Affix Name
Command Licensing and Default Menu Location
- The Affix Name command is part of the RPS Data Prep Toolbox
- The command is located on the Data Prep macros menu ribbon
- The command is located in the Modify menu group
Video Demonstration
The following video shows how to utilize the Affix Name command
Updates
June 2024
Command was updated to fix a minor defect where regardless of the state of one of the checkboxes, the command did the same thing. At the same time we updated the UI to remove an unnecessary control and improve the labels on the dialog for increased clarity
Command Description
Applies and / or removes a user specified prefix or suffix the name of the selected objects and creates smart text line labels on each line that reflects the new names. Where line names are the same and are differentiated by a unique line number, you can now create a reference line, the direction of which controls the order of incremental numbering i.e. 001 will be at the start of the reference line and 010 will be at the end of the reference line when 10 lines are being labeled.
The command is one of 5 commands that make up the slipform paving workflow, and is used to rapidly name and label the lines that will be sent out to curb and gutter or mainline paving machines for automated machine control purposes.
Command Interface Description
The Affix Name command dialog looks as follows
Style:
You can create styles that control all of the settings of the command. The style that you wish to use can be selected here for the next command execution. You can Create a New Style, Copy an Existing Style, Edit the name of a Style, Save a Style or Delete a Style using the icons to the right of the style selector.
When creating a new style, create the new style and name it first, set the settings of the command as needed and then click the Save button to save the style for later use. The styles are stored in a .RPS file called RPSAffixName.RPS in the RPS Settings folder (as defined in the File Location option of the RPS Settings command).
Remove prefix / suffix checkbox:
If your selected line objects already have names and you want to remove a common prefix or suffix from the names of the selected lines, check this checkbox and then define the prefix and or suffix values that you want to remove.
For example if you have lines called Curb but they are all prefixed with e.g. PDF - and Suffixed with e.g. -Type 1A and you want them all to be called Curb then you can set the Prefix to remove as PDF - and the Suffix to remove as - Type 1A and execute the command with no other settings and all of your lines would be called Curb as a result.
Note Prefix and Suffix Removal is done first before Name Change and before Prefix and Suffix additions
Prefix:
Enter the prefix value that you wish to remove
Suffix:
Enter the suffix value that you wish to remove
Replace name checkbox:
If you wish to replace the residual name of lines after the removal of the Prefix and Suffix values, you can check this checkbox and then define the new name for the selected lines.
New name:
Enter the new name for the selected lines. Note that if you enter e.g. {name}-ABCD that this will cause the lines to retain the existing line names and add the -ABCD to the existing name i.e. a Line called Curb would now be called Curb-ABCD.
Add prefix / suffix checkbox:
If you wish to add a new Prefix or Suffix value to the selected line names, check this checkbox and enter the required prefix and suffix values. Note that the prefix and suffix options have an available syntax for line numbering and naming methods - you can review the options by hovering over the [?] icon at the right end of the data entry fields.
Prefix:
Enter the prefix value that you require. The prefix can be a simple text addition e.g. PRE - or a more sophisticated expression as described under the [?] key at the right end of the selector as shown below.
Suffix:
Enter the suffix value that you require. The suffix can be a simple text addition e.g.
- SFX or a more sophisticated expression as described under the [?] key at the right end of the selector as shown below.
Label lines checkbox:
When you go through the process of renaming lines, sometimes you may want to also label the lines with their new names for the benefit of field crews, machine operators or for drafting purposes. Check this checkbox if you wish to label the selected lines. The labels created will be placed at the mid point of the line (total line length).
Once the checkbox is checked, the label requires a layer and a text style
Layer:
Select the layer from the layer list or create a new layer / layer group for the line labels using the create new layer control at the right end of the layer list selector. To reduce the number of layers displayed in the layer list use the filter button at the right end of the layer list selector and apply a filter of your choice.
Text style:
Select the Text style that you wish to use for the line labels that you are creating. If you wish to create a new text style, select <> at the bottom of the text style list to open the Text Style Manager command.
Reference line:
When you want to use the suffix option to number the lines that you select, often you want to number the lines based on their location in relation to each other or the project. For example if you have a number of saw cuts or concrete joints to create and they go from South to North as you progress along an airport runway or taxiway, you may want to name them Saw Cut - 001 through Saw Cut - 099 from South to North. In order to determine the correct order / sequence of the lines, the command allows you to select a reference line or alignment, along which the ordering will be determined. In the described example if your reference line is drawn with Station 0 at the South and Station 3500 at the North, the lines would be numbered 001 through 099 from South to North.
Select the reference line to use for the sequence of numbering.
Objects to modify:
Select the objects whose name you wish to modify through the addition or removal of Prefix or Suffix information and or name change definition. For example you may want to suffix objects with name Ditch to Ditch-V1 for example if you revision track object level information. You may want to replace -V1 with -V2 for example. You can select one or more objects here.
Header Bar Commands
In the header bar of the command you will find icons that link you quickly to other commands that may be useful while executing this command. The Header Bar provides access to the following commands
- Help
- RPS Settings
- Takeoff Lines
- Smart Edit
- Adjust Linestring Elevation
- Name by Layer
- Name by Text
- Reverse Line
- Optimize Linestring
- Explode Lines
- Extend Lines
- Export XML
Apply:
When you tap apply, the name changes will be made and the command will ready itself for another selection set and repeat process execution. If you do not want to make a second selection and repeat the process tap Close to finish the process.
OK:
Executes the command and closes on completion
Cancel:
Closes the command without further execution.
Use Case Videos
The following videos show the use of the Affix Name command in a work process context
Feedback and Enhancement Requests
If you would like to provide feedback on the use of the Affix Name command or to request enhancements or improvements to the command please Click Reply below