Steps to Create Cross Section

[marshaaj]

I have been looking at tutorials for creating cross sections.  But each step requires creating something before (alignment, sample line, surface etc)  How do I find out what order and which items I really need to create I need to  get to the cross section creation?

[jeff_rivers · Accepted solution]

The Autodesk C3D tutorials that ship with the software are generally in the order that you must do things; create a surface, create an alignment and a profile, create assemblies, create a corridor and corridor surfaces, add sample lines, then finally create cross sections.  You can do some steps out of order, but then you will have to do extra steps to ensure your sample lines see all of the design.  

If you just need to sample surface(s) that already exist in your drawing, then you can omit some steps, such as creating a corridor.  At minimum, sample lines need an alignment and at least one surface in order to have something to sample. So if you already have surfaces, you don't need to go through the work of creating more.  

[Joe-Bouza · Accepted solution]

If you study the Ribbon for a few minutes you will eventually realize that it is designed to work from left to right.surface panel then design panel then analyze each wanting the next. Plus the contextual effects of grabbing an object directs you to the next step 

1. Ground data

2. Alignment 

3. Profile(s)

4. Assembly 

5.. corridor 

6. Sample lines

7. Section views

[cwr-pae · Accepted solution]

The absolute minimum you need to create cross sections is and alignment with sample lines, the cross sections will only show an empty grid to which you later have to add your data. If you create the data (surfaces, corridors, etc. ) before hand (re: @jeff_rivers  and @Joe-Bouza)  it will make the work flow faster and more structured.