TheSwamp

CAD Forums => Vertically Challenged => Land Lubber / Geographically Positioned => Topic started by: drizzt on March 21, 2011, 01:37:18 PM

Title: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 21, 2011, 01:37:18 PM
I don't know if this is already possible with Civil 3D, but, wouldn't it be awsome if we could do the following:

I have a drawing that was created to plot on 24x36 sheet of paper. My titleblock is set up that if I plot, scaled to fit, on 11x17, it will be exactly 1/2 scale (ie 24x36 scale at 1"=200', then the 11x17 plot will be at 1"=400')

Now, is it possible to have a scale bar in the drawing that would know that I am plotting at 1/2 scale and adjust the text on the scale bar accordingly? Can one of the master coders here write a program for it?

Seems sellable to me!
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: mjfarrell on March 21, 2011, 01:41:34 PM
SEE Annotative function of blocks - although I think you would still need assign a vis state

could be a series of fields might work
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: mjfarrell on March 21, 2011, 01:48:53 PM
looks like..fields using diesel, and or lisp expresions could be assigned to the viewport...to change scale bar text
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: alanjt on March 21, 2011, 01:52:45 PM
looks like..fields using diesel, and or lisp expresions could be assigned to the viewport...to change scale bar text
but how would it know the plot scale is half the norm?
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: mjfarrell on March 21, 2011, 01:57:56 PM
looks like..fields using diesel, and or lisp expresions could be assigned to the viewport...to change scale bar text
but how would it know the plot scale is half the norm?
perhaps not...sorry was thinking named page setups/tab names or something would help
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 08:57:57 AM
but how would it know the plot scale is half the norm?

That is the problem now isn't it. I am learning that Civil 3D has a lot of power, so I thought I would through it out there and see if it was possible. I think I will give it an attempt once I get that far in my studies.

It seems like a half size plot would be a common occurance in the review process. Although it irritates me, as a half size plot seems like it would be easier to miss something. It seems to me that a plan should be reviewed at it's full size.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Kerry on March 22, 2011, 09:14:28 AM
< .. >

Seems sellable to me!

How much are YOU prepared to pay for it ??
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 11:31:56 AM


How much are YOU prepared to pay for it ??
[/quote]

Not sure yet... I am not sure of the time involved in programing it. Another factor that would influence the price is how many other people are willing to pay for it. Off the bat it seems to be pretty simple, if you know what you are doing.

I'm going to say around 10$. But if I didscovered that it is more complicated than it seams, I might go up some.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 11:32:31 AM
ps. also depends on how I will be licensed to use it on multiple computers.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 11:33:48 AM
I am not necessarily looking for someone to do it for me. I am more interested if it possible. If I know it is possible, I will figure out how to do it.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: alanjt on March 22, 2011, 11:35:38 AM
I am not necessarily looking for someone to do it for me. I am more interested if it possible. If I know it is possible, I will figure out how to do it.
Do you change to a different page setup when you print to 'half scale'? Could use a reactor.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 11:54:49 AM
No I don't. I just change the paper size, and change the scale 1:2, or scaled to fit page size, which, because I use extents, and the sizing of my full size titleblock, are the same.

Changing this process is possible, but would require some training with other memebers of my team.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: alanjt on March 22, 2011, 12:01:10 PM
No I don't. I just change the paper size, and change the scale 1:2, or scaled to fit page size, which, because I use extents, and the sizing of my full size titleblock, are the same.

Changing this process is possible, but would require some training with other memebers of my team.
When I introduced the usage of pagesetups where I am now, I noticed a huge decrease in wasted paper (printing out wrong) and the million pc3 files that get created. Plus, it's just quick and easy to change and coincides with easy PUBLISHing.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: mjfarrell on March 22, 2011, 12:10:14 PM
page setups is the first direction I went with this idea
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: joshua.modglin on March 22, 2011, 12:20:02 PM
Now I know I am throwing a completely different idea out there but what if you just used a graphic bar scale? Whether the bar scale is printed at full or half, it would represent the scale accurately.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 12:26:58 PM
Now I know I am throwing a completely different idea out there but what if you just used a graphic bar scale? Whether the bar scale is printed at full or half, it would represent the scale accurately.

I have considered that. I would have to modify out bar scale block as it has a line of text below it that says " scale: 1"=200' " Which might be the way to go. Although, our titleblock also states scale.

Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: LE3 on March 22, 2011, 12:38:08 PM
10$
  :roll:
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 22, 2011, 01:35:18 PM
10$
  :roll:
:lmao:
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: alanjt on March 22, 2011, 01:36:32 PM
Put a note in your title block that states if plotted on 11x17, the drawing is at half-scale.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: joshua.modglin on March 22, 2011, 03:15:39 PM
Now I know I am throwing a completely different idea out there but what if you just used a graphic bar scale? Whether the bar scale is printed at full or half, it would represent the scale accurately.

I have considered that. I would have to modify out bar scale block as it has a line of text below it that says " scale: 1"=200' " Which might be the way to go. Although, our titleblock also states scale.



As regards the titleblock, 90% of the time I state the scale is "As Shown" or "As Noted" due to having multiple views on the sheet. I understand the modification issue since the current block you use is pretty much what I use but...just an idea :)
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Kerry on March 22, 2011, 04:46:17 PM

let's think sideways for a second.
You probably have 3 different plot paper sizes and perhaps 3 border template sizes and several potential scales ( but only one scale per drawing)

I'd make several multirow scale bar blocks ... one row for each likely paper ; each row notated something like 1:10 @ A3 , 1:10 @ A1 etc 

Just set it up correctly and there will be a scale bar that measures correctly irrespective of the paper size
... without having to modify the drawing.

.... and it will work correctly for PDF plots as a bonus.

Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 23, 2011, 10:29:47 AM

I'd make several multirow scale bar blocks ... one row for each likely paper ; each row notated something like 1:10 @ A3 , 1:10 @ A1 etc 


Great idea! I think I will give that a shot!

Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Kerry on March 23, 2011, 10:35:46 AM

I'd make several multirow scale bar blocks ... one row for each likely paper ; each row notated something like 1:10 @ A3 , 1:10 @ A1 etc 


Great idea! I think I will give that a shot!



good.

You can send the $10 to Mark.
It would cost me more to write and post an invoice

 :lol:
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 23, 2011, 11:02:32 AM
yeah, I think I am due for a donation! :-)
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Jeff H on March 23, 2011, 09:21:12 PM
I made a app(using .NET API) that when you change the annotation scale of a viewport it updated the  scale bar block or the other way around.


If you would like me to dig it up for you. 
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Jeff_M on March 23, 2011, 11:55:28 PM
I made a app
Don't let Apple hear you say that! They've cornered the market on the use of the word App! :-)
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Jeff H on March 23, 2011, 11:59:26 PM
I made a app
Don't let Apple hear you say that! They've cornered the market on the use of the word App! :-)
:lmao: :lmao:
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Kerry on March 24, 2011, 12:02:05 AM
I made a app
Don't let Apple hear you say that! They've cornered the market on the use of the word App! :-)

 :-)

Perhaps we should just call it 'stuff' and see who crawls out of the woodwork.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on March 24, 2011, 11:23:23 AM
I made a app(using .NET API) that when you change the annotation scale of a viewport it updated the  scale bar block or the other way around.


If you would like me to dig it up for you. 

The problem with that is that I am not changing the scale of the viewport. I am doing a scale to fit from a D sheet to an 11x17 sheet, which works out to be 1/2 size.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Jeff H on July 08, 2011, 12:33:25 PM
Yes it can be done,
You would set up block and make a lookuptable(not dynamic block type, but for matching scale to visibility parameter) or whatever to change with VP custom scale then use an event before plot to look at layout's plotsettings(Page SetUp) custom scale.

I would use bar scale because I thought it was common knowledge to always check any dimensions against the bar to check.
A block http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=38480.msg435894#msg435894 as idea
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on July 08, 2011, 12:55:41 PM
Yes it can be done,
You would set up block and make a lookuptable(not dynamic block type, but for matching scale to visibility parameter) or whatever to change with VP custom scale then use an event before plot to look at layout's plotsettings(Page SetUp) custom scale.

I would use bar scale because I thought it was common knowledge to always check any dimensions against the bar to check.
A block http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=38480.msg435894#msg435894 as idea

Yeah.... common knowledge....
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Jeff H on July 08, 2011, 12:57:30 PM
Yes it can be done,
You would set up block and make a lookuptable(not dynamic block type, but for matching scale to visibility parameter) or whatever to change with VP custom scale then use an event before plot to look at layout's plotsettings(Page SetUp) custom scale.

I would use bar scale because I thought it was common knowledge to always check any dimensions against the bar to check.
A block http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=38480.msg435894#msg435894 as idea

Yeah.... common knowledge....
This is comming from working in the field before I ever looked at AutoCAD
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on July 08, 2011, 12:59:46 PM
Maybe I am just a worry wort about someone scaling something off of one of my drawings and comming back to me about misrepresenting the scale of the drawing. It has never happened in the 11 years I have been doing this, not sure why I would think it will now.
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: mjfarrell on July 08, 2011, 01:17:26 PM
Maybe I am just a worry wort about someone scaling something off of one of my drawings and comming back to me about misrepresenting the scale of the drawing. It has never happened in the 11 years I have been doing this, not sure why I would think it will now.
that would be why most folks actually place a note on the drawings that tells them DO NOT SCALE FROM PLANS; and we place stations and offsets on things so that they won't....doesn't me that they still do...however they have been warned!!!   :evil:
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on July 08, 2011, 02:52:00 PM
I can just hear myself.... "did you look at the scale bar you idiot"....(or stationing etc...)
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: mjfarrell on July 08, 2011, 03:13:05 PM
I can just hear myself.... "did you look at the scale bar you idiot"....(or stationing etc...)
Omit the IDIOT, and all should go well enough   :evil:   :wink:
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: Jeff H on July 08, 2011, 03:36:44 PM
We do mostly CORP and they require drawings to be 24x36 and a set of Pdf's printed half size.
Maybe have a 2 plot style tables one half and one full and a bar scale that shows both and each on a certain color then for each color in the appropriate plot style table set the color to print white, screening to 1 etc......
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: drizzt on July 08, 2011, 04:47:13 PM
We do mostly CORP and they require drawings to be 24x36 and a set of Pdf's printed half size.
Maybe have a 2 plot style tables one half and one full and a bar scale that shows both and each on a certain color then for each color in the appropriate plot style table set the color to print white, screening to 1 etc......

also a good idea!
Title: Re: scale bar challenge
Post by: bdough15 on July 12, 2011, 01:02:40 PM
We do most street reconstructions on 22 x 34 for the 11 x 17 half scale reason, we have a scale bar on it that represents the 22x 34 scale and even the Contractors seem smart enough to figure out that if they slap their scale on the scale bar and it does not come out right they should try 40 scale instead of 20 scale.  We have not really had a problem yet...except when someone sends out things scaled to fit, then everyone is pissed!