Automated Labeling on Spot Elevations

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I need to add elevation labels for almost all my points for a topo drawing. Instead of clicking on each point (which is almost 1,000) to show that points elevation; is there a way I can label all points with the label styles I already have set up in one move? Most of these labels will have to be rotated later on as well.

Thanks!

[rl_jackson]

Welcome to the forum

Annotation - Spot on Grid

Just add spot elevations on a grid

[Anonymous]

My only concern with using a grid is that our clients/engineers require the elevation label to be shown directly on the point that was shot in the field by our survey crews. The point codes range from general elevation shots to top of curb, gutter, edge of concrete, top and bottom of bank, etc. What I'm looking for is a way to label every point within my designated point group.

[Joe-Bouza]

Your cogo point can be assigned a label style to display what you want

[Anonymous]

Hey Joe,

When I do that, will that create a new elevation label with a marker or just change the name of the cogo point? I will also need to rotate the label to prevent covering up specific features and wasn't sure if I could do that with a cogo point. One other concern is I have to freeze my cogo points before I print the survey since they are on a "general" points layer and I can't show every cogo point within the drawing. Any idea on how I could get around this? Sorry for all the questions, but I can't seem to figure this one out; at least in a efficient manner.

[Joe-Bouza]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Hey Joe,

When I do that, will that create a new elevation label with a marker or just change the name of the cogo point? I will also need to rotate the label to prevent covering up specific features and wasn't sure if I could do that with a cogo point. One other concern is I have to freeze my cogo points before I print the survey since they are on a "general" points layer and I can't show every cogo point within the drawing. Any idea on how I could get around this? Sorry for all the questions, but I can't seem to figure this one out; at least in a efficient manner.

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You are definitely going to want to read up on label styles and point groups, and description keys.

cogo points can have any style assigned to them and has not effect on the original content (not sure what you mean by the name) if you meant the point number no there is no change to the actual point data content. Styles allow you to use the data to display what and how you want it to display.

the rotation can be defined in the style or even a description key ( desc keys are not my strong suit but I know they can be used to leverage and control how point are inserted to the drawing, layer default style etc.). again desc keys and point groups will allow you better control over the layer they get inserted on. Not to confuse you but other then layer control you can change the styles on the fly in the prospector >>> select the points or group and change the style back and forth to display or turn off.

good luck

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input! I'll give that a shot on Monday. This would be a huge time saver.

[rl_jackson]

@Anonymous

"My only concern with using a grid is that our clients/engineers require the elevation label to be shown directly on the point that was shot in the field by our survey crews. The point codes range from general elevation shots to top of curb, gutter, edge of concrete, top and bottom of bank, etc. What I'm looking for is a way to label every point within my designated point group. "

While I commend there accuracy, I have done both civil and survey work, and 99.9% of the time that sort of accuracy is completely unnecessary. A good surface model will display the exact same results as the points do without the points every being in the drawing or the label being in the exact position of the shot. The reality is you don't need the points to make a surface, but just a point file. And the least amount of objects you have in the drawing the better the response of C3D. Look at the surface point file like a dref, by doing this, you save a lot of heartache on large surfaces.

[ESchomberg]

When I use spot elevations I like to use original survey points as well. Adding spot elevations by label could be incorrect if there is a problem in your surface.

The way I do it is by separating all my point groups "by point description"..... Back of curb, ground shot, top of bank etc. That way I can control which spot elevations I want to turn on. In your point styles or point groups you can select " elevation only". That way the only thing showing is an X for your marker and the elevation next to it. I never rotate mine but I'm sure there is a way.

[rl_jackson]

@ESchomberg

If I was building a rocket ship going to Mars, I might think that way. But points are not required in a drawing to make a surface. And %slope to the tenth in most cases is more than adequate for flow determinations.

[rl_jackson]

See attached.

I have added survey figures just for reference, and they don't have the offset to create the face (i.e. -.5' H and V), but this was a 10 minute surface.

Technically, I did not need the figures here, I just but them in to show the real power. There are no points.

[TerryDotson]

If you were to consider third party software, the C3D Points tools will do this with it's Convert function.  Note that it honors the AutoCAD "DELOBJ" system variable as to whether to actually remove the CogoPoint, so your choice.