Segment label annotation scale.

[ChrisWebster]

Just learning Civil3d!

How do you remove an annotation scale from a segment label. I have bearings and distances on some parcel segments at 1"=100' and need a 1"=20' detail. I want to remove the 1"=100' from certain segment labels, but can't figure out how.

[user181]

You can't remove the annotative scale of Civil labels. You need to put the labels on a layer that you can freeze in your 1"=100' drawings or viewports. 

[BrianHailey]

It's pretty complicated but you could use an expression that controls the height of the label. It would be something like this:

This will set the text height to 0 if the scale is 1"=40' (40ftx12in/ft=480in) and to 0.1" (0.1in/12in/ft) otherwise. Apply this expression to your label height:

You would need separate label styles for those you want to display and those you don't want to display.

If you aren't familiar with expressions, I have quite a few posts on my blog about them: https://civil3dplus.wordpress.com/tag/expression/ 

[BrianHailey]

Although my method would work, I think the solution proposed by @user181 would be much simpler and, if anyone else had to take over the drawing from you, they would be much more likely to understand what's going on.

[ChrisWebster]

Oh my. That's like a step back. Separate layers for each scale is like what I did before annotation scales came around. Wonder why Autodesk does not implement this?

Wouldn't the simplest thing be just to explode to annotative text or mtext?

[BrianHailey]

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Attorneys love it when you do that!

Never explode Civil 3D objects! If you do that, you might as well just get rid of half the functionality of Civil 3D. What happens when that line changes? You now have to remember to go back and change that specific label and I guarantee that you will forget to change at least one of them and that's when courts get involved.

[ChrisWebster]

Point taken, Brian, and thanks.

But my question still is -

Is there a reason to not implement removing annotation scales from C3d objects? 

Is there a place where I can vote or suggest this would be done? Like a feature request?

Thanks for the help!

[user181]

There is no need to have a separate layer for each scale of civil labels. They only show for the current annotative scale of model or the paper viewport. You can't show both 20 and 100 scale annotation of civil labels at the same time. So if in your 100 scale viewport you don't want those labels you just freeze them. Separate layers not needed.  

[ChrisWebster]

Also, Is it right, that you can't have different multiple positions in multiple annotative scale views either?

So I can't have a parcel label show in one position on an overall viewport, and a slightly different position (i.e. to avoid overlap) on a detail viewport at a zoomed in scale?

All C3d objects are annotatively locked together?

[BrianHailey]

@ChrisWebster the Civil 3D labels pre-date the AutoCAD annotative text. Civil 3D was initially released for the AutoCAD 2004 release (it was referred to as a "preview release"). Annotative text wasn't introduced into AutoCAD until 2007 (I believe). This is why they don't work the same. I think it's silly that the labels haven't been updated to include similar functionality but this is why they work differently.

And to answer your other question, yes, you are correct. A civil 3D label can only be at one position. It can't have multiple locations at different annotation scales. In fact, a Civil 3D label doesn't even know what an annotation scale is. It uses the model scale or viewport scale.

As for making suggestions, Autodesk has an IDEA forum for their major products. The Civil 3D Ideas forum can be found HERE. If you do post up there, let me know and I'll go vote it up because I think it would be valuable.

[ChrisWebster]

Thanks for that info @BrianHailey. Will do!

Looks like there are at least a couple of request already there. I voted on them.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-ideas/civil-3d-labels-dragged-state-positions/idi-p/5646203

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-ideas/annotative-text-and-labels/idi-p/9601752

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-ideas/general-label-dragged-state-text-rotation/idi-p/598077...