Create XLines
COMMAND LICENSING AND DEFAULT MENU LOCATION
- The Create XLines command is part of the RPS Modeling Toolbox.
- The command is located on the Modeling Toolbox menu ribbon.
- The command is located in the Corridor menu group.
COMMAND DESCRIPTION
Generates section lines (XLines) and labels at defined locations along an alignment or corridor (Corridor Intervals, Extra Stations, Typical Section locations, Slope Change locations, Width Change locations, crossing infrastructure (Utilities, Culverts, etc.)) for the purposes of annotating models and drawings.
COMMAND HISTORY
Update Information
August 2022 - Command dialog was updated to the latest user interface standards to make the command easier to use and to provide access to the latest interface controls, including Layer List filters, group expand / shrink controls, Command Tips, etc.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION
The following video shows how to utilize the Create XLines command:
Create XLINES v1.01 Update - Station Intervals From a Random Start Station:
SETUP AND CONFIGURATION
Command Interface Description
The Create XLines command dialog looks as follows:
Show Preview:
Enable this option to preview the XLines that will be created using the current command settings before applying them to the project.
Station locations:
In this section, you can control which XLines will be created, and you can create additional locations if needed. The selection options displayed will depend on whether you selected an Alignment or a Corridor Model in the Corridor or Alignment selection area of the dialog. A Corridor Model has the additional options of Template locations and Table locations that are not available on an Alignment.
Interval checkbox:
If you require regular interval locations, check the Interval checkbox and enter the Interval value that you require, e.g., every 20 m or 50’.
Align interval with start station checkbox:
If you check this checkbox, then the interval definition, e.g., 20 m / 25’, will be computed from the Start Station that you select for the XLines, i.e., if your Start location was 28.65 and you select 20’ intervals, then you will get XLines at 28.65, 48.65, 68.65, etc., all the way to the End Station.
HAL points checkbox:
If you require XLines at each of the HAL points (start and end of each geometrical segment (Line, Arc, Spiral)), check this checkbox. Currently, these are unnamed. There will be a v2 of this command where they will be named using the Abbreviations for HAL points (Project Settings - Abbreviations).
VAL points checkbox:
If you require XLines at each of the VAL points (start and end of each geometrical segment (Line, Symmetrical Curve, Asymmetrical Curve, Vertical Arc)), check this checkbox. Note that this option does not currently label the PI points or High (Crest) / Low (Sag) points of a vertical alignment. Currently, these are unnamed. There will be a v2 of this command where they will be named using the Abbreviations for VAL points (Project Settings - Abbreviations), and we will add the VPI, Crest, and Sag points.
Template locations checkbox:
If you have a Corridor selected, you can elect to drop XLines at each of the Template locations for the corridor. Currently, these locations are unnamed. The v2 version of this command will add the Template Name with a prefix TMP - Name.
Table locations checkbox:
If you have a Corridor selected, you can elect to drop XLines at all Table locations defined in the corridor. Currently, these locations are unnamed. The v2 version of this command will add the name “Table” to these XLines.
XLines
In this section, you can define the following parameters for the XLines:
- XLine length (left) - Enter a negative value if it is to the left of the alignment.
- XLine length (right) - Enter a positive value if it is to the right of the alignment.
- XLine layer - Select the Layer on which to draw the XLines. You can create a New Layer if needed by clicking the button and entering the layer name and layer default settings. You can also create a new Layer Group from this dialog.
Note that you can enter a positive or negative value for both the left- and right-side offset values if you wish to create XLines on the left side or right side only of the alignment.
Use case tip:
We recommend that you create the layers, Layer Groups, and Text Styles in your project template so that you can simply select them here in the command to save time.
Create 3D lines and labels checkbox:
The XLines and Labels can be placed at an undefined elevation or at an elevation related to the vertical alignment of the Alignment or Corridor. Once checked, you can enter a value for the Elevation Offset to the alignment. Typically, enter a value of 0 or maybe a value just above the centerline, e.g., +1 foot or 0.1 m, etc.
Elevation Offset:
Enter the vertical offset to apply to the XLines and labels relative to the selected Alignment or Corridor elevation. Enter 0 to place them at the alignment elevation, or enter a positive or negative value to place them above or below it.
Station Labels:
If you want to label the XLines, check this checkbox.
Layer:
Select the layer on which you wish to place the XLine labels. You can create a New Layer by clicking the [New …] button and filling out the layer name and layer default settings as required. You can also create a new Layer Group from the Create New Layer dialog if needed.
Text style:
Select the Text Style that you want to use for the labeling process. The following rules apply here:
- If you select a Text Style that has Left justification, then the labels will be drawn on the right-hand side of the XLine.
- If you select a Text Style that has Center justification, then the labels will be drawn at the center of the XLine.
- If you select a Text Style that has Right justification, then the labels will be drawn on the left-hand side of the XLine.
We recommend that you create Text Styles in your project template that are suited for these purposes and that are named appropriately, e.g., XLine - Left, XLine - Right, and XLine - Center, etc., using the font, text height, Autoflip, etc., settings that you require for the labeling process.
Additional XLines:
Enter the Station where you want the Extra XLines and enter a Label, i.e., Name, for the XLine, then click Add to create the extra locations.
Copy and Paste from Excel
If you have tabulated the extra locations in, e.g., Microsoft Excel, you can copy and paste them into the table shown below in the dialog. Once pasted, you can sort the table by clicking in the column headers, allowing you to sort by Label or by Station. The order of the data in Excel does not have to be in incrementing Station order. The paste will sort the data and merge it with any other extra locations already defined.
To be able to paste copied values into the table, at least one data line must exist first in the Additional XLines table.
EXECUTE
Source and Range:
Corridor or alignment:
Select the object that you wish to apply XLines to from the pull-down list of Alignments and Corridor Models in the project. When you select a Corridor, you will be provided additional corridor-only options for labeling purposes. Note that we recommend that you name your Alignments and Corridor Models differently so that you can easily identify them in the presented list.
From station / To station:
The default behavior of the command is to apply XLines over the entire length of the Alignment or Corridor. If you only wish to create XLines over a portion of the Alignment or Corridor, you can select a From Station and To Station to limit the XLines being created. For example, if you are labeling a bridge structure only.
INPUTS
Corridor or Alignment:
Select the Alignment or Corridor Model that you wish to use as the source for creating XLines.
Station Range:
Enter a From Station and To Station if you only want to create XLines over a specific portion of the selected Alignment or Corridor.
Station Locations:
Select where XLines should be created, including regular intervals, HAL points, VAL points, Template locations, Table locations, or manually entered Additional XLines.
XLine Settings:
Define the left and right XLine lengths, output layer, and whether the XLines and labels should be created as 3D objects.
Additional XLines:
Enter any additional station values and optional labels that you wish to include. Additional station and label information can also be copied and pasted from Excel.
HOT KEYS
U = Unlock
Q = Rotate Screen 15 degrees clockwise
E = Rotate Screen 15 Degrees anti clockwise
SHIFT Q = Rotate Screen 30 Degrees clockwise
SHIFT E = Rotate Screen 30 Degrees Anti Clockwise
WASD = Pan Up, Pan Left, Pan Down, Pan Right
SHIFT M = Pop Up Menu
Shift X = Undo Last Click or Pop Up Elevation Entry
X = Start Over
Z = Decrement
C = Increment
Shift Z = Reverse Direction to Downwards / Decrease (and decrease 2x)
Shift C = Reverse Direction to Upwards / Increase (and Increase by 2x)
HEADER BAR COMMANDS
In the Header Bar of the command, you will find command icons that link you to other commands that you may need access to while using this command. In this command, the following commands are linked:
- Help - this document access
- RPS Settings
- Takeoff Lines
- Smart Edit
- Adjust Linestring Elevation
- Create Alignment
- Create Horizontal Alignment Labels
- Create Corridor
- Define Extra Stations
- Text Style Manager
COMMAND BUTTONS
Apply
When you tap Apply, XLines and optional labels will be created, and the command will prepare for another selection set and repeat the process. If you don’t want to make a second selection and repeat the process, tap Close to finish.
Close
Closes the command without further execution.
If you create XLines that you then need to adjust, select Undo to remove the XLines, make your adjustments to the values you wish to change, and then click Apply to recreate the XLines.
HELP
In the Help area, you will find a shortcut link to this Help document and training video. You can also access this document by pressing F1 on your keyboard.
COMMAND TIPS
If you wish to place the different types of XLines on different layers, you can select only certain types of XLine and assign the XLine Layer to suit that type only. You can then run a second or subsequent process to place the different XLines on different layers and use the ByLayer setting to control the color, lineweight, etc., of the XLines to meet your requirements.
The planned v2 of the command will provide the ability to create XLine types and define Layers and colors for those types more easily.
USE CASE VIDEOS
The following videos show the use of the Create XLines command in a workflow context:
How to use the Create XLines Command to compute building layout information:
FEEDBACK AND ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS
If you would like to provide feedback on the use of the Create XLines command or to request enhancements or improvements to the command, please click Reply below.