Active Drawing Settings

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Active Drawing Settings

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Introduction

The Civil Site Design software requires the Designer to set how they want the software to perform for a particular drawing (design project).  Many commands in Civil Site Design read information from the Active Drawing Settings form to undertake calculations and to control design and drafting outputs.

The Active Drawing Settings form includes multiple tabs for control over the settings governing the design inputs and outputs, including:

The default surface to use for daylighting/batters on road elements created

The controls for intersection connections

Styles and settings for outputs of alignments, curb returns, surfaces and more

Management of layers and outputs.

The initial settings for this form are populated from the Global Drawing Settings - editing the global defaults will change the initial local settings for future projects.

Notes:

When you start a new project, you will be prompted to select a 'global' or starting settings file if one has not been assigned

The local settings will be checked before exit to ensure that all styles and objects that are referenced in the forms exist - designers will be unable to Save and Exit until then.

Please be aware that the settings are checked BEFORE a dependent command is run to make sure that they are valid for the current drawing.  If you have specified any style that does not exist in the current drawing and is required by the command, you will be prompted to correct the settings before proceeding with the use of Civil Site Design.

Plan linework is typically managed from the Assign Layers command, not these settings.

Icons

Save and Exit Saves any changes you have made to the settings and exits the Active Drawing Settigns Form

Save As Allows you to save your Active Drawing Settings as a Settings Template (.DEF) for importing into other projects

Import Settings Allows you to import Default Settings templates (.DEF) or any that you have saved previously

Set Global Default Settings Sets your current Active Drawing Settings as the Global Default Settings

Create/Edit Templates Opens the Create/Edit Section Form

Cancel Exits the Active Drawing Settings without saving your changes

Help Opens this help file.

Design Settings

The Design Settings tab of the Active Drawing Settings form is where you set your project defaults for Surfaces and Country of project.

Civil Site Design works by connecting curb returns, cul-de-sacs and knuckles (horizontally and vertically) to particular point codes/labels that are created for each of the Roads.  The software analyzes elevations/offset along cross section codes to determine which elevations need to match to the curb returns, cul-de-sacs and knuckles, and which elevations define the edge of the through section on the main road at the intersection. In general terms, these codes should exist on each cross section of the road and for most subdivision purposes this will occur. If these codes are missing from the road cross sections, then the software will flag an error and you will need to check the labeling that has been used for the applied Template and fix the errors before continuing:

Default Surface Name The surface that Civil Site Design will reference for the current project, generally it will be your base or natural surface.

Country Allows you to set what country you are currently working in, The default setting is Australia. (If the country you are after is not listed please contact Civil Survey Solutions)

Units Sets the default Units for the project; Either Metric or Imperial

Base Settings

  Curb Direction Allows you to set the Curb Direction; Counter Clockwise (CCW) or Clockwise (CW)
Note: Once the Curb Direction is set and project data added, it Cannot be changed mid-way through.

Default Point Code Intersection Connections

  Matching Code for Curbs This sets the Code that the Curb Return centrelines (and alignments) will match to

  Intersection Through Code This sets the Code on the Main Road that is extended through the intersection zone - any Codes outside of this are automatically excluded from the Auto Model build process (where a Road network is built) in the zones where the curb returns are.
Normally this is set to be the same as the Matching Code for Curbs, however in the case of the curb Code being matched to, say, the back of curb, it may be required for the road sections to only show to the pavement edge.

   Select Code from a List Lists the available codes from the templates currently in the drawing.

Feet Options - THIS WILL ONLY DISPLAY IF THE UNITS ARE SET TO FEET

  Feet units are Sets the feet units of the current drawing (Not specified, Feet - International Feet, US Survey Feet
This applies during XML Surface Import

   For Export Set whether to automatically use the current drawing settings to manage the output scaling.  Use Settings or Always Prompt
This applies during XML Surface Export

Station Label Options

  Symbol Allows a symbol to be placed in the station/station text

   Location Set the position in the numeric text (hundreds or thousands)

Setting Description Allows you to give brief details of the settings you have set, you might have separate settings for different types of project.

Show ID Numbers on Forms Debug mode - identifies forms with a number for tracking

Styles

The Styles section of the Active Drawing Settings allows you to define the Civil 3D styles for your design. You can select Alignment and label styles for Road, Curb and Knuckle alignments, as well as Layer Prefixes. The C3D Styles Tab also let your define the style and layers for your Civil 3d Profiles.

Use the pick lists to assign the Styles to use for display of different outputs as noted.

Curb Details

The Curb Details tab of the Active Drawing Settings is where you set your defaults for geometry, templates, sampling and grading of Curb Returns.

Default Curb Return Geometry and Template

Automatic Curb Return Radius Default radius when running automatic curb returns

Extend Start/End of Curb Return by Extends the start and end of curb return by distance specified, maintaining the curb radius.

Select Curb Template Selects the default curb template. If Auto is selected, the curb return cross sections will be constructed by finding matching codes on the Roads at the start/end of the curb return alignment - linear transition to width and slope/height will be applied.

Select the Subgrade Template Selects the default Subgrade Template to apply to curb returns when Auto Template is selected

'Auto' Default Slopes Sets the default slopes applied to Curb Returns when the Curb Template is set to 'Auto'

Section Sampling and Vertical Grading Editor Settings

Default Curb Section Sampling Frequency Sets the default section sampling along the curb return

Vertical Grading - Distance to extend When the curb return is viewed in the Vertical Grading Editor, it will display the approaching and departing Road String Point Connection Code to this distance before and after the curb alignment

Curb Section Width (Left and Right) The distance to section either side of curb return alignment.

Width for Added Sampling Lines The width of any extra sampling lines that are included along curb return

Curb Fitting Routine - Program Settings - Advanced

Curb Acceptance Tolerance The curb connection is iterative - this value sets the allowing misclose on the horizontal position

Curb Face if Slope (%) > If the slope of a section is greater than this value, the software will do a linear transition on the height difference instead of the slope

Curb Fitting - Maximum Start Searches Sets a start distance from the intersection to start searching for matching locations for the curb returns

Curb Fitting - Start Search Distance Set the initial iteration distance to step along the two roads to find a curb match location

Road Details

The Road Details tab of the Active Drawing Settings is where you define the default settings for your Intersection Match-in, Section Sampling and Advanced Program Settings for your Road Design.

Intersection Side Road Match-In Details

Apply Parabolic Ease Curve Applies parabolic ease curve on the side road vertical grade, at the time of creating a Road String

PI Distance from Main Road Edge The distance you would like the automatic parabolic curve's PI to be placed, measured from the Point Connection Code on the main road

Default Parabolic Curve Length The length of the automatic parabolic curve

Ease Cut/Fill Conditions Set whether to Always provide a cut/fill ease curve, only in cut, only in fill, or never.

Section Sampling Frequency/Spacing

Default Sampling Frequency (Tangents/Straights/Arcs/Spirals) Defines how often you want to sample your road cross section along particular elements of an alignment

Road Section Width (Left/Right) Width to sample from alignment

Select Template For Roads Default Template to apply when a Road String is created - this can be edited at the time of creating the Road or when the Road is resampled.

Program Settings - Advanced

End Search Distance End search distance for intersections

Crossing Road Intersect Tolerance Distance the program will search for possible crossing road intersections

About Intersection Match-In - 'Vertical Curve Ease'

When side roads meet up with 'main' roads, the vertical grading of the side road is adjusted so it exactly matches the cross section of the main road where it crosses.  Users are able to pre-set a vertical curve to be applied at the approach and/or departure of each intersection - we call this a vertical curve 'ease'.

This is an example of the Side Road matching at an intersection and the application of a vertical curve 'ease' - controlled above.

The software reads the 'true' grades of the corridor, so for skew roads and where the main road has a high vertical grade, the crossfall on the left and right sides of the main road will differ (as shown, left).

Upon creation of the Road, designers can set the vertical curve ease length, PI distance and whether the ease is shown, by setting the Road Details tab in these settings.

Note: Designers can customize the 'ease' conditions at every intersection for any road already created.

Vertical Grading Editor

The Vertical Grading Editor section of the Active Drawing Settings allows your to setup what you will see in the VGE window, as well as set the Design Aids for Vertical Alignments (Crest/Sag K Value, Max/Min Grade for Warning). You can also choose weather or not to update your Civil 3d Profiles when you exit the Vertical Grading Editor.

These settings are matched in the Display Settings button on the Vertical Grading Editor, with the following exceptions:

Color Setting File - sets the colors to apply in the Vertical Grading Editor

Update all 3D Profiles when a Vertical grading Editor is closed - all Civil 3D profiles get updated (if created using the Create/Update Profiles command in the software) when a VGE window is closed.

Modeling

The Modeling Section of the Active Drawing Settings is where you define the settings for surface creation in Civil Site Design.

Surface Modeling Options

Surface Style Pick the Surface Style to be applied when the software creates a single surface from all the road elements representing the road network. This is the default style if none of the below apply.

Surface Style Automatic Model When the Auto Model command is run, the surface created will use this Surface Style

Surface Style Object Model from Vertical Grading When a surface of a String is created from the Vertical Grading Editor, this Surface Style will be applied

Surface Style Model Builder When a surface is created from Model Builder, this Surface Style will be applied.

Civil 3D Surface Style When the software creates a Civil 3D surface for an existing Civil Site Design surface, this Civil 3D Surface Style will be applied

Create Mesh for Imported Faces Tick this ON to create the alternate surface model at the time of building the Auto Model in Civil 3D.

Save the 3D Polylines Used to Build the Model Tick this ON  if it is required for the breaklines to be included in the drawing and for the surface to be dynamically linked to these breaklines.
Tick this OFF to simply output the surface and store the breakline data in the surface definition.

Show Model Report Message At the time of building the surface model, the software creates additional reports detailing the quality of the surface model created.
If it is desired NOT to receive a message that these files have been created then UNTICK this.

Delete Existing Surface Delete the previous surface and create a new surface.  Untick to just update the breaklines (takes longer in Civil 3D)

Maximum distance to move curb point to match with the road when building a surface model When curb returns, cul-de-sac and knuckle alignments do not meet tangentially to the Roads, there is overlap or a 'gap' for the offset feature lines of the Road and the associated road element.
This leads to a mismatch for the curb offset points and the corresponding road points.  Civil Site Design allows to a correction of the mismatch within the tolerance set here.

When building the design surface model, it is important that matching coordinates have exactly the same value, otherwise there is the chance of having 2 points very close together that create minutely small triangles.  Hence, before building the surface model, the software matches the coordinates at the ends of the curb returns with the nearest point on the road at the point of tangency.

If the distance is less than this  ‘maximum distance’ value, then the coordinates on the curb are adjusted to match to the road.

Typical Imperial value 0.1 feet.  Typical metric value 0.05 metres.

Note: A report is printed showing all the matching points, the distance to the closest road point and whether or not the coordinates have been adjusted.

Maximum triangle side length Applies a maximum triangle length control when building a surface - this setting does not apply to Civil 3D surface outputs.

Modeling Controls

Color File Sets the default display colors used in the Build Models command

Alternate Color File Sets the secondary colors or hide display for any additional models

Transparency Setting for Model Editing

Apply Transparency Allows the user to see the workspace behind the Model editing form

Transparency (%) to Apply Set the amount of transparency to apply. Default = 75%

Note: Transparency mode must be turned on in the drawing for this to take effect.

VGE Update Settings

Update settings Allows the user to set whether the Plan Drafing Linework and Model Updating occurs automatically or manually.

Error Reporting

Error Reporting Use the pick list to set where Error Reports are presented

Save Factor

Save Factor Unused

Corridor Options - Not used

Subgrade Creation Method Not used

Recompute Options Not used

C3D Surfacing Options

C3D Surfacing Options Users can elect to completely skip the Quick Surface output and make Civil 3D surfaces directly.

Build ALL Surfaces as C3D Surfaces: Tick on for immediate creation of Civil 3D surfaces when you create a surface from a design model.  This surface updates so long as the rebuild settings are on and set to Automatic.

Add Outer boundary to TotalModel: When Auto Model command is selected, the output surface will include an outer boundary by default.

Add Hide boundaries to TotalModel: When Auto Model command is selected, the output surface will include all inner hide boundaries by default

Note: If there are loops (overlaps) in the boundaries, then they will not be applied to the surface.  The loop boundaries can have unexpected results in the output surface.

Cross Section Usage

This is a matrix of the Type of Sampled Section and then the type of Output it should be included for.

List of Types and where they may be created:

Sample Section Type Command/Action Resulting in the Section

Standard Standard section spacings defined at the time of Creating a Road, Curb Return, Knuckle, Cul-de-sac or Roundabout

High/Low Sections automatically added for the Design High/Low point/s - this is a result of the Vertical Design

VC Start/End Sections automatically added for the start and end of Vertical Curves - this is a result of the Vertical Design

Curbs Sections added to Roads for the Start/End of curb returns where they match to the edge of the Road

Data Ability to add Stations set in the Design Data Form to the section sampling

VC Mesh Allows additional sections to be automatically added for modeling or profile plotting through a vertical curve.  The spacing can be set prior to plotting.

Super Additional sections are added after application of Superelevation, to pick up the Super Points

Extra Spacings At the time of creating a Road, the designer can change the spacings in a station range or add extra chainages

From Drawings At the time of creating a Road, the design can read in lines on a selected layer to add extra sampling

From Points Provided for future section creation option from point groups. Not currently used.

Before/After TP Extra sections added very close to the Curb match points, for improved grade calculations on the curb returns.

List of Outputs that the user can toggle on/off for the selected sampling group to be included:

Output Type Affected Command/s

Left Setout affects stakeout of data left of the Centreline

Right Setout affects stakeout of data right of the Centreline

Section Cross Section Plotting

Profile Long Secton Plotting

Model Used in building models

Volumes Used in Volumes

Extracted Sections Output Controls section information

  Filter Tolerance Set a value to IGNORE breaklines that result in a elevation difference LESS than this value.  This WILL EDIT THE SURFACE used

  Use Extracted Sections for Batters Pre-calculates the batters from the surface at the time of sampling.

VC Spacings Set up tighter spacing for modeling of Vertical Curves

  Required Spacing Type in the required spacing

Layer Names

The Layer Names section is where you decide what objects from Civil Site Design go on which layers in the drawing. You can assign layer name prefixes and modifiers.

Details of the list is as follows:

Object Type Layer Name Prefix Layer Name Modifier

See List, above Type in the desired prefix to the layer name Choose a particular Layer Name Modifier 'style' to append to the Layer Prefix using the Pick List.

Designers create/edit the Layer Name Modifier 'style' sets by clicking on the Create Layer Name Modifier button:

In the above Label Name Modifier style above, the resultant label name modifier would be -Road Name-Label.

Details of the form are as follows:

Add New Click on this button to create a new Label Name Modifier style.  The designer will be prompted to name the style

Delete Current Click on this button to delete the Current Label Name Modifier

Modifier Controls - This set of commands enables the designer to append the Road Name and/or the Label to the Layer Name Prefix assigned to particular software drafting outputs

  Current Label Name Modifier Pick list to select the Label Name Modifier style to set current for editing or deleting

The Label Name Modifier is made up of three components: Prefix to the Layer Name Modifiers, Layer Name Modifiers, and suffix to the Layer Name Modifiers

Prefix to Modifiers - sets a prefix to each of the Layer Name Modifiers that can be assigned

  Road Name Type in a textual prefix for the Road Name modifier that may be assigned

  Code Type in a textual prefix for the Code modifier that can be assigned

Layer Name Modifiers - provides the capacity to include Property information (Road Name or Label) to include with the Label Name

  First Modifier Use the pick list to assign either design properties as the first modifier in the label modifier text.   List of options is as follows:

Leave blank for no assignment of information from the Road or Label properties

  Second Modifier Use the pick list to assign either the Road Name (and/or Model Name) property or the Code property as the second modifier in the label modifier text.  Selection options as above.
Leave blank for no assignment of information from the Road or Label properties

Suffix to Modifiers - sets a suffix to each of the Layer Name Modifiers that can be assigned

  Road Name Type in a textual suffix for the Road Name modifier that may be assigned

  Code Type in a textual suffix for the Code modifier that can be assigned

  Replace Underscores (_) with Spaces Tick this ON for the software to replace any _ values to be spaces in the prefix or suffix modifiers.

Apply and Exit Apply the changes and exit the form

Cancel Exit without applying changes

About Layer Names - How they Work

The software uses AutoCAD lines and polylines as part of the output of data.  In the tab where you set up layer names that the software uses for display of different design elements, users can set up the layer names required for different output types.

The Layer is made up of:

A Layer Prefix: this is a typed in name, and optionally:

A Layer Name Modifier: this appends to the Layer Prefix optionally with a combination of the Road Name and/or cross section Label (eg: LEB, LFPI, C.L.)

Linework outputted to the drawing is initially generated using the software fast-draw graphics (as blocks) - there is a command to generate polyline outputs from this.  Unless controlled otherwise, this polyline outputted linework would be controlled from the Explode to 2D Polyline and Explode to 3D Polyline layer controls

Designers can set up their own Layer Name Modifier 'styles' and apply them as desired.

Miscellaneous

The Miscellaneous section of the Active Drawing Settings allows users to modify settings for Arrow type, size and angle. As well as Arc to Chord distance for mdelling purposes, as well as allowing either single or multiple variations for codes at a single cross section. Users can also specifiy what tangent check tolerance they want the program to use.

Arrow for Profile View

  Arrow Type Sets the arrow type to use on the profile views.  Use the pick list to select the arrow head type rquired

  Arrow Size Sets the arrow size

  Arrow Angle Use the pick list to set the angle of the arrow

Arch to Chord Distance for Modeling Sets the chord distance for display of vertical curves on Profile Views

Minimum Tangent Spacing Sets the minimum spacing for display of tangents on Profile Views

Variation Settings

Variation Settings Users pick whether a Code can be modified by one Variation only, or if various Variations should make compounding edits on a Code

Reports Listing Prompt

Display Opening Message for Reports Untick to not display a confirmation message box before displaying reports

Tangent Check

Tolerance (Seconds) Set an angle tolerance that is acceptable for Tangency.  This value is used when running the tangency check command.

Display Checking

Show All Triangles A 'debug' option to display all triangles - ignores any boundary and or edits applied to any surface.

Point Monitor Special Notes: Does not apply to Civil 3D.
Sets whether a tooltip is displayed in the drawing describing the position of the mouse cursor with respect to alignments in the drawing.  Options:

  Point Monitor On Tick on to enable tooltip display

  Tooltip Tick on to display a dynamic tooltip next to the mouse cursor

  Text Display Tick on to display text in the bottom left corner

  Item 1-4 Pick what to display on the tooltip.  Options: Road Name, Station, Offset, Label, None

Section Lines Controls width of sampled section lines, if displayed

  Existing Width If ticked on, applies widths as per the Resample Cross Section command > Section Widths form

  Design Width If ticked on, displays lines to match the width of the design (LBAT to RBAT) plus a user defined Design Extension

File Copies Allows for backup of the data folders

  Copy Method

None: no backup copies made

ASCII Copy: makes all files for the data (as per current files/folders in the data folder)

WinRAR: zips the data folder backup

  Time Interval Number of times opening the data set before making a backup

  ALWAYS copy at startup When the data folder is first opened, a backup of the data is made.

Speed Options Additional controls to manage the speed of calculations and what is calculated.

  Existing Surface Option Controls whether sections are calculated 'on the fly' or saved to the data folders.

Redo: does not save the sections: they are always calculated

Save: saves the sections to file

Redo requires more processor speed, so may slow on larger jobs.

  Advanced Settings Opens up advanced build controls.
By default, the software auto recalculates all Roads, Curbs, other road network objects and surfaces.  This can become slower in larger jobs.  The Advanced Settings allows the user to knobble the automatic rebuild processes.

All inputs and controls are as described in the Advanced Rebuild Settings command.

CSD Styles

The CSD Styles section of the Active Drawing Settings allows you to define the styles for Alignments created by CSD.  You can select Alignment styles sets for Road, Curb and CulDeSacs and other alignments.  There is also additional Annotation Controls for both plan and stakeout purposes.

Alignment Annotation Style Sets Default label (annotation) style sets to apply to alignments upon creation

  Roads/Default Pick list of Annotation sets.  Applied to road alignments

  Curbs Pick list of annotation sets.  Applied when the software creates curb return alignments

  Cul-de-sacs Pick list of annotation sets.  Applied when the software creates cul-de-sac alignments

  Other Pick list of annotation sets.  Not used.

Alignment Display Controls Pick an alignment display control style - this sets the layers to use for display of the alignment object - line, curve and spiral segments

  Color Style Pick a color style

Alignment Annotation Controls Allows for additional labeling controls on alignments, as well as for stakeout

  Station Format - Annotations in Plan Allows a suffix, prefix or symbol text to be added to the annotation labels

    Prefix type in a prefix

    Suffix type in a suffix

    Symbol type in for a text symbol

  Station Format - Setout Allows a suffix, prefix or symbol text to be added to the stakeout labels

    Prefix type in a prefix

    Suffix type in a suffix

    Symbol type in for a text symbol

Tables Option

  Draw Tables as Lines and Text Tick to draw a table as lines and text, or Unticked a Table will be inserted.

	*Save and Exit*	Saves any changes you have made to the settings and exits the Active Drawing Settigns Form
	*Save As*	Allows you to save your Active Drawing Settings as a Settings Template (.DEF) for importing into other projects
	*Import Settings*	Allows you to import Default Settings templates (.DEF) or any that you have saved previously
	*Set Global Default Settings*	Sets your current Active Drawing Settings as the Global Default Settings
	*Create/Edit Templates*	Opens the Create/Edit Section Form
	*Cancel*	Exits the Active Drawing Settings without saving your changes
	*Help*	Opens this help file.

Default Surface Name	The surface that Civil Site Design will reference for the current project, generally it will be your base or natural surface.
Country	Allows you to set what country you are currently working in, The default setting is Australia. (If the country you are after is not listed please contact Civil Survey Solutions)
Units	Sets the default Units for the project; Either Metric or Imperial
	Base Settings
Curb Direction	Allows you to set the Curb Direction; Counter Clockwise (CCW) or Clockwise (CW) Note: Once the Curb Direction is set and project data added, it Cannot* be changed mid-way through.*
	Default Point Code Intersection Connections
Matching Code for Curbs	This sets the Code that the Curb Return centrelines (and alignments) will match to
Intersection Through Code	This sets the Code on the Main Road that is extended through the intersection zone - any Codes outside of this are automatically excluded from the Auto Model build process (where a Road network is built) in the zones where the curb returns are. Normally this is set to be the same as the Matching Code for Curbs, however in the case of the curb Code being matched to, say, the back of curb, it may be required for the road sections to only show to the pavement edge.
Select Code from a List	Lists the available codes from the templates currently in the drawing.
	Feet Options - THIS WILL ONLY DISPLAY IF THE UNITS ARE SET TO FEET
Feet units are	Sets the feet units of the current drawing (Not specified, Feet - International Feet, US Survey Feet This applies during XML Surface Import
For Export	Set whether to automatically use the current drawing settings to manage the output scaling. Use Settings or Always Prompt This applies during XML Surface Export
	Station Label Options
Symbol	Allows a symbol to be placed in the station/station text
Location	Set the position in the numeric text (hundreds or thousands)
Setting Description	Allows you to give brief details of the settings you have set, you might have separate settings for different types of project.
Show ID Numbers on Forms	Debug mode - identifies forms with a number for tracking

	Default Curb Return Geometry and Template
Automatic Curb Return Radius	Default radius when running automatic curb returns
Extend Start/End of Curb Return by	Extends the start and end of curb return by distance specified, maintaining the curb radius.
Select Curb Template	Selects the default curb template. If Auto is selected, the curb return cross sections will be constructed by finding matching codes on the Roads at the start/end of the curb return alignment - linear transition to width and slope/height will be applied.
Select the Subgrade Template	Selects the default Subgrade Template to apply to curb returns when Auto Template is selected
'Auto' Default Slopes	Sets the default slopes applied to Curb Returns when the Curb Template is set to 'Auto'
	Section Sampling and Vertical Grading Editor Settings
Default Curb Section Sampling Frequency	Sets the default section sampling along the curb return
Vertical Grading - Distance to extend	When the curb return is viewed in the Vertical Grading Editor, it will display the approaching and departing Road String Point Connection Code to this distance before and after the curb alignment
Curb Section Width (Left and Right)	The distance to section either side of curb return alignment.
Width for Added Sampling Lines	The width of any extra sampling lines that are included along curb return
	Curb Fitting Routine - Program Settings - Advanced
Curb Acceptance Tolerance	The curb connection is iterative - this value sets the allowing misclose on the horizontal position
Curb Face if Slope (%) >	If the slope of a section is greater than this value, the software will do a linear transition on the height difference instead of the slope
Curb Fitting - Maximum Start Searches	Sets a start distance from the intersection to start searching for matching locations for the curb returns
Curb Fitting - Start Search Distance	Set the initial iteration distance to step along the two roads to find a curb match location

	Intersection Side Road Match-In Details
Apply Parabolic Ease Curve	Applies parabolic ease curve on the side road vertical grade, at the time of creating a Road String
PI Distance from Main Road Edge	The distance you would like the automatic parabolic curve's PI to be placed, measured from the Point Connection Code on the main road
Default Parabolic Curve Length	The length of the automatic parabolic curve
Ease Cut/Fill Conditions	Set whether to Always provide a cut/fill ease curve, only in cut, only in fill, or never.
	Section Sampling Frequency/Spacing
Default Sampling Frequency (Tangents/Straights/Arcs/Spirals)	Defines how often you want to sample your road cross section along particular elements of an alignment
Road Section Width (Left/Right)	Width to sample from alignment
Select Template For Roads	Default Template to apply when a Road String is created - this can be edited at the time of creating the Road or when the Road is resampled.
	Program Settings - Advanced
End Search Distance	End search distance for intersections
Crossing Road Intersect Tolerance	Distance the program will search for possible crossing road intersections

	Surface Modeling Options
Surface Style	Pick the Surface Style to be applied when the software creates a single surface from all the road elements representing the road network. This is the default style if none of the below apply.
Surface Style Automatic Model	When the Auto Model command is run, the surface created will use this Surface Style
Surface Style Object Model from Vertical Grading	When a surface of a String is created from the Vertical Grading Editor, this Surface Style will be applied
Surface Style Model Builder	When a surface is created from Model Builder, this Surface Style will be applied.
Civil 3D Surface Style	When the software creates a Civil 3D surface for an existing Civil Site Design surface, this Civil 3D Surface Style will be applied
Create Mesh for Imported Faces	Tick this ON to create the alternate surface model at the time of building the Auto Model in Civil 3D.
Save the 3D Polylines Used to Build the Model	Tick this ON if it is required for the breaklines to be included in the drawing and for the surface to be dynamically linked to these breaklines. Tick this OFF to simply output the surface and store the breakline data in the surface definition.
Show Model Report Message	At the time of building the surface model, the software creates additional reports detailing the quality of the surface model created. If it is desired NOT to receive a message that these files have been created then UNTICK this.
Delete Existing Surface	Delete the previous surface and create a new surface. Untick to just update the breaklines (takes longer in Civil 3D)
Maximum distance to move curb point to match with the road when building a surface model	When curb returns, cul-de-sac and knuckle alignments do not meet tangentially to the Roads, there is overlap or a 'gap' for the offset feature lines of the Road and the associated road element. This leads to a mismatch for the curb offset points and the corresponding road points. *Civil Site Design* allows to a correction of the mismatch within the tolerance set here. When building the design surface model, it is important that matching coordinates have exactly the same value, otherwise there is the chance of having 2 points very close together that create minutely small triangles. Hence, before building the surface model, the software matches the coordinates at the ends of the curb returns with the nearest point on the road at the point of tangency. If the distance is less than this ‘maximum distance’ value, then the coordinates on the curb are adjusted to match to the road. Typical Imperial value 0.1 feet. Typical metric value 0.05 metres. Note: A report is printed showing all the matching points, the distance to the closest road point and whether or not the coordinates have been adjusted.
Maximum triangle side length	Applies a maximum triangle length control when building a surface - this setting does not apply to Civil 3D surface outputs.
	Modeling Controls
Color File	Sets the default display colors used in the Build Models command
Alternate Color File	Sets the secondary colors or hide display for any additional models
	Transparency Setting for Model Editing
Apply Transparency	Allows the user to see the workspace behind the Model editing form
Transparency (%) to Apply	Set the amount of transparency to apply. Default = 75%
	Note: Transparency mode must be turned on in the drawing for this to take effect.
	VGE Update Settings
Update settings	Allows the user to set whether the Plan Drafing Linework and Model Updating occurs automatically or manually.
	Error Reporting
Error Reporting	Use the pick list to set where Error Reports are presented
	Save Factor
Save Factor	Unused
	Corridor Options - Not used
Subgrade Creation Method	Not used
Recompute Options	Not used
	C3D Surfacing Options
C3D Surfacing Options	Users can elect to completely skip the Quick Surface output and make Civil 3D surfaces directly. Build ALL Surfaces as C3D Surfaces: Tick on for immediate creation of Civil 3D surfaces when you create a surface from a design model. This surface updates so long as the rebuild settings are on and set to Automatic. Add Outer boundary to TotalModel: When Auto Model command is selected, the output surface will include an outer boundary by default. Add Hide boundaries to TotalModel: When Auto Model command is selected, the output surface will include all inner hide boundaries by default Note: If there are loops (overlaps) in the boundaries, then they will not be applied to the surface. The loop boundaries can have unexpected results in the output surface.

Sample Section Type	Command/Action Resulting in the Section
Standard	Standard section spacings defined at the time of Creating a Road, Curb Return, Knuckle, Cul-de-sac or Roundabout
High/Low	Sections automatically added for the Design High/Low point/s - this is a result of the Vertical Design
VC Start/End	Sections automatically added for the start and end of Vertical Curves - this is a result of the Vertical Design
Curbs	Sections added to Roads for the Start/End of curb returns where they match to the edge of the Road
Data	Ability to add Stations set in the Design Data Form to the section sampling
VC Mesh	Allows additional sections to be automatically added for modeling or profile plotting through a vertical curve. The spacing can be set prior to plotting.
Super	Additional sections are added after application of Superelevation, to pick up the Super Points
Extra Spacings	At the time of creating a Road, the designer can change the spacings in a station range or add extra chainages
From Drawings	At the time of creating a Road, the design can read in lines on a selected layer to add extra sampling
From Points	Provided for future section creation option from point groups. Not currently used.
Before/After TP	Extra sections added very close to the Curb match points, for improved grade calculations on the curb returns.

Output Type	Affected Command/s
Left Setout	affects stakeout of data left of the Centreline
Right Setout	affects stakeout of data right of the Centreline
Section	Cross Section Plotting
Profile	Long Secton Plotting
Model	Used in building models
Volumes	Used in Volumes

Extracted Sections Output	Controls section information
Filter Tolerance	Set a value to IGNORE breaklines that result in a elevation difference LESS than this value. This WILL EDIT THE SURFACE used
Use Extracted Sections for Batters	Pre-calculates the batters from the surface at the time of sampling.
VC Spacings	Set up tighter spacing for modeling of Vertical Curves
Required Spacing	Type in the required spacing

Object Type	Layer Name Prefix	Layer Name Modifier
See List, above	Type in the desired prefix to the layer name	Choose a particular Layer Name Modifier 'style' to append to the Layer Prefix using the Pick List.

Add New	Click on this button to create a new Label Name Modifier style. The designer will be prompted to name the style
Delete Current	Click on this button to delete the Current Label Name Modifier
	Modifier Controls - This set of commands enables the designer to append the Road Name and/or the Label to the Layer Name Prefix assigned to particular software drafting outputs
Current Label Name Modifier	Pick list to select the Label Name Modifier style to set current for editing or deleting
	The Label Name Modifier is made up of three components: Prefix to the Layer Name Modifiers, Layer Name Modifiers, and suffix to the Layer Name Modifiers
	Prefix to Modifiers - sets a prefix to each of the Layer Name Modifiers that can be assigned
Road Name	Type in a textual prefix for the Road Name modifier that may be assigned
Code	Type in a textual prefix for the Code modifier that can be assigned
	Layer Name Modifiers - provides the capacity to include Property information (Road Name or Label) to include with the Label Name
First Modifier	Use the pick list to assign either design properties as the first modifier in the label modifier text. List of options is as follows: Leave blank for no assignment of information from the Road or Label properties
Second Modifier	Use the pick list to assign either the Road Name (and/or Model Name) property or the Code property as the second modifier in the label modifier text. Selection options as above. Leave blank for no assignment of information from the Road or Label properties
	*Suffix* to Modifiers - sets a suffix to each of the Layer Name Modifiers that can be assigned
Road Name	Type in a textual suffix for the Road Name modifier that may be assigned
Code	Type in a textual suffix for the Code modifier that can be assigned
Replace Underscores (_) with Spaces	Tick this ON for the software to replace any _ values to be spaces in the prefix or suffix modifiers.
Apply and Exit	Apply the changes and exit the form
Cancel	Exit without applying changes

	Arrow for Profile View
Arrow Type	Sets the arrow type to use on the profile views. Use the pick list to select the arrow head type rquired
Arrow Size	Sets the arrow size
Arrow Angle	Use the pick list to set the angle of the arrow
Arch to Chord Distance for Modeling	Sets the chord distance for display of vertical curves on Profile Views
Minimum Tangent Spacing	Sets the minimum spacing for display of tangents on Profile Views
	Variation Settings
Variation Settings	Users pick whether a Code can be modified by one Variation only, or if various Variations should make compounding edits on a Code
	Reports Listing Prompt
Display Opening Message for Reports	Untick to not display a confirmation message box before displaying reports
	Tangent Check
Tolerance (Seconds)	Set an angle tolerance that is acceptable for Tangency. This value is used when running the tangency check command.
	Display Checking
Show All Triangles	A 'debug' option to display all triangles - ignores any boundary and or edits applied to any surface.
Point Monitor	Special Notes: Does not apply to Civil 3D. Sets whether a tooltip is displayed in the drawing describing the position of the mouse cursor with respect to alignments in the drawing. Options:
Point Monitor On	Tick on to enable tooltip display
Tooltip	Tick on to display a dynamic tooltip next to the mouse cursor
Text Display	Tick on to display text in the bottom left corner
Item 1-4	Pick what to display on the tooltip. Options: Road Name, Station, Offset, Label, None
Section Lines	Controls width of sampled section lines, if displayed
Existing Width	If ticked on, applies widths as per the Resample Cross Section command > Section Widths form
Design Width	If ticked on, displays lines to match the width of the design (LBAT to RBAT) plus a user defined Design Extension
File Copies	Allows for backup of the data folders
Copy Method	None: no backup copies made ASCII Copy: makes all files for the data (as per current files/folders in the data folder) WinRAR: zips the data folder backup
Time Interval	Number of times opening the data set before making a backup
ALWAYS copy at startup	When the data folder is first opened, a backup of the data is made.
Speed Options	Additional controls to manage the speed of calculations and what is calculated.
Existing Surface Option	Controls whether sections are calculated 'on the fly' or saved to the data folders. Redo: does not save the sections: they are always calculated Save: saves the sections to file Redo requires more processor speed, so may slow on larger jobs.
Advanced Settings	Opens up advanced build controls. By default, the software auto recalculates all Roads, Curbs, other road network objects and surfaces. This can become slower in larger jobs. The Advanced Settings allows the user to knobble the automatic rebuild processes. All inputs and controls are as described in the Advanced Rebuild Settings command.

Alignment Annotation Style Sets	Default label (annotation) style sets to apply to alignments upon creation
Roads/Default	Pick list of Annotation sets. Applied to road alignments
Curbs	Pick list of annotation sets. Applied when the software creates curb return alignments
Cul-de-sacs	Pick list of annotation sets. Applied when the software creates cul-de-sac alignments
Other	Pick list of annotation sets. Not used.
Alignment Display Controls	Pick an alignment display control style - this sets the layers to use for display of the alignment object - line, curve and spiral segments
Color Style	Pick a color style
Alignment Annotation Controls	Allows for additional labeling controls on alignments, as well as for stakeout
Station Format - Annotations in Plan	Allows a suffix, prefix or symbol text to be added to the annotation labels
Prefix	type in a prefix
Suffix	type in a suffix
Symbol	type in for a text symbol
Station Format - Setout	Allows a suffix, prefix or symbol text to be added to the stakeout labels
Prefix	type in a prefix
Suffix	type in a suffix
Symbol	type in for a text symbol
Tables Option
Draw Tables as Lines and Text	Tick to draw a table as lines and text, or Unticked a Table will be inserted.