Pipe Profile Labels Bottom Anchor

[b.johnson.4204]

Is there a way to ensure that a pipe label is always on the bottom of the pipe in profile view with 1 label style? When I switch profile directions (right to left vs left to right) the pipe label switches from bottom to top. Is there a setting or expression somewhere where so I can consolidate two labels into one? Thanks!

[MMcCall402]

You could anchor the label to the centerline and then use an expression to provide a Y offset distance to the bottom of the pipe.  It would still reverse the way it does now when the profile goes in the opposite direction, however the labels could be 'flipped' and then be in the right location.

[MMcCall402]

Another option would be to reverse the stationing on the alignment by setting a station equation in the alignment properties that is set to a decreasing station value rather than increasing.  (drop the - sign in labelling if necessary)   Then the profile view can be left to right but appear like its right to left.

[b.johnson.4204]

Do you have an example of how this expression would function? My experience with expressions is somewhat limited.

[cneely]

I switch directions and my pipe labels work fine. Can you post a screenshot of before/after?

[MMcCall402]

The expression could look something like this.

The following is based on imperial units and an anchor point to the outside of the pipe.  It takes the outside diameter of the pipe, in feet, and converts it to the radius in inches (1/24), then divides it by a the vertical scale of the profile view, assuming a 10:1 vertical exaggeration, then lastly adds a little offset amount to push the label beyond the pipe.  The inclusion of the drawing scale allows the label style to be used at any scale.

This works pretty well, unless the pipe slopes start to become extreme.   Slope could be introduced into the equation as well to compensate for the slope but this example should work for most situations without getting too complicated.

[b.johnson.4204]

That is a similar expression that I came up with, so that is good to know. Where I am confused is how to use this in the label style. I have created expressions that go inside the "contents" portion of the label style, but this is an expression for the offset. Can expressions be used in the offset portion of the style?

[MMcCall402 · Accepted solution]

Yes, go to the Y offset value in the label style and the name of your expression should be listed as an available value.

[b.johnson.4204]

Learn something new every day! Thank you!

[b.johnson.4204]

After the drawing scale in the expression, you divided by 120. You mentioned assuming a 10:1 vertical exaggeration, which we typically don't do. I went to modify my expression since that gap was too large but am running into trouble modifying it. What does that "120" in the expression represent? I think that number is where I am running into issues.

[MMcCall402]

Its a combination of a conversion from feet to inches and the vertical
exaggeration fo 10:1

[b.johnson.4204]

That makes sense. Thanks, got it working finally!