How do I label line and arc lengths in Chains?

[Anonymous]

I need to label my boundary lines in both feet and chains.  I cannot figure out how to use "expressions" to do this.  I did look at the help file as suggested in this thread https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-civil-3d-forum/line-and-curve-label-style-editing-for-chain-a... and did not find the direction I was hoping for.  Perhaps I just need some spoon feeding.  I don't know.  Here is the body of my line label style below.  Can you please tell me how to divide the line length label as shown by 66?  I took a stab at it and failed.  Thanks in advance.

<[General Segment Direction(Udeg|FDMSd|MB|P4|RN|DSns|CU|AP|EN|DZY|OF)]>  <[General Segment Length(Uft|P2|RN|AP|GC|UN|Sn|OF)]>' (Ch. <[General Segment Length(Uft|P2|RN|AP|GC|UN|Sn|OF)]>/66)

Ps I'm using C3D 2014 and my linework is drafted in feet and decimals thereof.  So, the first two parts of the label work fine and the third part, being the chains label, does not work.

[Jeff_M · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous, you create the Expression in the Expressions portion of the Label Type, right click the Expressions and select New, then create the desired expression:

It will then be an available Property in the Text Component of the Style:

You will need to create separate expressions for General lines & curves, as well as for Parcel lines & curves and Alignment lines & curves.

[tcorey · Accepted solution]

The expression is created outside the label style composer:Create a new expression:

Then, in Label Style Composers, where you add the component for Chains, just pick the expression from the Properties dropdown:

Any notation, like where it says the word "Chains" is added manually and is outside the formula, which is enclosed in <  >.

[tcorey]

Jeff, you are sooo fast. 🙂

[Anonymous]

It works!  Thanks guys.  I'm very excited.  I found instruction for expressions, but there was no direction on where that work was done that I could tell.  So I was stuck futzing around in the label editor, thinking I was modifying expressions.  Anyway, it's always nice to learn something new.  Both answers were helpful and I went back and forth between the two.  I did manage to figure out that I should hit the buttons in the new expressions dialogue box for the segment text to appear.  I wasn't sure if I should type it or not.  Also, the formatting results choices was interesting and I went with Distance instead of Double.  So thank you both very much.

[Jeff_M]

Glad we could help! One thing to note about the property Tim used (GeneralOverallLength), if you are labeling a polyline, that will give you the entire length of the polyline, not just the segment you select.

If you find a response which answers your question, please be sure to accept the actual post(s) which helped you as the solution(s). This will help future searchers quickly find answers to their own questions. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I noticed that detail and made my selection.  So, can I select multiple solutions?  Both were used.

[Jeff_M]

Yes, multiple solutions are allowed.

[AEC_Cadd]

I followed your instructions and got just what I was looking for. Problem is when I use Label Line between two points, I get three question marks instead of the distance in chains.

I must be missing something.

[Anonymous]

It's got to be a line or some entity with segments, not two points. I label water pipe this way and I created no-plot layers _C-WATR-WM06, C-WATR-WM08, etc.)to put lines/polylines/feature lines on to label. I use the same lines to compute quantities since we pay to the CL of the fitting and that isn't how QTO counts pressure pipes. Kind of a pain but it works,

[wfberry]

Just use the line label command.

Bill

[AllenJessup]

Now a real challenge would be to label  Chains and Links.  Rounding to the nearest link.

If you have a measurement in Chains and Links. It's only accurate to 0.66'.

[AEC_Cadd]

Thanks for your quick response, I appreciate it.
That is what I thought but hoped for a work around.

[Anonymous]

I use this to round pipe lengths to nearest 1/2 ft: ROUND((3D_Length*2))/2 where 3D_Length is another expression. Maybe if you multiplied the overall chainage by 100 then rounded, then divided by 100? And separated the remainder chain in whole numbers so you could put "LINKS" after it? You're right it would be a challenge.

[jproctorGFPAS]

Great explanation. Worked like a charm.

[cvannest · Accepted solution]

Just use decimal chains.