Smart Edit - Join Mode
JOIN FUNCTIONS
The Join functions of Smart Edit are derived from the Smart Join command and have been extended to provide 3D joining capability, as well as methods to elevate and relayer joined lines automatically in a single-step process. This works well with both CAD and PDF Vector data and accelerates the process of converting PDF files into 3D models.
The Join function quickly joins disconnected lines using automated or manual processes suited to fixing CAD and PDF line errors while joining lines for Data Prep purposes.
SETUP AND CONFIGURATION
Command interface description
The Join function of the Smart Edit command dialog looks as follows:
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OPTIONS
When joining line segments together into a continuous line, the selected lines may have gaps (longitudinal, lateral, overlaps, crossovers, etc.) between the endpoints of the selected segments. The Smart Join command provides several join types that “resolve” most typical CAD and PDF linework issues.
JOIN MODES
Select the join type that makes the most sense for the data that you are working with from the following options:
Join - Simple
Connects line segment 1 to line segment 2 with an extra segment in between.
Join - Keep First
Keeps the end of line segment 1 and moves the nearest end of line segment 2 to the end of line segment 1.
Join - Keep Second
Keeps the end of line segment 2 and moves the nearest end of line segment 1 to the end of line segment 2.
Join - Mean
Moves the end of line segment 1 and the end of line segment 2 to the mean coordinate position between the two line segment endpoints.
Join - Keep Shortest
Moves the end of the line with the longer end segment to the end of the line with the shorter end segment to minimize the effect on the geometry of the resulting line. This is typically used to join Straight and Arc Chord segments extracted from PDF files, where the shorter segment is normally the arc chord segment and the longer segment is normally the straight line that connects between the chorded arcs.
Join - Intersection
Trims/extends the line segments to the intersection point of the two selected lines and joins them at that location. Note that this function is controlled by the maximum intersection length setting when using the Auto multiselect functions. This works for both line extensions and line trims (crossings).
Join - Overlap
This mode is useful when joining segments together where there may be many duplicate and overlapping segments. In this mode, the second line is broken at the end of the first line, and the two ends are joined using the mean mode of connection (see above).
Use crossing point checkbox:
Check the checkbox if you have line segments that physically cross each other. Once checked, the command will trim the shortest end of the crossing lines and join the lines at their crossing point.
Note:
If the selected segments touch at their endpoints, they will be joined correctly without any change in geometry. When there is a gap, overlap, or crossover, the ends of the lines will be moved or trimmed according to the selected settings. Be aware that whichever option you select, there will be some impact on the resulting line geometry unless the two selected segments are collinear with a gap or overlap. You can later define tolerances that limit the joining process to acceptable levels of node movement. If you are concerned about node movement, set tight tolerances, such as 0.01. If you are comfortable with looser controls, enter larger values. The larger the values entered, the more geometry changes you can expect.
The command is useful for Data Prep for Takeoff when you are working with PDF linework that is already less accurate than CAD linework but is sufficient for bid/takeoff purposes. It also works well for Data Prep/Modeling purposes; however, tighter tolerances should be used with more manual control during joining.
While there is not a one-size-fits-all join that will work in every possible scenario, the Simple Join or Shortest Join with the use crossing point checkbox enabled should address most join needs.
Close lines checkbox:
When you are joining lines, if the first and last nodes of the same line are within the maximum join distance and/or maximum lateral movement tolerance settings, the line will be automatically adjusted and closed using the currently selected join type if this checkbox is enabled. If it is not enabled, the line will remain unclosed.
Video Demonstration - Join Methods:
In the following video, we show how the different Join Methods are used in a variety of line-joining scenarios that can all occur in the same project:
Auto join settings:
When using Single (Auto) mode and selecting multiple line segments, or when using Multiple (Auto) mode and selecting multiple line segments, the command requires additional controls to prevent it from creating erroneous joins.
When you select individual segments one at a time, you are able to decide whether the resulting join is appropriate. When you select multiple segments to create lines, the software has to make those decisions, and the following controls provide the settings through which you can manage the joining process.
Maximum join distance:
This setting controls how far apart the nearest endpoints of the two segments being joined can be before the join will not be created. For example, if you are joining dashed line segments that are 1’ or 0.2 m apart, use 1.1’ or 0.25 m as the setting to allow all requested joins to be created.
Maximum lateral movement checkbox:
With the different join types and possible join scenarios, you will want to limit how much lateral distance (offset) you are prepared to allow when joining line segments. For PDF lines, it is common to see offsets of 0.1’ to 0.2’ between the ends of arcs and the starts of straight segments, so you could use, e.g., 0.15’ or 0.25’ as a setting to allow the ends of the straight segments to be moved to the ends of the arc segments while joining. Offsets larger than the specified value would then not be joined.
When working in Single (Auto) mode and selecting one segment at a time, you will be making the decisions about how to join the lines together. In this scenario, you should set the Maximum join distance to a higher value than the minimum required for all joins and uncheck the Maximum lateral movement checkbox. If you are group-selecting target lines, you should enable these two settings to limit how the auto-joining works and avoid undesirable results.
Maximum Intersection Length checkbox:
When working with the Intersection type of join, use this setting to prevent the software from finding intersection locations that are a long way from the ends of the selected line segments. When the setting value is exceeded, the software will revert to the simple join type of connection between line segments.
Use straightest join checkbox:
When joining multiple lines, or even single lines that double back on themselves, it is common to have more than one possibility that meets the criteria defined by the selected tolerances when lines come close together (e.g., contours). Use this checkbox to have the command use the line that has the straightest connection (least deflection) to the source segment. In this scenario, the straightest connection will override the shortest connection:
Blue line = Shortest join
Pink line = Straightest join
Use alternate colors checkbox:
When joining multiple segments into multiple lines, it is often difficult upon completion to determine what the command did and which segments it did not manage to join because the tolerance settings failed.
If you enable this checkbox and select two different, contrasting colors, each created line will alternate between the two colors. This allows you to clearly see what worked and, more importantly, what did not work so that you can focus on fixing the remaining required joins. For example, where a red line meets a blue line at their endpoints, you can immediately tell that they should have been joined together but were not because of a failed tolerance setting.
ONLY JOIN LINES WITH THE SAME:
Only join lines with same:
In addition to all of the above join constraints, the following checks can be added to further restrict erroneous joins in certain scenarios:
Elevation checkbox:
When checked, the smart join function will only join two line segments if they have the same or no elevation.
Layer checkbox:
When checked, the smart join function will only join two line segments if they are drawn on the same layer.
Name checkbox:**
When checked, the smart join function will only join two line segments if they have the same or no name property.
You can use these checks in combination or individually to further tighten the join capability.
Join mode:
Select the join mode that you wish to use from the following options:
- Manual
- Single
- Single (Auto)
- Multiple (Auto)
MANUAL MODE
Select a single source segment, and then click adjacent segments in alternating pairs to join the lines at the ends where you clicked them (nearest or furthest ends, as appropriate). In this workflow, the specific ends of the lines that you selected will be joined together.
Video Demonstration:
SINGLE MODE
Select a single source segment, and then click adjacent segments one at a time. In this mode, you will be working on a single line at a time. The lines will always be joined at the nearest ends of the selected lines, so it does not matter which end of the lines you select.
Video Demonstration:
SINGLE (AUTO) MODE
Select a single source segment, and then select multiple adjacent segments that make up a line. The segments will be sorted and joined into a single line. In this mode, you will be working on a single line at a time. The lines will always be joined at the nearest ends of the selected lines. If you select segments that are not part of the line, they will be ignored provided they exceed the selected tolerance settings.
Notes:
If you select multiple line segments that fall outside the multiselect tolerances defined below, only segments that are within tolerance will be connected into a single line seeded from the source line segment. This means that you can use simple window or multiselect methods to join multiple segments into a single line.
If you select multiple segments at once, they will be processed immediately as they are selected. The selected segments will be sorted and then joined, provided that they meet the criteria defined in the multiple join settings below.
MULTIPLE (AUTO) MODE
In this method, select multiple line segments for multiple lines and have them join automatically by clicking Apply or pressing Enter. In this mode, you will be creating multiple lines in each selection process.
Video Demonstration:
Relayer checkbox:
When you are working in Manual or Single Modes, after you have joined all the segments of a line into a single line, you may want to relayer the joined line onto your target layer, e.g., EX - Contours or FG - Contours. If you want to relayer the lines, check this checkbox. When starting a New Line with the N key, the joined line will be automatically relayered to your selected target layer. Note that if you turn off the target layer, the joined lines will disappear from the screen as they are completed and relayered, allowing you to more clearly see the lines that still need joining/relayering.
When you enable the checkbox, select the layer onto which you want to relayer the joined lines.
SET ELEVATION CHECKBOX
Set elevation checkbox:
When you are working in Manual or Single Modes, after you have joined all the segments of a line into a single line, you may want to elevate the joined line to a specific contour or pad elevation. If you want to elevate the lines, check this checkbox. When starting a new line with N, the joined lines will be elevated using your chosen elevation method (see below).
When you enable the Set elevation checkbox, select a method of elevation to apply to each line you complete. The options include:
2D - No Elevation
In this mode, the lines will remain unelevated when you select a New line (N hotkey). For example, if the lines have variable elevations and you want to return to them later using, e.g., the Adjust Linestring Elevation - Spot Mode, you can select this mode or the 3D - Variable elevation mode at this stage. They are fundamentally the same at this point.
3D - Single Elevation
In this mode, you can set a single elevation for each line that you complete. Each time you complete a line, you can either accept the last used elevation or enter/select a new elevation for the line. This mode has no special features for elevating lines other than the ability to use the Elevation Formula to minimize the amount of typing for each elevation value or to supplement the provided elevations with an Add value to create lines at the correct elevation. For example, if the lines are at elevation 1048.6 but are marked as 48.6 on the plans, you can use the elevation formula {Z}+1000 and enter/select 48.6 to correct the elevation value. The same applies if the elevations are shown as 1048.6 on the plans and you only want to enter 48.6; the same elevation formula will add 1000 to the entered value as it elevates the line.
3D - SINGLE ELEVATION - CONTOURS
3D - Single Elevation - Contours
In this mode, the command is optimized for elevating contours. You can enter a Delta value (contour interval) and select Increase / Decrease to define the direction of the delta. After each line is elevated, the next contour line will use the previous contour elevation +/- the delta value. The command also has hotkeys to increment/decrement the elevation, change direction, and open an input control through which new elevations can be entered. You can also use the {Z} formula as defined above, if required.
3D - SINGLE ELEVATION - PADS
3D - Single Elevation - Pads
In this mode, the command is optimized for elevating building pads. First, you can select how the elevations will be derived using the Pad mode setting. This allows you to select:
Elevation
In this mode, you can set the pad elevation by entering a pad elevation or clicking a previously elevated line.
From text
In this mode, you can set the pad elevation by clicking on a piece of text from which the Pad Elevation will be extracted.
Create offset checkbox:
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a second line at an offset (horizontal and vertical offsets) to the selected Pad line to create an overbuild, subgrade, or basement adjustment.
Typically, you will offset the line to the inside of the existing pad line by a small amount, e.g., 0.01’, and define a vertical offset adjustment for the overbuild, subgrade, or basement adjustment. You can give the second line a name and assign it to a layer of your choice.
3D - Variable Elevation
At this time, this mode is identical to the 2D - No elevation mode. The command will let you join lines together and relayer them as normal, and the line will not be assigned an elevation. You can then elevate the lines later using the Adjust Linestring Elevation command in Spot Mode.
EXECUTE
Source line:
In Manual, Single, or Single (Auto) mode, you can select a source line. The source line will be used to seed the line that will be created. When you click in the Source line field, the command assumes that you are starting a new line in the join process and will not connect to any previous line that you have selected or created. Note that this is a single Back Tab from the target lines selection field that you can program into your mouse or gaming keyboard, if you use one, making it easy to step back into the Source line field from the mouse controls while working in production mode. You can also press N on your keyboard to start a new line.
Auto Advance “Sticky” button:
With the Auto Advance sticky button turned off (no orange highlight), the behavior of the command is to click a source line and then a single target line or group of target lines. The command joins those lines together and then switches back to the next source line selection. This process will repeat after each target line(s) selection.
With the Auto Advance sticky button turned on (orange highlight), the behavior of the command is to click a source line, then the first target line(s), followed by additional target line(s) as needed. To start a new line, either press N or C on the keyboard, manually select the Source line field, or use Back Tab to select the Source line field.
Join line(s):
Select a single line segment or multiple line segments that you want to join to the source line. When in Auto (Single) mode, if you select lines that do not meet the multiple join criteria settings below, they will be ignored in the join process. This means that you can select more data than required using standard Window or multiselect methods and create only the line that you are working on.
Elevation / Text:
When you have selected 3D - Single Elevation, 3D - Single Elevation - Contours, or 3D - Single Elevation - Pads mode, you can enter the elevation of the line that you are joining together.
When you are working with Pads and select From text, you will be asked to click a piece of Text from which the Pad elevation will be derived.
Note:
When operating this command, you will select the Source line, select the Join line(s), and, when ready, press N on your keyboard. When an elevation entry is required, pressing N will highlight the elevation or text selection field to allow for entry. Pressing Enter will execute the process and start a new join process.
Note:
You can use this command even when line segments do not need to be joined together before elevating and relayering the selected line. Simply select the line, press N on the keyboard, enter your elevation or select your text, etc., and then press Enter to execute the relayer and/or elevate process.
Note:
You can select both the Relayer and Set elevation options and join, elevate, and relayer the lines in a single step.
Options:
Clicking the Options button provides access to the advanced selection modes (Advanced Select, Select by Elevation, Select by Layer, etc.).
Note:
You can use the Auto (Multiple) mode to connect the majority of the lines and then use Manual or Single (Auto) mode to fix the remaining joins, depending on how you want to join the lines.
Note:
You can use the W, A, S, and D keys to pan the screen up, left, down, and right while working with this command.
You can start a new line for joining by pressing the N key on your keyboard.
COMMAND TIPS
While using the command, if for any reason you need to review the lines that have or have not been joined using a select-and-highlight process, you can do so by selecting Multiple (Auto) mode, which allows multiple selections to be made without being applied automatically.
MENU POP-UP
While using the command, when the cursor is in the Source line field or Join line(s) field of the dialog, you can press Shift + M on the keyboard to open a menu that allows you to:
- Close the selected line
- Review the properties of the selected line
- Enable the Rock Grips on the selected line
- Toggle the Show Direction arrows on the selected line
- Edit the selected line with the linestring editor
- Review the profile of the selected line in the Profile Viewer
JOIN - ELEVATE - RELAYER - CONTOURS
In the following video, we show how to use the Join - Elevate - Relayer functionality to work through Existing and Proposed Contours for a project:
The process allows you to first Isolate Layers using the RPS Isolate Layers command to limit the displayed data to, e.g., the Existing Contours. You can then use the Smart Edit command in Join mode to join parts of the same contour together and assign an Elevation using the Contour elevate mode, which allows each successive contour line to be elevated by the prior elevation plus/minus a delta value. The lines can then be relayered to the EX - Contours layer.
Note that we hide the EX - Contours layer so that as lines are relayered, they disappear from the screen until they are all completed. We then switch to the Finished Design Contours and repeat the same process.
Video Demonstration:
JOIN - ELEVATE - RELAYER - PADS
In the following video, we show how to use the Join - Elevate - Relayer functionality to work through the Proposed Building Pads for a project:
The process allows you to first Isolate Layers using the RPS Isolate Layers command to limit the displayed data to, e.g., the Finished Grade Pads. You can then use the Smart Edit command in Join mode to join parts of the same building pad together and assign an Elevation using the Pads elevate mode. This allows the pad to be elevated using a keyed-in value or a clicked 3D object, or by using Text mode to extract the elevation from a piece of text. You can also supplement the Pad line with a second line for a subgrade, basement, or overbuild adjustment and relayer the lines to the FG - Pads layer.
Note that we hide the FG - Pads layer so that as the pad lines are relayered and elevated, they disappear from the screen until they are all completed.
Video Demonstration:
USE CASE VIDEOS
The following videos show the use of the Smart Edit - Join command in a workflow context:
FEEDBACK AND ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS
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