Topic: Civil3D Labels versus Dimensions

[MSTG007]

This is just another awesome off the wall subject. I have been playing around with Dimensioning Site Plans lately. I have started to use a Civil3D Label Style that I can attach to the line that says (Field Expression Spaces @ 9' = Segement Length). With a dimension, I usually do the normal picking mode then edit each line with the value of spaces but I use a calculator to find what the value is. lol. I know crazy. I like the civil3D labels but some peeps here.... I will leave it at that. lol. Any idea if I could get a dimension value to automatically do what I have the civil3D label do? or is there a better way?

[mjfarrell]

possibly...although this is a thing that neither autocad or C3d does well (automatically)

[BlackBox]

Not sure that I follow... Do you mean can you have a Dimension pre-configured to label this:

Code: [Select]

(Field Expression Spaces @ 9' = <>)

If so, just create a Dimension with this ^^ as a text override, on the appropriate layer, etc and drag it into a custom Tool Palette, no?

Cheers

[Mark]

I am totally lost. How about a picture? LOL

[rkmcswain]

I am totally lost. How about a picture? LOL

Ditto

[MSTG007]

Sorry guys, I know a picture is worth a 1000000000000 words. Does this make more sense?

[BlackBox]

Not really (to me anyway) 

You either use a Civil 3D Label, which includes a string content prefix, and the Segment Length value, or you use a Dimension with same as text override substituting <> for the Segment Length value... Both of which you've already done according to the picture you posted... And neither account for the Segment Length / Dimension actually being a factor of 9.

What is it that you're asking for help with, exactly?

[MSTG007]

Is it possible to have a text override label be like a civil3d label? Maybe have a field pull the dim length

[BlackBox]

Is it possible to have a text override label be like a civil3d label? Maybe have a field pull the dim length

For Dimensions, the <> characters (in text override) _are_ the equivalent of the Civil 3D Label's [Overall] Length property.

Consider the text override in post #2

Cheers

[MSTG007]

Dude, I am loosing it lol. You are right on post #2. But is there a method to have a dimension style already (pre-populate) with the "(AUTOCAD DOES MATH AND DIVIDEDS THE OVERALL DIM BY 9) SPACES @ 9' = <>"

[sljohnson]

If you create a Civil 3D line label, you can also create an expression to calculate the number of 9' stalls in a given length. Put the label the layer you are using for labels and make sure the reference line you are labeling is living on a 'no plot' layer. Just remember that any label that uses that expression is hard coded to have 9' stalls. If you have compact car stalls or extra wide stalls (like at Costco), you'll need multiple labels and their corresponding expressions.

SLJ

[MSTG007]

That's an idea... Thank you for sharing...

[BlackBox]

Dude, I am loosing it lol. You are right on post #2. But is there a method to have a dimension style already (pre-populate) with the "(AUTOCAD DOES MATH AND DIVIDEDS THE OVERALL DIM BY 9) SPACES @ 9' = <>"

No worries; you can either setup a new DIMSTYLE that includes the (AUTOCAD DOES MATH AND DIVIDEDS THE OVERALL DIM BY 9) SPACES @ 9' = prefix, and ' (<-- apostrophe) suffix (see attached), or if you need to retain the same DIMSTYLE, but have the text override customized to suite, simply drag the correctly modified Dimension to a custom Tool Palette (as noted above). Lemon squeezy.

... Just be mindful of the 'Precision' setting.


[Edit] - Just realized that the 'AutoCAD does the math...' wasn't just a string (I copied + Pasted, Haha) - you _actually_ want a Field to divide the length by 9' accordingly. Looking to see if this can be done with Dimensions (and not Civil 3D labels).

[MSTG007]

That makes sense. Do you think a ordinary cad user can figure that out? (I do, specially if they are not that familiar to Civil3D??)

[BlackBox]

That makes sense. Do you think a ordinary cad user can figure that out? (I do, specially if they are not that familiar to Civil3D??)

Scratch my earlier post about using Prefix, given that you want 'AutoCAD to do the work' (oversight on my part).

You can use a Field instead, one that references a dependent Line, and format that like so (see below). After posting this already, I noticed that using a conversion faction of 0.1 produces one (1) less space than there actually was (due to rounding?), but using a conversion factor of 0.11 seems to work in some limited testing.

HTH

[MSTG007]

 


my favorite word "BOOM!"

You nailed it!

[BlackBox]

You nailed it!

Happy to help

Just be aware that even with an associated Dimension, you'll still need to be mindful of the FIELDEVAL sysvar, and/or use UPDATEFIELD or REGEN Commands to see those changes in the evaluated result.

Cheers

[BlackBox]

Took forever for me to find this thread again, as I could use it myself for a task I'm doing, and ended up finding another way to use Dimensions.

It may not yield the desired aesthetic result, but you simply enable Alternate Units in Properties Pane, set the 'Alt round' to 0.1111, and supply the desired 'Alt prefix/suffix'... Save as a 9', 10', etc. Parking-related Dimstyle.

Cheers

[MSTG007]

Well, That's funny. I just found this lisp about a few weeks ago. I use it on my plans and it does what I need it to do. I just put it in a macro button and go from there. Let me know what you think.

Code: [Select]

(defun C:SPCT
  (/ ename obj dim div total fract)
  (setq ename (car (entsel "\nSelect dimension: ")))
  (setq obj (vlax-ename->vla-object ename))
  (setq dim (vla-get-measurement obj))
  (if (not def)
    (setq def 1))
  (setq div (getdist (strcat "\nDivide into <" (rtos def) ">: ")))
  (if (not div)
    (setq div def)
    (setq def div))

  (setq total (/ dim div))
  (setq fract (- total (fix total)))

  (vla-put-textoverride
    obj
    (strcat (itoa (fix total))
    " SPACES @ "
    (rtos div)
             "'"
             " = <>"
       ))
  (princ))


[BlackBox]

The benefit of using the Alternate Units, is that there's no second step... Just dimension the length... No Field dependent on a Line Object, no LISP to run when done, or after changes.

Simply have a Dimstyle for each parking stall width you need (we only use one here, I assume others have different width needs?), and obviously use the right Dimstyle for the stalls to be measured, or the count will be off.

Cheers

[BlackBox]

... we only use one here....

Doh!

Just looked up the County's requirements for a concept plan I'm doing, and they do in fact have a different parking stall width... Looks like I'm up to 2 parking Dimstyles now. Haha

[MSTG007]

Its still great that you found out how to do it! Sometimes switching styles is a lot easier than (manual entry typing wise). Then maybe you can use your paint brush and match styles!

[mjfarrell]

Never thought about this before, my mind tells me that this number of provided parking stalls is
an Architectural requirement not a Civil one, sO I really wonder why  we are even bothering counting/labeling
number of provided spaces on our plans, when it is really NOT our problem or obligation to contend for this issue....just me thinking out loud....

[BlackBox]

Its still great that you found out how to do it! Sometimes switching styles is a lot easier than (manual entry typing wise). Then maybe you can use your paint brush and match styles!

Agreed; and thank you.


The only 'gotcha' that may frustrate some folks, is the cross-multiplication needed to determine the appropriate Alternate Scale Factor value(s) for other parking stall widths.

As example: 0.1111 works for 9' wide parking stalls, so divide 0.1111 by 8.0, then multiply by 9.0, to get 0.125 as Alternate Scale Factor for 8' wide stalls.



Cheers

[BlackBox]

Never thought about this before, my mind tells me that this number of provided parking stalls is
an Architectural requirement not a Civil one, sO I really wonder why  we are even bothering counting/labeling
number of provided spaces on our plans, when it is really NOT our problem or obligation to contend for this issue....just me thinking out loud....

Not sure what sort of 'Civil' design work you do, but here in the Transportation, Urban Land (public & private) sectors, we frequently have to provide parking spaces, be they for a new shopping center, office site, subdivision, or townhome/apartment complex.

As example, the Land Development Code down here requires a specific parking ratio for various forms of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, Community Service, Recreational, Residential, Residential Support, Transportation, and Warehousing uses.

[MSTG007]

yup your right. same here. Usually we look up the ordinances and have a spreadsheet where we can put the parcel area / proposed building foot print / and rough detention and then see what is left we can place parking on so we can maximize the site.

[mjfarrell]

I was pretty much under the impression those things were covered by "Architectural Design Review board" or similar.
Not a requirement for Civil to address like storm water management, etc...

I can see where this might fall under the purview of the Civil Engineer, if and or when there is no architect involved.


A quick look through local Ordinances - Parking does need to be provided, but it doesn't stipulate whom is responsible for making those provisions. (Civil or Architect) interesting...
Like I said just had not considered this prior to today...even while making plans that showed parking counts on them.  (?)

[BlackBox]

I was pretty much under the impression those things were covered by "Architectural Design Review board" or similar.
Not a requirement for Civil to address like storm water management, etc...

I can see where this might fall under the purview of the Civil Engineer, if and or when there is no architect involved.


A quick look through local Ordinances - Parking does need to be provided, but it doesn't stipulate whom is responsible for making those provisions. (Civil or Architect) interesting...
Like I said just had not considered this prior to today...even while making plans that showed parking counts on them.  (?)

No worries; the best ways I can demonstrate this is a Civil component, and I'm sure there's an exception somewhere, is that the Code that provides the criteria is under Land Development Code (not Building Code), and we depict all of this in our project submittals on our Paving, Grading, and Drainage plans (usually at a larger scale), if not also a separate detail sheet (at a smaller scale).

In my limited experience, Architects merely provide for what's within their own projects (obviously), and some coordination of internal drainage, HVAC, utilities, footers, walls, etc., along with any required solid waste & recycling calculations that we need on the Civil side to get municipality approval.

Cheers

[MSTG007]

Usually for us the architects (MEP) usually take all the plans from 5' outside the building. Everything else from there outward is usually civil/site guys.

[Jeff_M]

Parking layout and count has always been a part of our job description as well. Here, the architects just say "Yes, parking will be needed. Let us know when you get it right..." They do the buildings, we do the rest of the site.

[MSTG007]

That's kinda why I was asking for help with those parking count routines.

[nobody]

Isn't there an option right in the dimension properties where you can divide / convert the distance? I've used it for profiles to address the vertical exaggeration...think it could be used here also. Don't quote me but I'm somewhere around 25% certain that it's 100% already included.  Perhaps just need a dimstyle for it.