Import points from a text file using description key matching. Most engineering offices receive text files containing point data at some point during a project. Description keys provide a way to automatically assign the appropriate styles, layers, and labels to newly imported points.
Master It Create a new drawing from _AutoCAD Civil 3D (Imperial) NCS.dwt. Revise the Civil 3D description key set to use the parameters listed here:
Import the Concord_PNEZD_SpaceDelim.txt file from the data location, and confirm that the description keys made the appropriate matches by looking at a handful of points of each type. Do the trees look like trees? Do the hydrants look like hydrants?
Save the resulting file for use in the next exercises.
Solution
1. Select File New, and create a drawing from _AutoCAD Civil 3D (Imperial) NCS Extended.dwt.
2. Switch to the Settings tab of Toolspace, and locate the description key set called Civil 3D. Right-click this set and choose Edit Keys.
3. Delete any two keys in this set by right-clicking each one and choosing Delete.
4. Revise the remaining key to match the GS specifications listed under the “Master It” instructions for this exercise.
5. Right-click the GS key, and choose New. Create the four additional keys listed in the instructions. Exit the dialog.
6. On the Create Ground Data panel, select Points Point Creation Tools and then click the Import Points button on the toolbar. Navigate out to the Concord_PNEZD_SpaceDelim.txt file and click Open. Select PNEZD Space Delimited from the listing. Click OK.
7. Zoom in to see the points. Note that each description key parameter (style, label, format, and layer) has been respected. Your hydrants should appear as hydrants on the correct layer, your trees should appear as trees on the correct layer, and so on.
Create a point group. Building a surface using a point group is a common task. Among other criteria, you may want to filter out any points with zero or negative elevations from your Topo point group.
Master It Create a new point group called Topo that includes all points except those with elevations of zero or less. Use the DWG created in the previous exercise or start with Master_It.dwg.
Solution
1. In Prospector, right-click Point Groups and choose New.
2. On the Information tab, enter Topo as the name of the new point group.
3. Switch to the Exclude tab.
4. Click the Elevation check box to turn it on and enter =<0 in the field.
5. Click OK to close the dialog.
Export points to LandXML and ASCII format. It’s often necessary to export a LandXML or an ASCII file of points for stakeout or data-sharing purposes. Unless you want to export every point from your drawing, it’s best to create a point group that isolates the desired point collection.
Master It Create a new point group that includes all the points with a raw description of TOP. Export this point group via LandXML and to a PNEZD comma-delimited text file.
Use the DWG created in the previous exercise or start with Master_It.dwg.
Solution
1. In Prospector, right-click Point Groups and choose New.
2. On the Information tab, enter Top of Curb as the name of the new point group.
3. Switch to the Include tab.
4. Select the With Raw Descriptions Matching check box and type TOP in the field.
5. Click OK, and confirm in Prospector that all the points have the description TOP.
6. Right-click the Top Of Curb point group, and choose Export To LandXML.
7. Click OK in the Export To LandXML dialog.
8. Choose a location to save your LandXML file, and then click Save.
9. Navigate out to the LandXML file to confirm it was created.
10. Right-click the Top Of Curb point group, and choose Export Points.
11. Choose the PNEZD comma-delimited format and a destination file, and confirm that the Limit To Points In Point Group check box is selected. Click OK.
12. Navigate out to the ASCII file to confirm it was created.
Create a point table. Point tables provide an opportunity to list and study point properties. In addition to basic point tables that list number, elevation, description, and similar options, you can customize point table formats to include user-defined property fields.
Master It Create a point table for the Topo point group using the PNEZD format table style. Use the DWG created in the previous exercise or start with Master_It.dwg.
Solution
1. Change to the Annotate tab, and select Add Tables Points.
2. Choose the PNEZD format for the table style.
3. Click Point Groups, and choose the Topo point group.
4. Click OK.
5. The command line prompts you to choose a location for the upper-left corner of the point table. Choose a location on your screen somewhere to the right of the project.
6. Zoom in, and confirm your point table.