the Sheet Extraction dialog box.

Set Material Table Location / Event Features / BOM Table[RRR5]

In the Material Table Location area enter the X-Dist and Y-Dist where the Event Feature Table will be inserted. Either type in the value for the X-Dist and Y-Dist or click the X-Dist button and the Y-Dist button to select the distance in AutoCAD. If typing in the values, put the distance from the Origin to the X location in the X-Dist field and then the distance from the Origin to the Y location in the Y-Dist field (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Either type in the distance (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen) or select the X or Y distance in AutoCAD. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the top left of the desired table, we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate distance may be calculated. The values entered in the X and Y Dist fields will be what AlignDB uses to insert the Event Feature Table into the drawing. The information displayed in the Event Feature Table will be defined later in Sheet Extraction.

Set Bearing/Dist. Table Location[RRR6]

In the Bearing/Dist Table Location area enter the X-Dist and Y-Dist where Bearing/Dist. Table will be inserted. Either type in the value for the X-Dist and Y-Dist or click the X-Dist button and the Y-Dist button to select the distance in AutoCAD. If typing in the values, put the distance from the Origin to the X location in the X-Dist field and then the distance from the Origin to the Y location in the Y-Dist field (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Either type in the distance (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen) or select the X or Y distance in AutoCAD. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the top left of the desired table, we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate distance may be calculated. The values put in the X and Y Dist fields will be what AlignDB uses to insert the Bearing/Dist. Table into the drawing. Type in a value for the height (the distance the table will draw before creating a new table to they left.)The information displayed in the Bearing/Dist. Table will be defined later in Sheet Extraction.

Set Ownership Table Location[RRR7]

In the Ownership Table Location area enter the X-Dist and Y-Dist where the Ownership Table will be inserted. Either type in the value for the X-Dist and Y-Dist or click the X-Dist button and the Y-Dist button to select the distance in AutoCAD. If typing in the values, put the distance from the Origin to the X location in the X-Dist field and then the distance from the Origin to the Y location in the Y-Dist field (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Either type in the distance (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen) or select the X or Y distance in AutoCAD. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the top left of the desired table, we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate distance may be calculated. The values put in the X and Y Dist fields will be what AlignDB uses to insert the Ownership Table into the drawing. Type in a value for the height (the distance the table will draw before creating a new table to they left.)The information displayed in the Ownership Table will be defined later in Sheet Extraction.

Set PI Table Location[RRR8]

In the PI Table Location area enter the X-Dist and Y-Dist where the PI Table will be inserted. Either type in the value for the X-Dist and Y-Dist or click the X-Dist button and the Y-Dist button to select the distance in AutoCAD. If typing in the values, put the distance from the Origin to the X location in the X-Dist field and then the distance from the Origin to the Y location in the Y-Dist field (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Either type in the distance (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen) or select the X or Y distance in AutoCAD. Press the select a point button () to choose a point for the top left of the desired table, we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate distance may be calculated. The values put in the X and Y Dist fields will be what AlignDB uses to insert the PI Table into the drawing. Type in a value for the height (the distance the table will draw before creating a new table to the left.). The information displayed in the PI Table will be defined later in Sheet Extraction.

Attribute Tags

From the Border dialog box select the Attribute Tags button. This will open the Edit Border Tags dialog box. This dialog box links the Attribute from the Border block to the field in the Project Database.

NOTE: Press the Select icon () to select an attribute as a Tag.

In this dialog box there are fields for:

· From Station

· To Station

· DWG #

· Drawn BY

· Checked By

· AFE

· Rev

· MP Start

· MP End

· DR Date

· CH Date

· Map Proj

· FileName

· Last Updated

· Title 1

· Title2

· H Scale

· V Scale

There are also nine tags at the bottom of the dialog box that only apply to Plats. They are:

· Prop Tag1

· Prop Tag2

· Prop Tag3

· Prop Tag4

· Prop Tag5

· Prop Tag6

· Prop Tag7

· Prop Tag8

· Prop Tag9

For each field the User can type in the Tag (name) of the Attribute in AutoCAD. For example, in the drawing below DWGNO is the Tag of the Attribute where the Drawing Number will be displayed. In the Attribute Tag dialog box type DWGNO in the field labeled DWG #.

While going through the process of creating Projects and Alignments, and Extracting Sheets, AlignDB will be prompting for information to populate into these Attributes.

Instead of leaving a particular Attribute Tag blank, leave the default. The only Tag values that can remain empty are the nine Property Tags. Once all of the Attribute Tag fields populated click the OK button.

Set the User Defined Tags

From the Edit Border dialog box select the User Defined Tags button. This will open the User Defined Tags dialog box. The User can type in the Tag (name) of the Attribute in AutoCAD/ArcGIS and click the Add button. During the Sheet Extraction process the User will be prompted for the values of these User Defined Tags.

Set the User Defined Bands Locations

The User Defined Bands button is only available in the Edit Border mode. Click the User Defined tab then press the User Defined Bands button.

Next to the Band… button use the Pull-down to select the User Defined Band to set the location for (if there are not any User-Defined Bands defined, click the Band… button and it will open the User Defined Band dialog box. See Chapter 10: User Defined Bands in this documentation).

Set the Y Distance by either typing in the value or clicking the Y-Distance button. To type the value, just type in the distance from the Origin to the bottom of where the Band located (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Otherwise click the Y-Distance button to select the point at which the User-Band should be placed. If selecting a point in AutoCAD, then we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the Origin to the point selected. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate distance may be calculated.

Set the Height by either typing in the value or clicking the Height button. To type the value, just type in the height (the units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen). Otherwise click the Height button to specify the desired height of the User-Band. If selecting a point in AutoCAD, then we recommend having Ortho On. This is because AlignDB will find the length from the first point selected to the second point. It’s similar to the AutoCAD command Distance. If Ortho is Off, then an inaccurate height may be calculated.

Once the Band is selected, the Y-Distance defined, and the Height defined, click the Add button.

To modify the location of a User Defined Band highlight the Band and make the change and click the Update button.

To Delete a User Defined Band’s Location from the Border highlight the Band and click the Delete button.

When finished locating all of the User Defined Bands click the OK button.

Chapter

Chapter 7 Symbols

This chapter will review using AlignDB to populate Symbols in the Project File.

ymbols are blocks that can be associated to Codes and inserted where those Codes are located in the AutoCAD drawings.

NOTE: In ArcGIS Symbolization is accomplished thought the Layers properties, review Chapter 5: Layers.

Adding Symbols

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Symbols button.

From this dialog box click the Add button. The New Symbol dialog box will open.

Click the Browse button and path to the block that will represent the Symbol. After clicking the Open button it will automatically fill in the Name of the Symbol and the Path. If the location of the block changes the Symbol will need to be updated in AlignDB.

Type in a Description for the Symbol. This is for reference and will help Users identify which Symbols they are selecting.

The User can change the Layer for the Symbol. This is the Layer that the Symbol will be inserted on. This Layer does not have to be pre-existing in AutoCAD.

The User can define a color for the Symbol to be (0 is ByLayer).

Type the distance between Symbols in the Length field. This distance will keep the Symbols from overlapping in Bands on the Alignment Sheets. The units will be in inches if English Units were chosen for the Project, and either Millimeters or Meters if Metric was chosen.

The Text Properties area is for automatically populating the first attribute of the symbol. It will put that text on the layer typed in the Layer field under the Text Properties area.

When the User have completely filled out the New Symbol dialog box click the OK button.

Editing the Symbol

To edit a Symbol double-click the Symbol from the list of Symbols in the Symbol Data dialog box.

The Edit Symbol dialog box will show the number of the Symbol in a yellow box in the top left corner. Change the Name, Path, Description, Layer, Color, and Text Properties Text and Layer.

Deleting a Symbol

Go to the Administration tab in the Symbol Data dialog box. Highlight the symbol to delete and click the Delete button. A password box will appear, after entering the password you may click OK and the Symbol will be deleted from the Project File.

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Chapter

Chapter 8 Event Features

This chapter will review using AlignDB to populate the Event Features in the Project File.

he Event Features dialog box is where the User will define the Project File’s Event Features. Event Features are considered anything that occurs along the Alignment. Typically the Event Features will include all Alignment Event Features.

Event Feature Categories

Categories must be created before adding Event Feature List items.

Add Event Features Categories

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button/icon, then the Event Features button. Select the Category button.

Type in the name of the Category in the New Category field. Use the pull down arrow in the Codes: field to select an associated Code. If a Symbol is associated to the Code selected, that Symbol will be used for that entire Category.

Select the Event Type, which is either Segment, Point, FT_Line, or FT_Point.

Event Type Segment is for events which occur with a beginning station and an ending station. For example, Coating is a Segment Type Event Feature. A Point Type occurs at one station. An example of a Point Type Event Feature is Valve. The FT_Line and FT_Point Types represent Feature Table Line and Feature Table Point.

Click the Add button to Add each Category.

Click the Done button when finished.

NOTE: Make sure to select the correct Default Category. This can be done by highlighting the desired Category in the list and pressing the Set as Default button.

FAQ: Choosing the incorrect Default Category may cause difficulty in selecting an alignment.

Edit Event Feature Categories

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Event Features button. From this dialog box click the Category button. Highlight the Category to edit. From here edit the name of the Category in the New Category field. Change the Event Type, if applicable. Then click the Update button. Click the Done button when finished.

Delete Event Feature Categories

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Event Features button. From this dialog box click the Category button. Highlight the Category to delete and click the Delete button. A message box reading: Warning! This will delete the current Event Feature Category! Select OK to continue or Cancel to cancel. Clicking the OK button will remove that Category from the Project File. Be sure to not have any Event Feature Lists items that will be kept associated to the Event Feature Category being deleted before deleting. Click the Done button when finished.

Note that if only one Event Feature Category is created, AlignDB will not allow that Category to be deleted.

Event Feature List

Once the User has established the Categories, List items can be added to the Project.

Add Event Feature List Items

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Event Features button. Use the pull-down in the Category field to select the Event Feature Category to add List items to. Then type in a Description for that List Item. If there is a quantity associated to the List item fill in the Number and Units field (for example, type 50 in the Number field and lbs in the Units field). Use the pull down in the Style field to select a style to associate to the Event Feature list item. This Style represents a Line Style for Segment Event Feature Categories (Add Line Styles in the User-Defined Band section of the software). Once the information for the new List item has been entered click the Add button. Click the Done button when finished.

Edit Event Feature List Items

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Event Features button. Use the pull-down in the Category field to select the Event Feature Category to edit List items in. Highlight the List item to edit and make the changes in the Description, Number or Units fields. When finished editing the List item click the Update button. Click the Done button when finished.

Delete Event Feature List Items

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Event Features button. Use the pull-down in the Category field to select the Event Feature Category to delete List items from. Highlight the List item to delete. Click the Delete button. A message box reading: Warning! This will delete the current Event Feature Description! will appear. Click the OK button to continue or the Cancel button to cancel. By selecting the OK button that List item will be removed from that Event Feature Category. Click the Done button when finished.

Feature Tables

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Event Features button. Click the Categories button to open the Category List dialog box. When the User creates an FT_Line or FT_Point type Category they will need to create a Feature Table that will be associated to the Event Feature Category. In the Category List area double-click on the Feature Table Category. This will open the Category Definition dialog box.

NOTE: This is similar to the Sub-Code dialog box, but does not have the exact same functionality. And the User cannot access the Feature Table Definitions through the Sub-Code dialog box.

The first two columns, FTID and AID will be created automatically by AlignDB. Add columns by highlighting the next row, type in the name of the column in the Attribute field, and select a dictionary type from the pull down in the Dictionary field. The Suffix and Display fields do not apply to Feature Tables. Click the Add button to add each column. To import Event Features designate a column(s) for the Station(s) (if a FT_Point is being defined then one station must be designated, if a FT_Line is being defined then a beginning station and an ending station must be designated), one for the Value to be used, and one for the Filter value, if applicable. Once all of the required columns have been created, click the OK button. A prompt will ask if you wish to build the new Feature Table. Click Yes to create the Event Feature Table before trying to Import Event Features into the Table. If the Event Feature Table is not created, an error will when trying to Import Event Feature Data.

Chapter

Chapter 9 User Points

This chapter will review User Points in the Project File.

he User Points are blocks that the User can define in AlignDB to act as Points. This is for Points that are added into the AutoCAD drawing and not the survey file that need to be Scanned as Points later. This is also to define the SubCode Points which will be created by AlignDB when going through the Import Points section.

Add User Points

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the User Points button.

From this User Point dialog box either use the pull-down next to Block Name to select the block to use, or click the Select button to manually select the Block in AutoCAD. For either option the Block must already exist inside the current AutoCAD drawing. If choosing the Select button then AlignDB will be able to automatically retrieve the attributes associated with the block selected. Once the Block Name is selected either type in or use the pull-down in the Point Tag field to select which Attribute will tell AlignDB the Point Number. Then either type in or use the pull-down in the Description Tag field to select which Attribute will tell AlignDB the Description or Code of the Point. Then either type in or use the pull-down in the Elevation Tag field to select which Attribute will tell AlignDB the Elevation of the Point. Once these fields are populated select the Add Block button. Then select the Close button.

Edit User Points

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the User Points button. From this User Point dialog box highlight the User Point to edit from the list. Edit the Block name by either using the pull-down in the Block Name field to select the block to use, or click the Select button to manually select the Block in AutoCAD. For either option the Block must already exist inside the current AutoCAD drawing. Choose the Select button and AlignDB will be able to automatically retrieve the attributes associated with the block selected. Edit the Point Tag field, the Description Tag field, or the Elevation Tag field. Once the editing of these fields has been completed select the Update button. Then click the Close button.

Delete User Points

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the User Points button. From this User Point dialog box highlight the User Point to be deleted from the list and click the Delete Block button. A message box reading: Warning! This will delete the current Block! will appear. Select the OK button to continue or the Cancel button to Cancel. Click the OK button and the User Point will be removed from the Project File. When finished click the Close button.

Add Sub-Code Points

Each Code has the ability to contain Sub-Codes. To Import Data with Sub-Code information, and use AlignDB to Insert those Points into the AutoCAD drawing, then AlignDB will automatically create new blocks for these Sub-Coded Points. Because they are created per Sub-Code, they cannot be included in the typical Point Scan. Once they are defined in the User Point table, Scan for User Points to Scan for these Points. From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the User Points button. Make sure the Codes and Sub-Codes are defined correctly and then select the Add Sub-Code Points button. This will populate the User Point table with all of the Sub-Code Points and there correct Point Tags, Description Tags, and Elevation Tags automatically. Select the Close button when finished.

FAQ: Make sure the correct points are select in the User Points dialog or Alignment will not be scanned correctly. Refer to Chapter 16: Scanning Utilities for more information.

Chapter

Chapter 10 User-Defined Bands

This chapter will review User-Defined Bands.

he User-Defined Bands are Bands that the User generates that will display any information already stored in the Project Database with AlignDB. The preset Bands are for Stations, PI’s, Material, Pipe, Properties, Location, Environments, Profile, and WorkSpace. The User-Defined Band will allow the User to create personalized Band per Company/Client Standards.

Add User Defined Bands

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the User –Defined Bands button.

Type in the Name of the new Band in the Band field. Select a Category from the pull down in the Category field. These are Event Feature Categories and if the Event Feature wanted is not available, click the Category button and add it there (see the Event Feature Chapter for help on Adding Event Feature Categories).

Use the up and down arrows in the Priority field to select the level of Priority for the new User-Defined Band.

Use the Checkboxes to select which features will be displayed for the new User-Defined Bands. The options include:

· Dimension

· Separator

· Station

· Symbol

· Linear

· Text

· Graph View (Only available to FT Categories)

· Table

Linear Style

Linear Styles are available to Segment Event Type Categories. If the Linear checkbox is checked the Linear button becomes available. If the Linear Style is already created use the pull down to select it. If the Linear Style is not created, click the Linear button to open the Linear Symbolization Styles dialog box.

The Linear Styles table is also accessible from the Projects Utilities.

Type the Name of the new Linear Style in the Name field. Use the pull down in the Layer field to select a Layer for the new Linear Style. Use the pull down in the Color field to select a color for the new Linear Style. Use the pull down in the LineType field to select a Linetype for the new Linear Style. Type the width of the new Linear Style in the Width field. Click the Hatch button to go to the Select Hatch Patter dialog box. Double click on the appropriate hatch to select it.

Type in the Scale of the Hatch in the Scale field. When all the fields are entered, click the Add button to add the new Linear Style. Click OK to return to the User –Defined Bands dialog box. Use the pull down in the Linear Style field to select the appropriate Linear Style, if applicable.

NOTE: Press ‘Color…’ to select the color from a color map.

Symbol Style[RRR9]

Symbols are available to Point Type Event Categories. If the Symbol checkbox is checked the Symbol button becomes available. If the Symbol is already created use the pull down to select it. If the Symbol is not created, click the Symbol button to open the Symbol Data dialog box.

The Symbol Styles table is also accessible from the Projects Utilities.

From this dialog box click the Add button. The New Symbol dialog box will open.

Type in a Description for the Symbol. This is for reference only, and will help Users identify which Symbols they are selecting.

The User can change the Layer for the Symbol. This is the Layer that the Symbol will be inserted on. This Layer does not have to be pre-existing in AutoCAD.

The User can define a color for the Symbol to be (0 is ByLayer).

The Text Properties area is for automatically populating the first attribute of the symbol. It will put that text on the layer typed in the Layer field under the Text Properties area.

When the User have completely filled out the New Symbol dialog box click OK to return to the Symbol Data dialog box. Click OK to return to the User–Defined Bands dialog box. Use the pull down in the Symbol field to select the appropriate Symbol, if applicable.

Text Style

If the Text checkbox is checked the Text Style button becomes available. If the Text Style is already created use the pull down to select it. If the Text Style is not created, click the Text Style button to open the Text Styles dialog box. The Text Styles table is also accessible from the Projects Utilities.

Type the name of the new Text Style in the Name field. Use the pull down in the Layer field to select a layer for the new Text Style. Use the pull down in the Color field to select a color for the new Text Style. Use the pull down in the Justification field to select a justification for the new Text Style. Check the Wrap Descriptions checkbox if the new Text Style text will wrap, and fill in a value in the Max Chars field. Type an existing font name in the Font field. Type the height of the new Text Style in the Height field. Type the angle of the new Text Style in the Angle field. Type the width of the new Text Style in the Width field. Type the gap distance in the Gap field. Once all the fields have been populated, click the Add button. Click the OK button to return to the User-Defined Bands dialog box. Use the pull down in the Text Style field to select the appropriate Text Style, if applicable.

Graph View

The GraphView option is only available to Feature Type Categories, both FT_Line and FT_Point. If the GraphView checkbox is checked the GraphView button becomes available, and all the other options become unavailable. If the GraphView is already created use the pull down to select it. If the GraphView is not created, click the GraphView button to open the GraphView Settings dialog box.

Type the name of the new GraphView in the Name field.

Choose a Graph Type; Either Line, Bar, or Point. This is the type of graph that will be displayed in the User-Defined Band on the Alignment Sheet.

Type the vertical scale of the new graph in the Vertical Scale field.

Type in the size of the MatchLine text in the MatchLine Text Size field.

The Object Settings area determines the size, layer, and type of object for the new graph. The object is either a line, bar, or point, depending on the Graph Type selected. Type the size of the object in the Size field. Use the pull down in the Layer field to select a layer for the new GraphView. Use the pull down in the Type field to select a type of object for the new graph.

The Data Range allows the User to set a Minimum and Maximum value for the data imported in the Feature Table. Populate the Min and Max field appropriately.

Check the DrawGrid checkbox if AlignDB will generate the grid in the User-Defined Band on the Alignment Sheet.

The Grid Settings are similar to the Profile Grid Settings. Use the up and down arrows in the # Minor Grid Lines to determine the amount of minor grid lines to be displayed. Type the font style in the Grid Station Font field (verify the font style is available in AutoCAD). Either use the pull down to select a layer, or type in the layer for the major grid lines in the Major Grid Line Layer field. Either use the pull down to select a layer, or type in the layer for the minor grid lines in the Minor Grid Line Layer field. Either use the pull down to select a layer, or type in the layer for the grid station text in the Grid Station Layer field. Type the size of the grid station font in the Grid Station Text Size field. Type the angle of the grid station font in the Grid Station Text Angle field. Type the distance for the vertical spacing in the Major Grid Vert. Spacing field. Type the distance for the horizontal spacing in the Major Grid Hor. Spacing field.

The Column Settings area refers to the imported Feature Data. The associated fields must be managed to properly display the graph. Use the pull down in the Feature field to select a Feature Type Category (Segment Type and Point Type Categories will not be available). Use the pull down in the Station field to select the field that holds the station values. Use the pull down in the Data field to select the field that holds the data values to be graphed. The User is allowed the option to select a filter field in the Filter field (this is an option and not required). If the filter field is selected, use the pull down in the Value field to select a value to filter from the graph.

Once all the fields have been populated click the Add button to add the new GraphView. Click OK to return to the User-Defined Band Categories dialog box.

All fields in the GraphView can be modified by highlighting the GraphView from the list and making the appropriate changes and then clicking the Update button.

GraphViews can be deleted by highlighting the GraphView from the list and clicking the Delete button. A message box reading: Warning! This will delete the current Graph View! will appear. Select the OK button to continue or the Cancel button to Cancel. Click the OK button and the GraphView will be removed from the Project File.

Once all of the settings have been selected in the User-Defined Band Categories dialog box, click the Add button.

Edit User-Defined Band

To make changes to a User-Defined Band, from AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button/icon, then the User –Defined Bands button. Highlight the Band, make all appropriate changes and click the Update button.

Delete User-Defined Band

To delete a User-Defined Band, from AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the User –Defined Bands button. Highlight the Band and click the Delete button. A message box reading: Warning! This will delete the current User-Defined Band! will appear. Select the OK button to continue or the Cancel button to Cancel. Clicking the OK button will remove the User-Defined Band from the Project File.

Define User Band Sheet Location

To define the band locations for each user band press the Border Def button. For more information refer to Chapter 6: Borders.

Chapter

Chapter 11 Error Log

This chapter will review the Error Log created by AlignDB.

he Error Log created by AlignDB allows the User to quickly view any errors AlignDB recognizes.

View Error Log

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Error Log button. The data provided in the Error Log is for the User’s reference in determining if there is an error in the process the User has taken. It is recommended the User view the Error Log periodically, and click the <<Clear Log>> button to empty old Errors often. Press Just My Errors and it will only show error for the current user.

NOTE: Double-Click on error entries to jump to the error location in the model space.

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Chapter

Chapter 12 Import Data Dictionary

This chapter will review using AlignDB to Import the Data Dictionary into the Project File.

he Import Data Dictionary function of AlignDB allows the User to automatically populate their Codes and Sub-Codes from the hand held unit used to survey the Project.

Import Data Dictionary

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Import Data Dictionary button. Select the text file containing the Data Dictionary to Import and click the Open button. This will Import Trimble ASCII file export of the Data Dictionary into the Project File.

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Chapter

Chapter 13 Importing Data

This chapter will review Importing Survey Files into the Project File.

he Survey File will need to be formatted to match the Codes and SubCodes. After importing the Survey Data symbology can be inserted, and display crossing information in the Station Band all according to the Survey Data.

Import Data

To import point data from a text or comma separated file click the Import ASCII (XY Data) or the Import PLLZD (LL Data) button on the Project Utilities dialog. The Text Import Wizard is launched and the first dialog appears requesting the location of the file to be imported. Click the browse… button in the Choose a Data Source field. Find and select the import file and click the Open button.

NOTE: The import file must be a *.txt or *.csv file. In order for the file to be imported correctly, the first five fields need to be organized in one of these three particular orders:

· Import PXYZD: point number, X (Easting), Y (Northing), Z (Elevation), Description (Code), Attribute (SubCode 1), Attribute (SubCode 2), etc.

· Import PYXZD: point number, Y (Northing), X (Easting), Z (Elevation), Description (Code), Attribute (SubCode 1), Attribute (SubCode 2), etc.

· Import PLLZD: point number, Longitude, Latitude, Z (Elevation), Description (Code), Attribute (SubCode 1), Attribute (SubCode 2), etc.

Working with Survey Files

When the User begins creating projects and importing data, it will be very important to open the Survey File and scan it for any errors prior to importing into AlignDB. The Survey File will need to be organized and formatted in the correct manner for AlignDB to be able to properly fill in the Import and Sub-Code Tables. This means that the columns have to be in the correct order, and all the fields must match the dictionary type of the Attribute associated with it. The first five columns must be in order. From this point, it must continue with the Sub-Code/Attribute data in the order specified in the Sub-Code Table.

To import survey data from a text or comma separated file click the Import ASCII File button on the Project Utilities dialog. The Text Import Wizard is launched and the first dialog appears requesting the location of the file to be imported. Click the browse … button in the Choose a Data Source field. Find and select the import file and click the Open button.

After selecting a file to import the Text Import Wizard dialog box extends. Select the delimiter used in the import file, which separates the fields, and select a text qualifier if needed. Click OK to finish importing the points into the Import Table of the Project Database.

When importing using the PLLZD option, the data will be projected on the fly using the USGS Projection Engine based on the Coordinate System selected during Project creation.

The X and Y values based on the Coordinate system, as well as the Longitude and Latitude values will be maintained in the Project Database at all times. The New Reference Table in the Project Database will hold the projection data for reference.

There will be future functionality to convert the data from one coordinate system to another in the Data File Coordinate System field.

After selecting the import file the Text Import Wizard dialog box opens. Select the delimiter used in the import file, which separates the fields, and select a text qualifier if needed. Click OK to finish importing the points into the Import Table of the Project Database.

When importing using the PLLZD option, the data will be projected on the fly using the USGS Projection Engine based on the Coordinate System selected during Project creation.

There will be future functionality to convert the data from one coordinate system to another in the Data File Coordinate System field.

Separate By Sub-Code

After importing the data click the Separate By Sub-Code button on the Project Utilities dialog. This will parse the data from the Import table into the corresponding Code tables. After clicking an information dialog will pop up verifying the process was complete. Make sure to check the Error Log in the Project Utilities menu to confirm the process was successful.

View Data

After separating by sub-code, click the View Data button from the Project Utilities dialog. The View Tables dialog opens showing the data just imported and parsed.

Select a table from the Tables field. The list box on the right will show the data that belongs to that table. Notice also that next to the table name in the Tables field is a count of the total number of records.

Import Points

To import the points from the database to the drawing, click the Import Points button from the Project Utilities dialog. The Import Points dialog appears.

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The Data Table field displays all the code tables available in the Project Database. The record count is displayed in the right column. Set the scale factor and click Insert All to insert all the points from the database to the drawing. Select one or several tables and click Insert Current to insert only the points found in those tables.

Check the On Code Layer box to insert the points on the layer designated in the Codes dialog box. Uncheck the On Code Layer box, and either use the pull down or type the layer in the On Code Layer fields to insert the points on a layer different than the one designated in the Codes dialog box. Press the ‘=’ button to copy the Pnt. field to the rest of the fields.

Generate Linework[RRR11]

Click the Generate Linework button from the Project Utilities dialog to generate polylines that will connect the imported survey points.

From the Generate Lines dialog box select the Code that Linework is being generated for. Use the pull down in the Filter By File field to select any file that has been imported. Define the Sequence Field (<<AutoSequence>> is recommended if a field was not designated as the sequence field during the surveying process), the Filter Field and the Filter Value. Check 2D or 3D button to have AlignDB create either a 2D or 3D Polyline. Select the layer to create the Polyline on. Check the Maximum Distance checkbox to set a maximum distance to connect points, and populate the value for the maximum distance. When all the fields have been populated, click the <<Generate Lines>> button.

The User also has the option to generate Linework without setting a filter. This will connect every point in the Import Data File.

Click Done when finished generating Linework.

Clear Import Table

Click the Clear Import Table button from the Project Utilities dialog to clear all the records in the Import table. A warning dialog will appear give the option to continue, decline, or cancel. After pressing yes a password dialog will follow, enter the correct password to continue. A dialog will appear verifying the deletion of the table.

WARNING: After pressing ok on the password dialog the project will be permanently deleted.

NOTE: Password Projected Deletion is only available in the AutoCAD platform.

Chapter

Chapter 14 Other Import Utilities

This chapter will review Linear Descriptions, Annotated Points, Converting Map Data, and Asbuilt Tools.

inear Descriptions allow the User to apply a description to Line work. When AlignDB scans for crossings, instead of displaying the Layer Description, it can now display data assigned to the Line work in AutoCAD.

Linear Descriptions

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Linear Descriptions button. The Linear Descriptions dialog box will open. Select the <Select Object> button to select the object in AutoCAD. Once an object has been selected, if it has data it will be displayed in the Handle, Entity Type, and Layer fields. Use the pull down in the Codes field to select an associated Code. Type the Description to be displayed in the Station Band of the Alignment Sheet in the Description field or extract it from a text object by pressing the ‘…’ button. Click the <Apply Description> button to apply the description to the selected object. By checking the Multiple box lets Users select multiple objects. Type description then select all objects.

Using the advanced features of linear descriptions allows the association of imported data to assign sub code data as the descriptions. This also creates a relationship of the crossing point to the associated imported point.

NOTE: The Linear Description is associated to the Linework by Handle. If the Handle of an object is modified, the Linear Description will be lost.

NOTE: AlignDB is utilizing the XData command in AutoCAD. Therefore the User must save the AutoCAD Drawing after adding Linear Descriptions, or they will be lost.

Advanced Dialog: Check the Advanced box located at the bottom left to expand the dialog for Advanced Description from Sub Code Data.

Annotate Point

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Annotate Point button. This feature is used to label points with Orientation Data. Scale, Text Style, and Layer maybe set for each label. Precision for Northing / Easting and Longitude / Latitude can also be set.

Labeling options include:

Northing / Easting

Longitude / Latitude

Northing / Easting / Longitude / Latitude

Longitude / Latitude / Northing / Easting

To select a single point to be labeled press the Annotate Point button. This will apply the label to that point. Retain current setting or adjust setting to select another point to be labeled.

Convert Map Data

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Convert Map Data button. This function will associate Prefixes and Suffixes to Map Object Data in the form of Linear Descriptions. First select an Object Data Table from the dropdown menu. Input a Prefix and/or Suffix in box (es) and press the Update Prefix Suffix button. Select the desired Field in the Object Data Fields Box and move them to the next box. In this box the Fields should resemble the entered Prefix and Suffix along with the Field Name. Use the up and down buttons on the right side to adjust the order of the selected fields.

Asbuilt Tools

From AlignDB’s main dialog box click the Project Utilities button, then the Asbuilt Tools button.

Import Asbuilt Survey

Create Asbuilt Alignment

Change Alignment

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Create Material Events on Current Alignment[t13]

Chapter

Chapter 15 Create Alignment

This chapter will review Creating Alignments in the Project File. Each Project can contain multiple Alignments.

lignments can be 2-D or 3-D polylines, with or without arcs. Event Features, Properties, and Environmental Features will be assigned according to the Alignments.

Alignment Setup

Remember that a project must be selected before selecting an Alignment. The Alignment button will not activate until a project has been selected from the Main dialog.

After selecting a project click on the Alignment button to select the Alignment.

Select an Alignment

To select an Alignment, highlight the desired Alignment from the Existing Alignments field and click OK.

NOTE: Open a file or the Master DWG, and Save a DWG by using the AutoCAD shortcuts at the top of the Alignments dialog.

Add an Alignment

Click the Add button to create a new Alignment. The New Alignment dialog opens.

NOTE: An Alignment can only be created in a named drawing.

FAQ: Choosing the incorrect Default Category may cause difficulty in selecting an alignment. Make sure to select the correct Default Category. For more information on Event Features Categories review Chapter 8: Event Features.

The Name and Description fields are mandatory. After filling in the Name and Description information, the program will automatically retrieve the Username and Date from the Operating System. Specify the beginning station if needed. The beginning Milepost should be filled out only if it is not a direct conversion of the beginning station. Use the pull down in the Default Material field to select the default material for the Alignment.

NOTE: The Alignment dialog has been modified to include the zoom palette, since the standard toolbars are not accessible when in the select mode. Be sure to zoom in to the Alignment on the drawing file before clicking OK.

Click OK to create the Alignment. The AlignDB dialogs will disappear and the drawing file will be activated. Select the Alignment from the drawing. A polyline must be selected.

NOTE: To select an alignment in ArcGIS the user must use Select Features () after the AlignDB dialog disappears. After a line is selected a dialog will come up to verify the selection. The user must highlight the feature and press the Done button to continue.

The program will read the location information for the PI’s and the length of all segments along the polyline, calculating horizontal and slope stationing information and storing it in the Project Database. The Alignment dialog reappears and the newly created Alignment can now be selected.

Highlight the new Alignment and click OK. The Alignment is now set and the Alignment Utilities and Sheet Extraction buttons are now enabled.

NOTE: If the selected polyline is a 3D polyline, Slope Stationing will be calculated and stored in the database. All stations visible through the interfaces will still be horizontal stationing unless the Group is defined as Slope. The Slope Stationing may also be printed from the database.

Delete an Alignment

From the Alignment dialog, highlight the Alignment to be deleted and click the Delete button.

NOTE: This will delete the Alignment and all associated point information from the project database. It will not delete the Alignment entity from the drawing.

Edit Material List

Open the Event Features dialog box from the Project Utilities dialog. For more information on Adding, Editing, or Deleting Event Feature Items, see Chapter 8: Event Features.

Alignment Properties

From the Alignment dialog box, click the Properties button to display the properties of the current Alignment. This is for the User’s reference only.

Alignment Utilities

Before creating any sheets, data from the drawing file or the database itself needs to be gathered and parsed into the appropriate tables. The Alignment Utility is the primary dialog used to prepare the data for the next phase, sheet extraction.

From the Main Dialog click on the Alignment Utilities button / icon and the following dialog will appear.

NOTE: Holding the pointer over the buttons will display a description of the button’s purpose.

NOTE: Sub-dialogs of Alignment Utilities are selected by pressing the buttons on the left side. They are as follows:

· Scanning

· Alignment

· Set

· Misc

· Template

NOTE: Sub-dialogs of Alignment Utilities are selected by pressing the tabs on the top of the Alignment Utility dialog. They are as follows:

· Scanning (Scanning & Tables)

· Alignment (Alignment & Set)

· Miscellaneous (Miscellaneous & Template)

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Chapter

Chapter 16 Scanning Utilities

This chapter will review all of the Scanning Utilities.

hen scanning for features, AlignDB will calculate the station where those features cross the current Alignment.

Scanning Utilities

The Scanning Utilities section will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing and write this data to the AlignDB database. If errors are found in the file while writing the point data, the location and type of error will be written to the Error Log Table. For more information on the Error Log Table, please review Chapter 11: Error Log.

NOTE: After initiating any point scan a warning dialog will appear if there has been a previous scan of points. Do you wish to replace the existing Scanned Points? Pressing Yes will replaced all previously scanned points. Pressing No will continue the scan, adding the new point to the previous points collected. Pressing Cancel will terminate the scan.

NOTE: Dialogs, similar to the ones shown below, will appear during and after all point scans.

Scan for Point Blocks

The Scan for Point Blocks option will scan for a variety of standard common point blocks used in the CAD industry. It will calculate the station and offset of the point relative to the current Alignment. It will gather the X and Y values, the description and elevation, and write out all information to the Project database.

Scan for User Points

The scan for User Points option will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file searching for all User defined blocks and calculate the station and offset of the point relative to the current Alignment.

NOTE: The User points must be created and defined prior to scanning. To create User Points review Chapter 9: User Point. Press the ‘. .’ button () to view the User Points dialog.

FAQ: Make sure the correct points are select in the User Points dialog located in the Project Utilities so the alignment can be scanned correctly. Refer to Chapter 9: User Points for more information.

Scan for Points

Click this button and all nodes on the drawing file will be scanned. It will calculate the station and offset of the point relative to the current Alignment. It will use the layer name as the description and write the X and Y values to the AlignDB database. It will not gather the point number or the elevation. This is mainly used for legacy drawings.

Scan for Feature

The scan for Feature option will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file searching for all features, crossings and environment. This will also calculate the station and offset of the point relative to the current Alignment. After the scan completes a dialog will appear asking the user to configure the attributes of the linear features. Pressing Yes to configure the Linear Attributes, press No to continue without configuring the Linear Attributes. For more information on the Linear Attributes Tables, please review Chapter 22: Miscellaneous Utilities.

FAQ: Make sure the correct layers are select in the Layers dialog located in the Project Utilities Dialog so the features can be scanned correctly. Refer to Chapter 5: Layers for more information.

Scan for AEC Points

This button only applies to those using Land Development in AutoCAD. This scan button will gather the data from the custom objects created with Land. It also will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file and calculate the station and offset of the point relative to the current Alignment.

NOTE: In Land Development Desktop R.1.0 running with R. 14 of AutoCAD, AlignDB will prompt to select the appropriate Project Point file found under the project directory in the COGO folder.

NOTE: Crossings, Properties / Ownership, and Environment scans are done together in the Scan for Features option in ArcGIS.

Scan for Crossings (Xings)

The Scan for crossings option will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file and calculate the station of all polyline or line entities crossing the current Alignment. It will use the Layer table to determine the description and write out all information to the AlignDB database.

NOTE: The layers must be created and defined prior to scanning. To create layers review Chapter 5: Layers. Press the ‘. .’ button () to view the Layer Data dialog.

NOTE: The current version of the application will now scan crossings on a 3D polyline Alignment. Although theoretically there are no true crossings, the application will use the elevation along the Alignment with the x and y of the theoretical intersection.

Scan for Object Data

The Scan for Object Data option will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file and calculate the station of all Object Data entities crossing the current Alignment. It will use the Linear Description assigned to the Object Data to determine the description and write out all information to the AlignDB database.

NOTE: The Linear Descriptions must be applied prior to scanning. To apply Linear Descriptions review Chapter 14: Other Import Utilities.

Scan Property

This option will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file and calculate the station of all polyline or line entities of the properties crossing the current Alignment. It will use the Property table to determine the description and write out all information to the AlignDB database.

NOTE: Properties must be created and defined prior to scanning. To create Properties review Chapter 20: Properties. Press the ‘. .’ button () to view the Ownership Data dialog.

Scan Environmental

This will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file and calculate the station of all polyline or line entities of the environmental entities crossing the current Alignment. It will use the Environment table to determine the description and write out all information to the AlignDB database.

NOTE: The environment table must be populated prior to scanning. To create Environments review Chapter 21: Environmental Features. Press the ‘. .’ button () to view the Environmental Data dialog.

Scan Sub-Code Tables

The Scan Sub-Code option does not scan the drawing file. Instead it scans the sub-code tables which were created and populated through the Import Utilities found in the Project Utilities dialog. There won’t be any changes made to the drawing file, but it will calculate the station and offset of the points found in the sub-code table relative to the current Alignment. For more information on Sub-Codes review the Codes and Sub-Codes Chapter.

NOTE: The sub-codes table must be populated prior to scanning. To create Sub-codes review Chapter 4: Codes and Sub-codes. Press the ‘. .’ button () to view the Codes dialog.

Synchronize Database

The Synchronize Database option will scan the entire model space portion of the drawing file and populate all entities into the Entity Table. This feature allows the User to re-create all entities from the drawing, but is not necessary for creating Alignment Sheets.

NOTE: Other scans only include entities that cross the current Alignment during the scans. The Synchronize Database scan includes everything, even entities that do not cross the current Alignment, and will take significantly longer to scan, and will increase the size of the Project Database respectively.

NOTE: For Data Import Utilities listed in the ArcGIS Scanning dialog see Chapter 13: Importing Data for more information.

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Chapter

Chapter 17 Alignment Utilities

The Alignment Utilities have many different features that will help complete the Project Database, and Alignment Sheets.

he Alignment Utilities include Regenerating the Alignment, Reversing the Alignment, and many other useful Features that will help complete the Alignment Sheets.

Regenerate Alignment

If the Alignment polyline has been inadvertently modified or deleted from the drawing file, it may be recreated from the database. Click the Regenerate Alignment button found in the Alignment Utilities dialog.

The Alignment can be recreated as a single entity or as a group of segmented polylines with circles at the PI locations. Select Continuous or Segmented Alignment, define the layer, and set the width. If Segmented Alignment is selected, also define the PI layer and the PI circle radius. Click OK to regenerate the Alignment.

NOTE: The Alignment can be recreated in the current drawing, regardless of which drawing it was originally defined.

Reverse Alignment

To reverse the order of the current Alignment, click the Reverse Alignment button on the Alignment Utilities dialog. A new Alignment will be created in the current layer of the drawing file. Users may choose to reverse the Alignment as 2D or 3D, the cancel button will terminate the reversal.

NOTE: This will not delete the old Alignment, so be sure to delete it if it is no longer needed. This is however a new Alignment on the current drawing and does not exist in the AlignDB database. The Alignment will need to be created and scanning will need to be done. To create an Alignment, review the Create Alignment Chapter.

Annotate Alignment

To annotate the Alignment click the Annotate Alignment button found on the Alignment Utilities dialog box. Select one of the options under the Annotation Orientation field. This will determine the placement of text in reference to the Alignment.

· Bearing/Distance: will put the Bearing above the Alignment, and the Distance below the Alignment

· Distance/Bearing: will put the Distance above the Alignment, and the Bearing below the Alignment

· Bearing-Distance: will put the Bearing and the Distance above the Alignment with the Bearing first

· Distance-Bearing: will put the Distance and Bearing above the Alignment with the Distance first

· Bearing will put the Bearing above the Alignment

· Number will number each PI with the provided prefix

In the Precision field the User has the option of checking the Spaces checkbox, and using the up and down arrows to apply a quantity of decimal spaces to use for precision when displaying the Bearing and Distance.

The Scale Factor will adjust the Distance and Bearing text accordingly. Type the size of the font in the Text Size field. AlignDB will apply the Scale Factor to this Text Size. Type an existing font into the Text Font field. This is the font AlignDB will use when inserting the Bearing and Distance. Type the width of the text in the Text Width field. Use the pull down or type the layer for the Bearing and Distance to be on in the Layer field. Check the Left To Right checkbox if the text is to be displayed from right to left. If the text is to be displayed from left to right, then leave this checkbox unchecked.

Once all of the fields are populated, click the Annotate Route button. Select Close when finished.

NOTE: Close the AlignDB dialog boxes and zoom into the AutoCAD drawing to see the Annotation.

Station Alignment

To add stationing text and tic marks along the Alignment, click the Station button in the Alignment Utilities dialog box.

To insert major stations along the route, check the Show Major Stations checkbox. Specify the tic height, tic spacing and tic layer in this area. Check the Show Text checkbox in the Major Stationing field to insert major stationing text along with the tic marks. Specify the text layer, text size, text font, text width, and text gap in this area.

To insert minor stations along the route, check the Show Minor Stations checkbox. Specify the tic height, tic spacing and tic layer in this area. Check the Show Text checkbox in the Minor Stationing field to insert minor stationing text along with the tic marks. Specify the text layer, text size, text font, text width, and text gap in this area.

Check the Show Milepost/Kilometer checkbox to insert a milepost symbol into the model space of the drawing. Click the Browse button and path to the location of the milepost block. Use the pull down or type in the layer the milepost block is to be inserted on in the Layer field.

If the Use Sheet Orientation From Group checkbox is unchecked, then the station text, station tics, and milepost blocks will be inserted at a perpendicular orientation to the Alignment. If the Use Sheet Orientation From Group checkbox is checked, then the station text, station tics, and milepost blocks will be inserted at a perpendicular orientation to each Alignment Sheet. At least one Group must exist to use this feature.

Check the Horizontal Stations checkbox to display horizontal stationing, otherwise it will display slope stationing.

NOTE: If the Alignment is 2D then it will only display horizontal stationing, whether this checkbox is checked or not.

Check the Left To Right checkbox to insert the station text, station tics, and milepost blocks starting at the beginning of the Alignment to the end of the Alignment. Uncheck the Left To Right checkbox to insert the station text, station tics, and milepost blocks starting at the end of the Alignment to the beginning.

Redefine

Redefine allows the user to Re-route and alignment. Press the Select Re-route button to select the re-routed polyline. After the selection is made press Execute.

Chapter

Chapter 18 Set Utilities

The Set Utilities have many different features that will help complete the Project Database, and Alignment Sheets.

he Set Utilities include Equations, Event Features, Ownership, and Environmental. Each of these features will help the User complete the Alignment Sheets.

Equations

From the Alignment Utilities dialog click on the Equations button in the Set Utilities section. The Equations dialog appears.

The Equation dialog below, allows the User to add equations at any time prior to sheet extraction. The equations should be applied right before the sheet extraction.

NOTE: If all equations are removed, a zero equation must be added to reset the equation column to either the horizontal or slope stations.

Adding Equations

To create an equation, type in the Station Back and the Station Ahead and click the Add button. The Mile Post Back and Ahead will be automatically generated.

Editing Equations

To update an existing Equation, highlight it in the Equations field, make the necessary changes and click the Update button.

Deleting Equations

To delete an existing Equation, highlight it in the Equations field and click the Delete button.

Applying Equations

Be sure to click the Apply Equations button for the equations to take affect. The Apply Equations dialog will appear.

By clicking on the Horizontal or Slope button the equation will be applied to either the horizontal or the slope station point data.

Event Features

To define Event Features review Chapter 19: Populating Event Features.

Ownership / Property Feature

To define Ownership / Properties review Chapter 20: Ownership / Properties.

Workspace

This option is currently under development.

Profile Feature

This option is currently under development.

Environmental Feature

To define Environmental Features review Chapter 21: Environmental Features.

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Chapter

Chapter 19 Populating Event Features

This chapter will review populating Event Features into the Project Database.

he Event Features include anything that occurs along the Alignment. This typically includes all of the Alignment Materials, but can also include things like County Lines, and MilePosts.

The Event Features option is located in Alignment Utilities under the Set tab.

Alignment Features

The Alignment Features area of the Event Feature dialog box will display a list of Features that have been assigned per Category. Use the pull down in the Category field of the Data area to change the Category of Event Features to display.

Data Field in Event Feature

The Data area of the Event Feature dialog box allows the User to add Event Features per Category to the current Alignment.

Add Event Feature

Use the pull down in the Category field to select a Category. Use the pull down in the Description field to select an Event Feature List item. Select tab:

· By Station – Either type in the starting station for the Event Feature in the Start Station field, or click the <Select Start> button to select the starting station in AutoCAD. Then either type in the ending station for the Event Feature in the End Station field, or click the <Select End> button to select the ending station in AutoCAD.

· By Code + Offset – Type the Back & Ahead Distance offsets in the designated text boxes and select a code and type.

· Code ßà Code – Select a From & To code and type. Type in the Back & Ahead Distance offsets, if needed.

Check the Flag For Permit checkbox if the Event Feature being added is to be flagged for Permit creation at a later time. Once all the Data field values have been populated, click the Add button.

Delete Event Feature

Use the pull down in the Category field to select the Category of the Event Feature being deleted. Highlight the Event Feature in the Alignment Features area and click the Delete button. A message box reading: ‘Warning! This will delete the current Material Segment!’ will appear. Click the OK button to continue or the Cancel button to cancel. Selecting the OK button will remove the Event Feature.

Edit Event Feature

There is no Update option for Event Features. To edit an Event Feature the User must delete the Event Feature, and then add it back with the correct modifications.

Insert Polyline Representation

AlignDB gives the User the option to insert a polyline in model space to represent the location of Event Features. Use the pull down in the Category field to select the Category of the Event Feature to be represented in model space. Highlight the Event Feature in the Alignment Features field. Use the pull down or type in the layer the Event Feature polyline on in the Polyline Layer field. Type a value for the width of the Event Feature polyline in the Polyline Width field. Click the Insert Current button to insert a polyline to represent the highlighted Feature Event. Click the Insert All button to insert polylines to represent all Event Features in the selected Category.

NOTE: The User must close all AlignDB dialog boxes and zoom into AutoCAD to view the polyline representations.

Utilities field in Event Feature

The Utilities area of the Event Feature dialog box allows the User to define Event Features.

Delete All Reps

Click the Delete All Reps button in the Utilities area of the Event Feature dialog box to have AlignDB remove all polylines from model space that represent Event Features. This command will delete all representations, in all Categories, and will not give a warning dialog box.

Edit Description List

Click the Edit Description List button in the Utilities area of the Event Feature dialog box to open the Event Feature List dialog box. See Chapter 8: Event Features for more information on editing the description list.

Select Features

By clicking the <<Select Feature>> button, the User can specify the Event Feature location in relation to a selected object in the drawing. The Event By Feature dialog box will open. Use the pull down in the Category field to choose a Category for the Event Feature. Use the pull down in the Description field to choose a Event Feature List Item for the Event Feature. Check the Flag For Permit checkbox if the Event Feature needs to be flagged to create a Permit at a later time. Click the Select Feature button to go into AutoCAD and select an object. AlignDB will calculate the objects crossing station and use it to create the Event Feature. Select either Horizontal or Slope stationing type for the new Event Feature. If the Event Feature is a Segment Type Event Feature the User has the option to add values in the Back Distance and Ahead Distance fields. If the Event Feature is a Point Type, then it will only use the crossing station. When finished click the OK button to return to the Event Feature dialog box.

Write to Point

This option writes selected events to a points table. To Write to Point all material events press All, if select on the current category press the ‘Category …’ button. To terminate the Write to Point Option press the Cancel button.

Delete Current Rep.

Click the Delete Current Rep. button in the Utilities area of the Event Feature dialog box to have AlignDB remove the highlighted Event Feature’s polyline from model space. This command will delete only the Event Feature highlighted in the Alignment Features area. This command will not give generate a warning dialog box.

Feature Categories

Click the Feature Categories button in the Utilities area of the Event Feature dialog box to open the Category List dialog box. See Chapter 8: Event Features for more information on See the Event Feature Categories.

Copying Events

If the Event Feature the User wishes to define has already been defined on a previous Alignment, the User can copy these events to the current alignment by Selecting the Copy Events button. The Copy Events dialog box will open. Use the pull down in the Source Alignment field to select an Alignment to copy events from. This will populate the Source Events field with all of that Alignments Event Features. Highlight the Event Feature that will be copied, type in a value to bump the station in the Bump Stations field, if applicable, and click <<Apply>>. Once the User has finished copying Event Features, click the Close button. The User will find all of the copied Event Features have been added to the current Alignment.

Calculate LL

The Calculate LL button recalculates all Latitudes and Longitudes in the Point Table for the current alignment.

NOTE: No dialog will appear after pressing the Calculate LL button.

Stationing Type

Event Features can be added to the current Alignment based on Horizontal or Slope stationing. As each Event Feature is added, choose either the Horizontal or Slope option.

When the User has finished defining the Event Features click the Close button.

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Chapter

Chapter 20 Properties / Ownership

This chapter will review Properties also referred to as Land Ownership.

roperties are defined per Project. Scanning for Properties compares the current Alignment to the Properties and finds its station crossing. One Project can contain multiple Alignments with one set of Properties defined.

Property

From the Alignment Utilities dialog click on the Ownership button in the Set Utilities area. The Ownership Data dialog appears.

From this dialog add, delete, edit or view properties of the defined property information.

Adding Properties

By clicking the Add button the Add Property dialog is displayed.

Specify the necessary information for each property. Two field values are required to make the necessary link to an entity in the drawing, the Parcel Number and the Owner Name. Also, an entity must be selected by clicking the Select Feature button and selecting the polyline in AutoCAD. When all the appropriate fields are populated, click the OK button to add the property.

NOTE: Multiple lines of text by be selected, Esc the command to return to the New Property dialog.

FAQ: When selecting features make sure to select only one entry and one exit for each property section. A new property is needed every time the alignment leaves or enters a property line.

Editing Properties

Double click the property from the Ownership Data list area in the Ownership Data dialog box. The Edit Property dialog appears. Make the necessary changes and click OK to accept.

Deleting Property

To delete an existing Property, select the property from the Ownership Data list area in the Ownership Data dialog box, and click the Delete button. A dialog will appear saying Warning! This will delete the current Parcel! Click OK to delete the property from the Project Database, or click Cancel to return to the Ownership Data dialog box.

NOTE: After defining all properties the User must Scan Ownership for the crossing information to be populated into the Project Database.

Mapping Object Data

To map ownership press the Map Object Data button. This feature uses Object Data Tables to Map ownership.

PlatDB Utilities

The PlatDB Utilities can be accessed by pressing the Utilities button in the Ownership Data dialog. These options can also be accessed from the Alignment Tab in the Alignment Utilities. For more information see Chapter 17: Alignment Utilities.

Chapter

Chapter 21 Environmental Features

This chapter will review Environmental Features.

he Environmental Features include Wetlands, Endangered Species areas, and other Environmentally Concerned areas.

Environmental Feature

From the Alignment Utilities dialog click on the Environmental Features button in the Set Utilities section. The Environmental Data dialog appears.

Adding Environmental Features

To add an Environmental Feature, click the Add button. Type in a value for the ID number of the Environmental Feature in the ID field. Type the name of the Environmental Feature in the Name field.

Use the pull down in the Type field to select an existing Environmental Feature Type. If the Environmental Feature Type is not listed, click the Type button. This will open the Environmental Types List dialog box. Type the new Environmental Type in the New Type field and click the Add button. Edit the existing Environmental Types by highlighting them in the Types List area, modify the Type, and click the Update button. Select the Done button when finished editing the Environmental Types List.

After selecting the Environmental Type press the Select Features button the select the features from the map. The Environmental Data dialog will disappear so the User may select the necessary features. After all the features have been selected press the enter key on the keyboard, this will resume the AlignDB. To clear selected feature press the Clear Features button. This will clear ALL features that were selected. Press OK to add the environmental data.

Editing Environmental Features

Double click the Environmental Feature from the list box in the Environmental Features dialog. The Edit Environmental Features dialog appears. Make the necessary changes and click OK to accept.

Deleting Environmental Features

To delete an existing Environmental Feature, select it from the list box and click the Delete button.

FAQ: When selecting features make sure to select only one entry and one exit for each environment section. A new environment is needed every time the alignment leaves or enters a environmental boundary.

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Chapter

Chapter 22 Miscellaneous Utilities

This chapter will review the Miscellaneous Utilities listed in the Alignment Utilities dialog box..

iscellaneous Utilities include Insert Symbols, Save Settings, Regenerate, Zoom Window, Tables, Import Point Features, View Feature Tables, and Import Map Linear Data.

Insert Symbols

In the Alignment Utilities dialog box click the Insert Symbols button located in the Misc. Utilities area.

Insert or delete Symbols (Blocks) on an existing Alignment. The application will insert symbols matching the rotation and scale of each template in the selected group. Specify the direction as either Left to Right, or Right to Left. The User can adjust the scale the symbols will be inserted at by editing the value in the Scale field. When the User clicks the Insert Symbols>> button AlignDB will insert the Symbols (Blocks) into the model space of the drawing for every location a Code occurs with an associated Symbol.

NOTE: A Group must be defined to insert Symbols.

Clicking the Delete Symbols>> button will remove all Symbols (Blocks) that AlignDB has previously inserted into the model space of the drawing.

Click the Symbol button to open the Symbol Data dialog box. Review the Symbols Chapter for more information on Adding Symbols to the Project Database.

Save Settings

The Save Settings button will allow the User to Save or Restore a set of defaults from the Project file. This will reset all of the dialogs to match the current sheet style.

Regenerate

The Regenerate button allows the User to regenerate any entities defined in the Project Database into their current AutoCAD Drawing.

A list of Entity Types will be displayed. Highlight the entities in the Entity Type field, check the Include Object Data checkbox if there is Object Data associated to the Entities and want it included, and click the Regen button. Click the Close button when finished.

Zoom Window

The Zoom Window button allows the User to zoom in AutoCAD without closing all of the AlignDB dialog boxes.

ReCalc FT Station (LL)

Recalculates station value based on Latitude and Longitude data.

Insert PI Table

Creates a table for only the PIs along the alignment.

Material Gen

Lets you create material descriptions for any data in Database and create point events in selected category. This is an advanced feature, caution should be used.

Tables

To access the project file while in the Alignment Utilities dialog, click on the Tables button. The Tables dialog appears.

NOTE: In ArcGIS go to the Scanning Tab in the Alignment Utilities dialog to view tables.

Access any of these tables from this dialog. These buttons have the same functionality as the ones found in the Project Utilities dialog. Please refer to the appropriate Chapters for more information on each option.

Import Point Features

The Import Point Features allows the User to import Event Features along the route from a csv file. Using this feature the User will also be able to create GraphViews on the Alignment Sheets to display the data in a unique manner. Review Chapter 24: Import Point Features for more information.

NOTE: In ArcGIS go to the Scanning Tab under the Scanning List in the Alignment Utilities dialog to view tables.

View Feature Tables

On the Alignment Utilities dialog the View Feature Table button in the Misc. Utilities area displays the Event Feature Tables. This tool is for the User’s reference only.

Import Map Linear Data

The Import Map Linear Data allows the User to take data already established in Map (either defined by the User or pulled from the PODS/ISAT Manager Databases) and associate it to the current Alignment. The data can then be displayed in the Station Band. Review Chapter 25: Import Map Linear Data for more information.

NOTE: Press the Linear Attributes button under the Miscellaneous Tab under the Misc. Utilities List

ReCalc FT Station (XY)

Recalculates station value based on X Y data for feature data tables only.

Asbuilt Tools

Auto creates events based on code set in the Codes dialog, refer to Chapter 4: Codes and Sub-Codes for more information.

Layouts

The Layouts feature allows the user to view and manage the current layouts in AutoCAD. Layouts can be organized by moving them up or down the list. Layouts can also be deleted from this dialog. After pressing the Delete Layout button a warning dialog will appear press Yes to continue the deletion, press No to cancel. Press the OK button to exit the dialog

Chapter

Chapter 23 Template Utilities

This chapter will review the Template Utilities listed in the Alignment Utilities dialog box.

emplate Utilities include Inserting Templates, Align to Template, and Reset UCS. These tools will help the User generate Alignment Sheets, but are not required.

Refer to Chapter 27: Define a Group for more information on setting up Groups in ArcGIS

Insert Templates

Inserting Templates will insert a polyline representation of where the Alignment Sheets Draw Area will be according to how Group and Border were defined. The User has the ability to insert templates into the drawing indicating where each sheet will be created. A template is a rectangular polyline, which indicates the boundary of the Viewport of each sheet along the Alignment as indicated below.

Click the Insert Templates button on the Alignment Utilities dialog box to bring open the Template Definition dialog box.

A Group must now be selected by clicking the Group button to bring up the following dialog.

If there are previously created groups in the alignment the following dialog will appear. Press the Add button to bring up the above dialog to create a new group.

Select an existing group. Once a group has been selected click the OK button to return to the Template Definition dialog box. Check the Show Sheet Numbers checkbox to display text at each template polygon to represent which sheet is being displayed. Select the Define Custom Sheets button to modify the Sheets before inserting templates. This will open the Custom Sheet dialog box. For more information on customizing sheets review Customize Sheets Chapter. The Setup Info area is for reference only. Changing the values in this field will not affect the inserted templates. Once all of the fields in the Template Definition dialog are filled, click the Execute button. A dialog box will appear saying Done! Click OK to return to the Template Definition dialog box. This feature adds a layer in the model space to represent the current matchlines.

NOTE: The User must close all AlignDB dialog boxes and zoom into AutoCAD to view the polyline representations of the templates.

Align To Template

The Align to Template button found on the Alignment Utilities dialog will prompt to select a template in model space, and once selected will rotate the current view and crosshairs to match the template. This is a tool provided to the User to help in the Alignment Sheet creation process.

Reset UCS

The Reset UCS button found on the Alignment Utilities dialog will rotate the current view and crosshairs back to the original orientation.

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Chapter

Chapter 24 Import Point Features

This chapter will review the Import Point Features function.

mport Point Features allows the User to import Event Features along the route from a csv file. Using this feature the User will also be able to create GraphViews on the Alignment Sheets to display the data in a unique manner.

Import Point Features

In the Alignment Utilities, in the Misc. Utilities area, click the Import Point Features button. This will open the Feature Import Wizard dialog box. Click the Browse button in the Choose a Data Source field. Path to the csv file that contains the Feature data (The csv file must be formatted to match the definition of the Event Feature Table. Review Chapter 8: Event Feature for more information).

The Feature Import Wizard dialog box will open. Choose the correct delimiter in the Choose the delimiter that separates your fields field. Check the First Row Contains Field Names checkbox if the first field contains only the field names, and not actual data. Use the pull down in the Text Qualifier field to select a text qualifier, if applicable.

Use the pull down in the Feature Table field to select which Feature Table the imported data will populate. Once a Feature Table is selected the FT_CROSSING Columns field will populate with the list of column headings defined for that Feature Table. Double-click each column heading from this list in the exact order the csv file has the data. The column names will then move into the Data Source Columns field, and in the preview area the column names will update from Field1, Field2, etc, to their corresponding column names. When finished click OK. A dialog box saying done will appear.

Chapter

Chapter 25 Import Map Linear Data

This chapter will review Importing Map Linear Data into the Project Database.

mport Map Linear Data allows the User to take data already established in Map (either defined by the User or pulled from the PODS/ISAT Manager Databases) and associate it to the current Alignment. The data can then be displayed in the Station Band.

Import Map Linear Data

From the Alignment Utilities dialog box, select the Import Map Linear Data button in the Misc. Utilities area. This will open the Map Object Data – Linear Feature Import Wizard.

NOTE: User must be in Map and have Map Object Data defined for full functionality.

Use the pull down in the Object Data Table field to select the shape file data. Use the pull down in the Linear Feature Table field to select the linear Feature Table.

Choose either Point, Linear, Crossing, or Boundary Event Type. Highlight the shape file and the Feature table to map, and click the > button.

The User has the option to select the AutoCreate Linear Feature Table button to have AlignDB create the Feature Table for them on the fly.

When the User has finished mapping the shape files to the Feature Tables, click the Import Data button. This will take the Object Data from the shape file and populate it into the Feature Table. Select Close when finished.

Chapter

Chapter 26 ProgenDB - Defining a Surface

This chapter will review Defining a Profile Surface.

he Surface is what determines how each profile will display on each Sheet.

Defining a Surface

The User has the ability to define multiple surfaces for generating a profile on each sheet. This allows the User to create an Existing Grade elevation, as well as a Top of Pipe elevation. To begin surface definition, click the ProgenDB button on the main interface.

After clicking the ProgenDB button the ProGenDB – Surface List dialog appears.

NOTE: ProGenDB is located in Sheet Settings > Profile. Check the box under ProgenDB and press the Used Extended Profiles button. ProGenDB is also located here in AutoCAD under sheet extraction.

The User can now Add, Delete, Rename, or Edit a Surface. By clicking the Add button, the application will display the new surface dialog, as seen below.

Advanced Dialog: Press the button to expand the dialog for Advance Surface Creation

By specifying a Name, Type of Surface and Layer to create the surface on, the User can create a surface by sampling the points from the survey file and specifying a bump distance, normally a negative value indicating the distance below the surveyed natural ground shots.

Once a surface had been created and is displayed in the surfaces dialog, the User can double-click the surface name to call up the Surface Editor dialog. The User can now edit and add new station elevation pairs to describe the profile surface.

By clicking the Surface Feature button the User can define Surface Features for call out on the profile with the Surface Feature dialog.

Within this dialog users can add individual features to the profile at defined stations and elevations.

Edit Surface by pressing the Edit Surface button on the ProGenDB main dialog. A surface can be edited by station, Code to Code or by Code.

To create features in the profile surface click the Create Feature button from the ProGenDB Dialog

The user may create surface features to display in the profile band.

You will select the surface to which the features will be associated to.

Select the code for the features, the description from the point table will be used as the feature description.

You may choose to bump the elevation of allow the slope calculation to place the event at the calculated elevation. If an elevation is already provided for the event no calculation will be performed.

You may also select the symbol to be used for the feature.

By pressing the Customize button on the ProGenDB main dialog the Custom Surface Editor appears.

Enter a Surface, Begin Station, and a starting Elevation value and press the Select Polyline to Create New Elevation Points button. Select the desired polyline to be customized. After the polyline is picked, a list of new Stations and Elevations in populated from the original polyline. Press Done to exit the Editor.

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Chapter

Chapter 27 Define a Group

This chapter will review Defining a Group.

he Group is what determines how the Alignments will be broken out into different Sheets.

Defining a Group

The User has the ability to create multiple Group definitions for any given Alignment. A Group is a unique set of sheets defined at a common scale.

The Group Definitions option is found by clicking the Group button, which is found in two different places. The first place is in the Template Definition dialog found by clicking the Insert Templates button in the Alignment Utilities dialog. The other is in the Sheet Extraction dialog.

The Group Definitions option is found by clicking the Browse button (), which is found in Main Dialog under Sheet Group. Group data can also be access in the Template Definition dialog () under Sheet Group in the Main Dialog. In the Template Definition dialog Users may select Groups by pressing the groups icon () on the bottom right corner of the dialog.

Click the Group button and the Group Data dialog appears.

Select an existing group, define a new group or delete a group no longer needed.

Adding Groups

To define a new group, click the Add button to display the New Group dialog.

Specify the appropriate data for each edit box. The directory for sheets is optional since the program will place all broken out sheets in the project directory if nothing is specified here. After filling in the data, click OK and the group is added to the list to select as current. Custom Sheets may now be defined for this newly added group.

NOTE: The Stationing Type toggles will only be displayed if the defined Alignment is a 3D polyline. The User will then have the choice of displaying callouts in either horizontal stationing or slope stationing.

Editing Groups

From the Group Data dialog box, highlight the Group to modify, and click the Edit Group button. Make any modifications to the Group here, and click OK to accept the changes.

Deleting Groups

From the Group Data dialog box, highlight the Group to delete, and click the Delete button. A dialog box will appear reading Warning! This will delete the current Group! Click OK to delete the Group from the current Alignment and Project Database, or click Cancel to cancel.

View Properties of Groups

Highlight the group and press the Properties button.

Chapter

Chapter 28 Customize Sheets

This chapter will review Customizing Sheets

he Group determines the size and rotation of each Alignment Sheet. Once a Group has been selected, the User can then Customize the Sheets further.

Defining Custom Sheets

The Custom Sheet dialog can be displayed by selecting the Define Custom Sheet button from as long as a group has already been selected.

The Customize Sheets button is located on the Sheet Extraction dialog box & the Insert Template Dialog, located under the Templates tab in Alignment Utilities.

The Customize Sheets button is located on the Insert Template dialog box, located on the Main Dialog under Sheet Group ().

If a Group is not selected a dialog box reading ‘A Group Must First be Selected!’ will appear. Click the OK button to go back and select a Group.

Selecting the Define Custom Sheet button will open the Custom Sheets dialog box.

Edit the properties of any of the sheets displayed in the list of sheets.

Modifying the Stations of the Custom Sheets

The stations of the custom sheets should always be modified starting with the lowest stations. The program will automatically modify the beginning station of the next sheet, if the current sheet ending station is modified. This is a safeguard to ensure that no gaps inadvertently appear between sheets.

The User has the option to modify the File Name, Drawing Number, and Vertical Offset per Sheet. The User can also Add Sheets, or Delete Sheets, as needed.

User Tags

The User Tags button opens the User Tag Data dialog box. This is where the User can input values for the attributes defined in the Border under the User Defined Tags section.

Manually Modifying the Location of the Custom Sheets

The location of the templates may be modified manually by adjusting the size and location using standard AutoCAD editing commands. Select the template by using the Get Locations From DWG button. The location will be extracted and stored in the external project file.

Select multiple Sheets by holding Ctrl and checking the necessary boxes.

NOTE: Once modified, the application will no longer perform automatic checks on match line intersection. This is left up to the User to perform manually.

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Chapter

Chapter 29 Sheet Extraction

This chapter will review Sheet Extraction.

heet Extraction will create Alignment Sheets in any Platform.

Setting Up the Main Parameters

The Sheet Extraction options are found by clicking the Sheet Extraction button on the main dialog. A Project and an Alignment must have already been selected for the Sheet Extraction button to be enabled.

Clicking the Sheet Extraction button will display the Sheet Extraction dialog box.

Setup Info

Save Individual Drawings

If this option is checked it will generate the Alignment sheets in individual drawing files. It will place these files either under the Project folder, or if there has been designated a different path in the group, it will generate the files there.

Border

Click the Border button to define the border or use drop down menu to select a border. Review Chapter 6: Borders for more information.

Border Data

Clicking the Border Data button will display the Border Data dialog box. This is where the User can modify the values that will be populated into the Border.

Revision

The Rev box is for the revision level of the drawing.

North Arrow

Click the North Arrow button to browse for the North Arrow Block to use on the Alignment Sheet. Un-checking the North Arrow checkbox will remove the North Arrow from the Alignment Sheet.

Direction

Un-checking the Left to Right checkbox will cause the extracted sheets to display station in a Right to Left direction.

Plan View

Check the Plan View button if the Plan View is to be displayed on the Alignment sheet.

Custom Sheets

Click this button to customize the Alignment Sheets. Review Chapter 28: Customize Sheets for more information.

NOTE: This option is under the Border Data button.

Group

Click this button to select a Group or use the drop down menu to select a Group. Review the Chapter 27: Define a Group for more information.

NOTE: This option is under the Border Data button.

Settings

Code

Check the Code checkbox to have AlignDB display the Description of each Code in the Station Band instead of the Code. Uncheck this checkbox to display the Code and not the description in the Station Band. Click the Code button to open the Codes dialog box. Review Chapter 4: Codes and Sub-Codes for more information.

Profile

Check the Profile checkbox to display the Profile on the Alignment Sheet. Clicking the Profile button will open the Profile Data dialog box. The Profile is created by sampling point data in the current project database based on the sampling corridor specified in the profile data dialog. Basically it takes the bounding box specified by the sampling corridor and grabs the elevation of points within the corridor and calculates the station along the Alignment to generate a Polyline on the profile grid. The User must verify the Vertical scale prior to building the profile as this is a stored default and will automatically reflect the last used setting

The User will define the Sampling Corridor, the Scale, and other options listed on the Profile Data dialog box.

Layers may be set for Major and Minor grid lines.

The Smooth Profile checkbox is a new feature that will spline the profile line. It is for aesthetic purposes only and should not be checked for an accurate display of the profile.

The Include Centerline Points checkbox allows the User to create a profile based solely on the polyline that is the Alignment.

Use the up and down arrows in the # Minor Grid Lines to determine the amount of minor grid lines to be displayed. Type the distance for the vertical spacing in the Major Grid Vert. Spacing field. Type the distance for the horizontal spacing in the Major Grid Hor. Spacing field. Check the Show Minor Horiz. Grid Line checkbox to display the minor grid lines in the profile band.

Adjust the scale vertically and horizontally in model space units. Go to the Scale tab in the AutoCAD Platform.

The Show First Elevation Values tab displays the elevation value for the first elevation data point.

Users may select the location of the displayed elevations by choices the desired side(s).

To use the Single Line Profile Option disable the Progen Extended Profile under the Progen tab.

Type the font style in the Grid Station Font field (verify the font style is available in AutoCAD). Either use the pull down to select a layer, or type in the layer for the major grid lines in the Major Grid Line Layer field. Either use the pull down to select a layer, or type in the layer for the minor grid lines in the Minor Grid Line Layer field. Either use the pull down to select a layer, or type in the layer for the grid station text in the Grid Station Layer field. Type the size of the grid station font in the Grid Station Text Size field. Type the angle of the grid station font in the Grid Station Text Angle field.

The Use Extended Profile button will open the ProgenDB dialog box. Review Chapter 26: ProgenDB – Defining a Surface for more information. Go to the Progen tab in the AutoCAD Platform.

Event Features[t14]

Clicking the Event Features button to display the PipeLine Feature Event Band Settings dialog box.

The text boxes labeled from A through J should contain the defined Material (Event Feature) categories for output into the extracted sheet. Clicking the Use Table button will open the Event Table Definition dialog which allows the User to create a Bill of Material on the extracted sheet.

The order of Event Features in the Included Categories field will determine the sort order on the Alignment Sheet.

Location

To define the Location Band settings, click the Location Button.

Ownership

Clicking the Ownership button will display the Ownership Band Settings dialog box.

Clicking the Use Table button will display the Ownership Table Definition dialog which allows the User to create a Line List of Owners on the extracted sheet.

Pipe Band

Click on the Pipe Band button to define the Pipe Band settings.

Stationing

Clicking the Stationing button will display the Station Band Options dialog box. The User has the option to define exactly how the Station Band will look upon creation.

Under the Format tab Users may check the Append Description Located at Same Station checkbox which will append all descriptions that occur at the same station.

Under the Data Filters tab the User can filter the display of items in the Station Band. By pressing the Station Filters button Users can filter and sort PIs with more options. User can also include PIs by checking the Include PIs checkbox and pressing the ‘..’ button.

Under the Text Style tab Users may edit the text styles used. The text sizes in this dialog will automatically be scaled by the scale factor in the group selected for extraction.

Under the Offset, Symbols & Lenders tabs Users have the option to include these options in the station band.

The Placement tab allows users to collapse stationing gaps to allow for better placement of stationing in the station band.

PI’s

Clicking the PI’s button will display the PI Settings dialog box.

NOTE: The PI Settings Dialog controls all PI settings in the PI band as well as in the Stationing band.

Environmental

Click on the Environmental button to define the Environmental settings.

Workspace

This option is currently under development.

Match Lines

Clicking the Match Line button will display the Match Line Data dialog box.

Under the Linework tab a Linear Style and length may be selected for the matchline. Text Styles and First & Second line Prefixes can be set under the Text tab. Users can define Milepost symbolization for marchlines under the Milepost tab.

Layers

Click on the Layers button to define the Layer table. See Chapter 5: Layers for more information.

Export

Designates format to which sheets will extracted. Press the Export button to edit. Select the desired format and press close.

North Arrow

Allows user to choose a North Arrow for the sheets to be extracted. Press the North Arrow button to pull up the dialog. Press OK to save setting and exit dialog.

Regeneration

The Regenerate button allows the User to regenerate any entities defined in the Project Database into the current Drawing. Refer to Chapter 22: Miscellaneous Utilities for more information on Regeneration.

Scale Bar

This option is currently under development.

Other ArcGIS Options

If the Save individual MXD’s option is checked it will generate the Alignment sheets in individual drawing files. It will place these files either under the Project folder, or if there has been designated a different path in the group, it will generate the files there.

Checking the Arial Photo checkbox allows aerial data to be extracted in the sheet.

The Left to Right checkbox option creates Left to Right direction for the alignment, un-checking this option creates Right to Left direction for the alignment.

Checking the Plan View button displays the Plan View on the Alignment sheet.

The Legend checkbox inserts legend in the extracted sheets.

The Revision checkbox is for the revision level of the drawing. Enter the appropriate revision characters and check the box.

The Overview & Uppercase options are under development.[t15]

Save Settings

The Save Settings button will allow the User to Save or Restore a set of defaults from the Project file. This will reset all of the dialogs to match the current sheet style.

Also, if multiple Users are access the same Project each of their Settings will be automatically saved. To get their settings, click the Copy User Defaults button. This will open the User Defaults dialog box. Any other User’s settings will be available to highlight here. Type a name for the new setting, and click the Copy button. After setting the desired options in the Sheet Extraction dialog click the OK button to execute the sheet extraction. The Create Page dialog appears. For more information on saving setting see Chapter 22: Miscellaneous Utilities.

NOTE: Press the ‘...’ button to vary the Settings dialog.[t16]

[t17]

Extract Sheet

After selecting all the correct settings for the extraction press the Execute button. The ‘Create / Update Sheets’ dialog will appear.

NOTE: In Arc the User must close Sheet Setting and press the Execute button on the Main Dialog.

Creating Sheets

Highlight which sheets to build, or click the Select All button, from one up to a hundred at a time, and click the Create Selected Pages button. The sheets will be generated.

Sheet Tags

Click the Sheet Tags button to open the User Tag Data dialog box. In the Sheets field highlight which sheet to update. In the Tags field highlight which attribute to populate. Type in the value in the Value field and click the Update field. Once all the values have been populated for all the attributes, click the Close button. Refer to Chapter 28: Customize Sheet for more information.

Update Settings

In the Create Page dialog box, click the Update Settings button to open the Update Settings dialog box. Uncheck the Rebuild Entire Sheet checkbox to display other options.

Check or uncheck each other the fields. They each represent an entire band. When the Alignment Sheets are re-created AlignDB will not remove the existing AutoCAD tab with the existing sheet, and it will only re-create the selected bands to be re-created, leaving all other created bands. If the Band is Checked AlignDB will rebuild only what it created, and not remove what the User created.

NOTE: Copied objects are considered application created, and will be replaced.

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Chapter

Chapter 30 Images & Diagrams

These images and diagrams are for reference only.

Layer Table Diagram

BSDI Relationship Diagram

1 of 2

BSDI Relationship Diagram

2 of 2

Date	Author	Document No.	Changes
January 2009	M. Robeson	2009.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2009.01.02
February 2008	M. Roberson	2008.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2008.01.10
October 2007	M. Roberson	2007.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2007.04.07
December 2005	R. Ramirez	2006.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2006.01.01
October 2005	R. Ramirez	2005.02	Upgrade to AlignDB 2005.03.01
January 2005	M. Ray	2005.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2005.1.01
July 2004	R. Ramirez	2004.2.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2004.2.01
April 2004	K. Patterson	2004.1.01	Updated for new 2004 Release
October 2003	R. Ramirez	2004.0.01	Upgrade to AlignDB 2004.0.01
August 2003	M. Ray	2.1	Added ArcGIS Information
August 2003	M. Ray	2	Upgrade to AlignDB 2003.01
February 2002	M. Ray	1	Original draft – New Format
August 2002	P. Armendariz	16.50	Updated for new 16.50 Release
June 2001	R. Ramirez	2002.01	Updated for 2001 Release
June 1999	R. Ramirez	1.0	Original Document