The Create Parcel From Objects tool allows you to create parcels by choosing AutoCAD entities in your drawing or in an XRefed drawing. In a typical workflow, it’s common to encounter a boundary created by AutoCAD entities, such as polylines, lines, and arcs.
When you’re using AutoCAD geometry to create parcels, it’s important that the geometry be created carefully and meet certain requirements. The AutoCAD geometry must be lines, arcs, polylines, 3D polylines, or polygons. It can’t include blocks, ellipses, circles, or other entities. Civil 3D may allow you to pick objects with an elevation other than zero, but you’ll find you get better results if you flatten the objects so all objects have an elevation of zero. Sometimes the geometry appears sound when elevation is applied, but you may notice this isn’t the case once the objects are flattened. Flattening all objects before creating parcels can help you prevent frustration when creating parcels.
This exercise will teach you how to create a parcel from Civil 3D objects:
1. Open the CreateBoundaryParcel.dwg file, which you can download from www.sybex.com/go/masteringcivil3d2012. This drawing has several alignments, which were created on the Subdivision Lots site, and some AutoCAD linework representing a boundary. In addition, a parcel was created when the alignments formed closed areas in the Subdivision Lots site.
2. On the Home tab, select Parcel Choose Create Parcel From Objects on the Create Design panel.
3. At the Select lines, arcs, or polylines to convert into parcels or [Xref]: prompt, pick the red polyline that represents the site boundary. Press ↵.
4. The Create Parcels – From Objects dialog appears. Select Lot (Prop); Property; and Name Square Foot & Acres from the drop-down menus in the Site, Parcel Style, and Area Label Style selection boxes, respectively. Leave everything else set to the defaults. Click OK to dismiss the dialog.
The boundary polyline forms parcel segments that react with the alignments. Area labels are placed at the newly created parcel centroids, as shown in Figure 5-10.
Figure 5-10: The boundary parcel segments, alignments, and area labels
