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Define point groups to isolate specific sets of points, and manage the display order of point groups.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
6 min.
Transcript
00:03
In Civil 3D, you can organize survey points by creating and managing point groups.
00:09
Defining point groups has several advantages.
00:12
They can be dynamically updated as new data is added,
00:16
which ensures project organization throughout its life cycle.
00:20
Grouping points can help identify and correct errors or inconsistencies within specific categories.
00:27
Enhanced organization and management tools for point groups allow users to filter points to focus on the task at hand,
00:34
reduce clutter, and improve clarity.
00:38
You can also use point groups to customize visual settings for the various point types,
00:43
making maps and models easier to read.
00:46
Or, isolate specific groups to perform targeted analyses,
00:50
such as topographic or elevation studies.
00:54
You can also use point groups to easily export and import specific sets of points
00:59
for data sharing between teams or software applications.
01:03
To demonstrate how point groups are defined and managed,
01:06
this example shows that a few of the points were brought in using description keys to assign the point symbol.
01:12
The remaining points are part of a default point group that assigns them a generic point symbol.
01:18
First, hide the points that were not brought in using description keys by changing the point style.
01:24
From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points and select Properties.
01:31
In the Point Group Properties dialog, Information tab, expand the Point style drop-down and select None.
01:39
Now, as you create new point groups, you can easily see them.
01:43
Leave the Point label style set to None as well.
01:47
Next, open the Include tab, where the options are grayed out.
01:52
Since this is a default point group that comes with every single drawing,
01:56
you cannot change the points that are available in this group.
01:59
However, you can look at the full list of points by opening the Point List tab.
02:05
Review the point list, and then click OK.
02:09
Notice that only the points assigned with description keys remain visible;
02:14
the others are hidden.
02:16
Now, add a new point group.
02:18
Select a point in the drawing.
02:21
The ribbon updates with context-sensitive commands.
02:25
On the Launch Pad panel, click Create Point Group.
02:29
From the Point Group Properties dialog, Name field, enter a descriptive name for this new point group,
02:36
such as “CLRD” for Center Line of Road.
02:40
From the Information tab, Default styles group,
02:44
expand the Point style drop-down and select Basic.
02:48
This specifies the default style used to display a point in the group if no other style takes precedence.
02:55
Then, choose the Point label style.
02:58
In this case, each point will be labeled with the point number, elevation, and description.
03:05
Open the Include tab to define the points to include.
03:09
Here, enable With raw descriptions matching,
03:12
then enter one or more raw descriptions—for example, “CL*”.
03:18
The asterisk (*) is a wild card, so this code will match all raw descriptions that begin with CL.
03:24
To verify that the correct points are matched,
03:28
open the Point List tab to scroll through the descriptions.
03:31
While most of the points are CLRDX, which is what you want,
03:35
others, like CLSTRM, also appear.
03:39
To refine the list further, return to the Include tab and update the raw description to “CLR*”.
03:46
Review the Point List tab once more, and then click OK.
03:51
In the drawing, the points for the center line of the road are now isolated,
03:57
with the description, elevation, and point number listed.
04:01
Next, create another point group.
04:04
This time, begin with the All Points group visible again.
04:08
From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points, and select Properties.
04:15
Set the Point style to Basic, then click OK.
04:20
Now, all the points are visible in the drawing.
04:23
Pick a point, click Create Point Group,
04:28
and then enter a descriptive Name.
04:31
Here, “TOPO” is entered, as this point group will include topographical points when a new surface is created.
04:39
Leave the Point style set to Basic and set the Label style to None.
04:45
From the Include tab, enable With numbers matching,
04:50
click Selection Set In Drawing,
04:53
and then select points from the drawing.
04:56
In this example, several window selections are used,
04:60
and some points are purposefully left out,
05:02
because they are outside of the desired area.
05:06
Once the selection is made, press ENTER.
05:09
In the Point Group Properties dialog, open the Point List tab to review the list, and then click OK.
05:17
Back in the drawing, notice that some of the point label styles are no longer visible.
05:23
To change the point group display order, from the Toolspace, Prospector tab,
05:28
right-click Point Groups and select Properties.
05:32
From the Point Groups dialog, select the All Points group, move it to the top, and then click OK.
05:41
Review the changes made to the drawing.
05:44
Open the All Points Group Point Properties dialog again and set the Point style to none.
05:51
Then, back in the Point Groups dialog,
05:55
move the All Points to the bottom of the display order and click OK.
05:59
Notice that the TOPO point group points are now at the top of the display order.
06:05
Utilizing point groups in Civil 3D makes it easier to manage and organize your project,
06:10
keep your point data accurate, and visualize what the survey points represent on the site.
Video transcript
00:03
In Civil 3D, you can organize survey points by creating and managing point groups.
00:09
Defining point groups has several advantages.
00:12
They can be dynamically updated as new data is added,
00:16
which ensures project organization throughout its life cycle.
00:20
Grouping points can help identify and correct errors or inconsistencies within specific categories.
00:27
Enhanced organization and management tools for point groups allow users to filter points to focus on the task at hand,
00:34
reduce clutter, and improve clarity.
00:38
You can also use point groups to customize visual settings for the various point types,
00:43
making maps and models easier to read.
00:46
Or, isolate specific groups to perform targeted analyses,
00:50
such as topographic or elevation studies.
00:54
You can also use point groups to easily export and import specific sets of points
00:59
for data sharing between teams or software applications.
01:03
To demonstrate how point groups are defined and managed,
01:06
this example shows that a few of the points were brought in using description keys to assign the point symbol.
01:12
The remaining points are part of a default point group that assigns them a generic point symbol.
01:18
First, hide the points that were not brought in using description keys by changing the point style.
01:24
From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points and select Properties.
01:31
In the Point Group Properties dialog, Information tab, expand the Point style drop-down and select None.
01:39
Now, as you create new point groups, you can easily see them.
01:43
Leave the Point label style set to None as well.
01:47
Next, open the Include tab, where the options are grayed out.
01:52
Since this is a default point group that comes with every single drawing,
01:56
you cannot change the points that are available in this group.
01:59
However, you can look at the full list of points by opening the Point List tab.
02:05
Review the point list, and then click OK.
02:09
Notice that only the points assigned with description keys remain visible;
02:14
the others are hidden.
02:16
Now, add a new point group.
02:18
Select a point in the drawing.
02:21
The ribbon updates with context-sensitive commands.
02:25
On the Launch Pad panel, click Create Point Group.
02:29
From the Point Group Properties dialog, Name field, enter a descriptive name for this new point group,
02:36
such as “CLRD” for Center Line of Road.
02:40
From the Information tab, Default styles group,
02:44
expand the Point style drop-down and select Basic.
02:48
This specifies the default style used to display a point in the group if no other style takes precedence.
02:55
Then, choose the Point label style.
02:58
In this case, each point will be labeled with the point number, elevation, and description.
03:05
Open the Include tab to define the points to include.
03:09
Here, enable With raw descriptions matching,
03:12
then enter one or more raw descriptions—for example, “CL*”.
03:18
The asterisk (*) is a wild card, so this code will match all raw descriptions that begin with CL.
03:24
To verify that the correct points are matched,
03:28
open the Point List tab to scroll through the descriptions.
03:31
While most of the points are CLRDX, which is what you want,
03:35
others, like CLSTRM, also appear.
03:39
To refine the list further, return to the Include tab and update the raw description to “CLR*”.
03:46
Review the Point List tab once more, and then click OK.
03:51
In the drawing, the points for the center line of the road are now isolated,
03:57
with the description, elevation, and point number listed.
04:01
Next, create another point group.
04:04
This time, begin with the All Points group visible again.
04:08
From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points, and select Properties.
04:15
Set the Point style to Basic, then click OK.
04:20
Now, all the points are visible in the drawing.
04:23
Pick a point, click Create Point Group,
04:28
and then enter a descriptive Name.
04:31
Here, “TOPO” is entered, as this point group will include topographical points when a new surface is created.
04:39
Leave the Point style set to Basic and set the Label style to None.
04:45
From the Include tab, enable With numbers matching,
04:50
click Selection Set In Drawing,
04:53
and then select points from the drawing.
04:56
In this example, several window selections are used,
04:60
and some points are purposefully left out,
05:02
because they are outside of the desired area.
05:06
Once the selection is made, press ENTER.
05:09
In the Point Group Properties dialog, open the Point List tab to review the list, and then click OK.
05:17
Back in the drawing, notice that some of the point label styles are no longer visible.
05:23
To change the point group display order, from the Toolspace, Prospector tab,
05:28
right-click Point Groups and select Properties.
05:32
From the Point Groups dialog, select the All Points group, move it to the top, and then click OK.
05:41
Review the changes made to the drawing.
05:44
Open the All Points Group Point Properties dialog again and set the Point style to none.
05:51
Then, back in the Point Groups dialog,
05:55
move the All Points to the bottom of the display order and click OK.
05:59
Notice that the TOPO point group points are now at the top of the display order.
06:05
Utilizing point groups in Civil 3D makes it easier to manage and organize your project,
06:10
keep your point data accurate, and visualize what the survey points represent on the site.
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