Find acreage of sketched polyline, without having to create "parcels"

[mcloughlin]

In Civil Design 2014, we are sketching closed polylines as parcel alternatives as the client watches. The client expects us to be able to sketch a parcel on his scaled map, then click it and see an acreage. Not too complicated, right? Is there a way simply to click on a closed polyline and obtain an acreage for it, as one could do in LDD? Just click on an object (not a "parcel," but a polyline enclosing an area) and find its area in acres? Shouldn't be too difficult for a sophisticated program like this, right? Thanks!

[KMercier_C3D]

In the Properties click the calculator button to the right of the area which is currently stated in feet. This will open up the QuickCalc. Here you can use the Units Conversion setting the Units Type to Area, and Convert From to Sq. Ft and Convert To to Acres. Then click the Value to convert and it will pull in the SF area from the properties. 

Probably not as simple as you were looking for... I'm sure someone out there has made a LSP application you can load to add the command to output both the SF and ACRE conversion.

[mcloughlin]

Thank you, KMercier.  Properties of which?  I have been using the "Analyze" tab "area" button to obtain square feet.  Are you using another method?

[KMercier_C3D]

The Properties of the polyline. 

[jmayo-EE]

I use a C3D line label for this.

[Pointdump]

McL,

Just keep an old computer set up with LDD, so that anytime you need to do something faster, easier, and better than C3D, you can fire up the old computer and impress your client.

Dave

[SurveyorLee]

If it it a closed polyline, I would just use the "area" command. I'm an old DOS guy, so i just type AREA at the command prompt.  Follow the prompt for object or points. Select the object and press enter.  the area is shown the command line.  It is in square feet, not acres.  A spread sheet with a formula can fix that.

Surveyor Lee

[susanhunter1 · Accepted solution]

Here is a lisp routine that calculates acreage without hauling out a calculator. I added it to my acaddoc.lisp so I don't need to upload it all the time. Enjoy.

[ericcollins6932]

sq. ft divided by 43560 will give acres.

[troma]

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Civil-3D-General/Surface-Vol-Calcs/m-p/3674538#M187920

[mcloughlin]

Judging from the series of responses I received, I think I was unclear.  

I was simply searching for a way using Civil 3D 2014 to click on a sketched polyline and retrieve an area in acres, as in LDD, without having to perform an additional calculation each time (or run two computers, as one wag suggested!).  Surely, I can find the square feet in a polyline and divide it by 43560, but when a client is watching and making grunty supervisory noises ("Jeez, man, can't that fancy program just give you acres?"), it is always nice simply to click and display acreages without jumping to another calculation with each attempt.  

This series of responses suggests to me that Civil 3D 2014 lacks such a capacity.  Susan Hunter's lisp routine works, though.  Many thanks.  

[mcloughlin]

Judging from the series of responses I received, I think I was unclear.  

I was simply searching for a way using Civil 3D 2014 to click on a sketched polyline and retrieve an area in acres, as in LDD, without having to perform an additional calculation each time (or run two computers, as one wag suggested!).  Surely, I can find the square feet in a polyline and divide it by 43560, but when a client is watching and making grunty supervisory noises ("Jeez, man, can't that fancy program just give you acres?"), it is always nice simply to click and display acreages without jumping to another calculation with each attempt.  

This series of responses suggests to me that Civil 3D 2014 lacks such a capacity.  Susan Hunter's lisp routine works, though.  Many thanks.  

[cwitzel]

You can also use an mtext object.  While in the Mtext editor ctrl F to get to the field editor, select object then area.  Under additonal formats use a conversion factor 1/43560 (0.000022956841).  This mtext object will be semi dynamic.  Requires a regen.  You would have to repoint the field every time the polyline changed.

Line and Curve labels can also be used.  In tool space settings expand  General - Label Styles - Lines create an expression Overall Area/43560  Name it acres and insert it into single segment label. Isn't perfect as it labels along a line segment.

Why not use parcels though.  Isn't that a much easier solution?

Thanks,

Conan Witzel

[Pointdump]

CW,

Can you elaborate on that a little? How do you tie an MText Object to a Polyline Object?

I'm in favor of using Parcels, myself, but I'm all for learning something new and cool.

Dave

[Jeff_M]

---

@Pointdump wrote:

 How do you tie an MText Object to a Polyline Object?

Dave

---

As Conan noted "While in the Mtext editor ctrl F to get to the field editor, select object then area. " When selecting the object, physically select the polyline.

[Pointdump]

Jeff,

Wow! I'm going to play with this one!

Dave

[Joe-Bouza]

As John Mayo stated near the top of this thread; use a line label style

Set up the style to report the acreage of a closed pline, sketch and label
This has an added benefit of being dynamic. Once labeled you can grip edit the pline and the acreage measurement will update!

Not quite like LDT, just better.

C3d wants a zen type approach. once you clear your mind of what was, and open it to what can be, you will discover a treasure trove within civil 3d

[Pointdump]

This is way cool:



Puts a serviceable, but uninspiring, label thusly:



John Mayo's Line Label Style also works very well.

These labels have their uses, but I think making a Parcel is the best, easiest way. It's dynamic and you can change the style for any look you want. Onward, to 2015!

Dave

[caddie99]

a civil 3d line label will work on a closed or open poly line

sketch it up and add this line label

now you can grip/drag to see the updated area

[jmayo-EE]

Way too much clicking and copying using fields & text IMO.