Structure Description Expanded?

[Anonymous]

I would like to know if it is possible to have the default Description of a Civil 3D 2009 structure expanded to include a second line of text.

Right now, when you layout a Pipe Network, the structure comes in with the default name in the Part List as the Description. As far as I know, that can only be one line of text... I am looking for a return and a second line of text by default; I can currently only manu-edit it.

Please see attached PNG.

[Anonymous]

Why would you want "Rim=" as part of the
description? What does that do for your final label?

--

Lance W.

style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

"arc0112358" wrote in message
href="news:6201943@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6201943@discussion.autodesk.com...

I
would like to know if it is possible to have the default Description of a
Civil 3D 2009 structure expanded to include a second line of text. Right now,
when you layout a Pipe Network, the structure comes in with the default name
in the Part List as the Description. As far as I know, that can only be one
line of text... I am looking for a return and a second line of text by
default; I can currently only manu-edit it. Please see attached PNG.

[Matt.Anderson]

Try a Cntrl-Enter in the description to get to the second line. (I think that works)



As for Manhole number and Rim - Why not use the actual structural number and create a label style for that, and use the RIM information to label that.



I typically use the Description to describe something like "Connect to Existing", or something like that.

[Anonymous]

I knew you were going to ask... here's the long (only) version...

We have a somewhat unconventional Structure Table set up, but only out of necessity. When the 'Insert Rim Elevation' is used in the structure table, it returns this value for ALL structures, including Headwalls, which isn't desirable.

Also, you are somewhat limited with tables as you can only specify one text 'tag' for all your structures, regardless if it is applicable, i.e., a manhole would say RIM=[InsertRimElevation] which is fine, but a catch basin would read RIM=[InsertRimElevation] as well where we really only want it to read GRATE=, and a headwall would also read RIM=[InsertRimElevation], where we don't want ANYTHING reported for those types of structures.

So... we set up the table to report an expression (Sump Elevation + Sump to Rim Height) for Manholes and Catch Basins; this works great because it will not return an elevation for headwalls as they do not contain these attributes; the expression is not applicable.

In order to show RIM= or GRATE= in front of the value from said expression for MHs or CBs, we are using the [Structure Description] in front of it. We get this first line of text in there, which is the actual structure type per our DOT (Manhole Type 2, etc..) and what we want, but we also want the unique identifier of GRATE= or RIM= on the next line. If I could force a return, and tie these returns with additional descriptors to each unique structure in the Parts List, I wouldn't have to 'manu-CAD' the second line of text in. This last wish would make those whole process fully automated, and display the schedule in, what we would consider, a logical fashion.

As silly as the setup may seem, this really works quite nicely... see attached PNG for clarification.

Edited by: arc0112358 on Jun 17, 2009 8:47 AM

Edited by: arc0112358 on Jun 17, 2009 8:50 AM Edited by: arc0112358 on Jun 17, 2009 8:55 AM

[Civil3DReminders]

You can automate the process instead of manually changing all of the structure descriptions. The VBA code below shows how to add a carraige return in the description. If you do a search on the internet you can find code samples to see if a string contains values such as MH and the append the description. You can do select one structure at a time or go through all of the structures in the drawing. Hope that helps.

Option Explicit

Sub StructureDesc()

Dim oAcadObj As AcadObject
Dim vPnt As Variant

' Have the user select a surface.
ThisDrawing.Utility.GetEntity oAcadObj, vPnt, "Select Structure: "

If (TypeOf oAcadObj Is AeccStructure) Then
Dim oStructure As AeccStructure

Set oStructure = oAcadObj

oStructure.Description = "Test" & vbCrLf & "line2"

End If

End Sub

[Anonymous]

Thanks - I see now that I am going to have to learn some VBA programming. I have been resisting it (though I do read your blog), but to do more I am going to have to submit - BAH!

Any good beginner tips?

I tried Autodesk's VBA for newbs from the subscription center and didn't get too far - too much theory, not enough hands-on, step by step.

[Matt.Anderson]

Control Line Feed will work. At the end of line one - press Control-Enter at the same time.

[Anonymous]

While editing the Structure Name in the Part List? When I use CTRL+ENTER at the end of that line, again, in the Network Part List 'Name' field, where it pulls the structure description from, it just exits out of the field edit - nothing sticks.

[Matt.Anderson]

Uhm, oh...I don't know if it would work there...haven't tried...

[Civil3DReminders]

Google has been the best source of information in being able to find examples. I did buy a book, but lost it about a month having purchased it. Some of the classes on the AU site are good at getting certain tasks started. I did a vBook which has examples for nearly all of the Civil 3D object's Methods and Properties.

Christopher
http://blog.civil3dreminders.com/
http://style.civil3dreminders.com/intermittentblockoftheday/

[Anonymous]

The solution to your question was quite simple once
I thought about it.....

The Labels just use a version of MText. MText adds
a \P wherever a hard return is required..... use this in your part description
and the Label will then place the RIM= on a second line.....

Sample Description:

Catch Basin Type II \PGrate=

What the label will show:

Catch Basin Type II 

Grate=

style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

"arc0112358" wrote in message
title="news:6203277@discussion.autodesk.com CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="news:6203277@di......

I
knew you were going to ask... here's the long (only) version... We have a
somewhat unconventional Structure Table set up, but only out of necessity.
When the 'Insert Rim Elevation' is used in the structure table, it returns
this value for ALL structures, including Headwalls, which isn't desirable.
Also, you are somewhat limited with tables as you can only specify one text
'tag' for all your structures, regardless if it is applicable, i.e., a manhole
would say RIM=[InsertRimElevation] which is fine, but a catch basin would read
RIM=[InsertRimElevation] as well where we really only want it to read GRATE=,
and a headwall would also read RIM=[InsertRimElevation], where we don't want
ANYTHING reported for those types of structures. So... we set up the table to
report an expression (Sump Elevation + Sump to Rim Height) for Manholes and
Catch Basins; this works great because it will not return an elevation for
headwalls as they do not contain these attributes; the expression is not
applicable. In order to show RIM= or GRATE= in front of the value from said
expression for MHs or CBs, we are using the [Structure Description] in front
of it. We get this first line of text in there, which is the actual structure
type per our DOT (Manhole Type 2, etc..) and what we want, but we also want
the unique identifier of GRATE= or RIM= on the next line. If I could force a
return, and tie these returns with additional descriptors to each unique
structure in the Parts List, I wouldn't have to 'manu-CAD' the second line of
text in. This last wish would make those whole process fully automated, and
display the schedule in, what we would consider, a logical fashion. As silly
as the setup may seem, this really works quite nicely... see attached PNG for
clarification. Edited by: arc0112358 on Jun 17, 2009 8:47 AM Edited by:
arc0112358 on Jun 17, 2009 8:50 AM Edited by: arc0112358 on Jun 17, 2009 8:55
AM

[Anonymous]

Jeff - I had not seen this until just now... I will try it out and report back... thanks!

[Anonymous]

That worked! Very nice... and oh God so easy.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Glad I could help!

"arc0112358" wrote in message news:6208536@discussion.autodesk.com...
> That worked! Very nice... and oh God so easy.
>
> Thanks!

[Matt.Anderson]

Jeff -

Actually - that suggestion is brilliant...

Matt

[MikeEvansUK]

You used to be able to type these switches into mtext in R14 (i think) and it would override font add underlines and other stuff but since R2000 this stopped working and displayed the switch in the text so I forgot about them.

I didn't realise they would work in labels, that truly is a wonderifical hidden gem. Better had re-learn all those switches again.

Thanks Jeff.