Design Centre Manual

DESIGN CENTRE
V6.3
Reference Manual
Copyright 2004
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Conditions of Sale
The purchaser (further referred to as the Licensee) hereby accepts a
non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the software, Civil
Designer, on the following conditions.
1. The license fee shall be payable in advance and this agreement
commences on said date of purchase.
2. A separate license fee is payable for each CPU upon which the
Licensee wishes to use the software.
3. The Licensee undertakes not to copy, except for backup purposes,
reproduce, translate, adapt, vary or modify the software, nor to
communicate the software to any third party other than the
Licensee’s employees, without the Licensor’s prior written consent.
4. The Licensee agrees that it shall not itself or through any subsidiary,
agent or third party, sell, lease, license, sub-license or otherwise deal
with the software.
5. The Licensee acknowledges that any and all of the intellectual
property rights including trademark, trade name, copyright and
other rights used or embodied in or in connection with the software
shall be and remain the sole property of the Licensor and it’s
principals.
6. The Licensee shall not question or dispute the ownership of any
such rights at any time.
7. It is up to the Licensee to insure the program for the full
replacement value. In the event of theft or loss of the program,
security disk, or security module the license must be re-purchased in
full.
8. No warranty of any kind is made with regard to the use or
application of the software or it’s fitness for any particular purpose.
The verification of all results and output is entirely the responsibility
of the purchaser.
9. While every care has been taken in the preparation of the Civil
Designer program and it’s manual, Knowledge Base cc, it’s
employees and agents shall not be liable for any loss or damage
(including in particular, consequential losses, loss of profits and
penalties) suffered by the Licensee arising from any cause
whatsoever in connection with the Civil Designer program or the use
thereof whether such loss or damage results from breach of contract
(including a fundamental breach), negligence or any other cause and
whether or not this contract is at any time cancelled by the Licensee
arising from any cause whatsoever in connection with the Civil
Designer program or the use thereof whether or not this contract is
at any time cancelled.
Table of Contents
WELCOME
Where do I go from here? 1-1
Typefaces in this manual 1-2
Conventions used in this manual 1-2
How to get support 1-3
On-line help 1-3
Online documentation 1-4
INSTALLATION AND STARTUP

The Civil Designer program 2-1
Hardware Requirements 2-1
Installing Civil Designer 2-2
Installing the security module drivers 2-3
Reading the README file 2-3
What you need to know 2-3
Directory Structure 2-4
User Home directory 2-6
Macro sub-directory 2-8
Multiple users 2-9
Adding new users 2-10
Deleting user sub-directories 2-11
Starting Civil Designer from Windows. 2-12
Security 2-12
Safety precautions 2-12
What to do now 2-13
Tutorials 2-14
Things you should know 2-14
THE CONCEPT
The Design Centre 3-2
The Survey + Terrain Module 3-3
The Roads Module 3-4
The Sewer Module 3-5
The Storm Module 3-6
The Water Module 3-7
The CAD Module 3-8
The working environment 3-9
Activating a particular mode 3-9
Output 3-10
SCREEN, MOUSE AND KEYBOARD

Screen Overview 4-2
Title Bar 4-3
Menu Bar 4-3
Prompt Area and Control Bar 4-4
Line Type Display 4-8
Layer Display 4-9
Pen Selection 4-10
Toolbars 4-12
Drawing Area 4-14
Cursor 4-14
Dialog Boxes 4-15
Smart Cursor Help and Coordinate Display 4-15
The Mouse 4-16
The Keyboard 4-18
TUTORIAL 1 – THE SCREEN

Important notes to read before you start this tutorial 5-2
In case you get lost or stuck ... 5-2
Loading a drawing 5-3
Magnifying 5-4
Panning 5-5
Demagnifying 5-7
Zooming 5-8
TUTORIAL 2 - ACCURATE DRAWING

Setting up your drawing 6-2
Using specific coordinate locations 6-4
An aside - Undo 6-5
[Home] [End] [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys 6-5
The arrow keys 6-6
Moving the same distance again 6-7
Polar coordinates 6-9
Using a locked cursor 6-10
Using Geometry 6-11
Using a grid 6-14
Jumps and Snap Modes 6-16
Transparent commands 6-19
Changing line styles 6-22
Saving your drawing 6-23
TUTORIAL 3 – CAD BASICS

Loading a drawing 7-2
Fillets and chamfers 7-3
Filleting 7-3
Chamfering 7-5
Drawing parallel lines 7-6
Drawing lines around an existing perimeter. 7-6
Drawing Fresh Parallel Lines 7-8
Hatching 7-12
A simple hatch 7-12
Hatching with islands 7-13
Text 7-17
Entering text 7-17
Editing Text 7-18
Dimensions 7-20
Stretching 7-31
Producing an automatic detailed view 7-34
Saving your drawing 7-37
TUTORIAL 4 - DTM BASICS

Create a new project 8-2
Import ASCII data 8-4
Generate a digital terrain model 8-8
Display a backdrop drawing 8-13
Generate contours 8-15
Create a site plan 8-16
PLOT MENU
Generate 9-2
Plot Setup 9-3
Plan 9-4
Cross Section 9-8
Long Section 9-10
Pipe Long Section 9-15
Sewer Long Section Page 9-17
Stormwater Long Section Page 9-19
Water Long Section Page 9-21
Sheet File Editor 9-23
Global Page 9-24
Plan Page 9-33
Cross Section Page 9-54
Long Section 9-67
Preview Page 9-87
Long Section Format Dialog 9-88
Long Section Format Dialog 9-88
DISPLAY SETTINGS
IDE Layers 10-3
Terrain 10-4
Roads 10-15
Sewer 10-19
Storm 10-23
Water 10-27
Map 10-35
DEFAULTS
CAD.INI 11-2
Paths 11-6
Print 11-6
FromDXFFonts 11-6
ToDXFFonts 11-7
DXFFlags 11-7
Controlbar 11-7
Digitizer 11-7
Logfile 11-7
Drawings 11-7
Vmem 11-8
Colors 11-8
Textedit 11-8
Infowindow 11-8
Coordtable 11-8
BOM 11-8
CAD.MEN
Comments 12-1
Toolbars 12-2
Pull-Down Menus 12-4
Accelerators 12-6
Digitizer 12-6
Functions 12-7
Transparent Commands 12-7
Short Cuts 12-7
Macros 12-8
HATCH PATTERNS
Hatch Pattern Definitions 13-2
Example 1 - Line 13-5
Example 2 - Dash 13-6
Example 3 - Newbrick 13-7
Example 4 - Triang 13-11
LINE TYPES
Line Type Definitions 14-2
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Welcome
Welcome to Civil Designer, the design system created by civil engineers
for civil engineers, to save you time, effort and money. Now you can
work faster, smarter and accomplish more.
This manual introduces you to Civil Designer and gets you up and
running without delay. It shows you how to accomplish the most
common tasks and provides tips on the exciting and innovative new
features to be found in Civil Designer.
The easy-to-follow tutorial will help you gain hands-on experience with
the program, and the Beyond the Basics section shows you how to
complete advanced tasks.
Where do I go from here?

After reading this manual you should know the following:
• How to get Civil Designer up and running
• How to use the menus and the on-line help system
• How to input and edit data files
• How to start an analysis
• How to view and output the results of the calculations
For more detail simply refer to the on-line help file: it contains over 700
pages of detailed information on each function.
Welcome 1-1
Typefaces in this manual
The different typefaces in this manual are used as follows:
Monospace This typeface represents text as it appears onscreen
such as prompts.
Italics Italics are used for emphasis and to introduce new
terms.
[Enter] This indicates a key on your keyboard.
For example:
“Press [Enter] to complete the entry.”
Command This typeface indicates a menu option or a command.
For example:
“Click on the Open icon to load a drawing.”
Menu commands appear with the path separated by an arrow. The
instruction Draw Ellipses Ellipse refers to the command you choose by
opening the Draw menu, the Ellipses sub-menu, and by choosing the
Ellipse option.
Conventions used in this manual

In this manual, clicking refers to clicking with your left mouse button
unless otherwise specified. When a click with your right mouse button is
required, the terms right click or right clicking are used.
Clicking means to press and release a mouse button quickly.
1-2 Design Centre Reference

How to get support
Technical support is available from 08.00 to 17.00 Mondays to Fridays
excluding public holidays by email from our Customer Support Centre at
support@knowbase.co.za.
You can also get telephonic support at:
South Africa 086 0101 999
International +27 21 7011850
On-line help
The Civil Designer on-line help system is far easier to use and more
comprehensive than those typically found in other software programs.
It contains about 10 times as much information as this manual and
provides complete answers to virtually any question you may have about
features or how to use Civil Designer.
Access on-line Help from the Help menu option at any time, or by
pressing F1 during the display of any of the dialogs in the program. The
help items can be printed using the Print button on the toolbar.
Welcome 1-3
Online documentation
The User Guide and the Reference Manual are supplied on the CD-ROM
in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You have the option to install the Acrobat
Reader when installing Civil Designer. This allows you to browse through
the manual, to search for specific subjects, and to print out all or any
selection of pages.

Installation and Startup
Before you begin working with Civil Designer,
• Check the contents of your package
• Make sure that your hardware satisfies the program's requirements
• Run the installation program
• Plug the security module ( if supplied) into your printer port
• Start Civil Designer.
The Civil Designer program

Your Civil Designer package includes the following:
• This manual, plus manuals for any other modules you may have
purchased
• CD-ROM
• A security module (if provided)
Make sure you have everything listed here. If anything is missing contact
our Technical Support.
Hardware Requirements
Civil Designer requires a Pentium III processor (800 MHz or better)
running Windows 98/XP/2000 or later, 128 MB or more of available RAM,
240 MB of hard disk space for installation, and a mouse. For the proper
display of the data entry dialog boxes, your screen must be configured to
a minimum resolution of 800 x 600 (SVGA).
If you are handling large drawings and digital terrain models 256 MB
RAM is advisable.
The recommended system requirements are a Pentium IV processor

(1.6 GHz), 512MB RAM, 240MB free hard-disk space for installation,
running Windows 98/XP/2000 with a screen configured to a resolution
of 1024 x 768 (XVGA).
Installation and Startup 2-1

Installing Civil Designer
To get Civil Designer up and running you need to start the installation
program INSTALL.EXE.
• Start Windows
• Insert the supplied CD-ROM in your CD drive
• The installation program will auto-run.
If auto-run is disabled then
• Click on Start Run
• Type X:\INSTALL where X is the drive letter of your CD- ROM drive
• Click on the Run button
If you cannot install from a CD drive on your own computer then you
may be able to install from a shared CD drive on your network. In this
case insert the CD-ROM into the shared drive and proceed as if auto-run
was disabled.
The installation program will offer you a choice of the programs you wish
to install. Click on the Civil Designer button to launch the setup for this
program.
Do not install this program into the same directory as earlier versions of
Stardust, Civil Designer Sewer, Civil Designer Stormwater or AllyCAD.
The SETUP program does the following:

• Creates a directory, CivDes63 by default, on your hard drive and
copies the contents of the CD-ROM into the directory.
• Creates the Civil Designer application group and adds the Civil
Designer program option to the Start menu for Windows 98/NT/2000.
• Installs the required security drivers.
• Inserts a menu item for the README file containing last-minute
information about Civil Designer.

Installing the security module drivers
You must install the Hasp drivers in order for the security module to
function correctly. This still applies even if you are not using a Hasp
security module. The driver is normally installed during the installation
process but you may need to do a manual installation. To do so, simply
start the Hasp Install option; this will install the drivers. You must then
restart your computer in order for the drivers to be loaded.
Reading the README file

Any last-minute changes or additions to Civil Designer are documented
in the README.TXT file. When the Setup program has finished installing
Civil Designer on your hard disk it creates a menu item for the README
file in the Civil Designer application group.
You can view the README file by selecting the menu item and print the
contents at any stage.
What you need to know

This manual assumes that you are familiar with basic Windows
operations. If you are not, you should read the documentation that came
with your copy of Windows before installing and using the program.

Directory Structure
The directory that Civil Designer is installed into is called your Program
Home directory. Unless you specified another name when you installed
Civil Designer, your Program Home directory is called CivDes63. It
contains a number of sub-directories:
CivDes63
AcrobatReader
Docs
Examples
Macros
Support
Symbols
Users
Guest
Macro
AcrobatReader sub-directory
This directory contains the Acrobat Reader installation software that is
required to read the online documentation stored in the Docs sub-
directory.
Docs sub-directory
The on-line version of the printed documentation is stored in the Docs
directory.
Examples sub-directory
This directory contains example drawings and sheet files.
Macro sub-directory
This directory is used to store CAD macros that are executed from the
menu. These macros should not be deleted.

Support sub-directory
This directory contains various supporting files used to test the DDE link
to Visual Basic.
Symbols sub-directory
By default, symbol is the directory where the program looks for symbol
files when you use File Load Symbol File. To change the default directory
where the program looks for symbol files, you must edit the CAD.INI file
in your User Home directory (see below) using any text editor such as
Windows Notepad or the DOS editor.
The symbol directory will contain some sample symbol files as well as
symbol files for you to use when you are working through the tutorials.
Users sub-directory
The Users sub-directory contains another sub-directory called Guest. By
default, Guest is your User Home directory.

User Home directory
The directory where your menus, hatch patterns, defaults and line types
are stored is called your User Home directory.
Each user can have their own User Home directory. See Multiple Users
later in this chapter.
The User Home directory contains the following files:

• IDE.MEN
Defines the menu structure, icon functions and accelerator keys in
the Design Centre.
• CAD.MEN
Defines the menu structure, icon functions and accelerator keys in
the CAD Window.
• SURVEY.MEN
Defines the menu structure in the Survey Mode.
• TERRAIN.MEN
Defines the menu structure in the Terrain Mode.
• ROAD.MEN
Defines the menu structure in the Roads Mode.
• SEWER.MEN
Defines the menu structure in the Sewer Mode.
• STORM.MEN
Defines the menu structure in the Storm Mode.
• WATER.MEN
Defines the menu structure in Water Mode.
• MAP.MEN
Defines the menu structure in MAP Mode.
• LINETYPE.MAC
Defines the standard line styles.
• HATCH.PAT
This contains hatch pattern definitions.
• STARTUP.DRG
This is a drawing that contains your drawing defaults. It is loaded
each time you start the program or start a new drawing.

• CAD.INI
This stores defaults relating to printing, DXF and DWG transfers,
digitizer setup, colours etc.
• DOM.TXT
The Drawing Office Manager data file. This is updated if you have
specified you want to use the Drawing Office Manager (see Save
Settings in the Reference Manual).
• CAD.LOG
If activated this logs everything you do during a CAD session. See
CAD.INI.
• COMPASS.DRG
This is a compass that you can automatically insert on your drawing
when you print using File Zoom Print. There is also a compass
called COMPASSN.DRG which is a more elaborate compass. If you
want to use COMPASSN instead of COMPASS, rename it to
COMPASS.DRG.

Macro sub-directory
The Macro directory is the directory where the program looks for CAD
macros to execute.
The following macros are used by CAD functions and should not be
deleted:
• ARCTEXT.MAC
Used for drawing text around arcs.
• CUT&RUB.MAC
Used in Modify Cut and Rub.
• DDETEST.MAC
Example of DDE use.
• DIMS.MAC
Defines the menu of dimension types that appears when you click on
the Dimension icon in the Main toolbar.
• DIVELN.MAC
Changes the line type of part of a line.
• LOADTITL.MAC
Used in File Load Load Title Block.
• MOVEDIST.MAC
Attached to the comma key for use in accurate drawing.
• MOVEPT.MAC
Used in Modify Move Point.
• POLYGON.MAC
Used in Draw Polygon.
• TCMACRO.MAC
Example of DDE usage.

Multiple users
Different users can have their own User Home directories storing their
own menus, hatch patterns, defaults and line types.
For example, one user's preferred menus, hatch patterns, defaults and
line types may be stored in the default User Home directory, Guest.
Other users can then create their own personal sub-directories in which
their preferred menu, hatch patterns, defaults and line types are stored.
See Adding new users below.
HOME
DRAWING
SYMBOL
EXAMPLES
USERS
GUEST
MACRO
PAUL
MACRO
VINCENT
MACRO
ARCH
MACRO
MECH
MACRO
As well as creating sub-directories for different users, you can also create
sub-directories for different types of drawing.
For example, in the diagram above, all of Guest's preferred settings will
be stored in the Guest sub-directory, all of Paul's preferred settings will
be stored in the Paul sub-directory, all of Vincent's preferred settings will
be stored in the Vincent sub-directory, etc.

The Arch sub-directory may contain defaults suitable for architectural
drawings, e.g. a default scale of 1:50 and special brick hatch patterns.
The Mech sub-directory may contain defaults suitable for mechanical
drawing, etc.
Adding new users

Before you can add a new user sub-directory, you must switch on the Ask
Logon name at Startup checkbox in the Settings System Settings dialog
box.
Now, when you start the program, the Login dialog box is displayed.
To add a new user sub-directory, click on the Add new name button in
this dialog box. The dialog below is displayed.
Type the new user sub-directory's name into the New name box. From
the Copy from list box, select one of the existing sub-directories. The
contents of the existing sub-directory will be copied into the new sub-
directory. These copied files can later be edited or overwritten, for
example with the new user's preferred menu system.
When you click on OK, the program will start up using the new user sub-
directory.
Whenever you start the program in future, the Login dialog box will be
displayed. Select the login name you want to use and click on OK. The
menu, hatch patterns, defaults and line types stored in that sub-directory
will be loaded.

Deleting user sub-directories
To delete a user sub-directory, simply delete it from your hard drive
using Windows Explorer. Do not do this while Civil Designer is running.

Starting Civil Designer from Windows.
Once installation is complete, you can run the program by clicking on:
Start Programs Civil Designer 6.2 Civil Designer 6.2
To exit from inside the program, select File Exit.
Security
Before you can use the program you must call for an authorization code
as follows:
1. Start the program.
2. Ensure that the security module, if supplied, is plugged into your
printer port.
3. Select the File Security Authorize option.
4. Answer yes or no to the question “Do you have a black activator
dongle?” A dialog box with your program code will be displayed.
Contact Knowledge Base at the displayed number for your return
code or click on the Save button and email Knowledge Base at
support@knowbase.co.za with the contents of the
AUTHORISATION.TXT file.
5. Input the return code and press the [Authorize] button.
You are now ready to go. For more details refer to Security in the
Reference Manual.
Safety precautions
Please insure your program for the full replacement value. Should
your security module be lost or stolen you will have to purchase a new
license.

What to do now
While Civil Designer is easy to use even without a manual, you will get
up and running more quickly if you read the following chapters:
• The Civil Designer Concept
• Screen, Mouse and Keyboard
• Accurate Drawing
Also work through the Tutorials
Once you begin working on your own projects you can consult the
relevant chapters of the manual for explanations of individual commands
Refer to the following chapters in the Reference Manual that is supplied
on disk in PDF format.
• Colours
• Line Types
• Hatch Patterns
• CAD.MEN
• Defaults
Many CAD functions have short cuts associated with them. These are
given in the relevant chapters.
In order to get the best out of the program we strongly recommend that
you learn the short cuts relating to the functions you use. You can also
define your own short cuts. To do this, see the above- mentioned
chapters.

Tutorials
The program is supplied with four tutorials.
Ideally, you should do all the tutorials consecutively. However, each
tutorial is a complete exercise and the designer in a hurry can do any
tutorial in isolation if necessary.
Tutorial 1 - The Screen
Shows you how to load a drawing and move around the screen, i.e. zoom,
magnify, pan etc.
Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing
Draw eight rectangles using absolute, relative and polar methods. These
include using a grid, jumps and snaps.
Tutorial 3 - CAD Basics
Covers CAD basics like filleting, chamfering, parallel lines, hatching,
text, dimensions.
Tutorial 4 - DTM Basics
Teaches you how to create a DTM (digital terrain model).
Things you should know

If you read nothing else you should read the following chapters as they
contain information that is vital for producing accurate drawings quickly.
Screen, Mouse and Keyboard is an introduction to the program screen
and the terms used to describe its components.
Accurate Drawing lists methods of absolute, relative and polar cursor
movement.
Troubleshooting is a basic trouble-shooting guide on common questions
and problems.

The Concept
Civil Designer consists of a suite of fully interactive design modules
which combine to form an integrated data gathering, drawing, surface
modeling and design system.
Every routine shares a common data structure and there are facilities to
manipulate data from the basic collection stages all the way through to
final contract drawings.
This seamless interaction between the design tools results in even

greater productivity. No longer do you have to transfer data between
different design programs. In Civil Designer each design module will
share its data with the other modules when required.
All the modules interact with the user and each other through the
simplified and streamlined interface. We've spent hundreds of hours
analyzing CADD methods and have developed an optimized command
system that places the most common operations within one keystroke or
button click.
The Control Bar dramatically cuts the number of user responses for
much faster editing and drawing so those complex tasks are completed
easily.
With Civil Designer all your design tasks will now be faster and easier,
and you will be able to do much more than before.
The Concept 3-1

The Design Centre
This is the heart of the system and contains the AllyCAD
Graphical Engine and the Topographical Engine. It allows
you to create new drawings with supporting digital terrain
modeling (DTM) data.
Jobs are saved as projects that allow specific defaults and
setup information to be saved. Projects are based on a specific
hemisphere, projection and datum including WGS84.
All design options take place in the integrated industrial-strength 2D
production CAD that allows for easy display of backdrop drawings and
the use of CAD functions to define design elements. All output is directed
to a CAD window for preview and enhancement.
For example, you could load a cadastral drawing of a new housing
development, import ASCII data from the topographical survey and
generate the DTM. Now you can switch on the contour display or the
slope shading. When the design module needs an elevation it simply
queries the DTM without any effort from you.
Similarly, you can produce plans with multiple services overlaid on the
cadastral and terrain data. In a matter of minutes you can also calculate
where services may clash.
The terrain database has a theoretical limit of two thousand million
points. Actual capacity will depend on available disk space. Data may be
allocated into one of 128 terrain surfaces or road layers.
The design modules use the Design Centre to communicate with each
other and with you, the user.
There is little inter-dependency between different routines in the suite.
You can run any routine at any time. This means that you have complete
freedom and flexibility to decide how to handle your tasks.
Obviously certain functions require certain types of information before
they will work. For example, you cannot calculate a volume until there
are end areas, you cannot get road edge levels until there is a vertical
alignment, and so on.

The Survey + Terrain Module
Survey+Terrain is a digital terrain modeling program
that provides interactive earthworks design and
calculations. It will handle the whole process from initial
field work through design and working drawings to the
final construction control.
 Display a bitmap or cadastral backdrop to view the spatial
relationship of earthworks to other services or natural features.
 Intelli-Line break line generation allows you to use cheap computer
time to define the model features instead of expensive manual
breakline definition. Thereafter fill in the rest of the site in a matter
of seconds with the lightning fast triangulation option which retains
feature lines.
 Filter the points display to remove background clutter and only show
break points and lines.
 Terrace volumes may be calculated by simply clicking on the terrace
in question, making the calculation of individual terrace volumes on
a multi-terrace site a snap. Or simply balance the cut and fill volumes
with the optimization function.
 Merge the terrace with the underlying ground profile to create a final
site model quickly and easily.
 Generate pipeline long sections with pipes between manholes, pipes
defined by length or pipes parallel to the ground profile. Graphically
fine-tune the design before calculating trench volumes.
 Visualize the final project in a rendered three dimensional view with
light source, textures and bitmap draping.
The Concept 3-3

The Roads Module
Roads is a comprehensive road design program that
provides interactive embankment design and
calculations. It is eminently suitable for urban and rural
roads, freeways, airports, railways and dams.
 Display a bitmap showing natural features, a cadastral layout or the

site contours while editing the horizontal alignment. Route planning
has never been so easy.
 The road profile provides for various height related cut and fill
conditions to determine the batters.
 Layerworks calculated by the pavement designer or specified
manually.
 The vertical alignment function allows you to display up to 4 profiles
such as the ground line at the centre line plus the left and right road
reserves while the grade envelope will guide you according to the
design criteria. The stake position is dynamically displayed on the
plan view so you know exactly where the horizontal curves are.
 Precise control of the road edge levels allows you to apply complex
super-elevation conditions and it makes provision for changes in lane
widths for climbing lanes or bus bays.
 Up to 20 surfaces may be plotted on long and cross sections. Plot
your long sections with the ground line at the stake line as well as at
the left and right road reserve. You can even include intermediate
and hard ground lines on the same drawing.
 Sections are stored in up to 128 surfaces. Use Roads to keep track of
progress during construction by recording each month's results in a
separate surface. Calculate volumes between any 2 surfaces.
 "Drive" down the completed road in a rendered 3D view to check for
blind rises and other anomalies (requires Survey+Terrain module).

The Sewer Module
Sewer is a powerful analysis and design program for foul
water networks that combines a powerful design engine
with drawing and terrain modeling functions.
 The graphical interaction allows you to easily insert nodes and links,
make changes to an existing layout by moving a node, change the
flow direction or query a link with a click of the mouse.
 View the network with a bitmap or cadastral backdrop. Or display
the site contours and slope shading to decide on optimum network
layout. Manholes and culverts are displayed in user-defined line
styles and colours with optional input and design data.
 Combine new and existing culverts consisting of multiple types and
sizes in one model. If all the parameters of a culvert are defined the
program analyze it's performance, otherwise it will determine the
best solution for the outstanding data based on the design
parameters.
 Simulate the complex system of flows and overflows that are often
found in modern towns and cities. The comprehensive network
design will take into account the relationship between different
branches.
 Attenuation is calculated at every node in the network resulting in a
solution which is 30% to 100% more cost-effective than simply
adding the inflow peaks together. The dynamic time simulation
allows you to view the flow hydrographs of single or multiple culverts
in order to gain an insight into the dynamics of the system.
 Generate construction drawings such as layout plans and
longsections or calculate quantities. The ground profile is
automatically extracted from the supporting digital terrain model
when required.
The Concept 3-5

The Storm Module
Storm is a powerful analysis and design program for
runoff events that combines a powerful design engine
with drawing and terrain modeling functions.
 Graphical interaction allows you to easily insert nodes and links,

flow direction or query a link with a click of the mouse.
layout. Manholes and culverts are displayed in user-defined line
styles and colours with optional input and design data.
 Combine new and existing culverts consisting of multiple types and
sizes in one model. If all the parameters of a culvert are defined the
program analyze it's performance, otherwise it will determine the
best solution.
 Simulate the complex system of dual runoffs and overflows that are
often found in modern towns and cities, including detention storage,
limited flow, limited inflow and limited storage.
 Flows are routed using the Continuity equation or the Time Shift
method resulting in a solution which is 30% to 100% more cost-
effective than simply adding the runoff peaks together.
 The Illudas method allows you to use the standard Chicago storm or
synthesize a storm from Intensity-Duration-Frequency curves.
 Attenuate runoffs by means of reservoir routing with full
performance reporting. Reservoir results include a table of the water
depth, inflow, outflow and storage for the duration of the runoff
event as well as a graph of depth vs. time indicating the full storage
level.

The Water Module
Water is a powerful, yet easy to use program for the
analysis analysis and extended time simulation of fluid
handling networks consisting of pipes, valves, reservoirs
and pump stations.
 Import data from various sources such as ASCII tables,

spreadsheets, dBase or MS Access tables as well as DXF files.
 Graphical interaction allows you to easily insert nodes and links,
flow direction or query/edit a link with a click of the mouse.
layout.
 Analyse suburbs separately and combine new and existing models to
simulate the complex system of networks that are often found in
modern towns and cities. The comprehensive network design will
take into account the relationship between different branches.
 Time based demand patterns may be defined for different categories
of water usage. Each draw-off point may have a different demand
pattern.
 The impact of extensions to the network, increased demand,
imposition of water restrictions, power failures, major pipe breaks
and empty reservoir conditions may be readily determined.
 Attach external table such as GIS attributes, consumption, tariff or
demographic details. Measured consumption can be compared to the
model to assist in accurate calibration.
 Display the results of an analysis graphically by colour, in tables, or
on time-based curves.
 Generate long sections with the ground profile automatically
extracted from the supporting digital terrain model.
The Concept 3-7

The CAD Module
The CAD module utilises the AllyCAD Graphical Engine to
add extra drawing functions to the Design Centre to give
you full drawing capabilities in conjunction with the
underlying DTM.
AllyCAD is a fast, powerful and very easy to use 2D production computer

aided draughting program for Windows 95/98 and NT/2000. It is designed
for use by professional engineers, surveyors, architects, draughtspersons
and all others who need a versatile yet easy to use drawing program.
 Open multiple drawings at once and cut and paste between them.
CAD also works well with the Windows clipboard. Add drawings to
other documents by simply copying the portion of the drawing you
want and pasting it into the document.
 Edit items easily by double clicking on them. To move an item,
simply drag it to where you want it. Similarly, to rotate or scale an
item just grab the rotation or scale handles and the job is done.
 Full True Type font support and definable line widths mean you get
professional drawings.
 Correcting mistakes is painless. CAD comes with full UNDO which
lets you undo 1000 steps. The REDO lets you reverse an undone
operation and move forward again.
 Read and write AutoCAD Rel 12, 13, 14, 2000 and 2002 DWG and
DXF, as well as Caddie Exchange (CEX), ArcView Shape (SHP) and
ASCII text files.

The working environment
The application uses two standard and various other child or sub-
windows to display different aspects of your data.
The two windows in which you will do most of the modeling and
calculations are the Design Centre and Road windows, while you will use
the CAD window for viewing, editing and manipulating plots once they
are generated.
The Spreadsheet window is used for entering various data items and you
use the Output window for viewing listings and the results of calculations
that are displayed on the screen.
Activating a particular mode

At least two, and at times all five, of these windows will be displayed at
the same time. The Design Centre window is always displayed and may
not be closed. The Output window is displayed at the bottom of the
Design Centre window and can be dragged smaller and larger on the
screen, or be closed by the user. The Road and Spreadsheet windows,
however, are only displayed when needed and can be closed by the user,
or will close automatically when no longer required. The Road window
can however be setup to be permanently displayed, as was the case with
the previous Stardust program. See the section on INI File Components
in the on-line help file.
The menu bar is independent of the currently active window (except for
the CAD window which has its own menu) and is based solely on the
currently active design mode. In order to access the menu commands for
a particular design mode, you may either click on one of the buttons in
the design module toolbar or select the required design mode from the
Mode menu.
For example, to activate the Terrain menu, the user has to click on the
Terrain button in the design toolbar or select the Mode Terrain Mode
option from the current menu.
The Concept 3-9

Output
You may output data to a printer or ASCII file at any time during the
calculation routines.
The main output components are three types of drawing.
1. Layout plans and 3-D views
2. Road cross sections
3. Long sections
Any of these items can be accessed from the Plot menu option of the
currently active module. The drawings that may be created are
dependent on the contents of the plotting sheet file that is loaded.
Any of these can be mixed on a sheet. So, on a short township road, you
might elect to have everything on a single drawing such as sections on
the left, plan in the upper right corner and long section in the lower
right.
You can customise the actual layout of the information on the drawing
takes and save it in a sheet template.
Cross sections can be oriented and sized and include data in various
formats.
Long sections can list edge levels, super elevation diagrams, curve data
and just about anything else that might be required for construction.
Road plans can show chainages, cut and fill banks, cadastral details and
topography.
All drawings are transferred to a CAD window where they can be
modified or enhanced using the CAD functions before being transferred
to a plotter or printer, or stored for subsequent plotting, or exported to a
file in a form suitable for importation to another CAD program.

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard
This section describes the various components that make up the Civil
Designer screen. These are the:
• Title Bar
• Menu Bar
• Prompt Area and Control Bar
• Line Type Display
• Layer Display
• Toolbars
• Drawing Area
• Smart Cursor Help
• Coordinate Display
• Mouse
• Keyboard
Screen, Mouse and Keyboard 4-1

Screen Overview
The Civil Designer screen is divided into several parts, as shown below.
These parts are described in detail on the next pages.

Title Bar
Like all Windows programs, Civil Designer has a Title Bar running
across the top. This will look different depending on the version of
Windows you are running. It displays the name of the drawing you are
working on together with the disk drive it is located on and the directory
it is stored in.
For the meanings of the buttons on the Title Bar, see the documentation
that came with your copy of Windows.
Menu Bar
All of Civil Designer's functions can be accessed from the Pull-Down
menus on the Menu Bar, although there are shortcuts to many functions
via the icons in the Toolbars, or via the keyboard.
The type of function in each menu is summarised below:
Save, Stretch,
load, move, Text,
import, mirror, dimensions,
export, Zoom, copy, arrows,
print, pan, scale, balloons, Arrange all
quit viewports rotate hatching Grouping open windows
File Edit View Draw Modify Geometry Annotate Tools Objects Settings Windows Help
Undo, Lines, Construction Lock cursor, Paper size, Online

cut, Arcs, lines and jumps, units, scale, help
paste, Circles, circles snaps, line, text,
select Ellipses, grids, dimension
etc. measuring, and arrow
query defaults,
layers
Individual functions in each menu are described in full detail in the

reference section of the manual. If you do not know how to select
functions from the Pull-Down menus, refer to the documentation that
came with your copy of Windows.

Prompt Area and Control Bar
Prompts will be displayed in the prompt area asking for input or telling
you what to do. You type information, answer questions or select options
in the Control Bar. There are several types of prompts and responses.
You are prompted to enter a point or position

If you are prompted to enter a point or a position, for example the first
point of a line, position the cursor in the Drawing Area. Then press
[Enter] or click to accept the position.
You are prompted to enter information

Some prompts expect you to type information into the Control Bar.
In this example, Civil Designer is asking how far you want to move to the
right after you have pressed the [Right-Arrow] key. A default answer
“10” is given.
If you want to accept the default answer, click on the OK button or press
[Enter].
If you want to change the default answer, simply type the answer you
want. So long as the default answer is highlighted, it will automatically
be overtyped.
Alternatively, click in the white part of the Control Bar and use the arrow
and backspace keys to delete the default answer. Then type the answer
you want. When the answer is to your satisfaction, accept it by clicking
on the OK button or pressing [Enter].
If you want to terminate the function click on the Cancel button.
Yes/No questions
Some prompts require a Yes or No answer. A [YES] button and a [NO]
button will appear on the Control Bar and you must click on one or the
other box to answer the question.

In this example, an angle will be dimensioned if you click on the [YES]
button and an arc length will be dimensioned if you click on the [NO]
button. The option that will be carried out if you click on the [NO] button
is always enclosed in brackets.
Questions with a choice of answers

Some prompts give you a choice of several answers, one of which is the
default.
In this example, you are being given the choice of running, chained or
free dimensions. The default is Running.
If you want to accept the default answer, click on the OK button or press
[Enter].
If you want to change the default answer, type the answer you want, for
example “C” for chained dimensions or “F” for free dimensions. So long
as the default answer is highlighted it will automatically be overtyped.
Alternatively, click in the white part of the Control Bar and use the arrow
and backspace keys to delete the default answer. Then type the answer
you want. When the answer is to your satisfaction, accept it by clicking
on the OK button or by pressing [Enter].
Various options appear on the Control Bar

When you select some functions a row of options appear on the Control
Bar. You need to edit these options to your satisfaction before
responding to the prompt in the Prompt Area.

In this example, you need to select a symbol - either by name or by
viewing it, then specify snipping, rotation, scale and mirroring of the
symbol. When you have done this, you can respond to the prompt
Enter position for symbol
by positioning the cursor where you want the symbol to appear and
pressing [Enter] or clicking to accept this position.
You are prompted to enter a polygon around something

In many CAD functions (e.g. Edit Select by Polygon, Modify Stretch,
etc.) you are asked to enter a polygon around something. The function
then operates on the part of the drawing inside this polygon. The
procedure for drawing a polygon is as follows. When Civil Designer
prompts:
Enter polygon about...
You can either draw a regular box around the part of your drawing to be
operated on or, if it is an irregular shape, you can draw an irregular
polygon around it.
To draw a regular box, you must respond to the prompts as follows.
A large cross hair with the cursor at the cross centre appears on the
screen.
Position the cursor at one corner of the

box that will enclose the part of the
drawing to be operated on and press
[Enter] or click.
Civil Designer will prompt:
Enter next point of polygon
[Space Bar for a box]

Move the cursor to the diagonally opposite
corner of the box to enclose the part of the
drawing to be operated on.
As you move the cursor, you will see it is
attached to a box with a diagonal line
through it.
Press the [Space Bar], or click on [Done].
The function you are using will now
resume.
To draw an irregular polygon around the

part of the drawing to be operated on, you
must respond to the prompts as follows:
A large cross hair with the cursor at the
cross centre appears on the screen.
Position the cursor at one vertex of the
polygon and press [Enter] or click.

[Space Bar for a box]
Move the cursor to the next vertex on the
polygon boundary. As you move the
cursor, you will see it is attached to a box
with a diagonal line through it. Press
[Enter] or click.
Civil Designer will continue to prompt:

Next point of polygon (Space Bar
to Close)
Move the cursor to the next vertex on the
polygon and press [Enter] or click.

Civil Designer will continue to prompt for
the next point of the polygon. Continue to
enter polygon vertices.
When you have entered the last vertex,
move the cursor close to the first point
you entered.
Press the [Space Bar], or click on [Done].
The polygon is automatically closed.
Using the Command Line in the Control Bar

Instead of selecting functions from the Pull-Down menus, Toolbars etc.,
you can type commands into the Command Line - the white part of the
Control Bar after the word Command:
Hit the [ / ] key to move the cursor into the Command Line, or click in it.
Then type the name corresponding to the function you want to use. A list
of function names appears in Appendix A of the Reference Manual. For
example, if you type
load
Civil Designer will prompt for which drawing to load. You can also add
parameters to the function names. See Macros in the Reference Manual.
For example, if you type
load "filter"
The drawing called “filter” will be loaded from the current directory.
Line Type Display

The Line Type Display displays the currently selected line type. To
change line type, click on the arrow to the right of the display. A list of
line types appears. Click on the one you want to use.
If you select the By Layer option, Civil Designer will use the line types
assigned to each layer in the Layer control Panel.
You can also change line type using Settings Line Defaults or by right
clicking on the Line icon on the Main toolbar.

Layer Display
The Layer Display displays the currently selected layer. Everything that
you draw appears on this current layer. To change the current layer,
click on the arrow to the right of the display. A list of layers appears.
Click on the one you want to use.
You can also change the current layer using the Settings Set Current
Layer function. You can change the current layer and add further layers
to your drawing using the Settings Layer Control function.

Pen Selection
You can customise the first 16 of the 255 pens that are available and are
shown in the Select Colour dialog box when you click on the [Pen] button
in the Control Bar.
You can also click on the AutoCAD Colours button in the Colour toolbar
for a different range of colours as used by AutoCAD.
You can only customise colours when you are in CAD colour mode. You
cannot customise the colours when the AutoCAD Colors check box is on.
To customise a colour, click on the [Pen] button in the Control Bar. Civil
Designer displays the Select Colour dialog box.
Right click on one of the first sixteen colours in the Standard colour area.
The custom colour dialog box is displayed. Click on a new colour from
the palette, or create your own colour, then click on OK.
The customised colour will affect all your drawings. For example, if you
change the red (pen 1) to blue, all the lines that have been drawn on your
existing drawings in pen 1 and that were previously shown in red will
now be shown in blue.
Customised colours are stored in the INI file in your user home
directory. Different users can define different colours and store them in
their own user home directories. See Multiple Users.

Many colours will not display properly unless your graphics card is set
to display 65000 colours. Whether this is possible or not depends on
your hardware.
There is also a Colour toolbar, usually at the right side of Civil Designer
screen. This toolbar only lists the first 16 colour choices. For example, by
default 1 is red, 2 is olive, 3 is yellow etc.

Toolbars
There are 10 toolbars:
• Main
Usually to the left of your screen. This has some of the most
frequently used functions used in the creation of a drawing.
• Screen
Contains shortcuts to often used screen functions (like Magnify,
Zoom). This toolbar is normally hidden. Right click in the Drawing
Area to display it.
• Colour
This displays the colours that the first 15 pens are mapped to.
• Snaps
with shortcuts to often used snap functions (like Graball, Freehand )
• Files
This contains icons to functions like Cut, Save etc.
• View
Shortcuts to view functions such as zoom, magnify, etc.
• Modify
Shortcuts to move, copy, rotate, stretch, mirror, fillet & chamfer
selections as well as to trim, divide and extend lines.
• Geometry
Functions to create geometry entities
• Dimensions
Functions to add dimensions and measure distance and area
Click on View Toolbars to select which toolbars must be visible. A list
with the names of the 10 toolbars pops up. Those that are currently
visible have a tick next to them.
Move the mouse over the names and click on an appropriate one to
either display or make it invisible. If you have made it visible you can
now position it anywhere on the screen.
If you drag the toolbar very close to an edge of the screen, you will see
that it changes to align itself to that edge. Let go of the mouse button to
dock it in that position if you wish.
Each icon in the toolbars represents a short cut to a function in the Pull-
Down menus. As you move the cursor over a button on a toolbar a tool-
tip will be displayed explaining the functions assigned to the button.

The left functions are the ones that are executed when you click on the
icon with your left mouse button. The right functions are the ones that
are executed when you click on the icon with your right mouse button.
As you pass your mouse over an icon, the Smart Cursor Help on the
status bar at the bottom of the Civil Designer window tells you what it
does.
The icons on the toolbars may vary slightly in different versions of the
program. The icons in the toolbars are listed in more detail in Appendix
B of the Reference Manual. You can also customise the icons and the
position where the toolbar is initially docked in the CAD.MEN file.

Drawing Area
The Drawing Area represents your sheet of paper, and it is here that you
draw. When you zoom in or magnify, the drawing area represents only a
portion of your sheet of paper. When you zoom out or de-magnify, you
will see a dotted rectangle that defines your sheet of paper.
The View Zoom Paper option redraws the screen so that the drawing
area displays your whole sheet of paper.
Running along the bottom of the Drawing Area is the Ruler Bar. At the
left hand end of the Ruler bar is a number. This indicates the
approximate length of each section in the Ruler Bar. This length is
measured in the units selected in Drawing Settings in the Settings menu.
You can turn off the Ruler Bar by un-checking the Ruler option in the
Settings View Settings option.
Along the bottom and right side of the Drawing Area are Scroll Bars.
These can be used to pan around the drawing (for more information
refer to the documentation that came with your copy of Windows). You
can turn off the Scroll Bars in the Settings View Settings option.
Note that when you use the Scroll Bars, the Scroll Box (the little square
that you slide around) will always spring back to the middle of the Scroll
Bar after you have finished panning. This is because the Drawing Area
stretches to infinity.
Cursor
By default, the cursor is arrow-shaped. It looks either like this:
or like this
This cursor is called the Select Cursor. If you go to Edit Select Nodes the
cursor will change to the node shape shown below:
or

To return to the arrow-shaped cursor, click on the Select icon.
When you enter any function, such as Draw Line (Chained) the cursor
takes on a different shape, determined by the Snap mode you are using.
Dialog Boxes
Dialog boxes are displayed in the drawing area temporarily during
functions. They allow you to enter information and choose options. For
example, drawing settings like paper size, units etc. are selected in a
dialog box, as are settings controlling the way text and lines etc. will be
displayed.
For detailed instructions on how to use and edit dialog boxes, consult the
documentation that came with your copy of Windows.
Smart Cursor Help and Coordinate Display
Smart Cursor Help Coordinate Display
When the cursor touches different parts of the screen, a brief explanation
of what each part does is shown in the Smart Cursor Help. This is
especially useful for learning the functions of the icons in the toolbar.
When the cursor is in the Drawing Area, the Smart Cursor Help tells you
the scale and paper size you are using, and whether you are using a grid.
The Coordinate Display displays either the absolute coordinate position
of the cursor on the screen or the distance and angle of the cursor from
the last point you entered.

The Mouse
In this manual, clicking means to press and release the left mouse button
quickly.
When a click with your right mouse button is required, the expression
right click or right clicking is used.
The left and right mouse buttons have the following functions.
Left button
Single click of the left mouse button on the:
• Control Bar
Click on the [YES] button, the [NO] button, the [OK] button or the
[Cancel] button, and to select options when these appear.
• Line Type Display, Layer Display and Pen button
Selects a new line type, layer or pen respectively.
• Drawing Area
Accepts the position of a point, of text, of dimensions etc. during
function execution. If no function is active selects the entity closest
to the cursor.
• Pull-Down menus
Select a menu, and then to select a function on that menu.
• Toolbar
Selects the function that has been assigned to it for the icon you are
clicking on.
Double clicking the left mouse button with the Select cursor on:
• A Line
The Line Style dialog box is displayed. See Line Defaults in the
Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
• A Text item
The Text Entry dialog box is displayed. See Set Text Defaults in the
Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
• A Horizontal, vertical, ordinate or slope dimension
Execute the Edit Dimension Properties function. See Edit Dimension
in the Annotate Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
• An arrow
The Arrow Defaults dialog box is displayed. See Set Arrow Defaults
in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.

• A polyline or bezier curve
The Polyline Defaults dialog box is displayed. See Polyline Defaults
in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
• The edge of a bitmap
the Set Bitmap Parameters dialog box appears. See Load Bitmap in
Load in the File Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
Right button
Clicking with the right mouse button in the:
• Toolbar
Selects the function that has been assigned to the icon you are
clicking on.
• Drawing Area
Displays the Screen toolbar.

The Keyboard
Certain keys are used by all the functions.
Enter and Escape Keys

The [Enter] key accepts answers in the Control Bar or accepts points in
the Drawing Area.
The [Esc] key cancels the function you are using.
Space Bar
If you are not using a function, the [Space Bar] repeats the last function
you used. If you are using a function, pressing the [Space Bar] ends it.
Arrow, Home, PgUp, End and PgDn keys

These keys are used for accurate relative movement. See Accurate
Drawing.
Forward Slash Key

The [/] key moves the cursor up to the Command Line in the Control
Bar. See Prompt Area and Control Bar, earlier in this chapter.
Accelerators
Many of Civil Designer's functions can be accessed by a single keystroke.
These one-key short cuts are called Accelerators because they accelerate
the time it takes for you to access a function. The accelerators that access
particular functions are shown with those functions in the Reference
section of the manual.
Appendix II of the Reference Manual includes a full list of accelerators.
The function assigned to each key is user definable and is determined

in the CAD.MEN file.

Tutorial 1 – The Screen
This tutorial will show you the basic screen handling features of Civil
Designer. You will learn how to:
• Load a drawing
• Magnify a portion of the drawing
• Pan across a drawing
• De-magnify
• Zoom into portions of the drawing
Tutorial 1 – The Screen 5-1

Important notes to read before you start this tutorial
If you do not know what the different parts of the screen are called read
the chapter on Screen, Mouse and Keyboard before you start this tutorial.
Dialog Boxes and Pull-Down Menus

This tutorial assumes that you have a basic knowledge of Windows. If
you do not know how to edit a Dialog Box or access a Pull-Down Menu,
read the documentation that came with your copy of Windows.
Clicking
In this tutorial, clicking refers to clicking with your left mouse button
unless otherwise specified.
When a click with your right mouse button is required, the term right
click or right clicking is used.
Clicking is to press and release a mouse button quickly.
Notes
Notes are not part of the tutorial. They provide alternative methods of
accessing functions and extra information for those who are interested.
Illustrations
The icons, menus, ruler bar and other items that surround the drawing
area may be slightly different on your own screen than the ones shown in
the illustrations. This will not affect your use of the tutorial.
In case you get lost or stuck ...

If you get lost or stuck while you are doing this tutorial, do the following:
• Press the [Esc] key to cancel all functions.
• Redraw the screen by pressing the short-cut key [R], or by right
clicking on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar or the Screen
toolbar.
• Repeat the tutorial from the previous subheading (e.g. Magnifying,
Panning etc.).

Loading a drawing
Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting the File New option.
To load a drawing, click on the Open icon. A dialog box with the title
Filename to Read appears. This dialog box can be used to load AllyCAD
drawings, AutoCAD DWG drawings or DXF files. The drawing you are
going to load is called “hydcyl”. By default, hydcyl is in the Drawing sub-
directory.
Click on “hydcyl.drg” in the list, then click on Open. The file hydcyl will
be loaded and displayed.
Error! Objects cannot be created from editing field codes.
If you can only see part of this drawing on the screen, press [R] on your
keyboard. The whole drawing will then appear.

Magnifying
You are now going to magnify part of your drawing so that the detail can
be seen. Move your cursor onto the part of the drawing you want to
magnify right click to display the Screen toolbar and click on the Magnify
icon. The drawing is magnified at the cursor position by a factor of three
(the default) as shown below.
If you magnify a second time, your drawing will be further magnified by

a factor of three, i.e. it will be nine times larger than it was originally. If
you magnify a third time, your drawing will be further magnified by a
factor of three, i.e. it will 27 times larger than it was originally, etc.
To change the default magnification factor of three, go to
Settings Change Magnify Factor.
The Magnify function can also be activated from the View menu or by
moving your cursor to the part of the screen you want to magnify and
pressing the [M] key on your keyboard.
The [M] key is called an Accelerator because it is a fast way of accessing the
Magnify command. The screen is magnified at the cursor position. You can
define your own accelerator keys and which functions appear in the
toolbars. See CAD.MEN.

Panning
Panning allows you to move around the drawing while it is magnified.
There are two ways of panning: Pan, where the part of the drawing at the
cursor position is moved to the screen centre, and Long Pan, where you
place a box around the part of the drawing you want on the screen.
You can also pan using the Scroll Bars at the right and bottom of the
screen. For details on how to do this, see the documentation that came
with your copy of Windows. You can switch off the scroll bars in
Settings View Settings if you do not want to use them.
Pan
Move your cursor to the part of the drawing that you want in the centre
of your screen. Click on the Pan icon in the Screen toolbar. The part of
the drawing that was at the cursor position is moved to the screen centre.
See the next two figures.
Before the Pan function

After the Pan function
You can also Pan by using the short cut key [W], or via the View menu.
Long Pan
Right click on the Pan icon. A small dotted square representing your
sheet of paper appears, with the drawing inside it. If you move your
mouse so that the cursor appears somewhere outside the dotted square,
you will see that a box accompanies it. Civil Designer prompts:
Enter pan box
Move the cursor so that this box surrounds the part of the drawing you
want to display. Click. Your chosen area appears on the screen.
You can also Long Pan by pressing the [;] key, or via the View menu.

Demagnifying
Once you no longer need a magnified drawing, you can de-magnify. The
part of the drawing at the cursor position will be at the screen centre
after demagnification. Position your cursor at the desired spot and right
click to call up the Screen toolbar. Then right click on the Magnify icon.
The screen is de-magnified.
You can also de-magnify by pressing [D], or via the View menu.
When you de-magnify, your drawing is not necessarily returned to its

original size and view. To return to your starting magnification, you must
use the Zoom Paper command. This displays your whole sheet of paper
and its contents. To use Zoom Paper, press the short-cut key [R], or right
click on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar.
You can also access Zoom Paper via the View menu or the Zoom icon
on the Screen toolbar.

Zooming
Zooming has the same effect as magnifying but you must first draw a box
around the part of your drawing that you want magnified. Click on the
Zoom icon in the Screen or the Files toolbar.
A menu list pops up.
Click on the Zoom Window option.

A large cross hair with the cursor at its centre appears on the screen.
Civil Designer prompts:
Enter a corner of zoom box
Click at a corner of the area you want to magnify into.
Enter second corner of rectangle
Click at the diagonally opposite corner of the area you want to magnify
into. The area you have defined is enlarged. Use the Zoom Paper
command to return your screen to its original magnification by pressing
the short cut key [R] on you keyboard, right clicking on the Redraw icon
in the Files toolbar or the Floating Toolbox (Screen toolbar).
You can also access Zoom Window by clicking on the View menu
Defining Zooms
There may be parts of your drawing that you have to zoom into
frequently. You can define up to nine such areas as zoom views. You can
then zoom into them by selecting the appropriate zoom view.
In this tutorial you are going to define two zoom views. Click on the
Zoom icon in the Screen toolbar. A dialog box pops up. Click on the
Define Zoom View option.

3 6 9
P2
2 5 8
P1
HYDRAULIC CYLINDER
1 4 7
A menu of numbers will be displayed. You are going to define

zoom view number 1.
1. Click on the number “1”. A large cross hair with the
cursor at its centre appears on the screen. Civil Designer
prompts:
Enter a corner of zoom window
1) Click at a corner (P1) of the area you want to define as
zoom view 1. See the figure above. Civil Designer prompts:
Click at the diagonally opposite corner (P2) of the area you want to
define as zoom 1. The area you have defined is enclosed in a box, and a
menu of numbers appears.
2) You are now going to define zoom view number 2. Click on the
number “2”. The large cross hair appears again.
Enter a corner of zoom window
Click at a corner of the area you want to define as zoom 1.
Click at the diagonally opposite corner of the area you want to define as
zoom 2. A box surrounds the area you have defined, and the menu of
numbers appears again. Click somewhere outside the menu to turn it off.

Now you have defined the two views, you are going to select them. Click
on the Zoom icon in the Screen toolbar. The same menu appears. Click
on the Zoom View option.
Again, a menu of numbers appears. Click on number 1. The view you
defined as view 1 appears. Go to the Zoom View function again and click
on number 2. The view you defined as view 2 appears.
This is a very effective way of moving around a large drawing quickly.
An even faster way of moving between the different zooms is by

pressing the defined zoom view number on your keyboard (1, 2 etc.)
when the Zoom View menu is displayed.
Return your screen to its original magnification using the Zoom Paper
command by pressing the short cut key [R] on you keyboard, or right
clicking on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar or Zoom icon on the
Screen toolbar.

Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing
In this exercise you are going to draw a very simple shape - a rectangle -
in several different ways. The purpose of this is not to create a serious
CAD drawing, but to show you how to draw easily and accurately with
Civil Designer, using a variety of methods.
You will be shown how to:
• Use specific coordinate locations
• Undo an operation
• Use the [Home], [End], [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys
• The arrow keys
• Input polar coordinates
• Use a locked cursor
• Use geometry
• Use a grid
• Use jumps and snap modes
• Save your drawing
Tutorial 2 – Accurate Drawing 6-1

Setting up your drawing
Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting File Clear All.
In this tutorial you begin with a clear screen representing a blank sheet
of A4 paper at a scale of 1:1. Your units are millimeters, you are in
Cartesian mode, you are using a decimal angular format (dd.dddd) with
angles measured anti-clockwise from 3 o’clock and your paper is oriented
in landscape.
To set up your drawing like this, select Settings Drawing Settings. The
Drawing Defaults dialog box is displayed. Click on the button in the
section of the dialog box headed Angular Format.

The Angular Format dialog box will be displayed. Edit this so that it
looks exactly like the one shown below, and then click on OK to save
your changes.
Use the Zoom Paper command by right clicking on the Redraw icon in
the Files toolbar or the Screen toolbar.
The way that your paper size, scale, units, etc. are set up each time you
start a new drawing is stored in a drawing called STARTUP.DRG. See
the chapter on Defaults in the Reference Manual.
You can change paper size, scale, units, etc. at any time during
drawing. See Drawing Settings in the Settings Menu chapter in the
Reference Manual.

Using specific coordinate locations
Before you start this tutorial, check the bottom right of the screen to see
whether there are two numbers that change as you move the cursor.
These numbers show the coordinate position of the cursor on the screen.
If there is no coordinate display, go to Settings View Settings and click
on the Show Coordinates box so that a tick appears in it. Then click on
OK to exit the dialog box.
You are going to draw your first rectangle in the top left corner of the
screen. Click on the Rectangle icon.
The program prompts for the position of the first corner of a rectangle:
Enter first rectangle corner
You are going to position the first corner of the rectangle at a specific
coordinate location, using the Move to Coordinates function.
To do this, ensure that your cursor is in the Drawing Area, and then right
click on the Polar Move icon in the Screen toolbar.
You can also access Move to Coordinates from the Jumps section of the
Tools menu or by typing the [U] key on your keyboard.
The [U] key is called an Accelerator, because it is a fast way of accessing
the Move to Coordinates function.

Enter coordinates cursor should move to
Type “-120 80” and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates.
You can also accept the coordinates by clicking on the OK button.
The cursor moves to the top left part of the screen. Note that the cursor
display at the bottom right of the screen reflects the cursor's position of -
120 80. Civil Designer prompts:
Right click on the Polar Move icon to access the Move to Coordinates
function.
Type over the default coordinates of “-120 80” with the coordinates “-90
40” and press [Enter].

The cursor moves and the rectangle appears. You have now drawn your
first rectangle, using absolute coordinate positions. Civil Designer
prompts:
Ignore this prompt for the time being.
An aside - Undo
You are now going to Undo the rectangle you have drawn so that if you
do something wrong later in this tutorial you can Undo it and try again.
Click on the Undo icon. The rectangle disappears. You can Undo a
maximum of 1000 actions in this way. Refer to Undo in the Reference
Manual.
The Undo function can also be accessed from the Edit Menu.
If you undo something by accident you can redo it again by clicking on
the Redo icon or from the Edit menu.
[Home] [End] [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys

As you have undone the rectangle you drew, you should now have a
blank drawing area. Civil Designer continues to prompt:
Move your cursor off the toolbar and into the Drawing Area. Right click
on the Polar Move icon to access the Move to Coordinates function. Civil
Designer prompts:
Type “-120 80” and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. The cursor
moves to coordinate position -120 80 in the top left part of the screen.
In Civil Designer accurate horizontal and vertical movement is achieved
with the arrow keys. Accurate diagonal movement is achieved with the
[Home], [PgUp], [End] and [PgDn] keys, and the Polar Move function.
Press the [PgDn] key. The second corner of your rectangle will be below
and to the right of the first corner. If you have a numeric keypad, you will
note that the [PgDn] key is the bottom right key on the keypad,

corresponding to the direction in which you want to move. Civil Designer
prompts:
Move Right and Down: How far?
Type “30 40” and press [Enter] to accept the distances. The cursor moves
to a position 30mm to the right of and 40mm down from the original
point and the outline of a rectangle appears.
Note that the rectangle outline is not coloured and that Civil Designer is
still prompting for the second rectangle corner. This is because while you
have moved the cursor to the new position you have not yet accepted this
as the position for the rectangle corner.
To accept the position as the second rectangle corner, you must press
[Enter]. Alternatively, you can press your left mouse button. However, if
you use your left mouse button you may accidentally wobble your mouse
with your hand, moving it slightly off the correct position and resulting in
an inaccurate rectangle.
Press [Enter] to accept the cursor position as the second point of the
rectangle. The rectangle becomes coloured and Civil Designer prompts:
When you use the arrow, [Home], [PgUp], [End] or [PgDn] keys, you
have to press [Enter] an extra time to fix the cursor position after the
cursor has moved. This allows you to re-adjust the cursor position if you
are not satisfied with it. For example, you may wish to Shift the cursor
an additional 10mm to the right before accepting its position.
The arrow keys

You are going to draw the next rectangle with lines. You are going to
position this rectangle relative to the first rectangle you drew using the
arrow keys. Ignore the prompt for the first rectangle corner and click on
the Line icon.
You can also access the Line function by pressing the [Ctrl] and [L]
keys on your keyboard at the same time, or by selecting Draw Line
(Chained).

Enter first point of line
An "x" marks the last point you entered at the bottom right corner of the
rectangle. Move back to this point by pressing the [X] key on your

keyboard. This performs a Last Fixed jump and moves your cursor back
to and exactly onto the last point you entered.
You can also access the Last Fixed jump via the Jumps option of the
Tools menu.
Press the [Right-Arrow] key.

The program prompts:
Move Right: How far?
The program has remembered the horizontal distance that you entered
when you used the [PgDn] key, “30”. Press [Enter] to accept this
distance.
The cursor moves 30mm to the right. Press [Enter] to accept this position
as the first point in the line.
You are now going to draw a rectangle using the arrow keys. The
program prompts:
Enter next point of line
Press the [Up-Arrow] key. Civil Designer prompts:
Move Up: How far?
Civil Designer has remembered the vertical distance that you entered
when you used the [PgDn] key, “40”. Press [Enter] to accept this
distance. A vertical line 40mm long is drawn. Press [Enter] to accept this
line. The program prompts:
Moving the same distance again

You now need to draw the next line making up the rectangle - a 30mm
horizontal line.
Press the [Shift] key and the [Right-Arrow] key at the same time. You are
not asked how far you want to move and the cursor automatically moves
30mm to the right, drawing a horizontal line. The program has
remembered the distance you last moved horizontally. Pressing the
[Shift] key at the same time as the arrow key has caused it to move this
distance automatically. Press [Enter] to accept the new horizontal line.

Press the [Shift] key and the [Down-Arrow] key at the same time. A
40mm vertical line is drawn. Press [Enter] to accept the new vertical line.
Complete the rectangle using the [Shift] and [Left-Arrow] keys. Press
[Enter] to accept the last point of the rectangle.
Civil Designer continues to prompt:
Press [Esc] to terminate this function.

Polar coordinates
Click on the Rectangle icon. Civil Designer prompts:
Move your cursor off the toolbar and onto the Drawing Area. Right click
on the Polar Move icon in the Screen toolbar to access the Move to
Coordinates function. Civil Designer prompts:
Type “0 80” and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. The cursor
moves to the right of the rectangles you have already drawn.
Click on the Polar Move icon to access the Polar Move function.
Enter distance to move
Type “50” and press [Enter] to accept the distance. Civil Designer
prompts:
Enter bearing in form dd.dddd
You have set up the Angular Format to measure angles anti-clockwise

from 3 o’clock. To get a rectangle the same size and shape as the ones
you have already drawn, you need to give a distance of 50mm and an
angle of -53.13 or 306.87 degrees.
Type “-53.13” and press [Enter] to accept the angle. The rectangle is
drawn and Civil Designer prompts:
This rectangle will not be exactly the same as the others because only
two decimal places have been used. However, it serves to illustrate the
use of polar coordinates.
You can also access Polar Move by typing the [P] key on your keyboard
or from the Tools Jumps option.

Using a locked cursor
In this section, only locking the cursor into the horizontal and vertical
directions will be demonstrated. However, the cursor can be locked to
any angle and to its orthogonal, as well as into an isometric mode (30, 330
and 90 degrees). See Lock Cursor in the Reference Manual.
Ignore the prompt for the first rectangle corner and click on the Line
icon. Civil Designer prompts:
Ensure your mouse is in the Drawing Area. Right click on the Polar
Move icon to access Move to Coordinates. Civil Designer prompts:
Type “60 80” and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. The cursor
moves to the right of the rectangles you have already drawn. Civil
Designer prompts:
Press the [Shift] key and your [Right-Arrow] key at the same time to
move the cursor 30mm to the right. Press [Enter] to accept the horizontal
line that is drawn. Civil Designer prompts:
Ensure that your cursor is in Grab All mode. If not, click on the Grab All
icon. Do not worry about the fact that the line you are drawing follows
your cursor as you click on the icon in the toolbar. When you have
clicked on the icon, move your cursor back to the area of the screen
where you are drawing.
When the cursor is a square you are in Grab All mode. This means that
the cursor will automatically jump to any point within the cursor box.
You are now going to lock the cursor so that you can only draw
horizontally or vertically. Click on the Set Square icon in the Screen
toolbar.
You can also access this function (called Hold) by pressing the [+] key
on your numeric keypad and via Tools Lock Cursor.
A diamond shape appears inside the box that represents the cursor. Use
your mouse to pull the cursor downwards. The line that is drawn is
vertical and straight. When the line reaches the level of the bottoms of
the rectangles you have already drawn, move your mouse to the left.

The square representing the cursor separates from the diamond. Move
the cursor so that the bottom right hand corner of the right hand existing
rectangle is within the cursor box (see below).
Press [Enter] or your left mouse button. The square cursor jumps back to
the diamond shape and the vertical line has been terminated so that it is
exactly the same length as the vertical lines of the other boxes.
Now move your mouse to the left, then move it up so that the cursor box
detaches from the diamond. Place the cursor box around the end of the
top line and press [Enter] or your left mouse button. Again the cursor
box springs back and the bottom line of the box has been cut to exactly
the right length.
To finish the box, move your mouse upwards so that the cursor box
surrounds the end of the top line again. Press [Enter] or your left mouse
button. The rectangle is complete.
Cancel line drawing by clicking on [Done]. You can also cancel functions
by pressing the [Space Bar]. When you cancel line drawing, the cursor is
automatically unlocked.
Using Geometry
In this section you are going to draw some geometry lines and use these
to draw a box. The lines you are going to draw will be very simple.
Select the Geometry Cross function. Civil Designer prompts for a cross
centre position:
Enter point for geometry cross
Ensure that your cursor is in the Drawing Area, and then right click on
the Polar Move icon to access the Move to Coordinates function.

Type “-120 0” and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. A cross of
dotted geometry lines appears at the left of the screen. These lines can be
snapped to. They can be turned on and off, rubbed out, and saved.
Although you can see them on the screen, they do not plot out. Civil
Designer prompts:
Press the [Shift] key and the [PgDn] key at the same time. Civil Designer
automatically moves 30mm to the right and 40mm down - the distances
you have been using throughout this tutorial.
Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as the position of the
second cross. The cross is displayed. Civil Designer prompts:
Ignore this prompt and select the Geometry Parallel Line option. Civil
Designer prompts:
Parallel geometry element by distance? (else through point)
Click on the [YES] button. You are going to draw a parallel geometry line
a specific distance away from an existing line. Civil Designer prompts:
Select original line or circle on correct side
Move your cursor to the cursor position shown in the next figure and
click. Civil Designer prompts:
Enter parallel distance
Type “150” and press [Enter] to accept this distance. A parallel geometry
line is drawn.
Click again at the same position shown below. Civil Designer prompts:
Enter parallel distance
Type “180” and press [Enter] to accept this distance. Another parallel
line appears. Civil Designer prompts:
Ignore this prompt and click on the Rectangle icon. Civil Designer
prompts:

Move your cursor close to the bottom right geometry cross. Press the [I]
key on your keyboard. This causes the cursor to jump exactly onto the
closest intersection of geometry lines.
The Geometry Intersection snap can also be accessed from the Jumps
section of the Tools menu.
Press [Enter] to accept this intersection as the first corner of the

rectangle. Civil Designer prompts:
Move the cursor close to the intersection above and to the left of the first
rectangle corner. Press [I] to jump onto it exactly and press [Enter] to
accept it as the second rectangle corner.
For the present, you will not need the geometry lines you have drawn.
Turn them off by going to the Settings View Settings option. Click on the
Show Geometry box so that the tick in the box disappears (i.e. the box is

unchecked). Then click on OK to exit the View Settings dialog box. The
geometry lines disappear.
You can also switch off the geometry using the Geometry Switch
Geometry On/Off option. In this tutorial you have used the Geometry
Intersection snap to draw between geometry intersections. You can also
“trace over” geometry lines and arcs using the Draw Geometry Trace-
Over function. For a full list of constructions see the section on
Geometry.
Some of the rectangle lines may disappear or look broken. Press [S] or
click on the Refresh button.
Using a grid
Now, you will draw a rectangle using a regular grid.
Go to the Tools Grid option. A Grid Settings dialog box is displayed. Set
it up as shown below. This will yield a grid with horizontal spacing of
30mm and vertical spacing of 40mm.
The Grid Display Density figure is only important if you have a grid that
is too fine to be practically displayed on the screen. The figure shown is
the maximum number of dots that will appear on the screen.
If you have a very fine grid you can limit the maximum number of dots
that will be shown so that perhaps only every second or third grid dot
will be shown. The dots that are not shown exist even though you can’t
see them. They can be snapped to and will appear as you magnify into
the drawing.
Click on OK button to close the dialog box, ensuring that you have
checked the Grid On box. Civil Designer will still prompt you:
Move the cursor to the position shown. Press [G]. The cursor jumps
exactly onto the nearest grid point.

Press [Enter] to accept this grid point as the first rectangle corner. Civil
Designer prompts:
Now move the cursor close to the grid point below and to the right. Press
[G]. The cursor jumps to the grid point. Press [Enter] to accept this as the
second rectangle corner.

Jumps and Snap Modes
So far you have encountered four types of jump:
Key Function
X Makes the cursor jump to the Last Fixed point of the cursor.
I Makes the cursor jump to an Intersection of geometry lines.
P Makes the cursor jump to an exact distance in a specific direction. Also
known as Polar jump.
G Makes the cursor jump to a Grid point.
There are also a number of other jumps:

Key Function
H Jump to the centre of the screen.
A Jump to anything within the cursor box.
J Jump to the nearest point, e.g. the end of a line, an arc centre.
0 Jump to any intersection.
(zero)
N Jump to the nearest line or arc.
Ctrl P Jump perpendicular to a line or circle.
Ctrl T Jump to a tangent point on a circle or arc.
O Jump to a fixed ratio between two points.
U Jump to an exact coordinate location.
C Jump to the midpoint of the nearest line.
Shift C Jump to the midpoint between two points.
* Jump to the nearest circle or arc centre point.
As well as jumps, there are Snap modes. So far in this tutorial you have
used the Grab All snap mode. In Grab All mode the cursor is a square and
automatically jumps exactly to any point within this square each time
you press [Enter] or your left mouse button.
To get to Grab All mode click on the Grab All icon.
You have also been using the Freehand mode. In this mode the cursor
looks like a bird (free as a bird) and does not jump to anything unless you
specifically tell it to.
Some functions automatically switch to Freehand mode, because it is
important that the cursor doesn't snap to anything by accident. These
include Move to Coordinates and Polar Move.

In the Grab All and Freehand modes you can use any of the jumps listed
above.
However, it may be that you have laid out a grid or a number of geometry
lines, and that you now want to draw between the grid points or
geometry line intersections.
In this case you can change to a special Grid or Geometry Intersection
snap mode where the cursor automatically snaps to grid points or
geometry intersections without you having to type [G] or [I] and [Enter]
each time.
Civil Designer is still prompting:
Click on the Grid snap icon and click on OK. The cursor changes shape.
You can also enter the Grid mode by pressing the [Shift] and [G] keys
on your keyboard at the same time.
Move close to the upper grid point to the right of the rectangle you have
just drawn. Click. Note how the cursor automatically snaps onto the grid
point. There is no need to press [Enter] to accept the point as the first
rectangle corner.
Move the cursor close to the grid point below and to the right and click.
The rectangle is completed. You will no longer need the grid, so go to
Tools Grid. Click on the Grid On box to uncheck it.
Click on OK to exit the Grid dialog box. The grid disappears.
As well as the Freehand, Grab All and Grid modes, there are also the
following snap modes. Note that the cursor is a different shape in each
mode, as shown in the following table.
Snap Icon Cur Function
Geometry Automatically snaps to nearest geometry
Intersection intersection.
Point Automatically snaps to nearest point.
Nearest Line/Arc Automatically snaps to nearest element.
Intersection Automatically snaps to nearest intersection.

Circle Centre Automatically snaps to nearest circle or arc
centre point.
Perpendicular Automatically snaps a line to another line or
arc so that they are perpendicular to each
other.
Tangent Automatically snaps a line or arc to another
line or arc so that they are perpendicular to
each other.
Although Geometry Intersection and Grid jumps and snap modes are
used in this tutorial, the Grab All mode can also snap to geometry
intersections and grid points, as well as to points and intersections.

Transparent commands
The program has over 70 “transparent commands”. These are
commands that can be accessed while you are doing something else,
without terminating the thing you are doing.
Moving to a specific coordinate location, using polar coordinates,
defining a grid, all the jumps as well as the snap modes are transparent
commands.
In this section you will be introduced to a few more, including changing
line type, changing line colour, changing line width and magnifying.
Civil Designer is still prompting:
Ignore this prompt and click on the Line icon.
You are going to draw this rectangle in the Geometry Intersection mode.
Click on the Geometry Intersection icon. The cursor changes shape.
You can also enter Geometry Intersection mode by typing [Shift] [I] on
your keyboard.
You now need the geometry lines you drew earlier. Go to the
Settings View Settings option. Click on the Show Geometry box so that a
tick appears in the box. Then click on OK to exit the View Settings dialog
box. The geometry lines re-appear.
You can also switch on geometry by using Geometry Switch Geometry

On/Off.
Note that Civil Designer is still prompting for the first point of the line,
even though you have entered the Geometry Intersection mode and
turned on the Geometry since you selected the line drawing command.
Move your cursor close to the top left geometry cross next to the
rectangle you have just drawn. Click. The cursor snaps to the cross point
that is automatically accepted as the first point of the line. Civil Designer
prompts:
You are now going to change the line type you are drawing with. Note
that you can do this even though you are in the middle of drawing a line.

Move your cursor to the top of the screen and click on the arrow next to
the line type display. A menu of line types appears. Click on the line type
you want to use. Civil Designer continues to prompt:
Move the cursor close to the next intersection to the right and click. The
cursor jumps to the point. The line type used is the one you have just
chosen.
You are going to draw the next line in a different colour. Move your
cursor to the right, to the Color toolbar and click on a colour. Then move
the cursor close to the next intersection and click. The line is drawn in
the new colour.
You are going to draw the next line with a different width. Move your
cursor to the Line icon. Do not worry about the fact that the line you are
drawing is dragged behind the cursor as you move it.
Right click on the Line icon. The Line Style dialog box is displayed.
Edit the line width. You can also edit the line type and colour again if you
want to. When you have finished editing, click on OK and draw the third
side of the rectangle.
You can also access the Line Style dialog box using Settings Line
Defaults. If you have selected a dotted or dashed line type and a width
greater than 0, the line may appear continuous. It will, however, print
correctly. Refer to the Common Questions and Problems chapter.
Move your cursor onto the top horizontal line of the rectangle that you
are drawing. Press the [T] key. This will “pick” the line style from the top
horizontal line, so that the last line of the rectangle you draw will have
exactly the same style as the top horizontal line.

Pen
Lastly, move your cursor close to the last point of the rectangle. Click on
the Magnify icon. The rectangle is enlarged. Click so that the cursor
jumps onto the final corner of the rectangle. The final line is drawn, in
the same line style as the one you used for the top horizontal line.
You can also access the Magnify command by pressing the [M] key on
your keyboard or via View Magnify. Each time you use the Magnify
command your screen is magnified or further magnified by a factor of
three. To change this magnification factor, click on the Magnify icon in
the Screen toolbar or use Settings Change Magnify Factor.
Cancel line drawing by clicking on [Done]. Turn off the geometry lines by
un-checking the Show Geometry option in Settings View Settings.
Return your screen to its original magnification using the Zoom Paper
command by right clicking on the Redraw icon. You should now have
eight rectangles on your drawing as shown above.

Changing line styles
You are now going to change the line styles of the eighth rectangle so
that this rectangle conforms to the other rectangles.
Position the cursor above and to the left of the eighth rectangle. Press
down your left mouse button and, holding it down, move your mouse
below and to the right of the eighth rectangle. Release your left mouse
button.
The eighth rectangle is highlighted and eight squares, or “handles”,
appear around it. This means that it has been selected, which in turn
means that you can move it, copy it, edit it etc.
Right click on the Line icon to access the Line Style dialog box. Edit the
dialog box so that the line type, colour and width matches the type,
colour and width of the other seven rectangles. Click on the Apply
button, check the attributes you want to change, and then on OK.
Right click on the Eraser icon to deselect the rectangle. The eighth
rectangle now looks like the other seven rectangles.
In this example, you selected all the lines in the rectangle and then
changed them all to a particular line style. You could also use the
Advanced option of Edit Selection Filters to select some lines, for
example just pale blue lines or just dotted lines.
You could then use the Line Style dialog box to change the line style of
the selected lines in the same way that you used it to change the line
style of the selected lines in this tutorial.

Saving your drawing
You will now save your drawing. Right click on the Save icon and type a
name for your drawing in the box under the words File Name. Then click
on Save.
For more details on saving see Save Settings, Save Options, and Save As
in the Reference Manual.
You have now completed Tutorial 2.

You can either:
• click on File Clear All to clear the screen and go on to Tutorial 3;
• experiment on your own; or
• exit Civil Designer using File Exit.

Notes:

Tutorial 3 – CAD Basics
In this tutorial you are going to learn some CAD basics:
• Filleting
• Chamfering
• Parallel Lines
• Hatching
• Text
• Dimensions
• Stretching
• Producing a Detailed View
At the end of this tutorial you will have created your first drawing.
Tutorial 3 – CAD Basics 7-1

Loading a drawing
Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting File Clear All.
Unless you have done Tutorial 2 and have saved your own drawing
under a name of your choice, the drawing you are going to load is called
“tute3” in the Drawings directory.
Load a drawing by clicking on the Open icon. The following dialog box is
displayed. Select the file “tute3.drg”.
The drawing tute3 appears. It should look like the figure below. If you
can only see part of this drawing when it appears on the screen, press [R]
on your keyboard. The whole drawing will then appear.

Fillets and chamfers
Filleting means inserting a radius between two lines or arcs. Chamfering
means inserting a third angled line between two lines. You are now going
to fillet and chamfer the top left hand rectangle in the drawing.
Filleting
Select the Modify Fillet function. The Fillet options are displayed on the
Control Bar.
Select corner to fillet (Choose inside of arc)
Edit the Fillet settings as shown below.
The Both Lines value in the Fillet Update box means that both lines
making up the rectangle corner will be filleted.
The One Point setting in the Use box means that in cases like this where
there is no ambiguity about which lines to fillet you can select the corner
to fillet with just one mouse click.
Press [Enter] after typing in the radius of “10” or click on the Enter
button on the Control Bar.
Note that the cursor has changed to Freehand mode so it will not jump to
anything unless you specifically tell it to. If you try to fillet in a Snap
mode other than Freehand mode, the cursor may unexpectedly jump
onto a point that you don't want it to jump to while you are filleting, with
unforeseen consequences.
For details on Snap modes, see Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing and Snap
Modes in the Reference Manual.

Position the cursor inside the rectangle corner to be filleted, at the
position shown below.
Click or press [Enter]. The corner is filleted. Click on the [Done] button
to terminate the Fillet function.

Chamfering
Select the Modify Chamfer command. Chamfer parameter options
appear on the Control Bar and Civil Designer prompts:
Select first line to be chamfered
Edit the Control Bar as shown below.
Length2 in the second box means that you are going to define the
chamfer by giving two lengths, rather than by giving one length and an
angle. The figures on either side of Length2 (10 and 20) are the two
lengths.
Press [Enter] after typing in the lengths or click on the Enter button on
the Control Bar. Select the top line of the rectangle you have just filleted
by clicking near it. The cursor has changes to Freehand mode. Civil
Designer prompts:
Second line
Select the left line of the rectangle in the same way. The two lines are
chamfered. Your top left rectangle should now look like the one above.
Cancel chamfering by clicking on the [Done] button.
For full details of the meanings of all the options on the Control Bar in
the Fillet and Chamfer functions, see Fillet and Chamfer in the Modify
Menu.

Drawing parallel lines
You are now going to draw parallel lines using the bottom right rectangle
of the drawing.
Drawing lines around an existing perimeter.

Select the Settings Parallel Defaults function. This allows you to define
how many parallel lines there will be, as well as the colour, line type,
width and offset of each line. Edit the dialog box as shown below.
The Around Existing Perimeter option should be checked because you

are going to draw parallel lines around an existing perimeter - the
bottom right rectangle.
The Number of Parallel Lines box should contain the number “3”. You
can draw up to nine parallel lines in this way.
Make sure that you specify positive offsets for the parallel lines. If you
give negative offsets, the parallel lines will be created on the other side of
the original line.
Click on OK to exit the dialog box. You are now ready to start drawing
parallel lines around the bottom right-hand rectangle.

For full details on the meanings of all the options in the Parallel
Defaults dialog box refer to Parallel Defaults in the Settings Menu
chapter of the Reference Manual.
Click on the Multiple Parallel Line icon. You can also select Parallel Line
from the Draw menu.
The Perimeter menu is displayed in the Control Bar at the top of the
screen. It appears whenever you need a perimeter, such as now, or when
you need to hatch or measure an area.
Click on the Perimeter/Area icon. This option tracks most perimeters

automatically.
See Polygon Area in the Tools Menu for details on other perimeter
tracking options.

Place cursor inside perimeter and near a line.
Click at the cursor position shown in the previous figure. The rectangle
becomes highlighted.
Click on the [Accept] button in the Perimeter menu. The parallel lines
will be drawn (see the bottom right rectangle in the figure below).

Drawing Fresh Parallel Lines
You are now going to draw some more parallel lines while drawing a new
line.
Select the Settings Parallel Defaults function. Set up the dialog box as
shown below.

The Draw Fresh option is checked because you are going to draw parallel
lines down the middle of the rectangle with the parallel lines around it
and not around an existing perimeter.
The Number of Parallel Lines box should contain the number “1”. Set up
the Pen (colour), the Type (line type), the Width and the Offset for the
one parallel line you are going to draw. Give an offset of “3”.
Ensure that the Close off Ends box is unchecked. When you have finished
editing the dialog box, click on OK.
Click on the Parallel Line icon. As you are not going to track an existing
perimeter, the Perimeter menu does not appear in the Control Bar.
Instead, Civil Designer prompts:
Move your cursor to the position shown below and press [0] (zero) to
jump exactly to the nearest intersection. Press the [Right-Arrow] key.

Type “16.5” and press [Enter] to accept the distance. The cursor moves
16.5mm to the right. Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as
the first point of the line.
See Tutorial 2 – Accurate Drawing for more examples of jumps and

accurate movement using arrow keys.

Enter next point of line.
Click on the Perpendicular Snap icon. The cursor changes shape to
resemble the icon. Position it close to the bottom line of the rectangle as
shown in the next figure and click.
The cursor jumps exactly onto the bottom line of the rectangle so that
the line you are drawing is perpendicular to it.
Click on the [Done] button. A parallel line is also drawn with the
parameters we defined. Note that Civil Designer also snips away the
ends of the parallel line. This is because the Close Off Ends option was
not ticked.

Hatching
You are now going to add hatching to the drawing, first a fairly simply
one and then hatching with islands or exclusions.
A simple hatch
The next step is to hatch the top left rectangle with the chamfer and the
fillet. Go to the Annotate Enter Hatch/Solid Fill option. Set up the hatch
parameters as shown below.
Select hatch type “ansi31” - the parallel angled lines.

The Perimeter menu is displayed in the Control Bar. Select the
Perimeter/Area icon for an auto perimeter track. The program asks for a
point inside the perimeter and near to a line.
Click inside the rectangle you have chamfered and filleted near to one of
the perimeter lines.
The rectangle perimeter is highlighted. Click on the [Accept] button. The
rectangle is hatched as shown in the next figure.

Hatching with islands
You are now going to hatch a more complex area.
Go to the Annotate Enter Hatch/Solid Fill option. Accept the parameters
previously set up in the dialog box.
You could use the Perimeter/Area icon to define the perimeter, but in
order to learn more about the program you will use the Intersections
option. This option is very useful for defining perimeters that are too
complex for the Perimeter/Area option.
Click on the Intersections icon in the Perimeter menu on the Control
Bar. The cursor changes to the Grab All mode. Civil Designer prompts:
Enter first intersection point of perimeter
Move the cursor close to the top left-hand corner of the rectangle
containing the two smaller rectangles as shown in the following figure.
Click.
Civil Designer will snap onto the corner as the first intersection and
display the following prompt:
Identify next element of perimeter

Move your cursor close to the top line of the rectangle and click.

Identify next intersection point
Position your cursor close to the right hand corner as shown above.
You will see that the cursor is now attached to a line. When you click, the
cursor will jump onto the right hand corner, and the top line of the
rectangle, which you have now identified as a part of the perimeter, will
be highlighted.

Identify next element of perimeter
Position your cursor close to the right hand side of the rectangle and
click. Continue selecting corners and elements alternately until the
whole rectangle is highlighted. Then terminate the Intersection function
by clicking on the [Done] button in the Perimeter menu. The perimeter
continues to flash.
The [Accept] button appears on the Control Bar in place of the [Done]
button. Clicking on the [Accept] button signifies that a perimeter is
complete. If you were to click on this button now, the entire area inside
the rectangle you have just defined would be hatched.
This would not be a disaster, as you could use Annotate Alter Existing
Hatch to add the islands to the hatch later.
However, it is more convenient to define the islands now. You are going
to define these using the Perimeter/Area option.
Click on the Perimeter/Area icon in the Perimeter menu and define the
perimeter of one of the islands by clicking close to the inside of one of the
smaller rectangles, but inside the rectangle you have just defined. The
rectangle is tracked and highlighted.
You still need to add the other smaller rectangle to the perimeter. Click
on the Perimeter/Area icon again and select the other rectangle in a
similar manner. The rectangle is tracked and highlighted.
The perimeter is now complete, so you can now click on the [Accept]
button. The perimeter is hatched.

If you have made a mistake and your hatching does not look like the
hatching above, do the following.
Right click on the Select icon in the File toolbar so that the Selection
dialog box appears. Click on the Hatch button in the Selection dialog box.
Then click on the hatch that has gone wrong, then press the [Delete] key
on your keyboard. The hatch is deleted. Click on the Close button to
close the dialog box. Redo this section from the heading Hatching with
islands. Do not worry about the fact that your other hatching also seems
to have disappeared.
Now redraw the screen by right clicking on the Redraw icon. You will
notice that the hatching is not drawn, although if you output the drawing
it will be plotted or printed. This is for speed.
To view your hatching, go to the Annotate Draw All Hatch function. The
hatches will reappear until next time you redraw the screen.
You can set up the program so that it automatically draws hatches on

each redraw. This will slow down redraws. Go to Settings View Settings
and select All in the Hatch to Draw section.

Text
You will now add some text to your drawing. Text objects may use
different fonts, sizes and angles.
Entering text
Click on the Text icon. Civil Designer will prompt:
Enter text position
Move the cursor to about an inch below the bottom row of rectangles and
click. The Text Entry dialog box is displayed.
Type some text into the white area of the box. Press the [Ctrl] and
[Enter] keys at the same time to move to a new line if you want to type
more than one line of text into the box. If you check the Accept Return
check box in the Text Entry dialog box, you can move to a new line by
pressing the [Enter] key on its own.
When you have finished typing, click on OK.
The text is displayed on the screen. Cancel text by clicking on [Done].
You can also enter text using Annotate Add Text. In this tutorial you
are placing text rather arbitrarily but it is possible to use all tools such
as the arrow keys, snaps, polar coordinates, geometry etc. to place text
accurately.

Editing Text
Unless you have previously changed the text defaults, the text that
appears on your screen is very small. In fact, it might appear on your
screen as a box.
When text is smaller than a certain proportion of the screen size, it is
drawn as a box or even as a dot. This is to speed up redraws. To read the
text, click on it with the cursor and type [M] to magnify.
To return your drawing to its original magnification, right click on the
Redraw icon. You are now going to make the text larger. Double-click on
the text with your left mouse button.
You can also edit single lines, arrows, polylines, dimensions and bitmap
parameters by double clicking on them with the left mouse button.
The Text Entry dialog box is displayed, with your text inside it. Set the
text height at the top left of the Text Entry dialog box to “10” then click
on OK. You can also change your text at this stage if you have made a
spelling error.
You can set the text defaults by right clicking on the Text icon.
Aligning Text
Click on the text once. The text becomes highlighted and eight boxes -
“handles” - appear around it. It is now selected. Hold down your [Shift]
key and click on the left hand bottom rectangle so that the rectangle is
also selected. Click on Annotate Set Alignment. A dialog box appears.
Edit it so that it looks exactly as shown below.

This will cause the selected items - the text and the rectangle - to be
aligned to the left. When you have finished editing the dialog box, click
on the [Apply] button, then click on the OK button. The text and
rectangle will be aligned.
Deselect the text and the rectangle by right clicking on the Eraser icon.

Dimensions
You are now going to enhance your drawing by adding various
dimensions to the figures.
Linear Dimensions
Select the Annotate Horizontal Dimension option to add a horizontal
dimension to the bottom right rectangle. Civil Designer prompts:
Do you want running, chained or free dimensions (R/C/F)
Click on the OK button to accept the default “Running”. Civil Designer
prompts:
Enter text position
When specifying the text position, the only coordinate that matters is the
distance of the text above or below the line to be dimensioned, as the text
is automatically centered between the witness points.
Position the cursor at a point below the bottom of the rectangle with the
parallel lines and click.
Enter first point
Note that the cursor mode has now changed to Point Snap mode. In this
mode the cursor automatically jumps onto the ends of lines or onto arc
centers.

Position the cursor near the bottom left corner as shown above and click.
The cursor automatically snaps exactly onto the corner.
Enter next point
Position the cursor near the bottom right corner as shown in the next
figure and click. The cursor automatically snaps exactly to the corner.
The program now measures the distance between the two points you
have entered and displays it (70) with the following prompt:
Enter text of dimension

At this stage you could alter your dimension, for example add tolerances
to it. For now just accept the displayed dimension by clicking on the OK
button.
The dimension is added as shown in the figure below.
Tutorial 3 - CAD Basics 70.0
Civil Designer continues to prompt:

Enter next point
Position the cursor near to the corner shown below and click.

The program now measures the distance between the two points you
have entered and displays it (5) with the following prompt:
Accept the dimension as it is by clicking on the OK button. Because the
dimension is very small and the text relatively large, Civil Designer
warns:
Text Cramped. Enter new Horizontal Position.
Click on the “Left” option.
5.0
The dimension is placed on the drawing and the text, which would not
have had space in its original position, is shifted to the left. Small
dimension text, like ordinary text, is displayed as a box.
Cancel horizontal dimensioning by clicking on the [Done] button.
Radial Dimensions
You will now dimension the arc of the fillet you created in the top left
rectangle, as shown in. Select Annotate Radial Dimension. Civil Designer
prompts:
Radial dimension .. select arc or circle
Position the cursor near to the fillet in the top left rectangle and click.
The program measures the radius of the arc and presents it for editing (R
10) with the following prompt:
Enter text of radial dimension
Accept this radius by clicking on the OK button. Civil Designer prompts:

Do you want text on radius arrow
You are going to make the text appear on a separate line, so click on the
[NO] button. Civil Designer prompts:
Enter text position
Move to a point above and to the right of the rectangle as shown below
and click.
5.0
The dimension is entered. Cancel radial dimensioning by clicking on

[Done].
R 10.0
5.0

Angular Dimensions
You are now going to dimension the chamfer you drew in the top left
rectangle. Choose the Annotate Angular Dimension command. Civil
Designer will prompt:
Do you want angle? (else arclength)
Click on the [YES] button to dimension an angle. Civil Designer prompts:
Is this dimension between two existing lines?
Click on the [YES] button. Civil Designer prompts:
Select first line
Indicate the top line of the top left box by clicking near it or on it as
shown in the following figure.
R 10.0
5.0

Select second line
Click on or near the sloping chamfered line as shown in the next figure to
select the second line.

R 10.0
5.0

Enter witness line start
The witness line is the line between the dimension arrow and whatever
is being measured. Move to a point above and to the left of the top corner
of the rectangle as shown and click.
R 10.0
5.0

Enter witness line end

Move to a point further up and to the left and click. The program
measures the angle between the two lines and presents it for editing
(116.57°):
Enter text part of angular dimension
Accept the angle by clicking on the OK button. The angular dimension is

placed on the drawing. Civil Designer will prompt:
Satisfied with arc radius?
Click on the [NO] button. Civil Designer will now prompt:

Drag till satisfied with arc radius
Use the mouse to drag the radius. The cursor is linked to a rubber-
banded circle. Click when you are satisfied with the arc radius.
Satisfied with text position
Click on the [YES] button. The angular dimension is updated as shown
below.
7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
5.0
Variable Dimensions
It is possible to dimension an object with variable dimensions, e.g. x, y,
and z then assign values to these variables. Similarly, you can assign new
values to existing dimensions. The drawing alters to fit the new
dimensions.

Select the Annotate Horizontal Dimension option to draw a horizontal
dimension. When you are asked whether you want running, chained or
free dimensions type [F] to select Free, because you are only going to
draw one dimension. Press [Enter].
You are now prompted for the text position. Position the cursor at a
point below the second rectangle from the left on the top row and click.
Enter first point
Position the cursor near the bottom left corner of the rectangle and click.
Enter next point
Position the cursor near to the bottom right corner of the rectangle and
click.
The program measures the distance (30) and displays it with the prompt
Overtype this figure with the letter “x” and press [Enter]. Click on the
OK button. The dimension is displayed on your drawing as “x” as shown
in the next figure.
Click on the Magnify icon if required.
7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
5.0
Select the Annotate Edit Dimension Alter Dimension option.

Select dimension to be altered with cursor (else search for
text)

Click on the [YES] button. This means that you will select the dimension
to be altered by clicking on it. If you clicked on [NO] you would be able to
type “x” and the program would search for the dimension “x” and
update it.
Select dimension to be altered with cursor
Click on the dimension “x”. It is highlighted and the text is displayed in
the Control Bar.
Enter new dimension text
Type “45” and press [Enter]. Civil Designer prompts:
Alter a whole area, along witness line or at witness point
(A/L/P)
If you choose Area, the entire drawing will be altered in relation to the
new dimension. If you choose Line, everything lying along the dimension
witness lines will be altered. If you choose Point, only the one
dimensioned line will change.
Type “P” to choose Point and press [Enter]. Civil Designer prompts:
Keep left/lower point fixed? (else right/upper)
Click on the [YES] button. The bottom, dimensioned line of the rectangle
lengthens. You should still be magnified into your drawing and will be
able to see that the dimension now reads “45”.
7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0

Civil Designer still prompts:
Select dimension to be altered with cursor (else search for
text)
Click on [YES] and then click on the [DONE] button to cancel the Alter
Dimension function.
To return your drawing to its original magnification, right click on the
Redraw icon.

Stretching
You will now stretch the rectangle with the hatching and the parallel
lines. After the stretch is complete the hatching and dimensions will
automatically be updated.
Select the Modify Stretch function.
Enter polygon about point to be moved
A large cross hair appears, with the cursor at the cross centre. Place the
cursor at the position shown and click.
7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0

Move the cursor diagonally to the position shown in the next figure.

7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0
Press [Space Bar]. Civil Designer prompts:

Enter point that must move
Position the cursor near the bottom right hand corner of the outside
parallel line and press [0] (zero) to jump exactly onto the corner.
Press [Enter] to accept the bottom right hand corner of the outside
parallel line as the point that must move.
Enter point it must move to
Press the [Right-Arrow] key. Civil Designer prompts:
Type “15” and press [Enter], then press [Enter] again to accept the new
cursor position as the point the rectangle must stretch to.
The rectangle is stretched 15mm to the right. Note that the stretched
dimension has been updated so that it now reads “85” instead of “70”.
Go to the Annotate Draw All Hatch function. Note that the hatching has
also been updated.

7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0
Stretch is a very powerful command and can be used for many things
like moving dimension text around (e.g. from inside to outside the
arrows) and for moving complete views to another position.

Producing an automatic detailed view
You are now going to produce an automatic detailed view of part of your
drawing, as shown in.
First you will create a new layer for the detailed view called “A”. Select
the Settings Layer Settings function.
Now move the cursor to the first empty row and type in the details for a
new layer called “A” with a magnification factor of 2.0 as shown above.
Click on the OK button to close the Layer Settings dialog and create the
new layer.
Select the Tools Expand function.
Expand inside a box (else circle)
Click on [NO] so that the detailed view will be drawn inside a circle.
Would you like to enter box/circle after expand
Click on the [YES] button so that the detailed view will have a border.
Enter centre point of expand circle
Position the cursor as shown below and click.

7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0

Enter point on radius
Position the cursor as shown in the following figure and click. The
contents of the circle that appears will be included in the detailed view.
7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0

Enter magnification factor
Accept the default value of “2” by clicking on the OK button. Civil
Designer prompts:
Enter position of expanded detail

7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0
Move your cursor to an empty part of the drawing as shown. A rectangle

is displayed to indicate the size of the detailed view. Move the rectangle
to the desired position.
The detailed view is generated.
Do you want arrow joining two circles
Click on the [YES] button. An arrow is added to the drawings.
The Magnified Layer dialog is displayed. This dialog box allows you to
store the detailed view on a different layer that will be at a different
magnification/scale to the rest of the drawing. This magnification is
determined by the next question
Enter new magnification for layer
Anything that you draw on this layer will be at the different
magnification to the rest of the drawing.
In this tutorial the detailed view will remain on the only layer you have
defined, “A”. Click on OK. Civil Designer prompts:
Enter new magnification for layer A
Type “1” and press [Enter] as you do not want to change the
magnification of layer A.

7°
6.5
11
R 10.0
45.0
5.0
Redraw your drawing by clicking on the Redraw icon. Your drawing

should now look like the one above.
Saving your drawing

Right click on the Save icon. Type a name for your drawing in the box
under the words File Name and click on Save.
For more details on saving see Save Settings, Save Options, and Save As
in the File Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
You have now completed Tutorial 3.

You can either:
• experiment on your own;
• exit Civil Designer using File Exit; or
• click on File Clear All and go on to Tutorial 4.

Notes:

Tutorial 4 - DTM Basics
This exercise will teach you all the basic functions you need to know in
order to create a terrain model. You will complete the following tasks:
• Start a new project
• Import ASCII data
• Generate a model using the triangulation option
• Generate a model using the Intelli-Line capabilities
• Display a site drawing as a background
• Produce a contour drawing of the site
Tutorial 4 - DTM Basics 8-1

Create a new project
The first step is to create a new project file. Select Terrain Mode on the
design toolbar and then File New Project option. The following dialog
will be displayed:
All the available items will remain grayed-out until a check box next to
one of the design modules is clicked.
For the purposes of this tutorial we will be using a Terrain file so click on
the check box next to Terrain. The Browse button for Terrain on the
right side of the dialog will now become active.
Click on this button which will then display a standard Windows file
open dialog. Navigate to a suitable subdirectory for storing data, type in
the file name Tutor and click on the Open button.
If the file does not yet exist you will be asked if you want to create it.
Select Yes and you will be returned to the project dialog.
If a file of that name already exists it would be used without change. In
our case we require any empty file to work with, so either use a file name
other than Tutor or navigate to an alernative subdirectory which does not
contain an existing file of that name.

Fill in the rest of the dialog as shown below (note that the path for your
Terrain file will most likely differ from that displayed here):
Click on the OK button and a standard Windows file save dialog will be
displayed so that the project can be given a name. Once again navigate to
a suitable directory for storing the project (which may or may not be the
same directory in which the data file is to be created. Type in a new file
name of Tutor and click the Save button. If a project file of this name
already exists you will be asked if you wish to overwrite it. If you select
YES then any settings that exist in that file will be overwritten and you
will lose access to the previous files that the project referred to. Rather
change the name of the project file or navigate to another directory
where a project file of that name does not exist.
The following dialog will be displayed as we are creating a new, empty
terrain database. If you happen to know the approximate site location,
type in some coordinates near the centre, otherwise just accept the
entries.

After clicking OK on the Database Dimensions dialog, the following
dialog is displayed.
While the previous settings were to ensure an efficient DTM database,

the Project Coordinates are for the Design Centre cad window to match
the DTM. Similarly, these settings can be left as their defaults subject to
a later ASCII Import or Rescale Survey.
You have just created a new project file into which new data may be
imported or typed.
Import ASCII data

Once the project file has been created, switch into Survey mode by
clicking the Survey button on the design mode toolbar or select the Mode
Survey Mode option. Now select the File Import ASCII YXZ option.
You may import data from a fixed column or comma delimited ASCII
file. A standard Window file open dialog is displayed. Navigate to the
Examples subdirectory below the directory in which Civil Designer was
installed and select the file _Tutor.dat. The following wizard dialog is
presented and the options should be set as illustrated:

An extract of the first 25 lines of the ASCII file is shown from which we
must now specify the sequence of data items. In this case we have the
coordinate name, Y, X and Height values. Click on the Next button and
set up as shown below:
Now click on the Finish button to start the import.

The import function scans the incoming file and determines whether it’s
size will cause the Terrain database structure to be inefficient if
imported as-is. If so, an automatic Rescale Survey takes place to have the
database resized to accommodate the new data.
If your data does not include a surface flag or indicator you may now
specify the destination surface for the incoming data. In this case we
want all the points to be in Surface 1.
The Destination Surface Selection message box is displayed. The left-
hand column (Found) indicates None/0. The right-hand column
(Destination) indicates Surface 1, 2 and so on. Select Destination Surface
as Surface 1.
Click the box to Save settings as defaults, and then click OK to allocate the
surfaces to the selected destinations.
Click OK and the data will be imported and the site redrawn.
To view all the data, first switch to Terrain mode by selecting Mode
Terrain Mode from the menu or by clicking on the Terrain button in the
design mode toolbar. Now select the View Zoom All option (or press the
keys Z and A in succession). The site will be redrawn showing the survey
points.
In order to centre the project view on the site select the Tools Rescale
Survey option. The program will determine the extents of the site and
calculate a centre point. This is displayed for confirmation as follows:

Accept the values. The file will now be centered on the screen every time
you open the project.
Save your data using the File Save Project option.

Generate a digital terrain model
Civil Designer has very powerful functions to create and edit a digital
terrain model from survey data.
There are two methods to construct the Digital Ground Model (DGM).
The first is by means of triangulation that will connect all the points into
a triangular irregular network (TIN). This method is extremely fast and
works very well on uniform sites with no sharp changes in grade.
Let’s examine the results so far. Select the Model Triangulate option. Set
the values as indicated:
Click OK and the site will be triangulated. After the triangulation is

completed an Information dialog box is displayed. Click OK.
View Options
To view the generated lines select the Setting Lines option or click on
the Lines button in the Terrain toolbar. Thereafter refresh the display by
means of the S key (as in refresh) on the keyboard. The lines will be
displayed.
We can now activate various options that will make the editing of the
lines easier and more intuitive.
The first is to display the site contours by means of the Settings
Contours option or the Contours button in the Terrain toolbar and refresh
again in order to see the contours.
In order to understand the site better we can also activate the point
name display using the Settings Names option (Name button) and the
point height display using the Settings Heights option (Heights button).

Refresh the display using S on the numeric keypad to see the latest
changes. Let’s zoom in on the top quarter of the site using the View
Zoom Window menu option or press the Z and W keys. Define a fairly
small area so that we can display some detail as illustrated below (in this
case with only line display switched on):
Editing lines
The contours are derived from the lines that indicate areas of linear
interpolation between two elevations. As you change the lines the
contours will be updated. Switch on the contour display using Settings
Contours or click the Contour button in the Terrain toolbar. Press S to
refresh the display. Remove a line using the Model Delete Break Line
option or click the Delete Breakline button on the Terrain toolbar. Notice
how the contours are updated after the change. Now add a line using the
Model Add Break Line option or click the Add Breakline button on the
Terrain toolbar.
Use Esc to terminate these functions.
Zoom and/or pan

Civil Designer has very powerful panning functions. To pan to the
current cursor position simply press P. To zoom in use the M (for
Magnify) key and, to zoom out, use the D (for Demagnify) key.

The importance of break lines
Study the model carefully and note how the lines and contours around
the ER points are not always accurate. This is a characteristic of all DGM
models. In order to define a terrain model correctly it is essential that the
break lines or changes in grade be defined correctly.
One alternative is to correct the model by means of manual editing using
the add- and delete line functions but, on a large site, manual editing can
become very tedious.
Intelligent break lines

Civil Designer solves this problem with its Intelli-Lines in the Model
Intelli-Lines option. First switch off the point names and heights display
(if switched on) and zoom the entire site using View Zoom All (or ZA).
Now select the Model Intelli-Lines option with the following settings:
The lines will be regenerated but will only connect the points labeled as
ER as shown in the next illustration:

Note that if you chose to retain the existing lines for these operations,
you would be adding lines on to the existing model. Note also that we
chose to generate these lines as Feature lines. This means that we will
not inadvertently delete these lines when next we use the Intelli-Line
option and we choose to delete existing lines.
Tidy up the feature lines by using the various view options and the add-
and delete feature line functions. Don’t worry about any other points at
this stage.
When you have finished the editing the feature lines, connect the rest of
the model with the following Intelli-Lines settings:

You should now have an accurate digital terrain model that will form the
basis of the rest of your design. Note how the road edges remain clearly
defined in the illustration below as they are feature lines:

Display a backdrop drawing
Civil Designer allows you to load a drawing into the current project that
will be displayed as a backdrop to the terrain data i.e. a drawing of the
cadastral layout of a town.
In order to specify the drawing to be loaded, select File Edit Project from
the menu. Set up the project dialog as follows:
You will need to click on the check box next to Drawing, click on the
Browse button that is activated, navigate to the Samples\Tutor
subdirectory and select the file Tutor.drg.
Once the drawing is selected click the OK button to activate the changes.
As the terrain file has recently been changed and has not been saved
since, a message asking if the DTM file should be saved is presented:
Click on the Yes button to save the changes otherwise all your hard work
will be summarily destroyed.

The project will be reloaded and this time the selected drawing will be
displayed along with the terrain data:

Generate contours
Even though we can display the contours during the editing process they
need to be saved if we want to include them in our site drawing. Select
the Terrain Contours from Lines menu option. Specify the following
settings.
The contours will be generated and saved to disk for plotting:

Create a site plan
Now we may reap the fruits of our labour by producing a site plan that
includes contours.
Firstly we need to set up our display correctly as the site plot is
generated mostly from what you can see on the screen. This is a
WYSIWIG or “What You See Is What You Get” plot.
Select the Settings Display Settings menu option or click the Display
Settings button on the Terrain toolbar. The following dialog will be
displayed:
Make sure the settings in the dialog are as shown. Now click on the
Contours setting to specify the type of contours to display.

You may also select to highlight the contours at some multiple of the
general contour interval and to specify the pens to be used for contours
and for highlighted contours (if selected).
Click the Close button and the site will be redrawn to show the selected
items.
Now select the Plot Generate menu option. The following dialog will be
displayed:
Click the File button [...] and the standard Windows file open dialog will
be displayed. Navigate to the Samples\SheetFiles subdirectory and select
the sheet called Plan.sht.
Click the Next button and the following dialog will be displayed:

Make the settings in the dialog as shown above and then click the Next
button.
The following dialog will be displayed:

Make the settings in the dialog as shown above and then click on the
Redefine All button. Now an option to position the plot centre is shown.
If the sheet is positioned correctly simply right-click to generate the
drawing.
If you need to reposition the sheet click on the desired centre position
and move the plot sheet around until you are satisfied. Click again and
you will be asked if you wish to rotate the plot.
Click the NO button.

The previous window will be shown again with a new entry.
Accept it by pressing the Finish button. A drawing similar to the following

will be generated:

Use the program functions to zoom in, pan, etc. If you want to print or
plot the drawing select the File Print option. Remember to check the
paper size before you print.

Plot Menu
Here you set up sheet files that define the title block layout similar to
Word templates.
Plot Menu 9-1

Generate
To generate a plot on a separate CAD window
Icon Button Toolbar Shortcut Command

Plot
This function allows you to generate a plan, cross section, long section or
any combination of these in a separate CAD window suitable for printing
or saving.
Procedure
The Plot Wizard will be displayed. Depending on the active data sets in
your project any combination of the following dialogs will be displayed.
The sequence of dialogs that follow depend on the options that have been
set in the selected sheet file. As these files can also create combination
plots (i.e. plan, cross section and long section all in one plot) there are
various dialogs that can be presented and there is no single logical path
that is followed.

Plot Setup
Make the relevant settings and click the Next button to continue.
Sheet file Displays the name of the selected plot sheet file.
Browse Button (...) Click this button to select a sheet file with which to
plot.
Sheet size Select the size of the plot to be created. The
selected sheet file will be scaled to the size selected
here.
Next Button Click this button to display the next page of the
dialog. The page displayed depends on which
regions are defined in the Sheet File.
Cancel Button Click this button to cancel the function.
Sheet File Editor Button Displays the Sheet File Editor and load the selected
Sheet File.
Plot Menu 9-3

Plan
Listing Options
Fill in the relevant data and click the Next button to continue.
Lists to plot Check the boxes for the various lists you want as
part of the plot.
Start - X and Start - Y Enter the position of the upper left corner of the
relevant list in 10ths of a mm relative to the bottom
left corner of the sheet at 0,0.
Y - Constant and X - Constant Enter the constants (in meters) to be subtracted from
the coordinate values in the relevant list.
Sheet File.
Next Button Click this button to accept the current entries and
display the Plan Setup Page.
Back Button Click this button to return to the previous page in the
dialog.

Plan Setup
Fill in the relevant details and click the Next button to continue.
Export to a Survey drawing Select the Survey option to have the generated plot
OR Plot as Cartesian. retain survey coordinates. If any rotation is selected
then the title block will rotate around the drawing.
Select the Cartesian option to generate a drawing
suitable for printing (survey coordinates will be lost).
If any rotation is selected then the drawing will rotate
in the title block.
Scale Enter the desired scale for the generated drawing.
Show grids Check this option to have grids (if defined) displayed
on the drawing.
Add New Button Click this button to define a new plot definition or to
generate an immediate plot.
Re Index Button Click this button to redefine the plotting order of
existing plot definitions.
Move Button Click this button to update the position of an existing
plot definition.
Delete Button Click this button to delete an existing plot definition.
Redefine All Button Click this button to remove all existing plot definitions
and start the definition of a new plot.
Plot Menu 9-5

Auto Define Button Click this button to automatically generate plot
sheets along the alignment of the active road, or
within a user defined rectangle. See Generate Plot.
Key Plan Click this button to display the Key Plan Generator.
This is a toggle switch button, if the button is
pressed, the key plan will be plotted before the pre-
defined plots.
Plot column Select whether the relevant plot should be generated
(Yes) or not (No). Right click this cell to toggle.
Center Y Coord column Enter the horizontal coordinate of the center of the
relevant plot definition.
Center X Coord column Enter the vertical coordinate of the center of the
relevant plot definition.
Rotation Angle column Enter the rotation angle for the relevant plot
definition.
Sheet File.
Finish Button Click this button to accept the current entries.
Press the Auto Define button to automatically define plots. The Following
message box will be displayed.
Press Yes to automatically define plots along the centerline of the active
road. You will be prompted for a chainage range and overlap (in meters)
between the sheets.
If you press No, you will be asked to define a rectangle within which plots
must be defined. You will also be prompted for a overlap (in meters)
between the sheets. The program will automatically define a matrix of
plots to fill the defined rectangle, all overlapping with the defined value.

Key Plan Generator
Sheet File Specify the Sheet File to be used for plotting

the Key plan. This Sheet file may differ from
the one used for the plots.
Sheet Size Specify the Sheet Size for the Key Plan.
Scale 1: Specify the Scale for the Key Plan
CAD Layer Indicate the CAD layer name where the
positions boxes of the pre-defined plots
should be added.
Plan Indicator Pen Colour Specify the Pen colour in witch the position
indicator boxes of the pre-defined plots
should be drawn.
Plan Indicator Line Type Specify the line type in witch the position
indicator boxes of the pre-defined plots
should be drawn.
Plan Numbering Pen Colour Specify the pen colour in witch the plan
numbering should be done.
Plan Numbering Text Size Specify the Text size of the plan numbering.
Start Numbering at Indicate the start plan number for the pre-
defined plots. In this example the first plot
will be number: 2002/03/124/1, the second
will be 2002/03/124/2 etc. These plan
numbers will appear in the middle of the
indicator boxes on the key plan. You can
also add the plan numbers to the pre-defined
plots by adding the appropriate entry to the
[Plan] [Plan Titles] page.
Sheet File Editor Press this button to open the Key Plan Sheet
file in the Sheet File Editor.
Plot Menu 9-7

Cross Section
Chainage - Start and Stop Enter the start and end chainages of the range of
chainages for which cross sections should be
plotted.
Offset limit - Left and Right Enter the limits left and right of the centerline within
which cross section information should be extracted.
Note that offsets left of the centerline must be
entered as a negative value.
Vertical scale Enter the vertical scale of the plotted cross section.
Horizontal scale Enter the horizontal scale of the plotted cross
section.
Plot Skew Sections only Check this option to only plot cross sections with
non-zero skew angles.
Auto scroll to next page Check this option to have new plots automatically
generated if the cross sections in the selected
chainage range do not fit on the first sheet.
Plot column Select whether this cross section line should be
plotted (Yes) or not (No). Right click on the cell to
toggle.

Pen column Enter the pen number to be used for this cross
section line. Right click on the cell to access the pen
selection dialog.
LT column Enter the number of the line type to be used for this
cross section line.
Layer column Select the road layer from which this cross section
line should be extracted. Right click on the cell for a
list of road layers.
Sheet File.
Back Button Click this button to return to the previous page in the
dialog.
Next Button Click this button to accept the current entries. and go
to the next page.
Plot Menu 9-9

Long Section
The Road Long Section or ASCII Long Section Page is displayed
depending on the options selected in the dialog itself:
Start chainage Enter the chainage from which long section

extraction should take place.
Stop chainage Enter the chainage at which long section extraction
should terminate.
Horizontal scale Enter the horizontal scale of the generated long
section.
Vertical scale Enter the vertical scale of the generated long
section.
Auto scroll to next page Check this option to have multiple drawings
generated if the long section cannot fit on a single
page.
Display Crossing Pipes Check this option to display the Crossing Pipes
Dialog and draw crossing Sewer, Storm or Stardust
pipes on the road long section.

From Road file options
Up to 20 data items can be specified where each data item represents

either one of the long section lines, one of the long section labels, or both.
Plot Select whether this data item should be plotted.
Right-click to toggle between Yes and No.
Label Select whether this data item should be labelled.
Layer Select the road layer from which this data item
should be extracted. Right-click to display a list of
road layers.
Offset Specify the offset at which data for this data item
should be extracted. Use a negative offset to specify
data left of the center line, or a positive offset to
specify data to the right.
PLC Specify whether the preceding offset is in meters or
is a Point Location Code. Right-click to toggle
between Yes and No.
Extract Select the type of data to be extracted at the
specified offset for this data item. Right-click to
select the required option. Your options are
Chainage, Elevation or Offset.
Plot Menu 9-11

From ASCII file options
Up to 20 data items can be specified where each data item represents

either one of the long section lines, one of the long section labels, or both.
ASCII file name Displays the name of the selected file.
Browse Button (…) Click this button to select the name of the ASCII file
(which must be comma-delimited) from which the
long section should be extracted.
Display list Displays the contents of the selected file.
Chainage Specify the field that contains the chainage of the
long section data item.
Label Specify the field that contains the chainage label of
the long section data item (can be the same as that
specified for the chainage).
Plot Select whether this data item should be plotted.
Label Select whether this data item should be Labeled.
Field Specify the field that contains the data that should
be plotted and/or Labeled.

Crossing Pipes Dialog
Sewer Network Display pipes in the sewer network that cross the
section
Storm Network Display pipes in the sewer network that cross the
section
Water Network Display pipes in the sewer network that cross the
section
Pipes Display pipes defined in the roads list
Select Road for Pipe Specify the Road file to check for crossing pipes.
Only available with the Pipes option.
All the pipes of the selected Service(s) that cross the road will be drawn
on the Long Section.
Plot Menu 9-13

Long Section Editor
Chainage Enter the actual chainage of the data item.

bp Specify whether this data item is a label position (1)
or not (0).
Chainage Label Enter the label for the chainage.
Datum Enter the elevation datum for this data item.
Line 1 to Line 20 Enter the value for this data item (Chainage,
Elevation or Offset).
Change Group Button Click this button to change all selected cells to a
specified value.
OK Button Click this button to accept the current entries.
If you want occasional Zero Elevations to be interpolated, check the

"Interpolate long section level for 0 values" option in the Option Settings
dialog.

Pipe Long Section
The Pipe Long Section Page is displayed:
Fill in the relevant data and click the Next button to continue.
If you have selected a long section plot then, after the initial plot, you will
be prompted to enter new settings for horizontal scale, vertical scale and
paper size. If you would like to change any of these settings then type in
the required values and click on the tick mark button to regenerate the
plot. If you are satisfied with the plot click on the [Next] button.
Plot all manholes or Plot Select the option relevant to the manholes you wish
selected only to plot. If you select the Plot selected only option
then you will need to specify the upstream and
downstream manholes of the range to plot.
Upstream manhole Select the first manhole of the range of manholes to
plot. Only available when the Plot selected only
option is selected.
Downstream manhole Select the last manhole of the range of manholes to
plot. Only available when the Plot selected only
option is selected.
Horizontal scale Enter the horizontal scale for the long section.
Vertical scale Enter the vertical scale for the long section.
Plot Menu 9-15

generated if the long section in the selected range
does not fit on the first sheet.
Plot column Select whether this long section line should be
plotted (Yes) or not (No). Right click the cell to
toggle.
Label column Select whether this long section line should be
labelled (Yes) or not (No). Right click the cell to
toggle.
Layer column Select the road layer from which this long section
line should be extracted. Right click the cell for a list
of road layers.
Label Levels at: Manholes Check this option to write Elevation labels at every
Manhole on the Long Section.
Label Levels at: Ground break Check this option to write Elevation labels at every
points Ground break point, on the Long Section.
Label Levels at: Pipe Bends Check this option to write Elevation labels at every
pipe bend on the Long Section.
Label Labels at: Even Check this option to write Elevation labels at even
chainages chainage intervals, on the Long Section.
Sheet File Editor Displays the Sheet File Editor and load the selected
Sheet File.
Previous Button Click this button to return to the previous page.
Next Button Click this button to accept the current settings and
proceed to the next page.

Sewer Long Section Page
Plot all manholes OR Plot Select the option relevant to the manholes you wish
then you must also specify the upstream and
downstream manholes of the range of manholes to
plot.
plot. Only available if the Plot selected only option is
selected.
selected.
Horizontal scale Enter the horizontal scale of the long section.
Vertical scale Enter the vertical scale of the long section.
Plot Menu 9-17

Crossing pipes Check this option to display the Crossing Pipes
dialog and draw crossing Storm, Water or Stardust
pipes on the long section.
Sheet File.
Next Button Click this button to accept the current entries and

Stormwater Long Section Page
Plot all manholes OR Plot Select the option relevant to the manholes you wish
then you must also specify the upstream and
downstream manholes of the range of manholes to
plot.
selected.
selected.
Horizontal scale Enter the horizontal scale of the long section.
Vertical scale Enter the vertical scale of the long section.
Plot Menu 9-19

Sheet File.
Crossing Pipes Check this option to display the Crossing Pipes

Water Long Section Page
Note that you must have selected the water pipes for which you wish to
plot the long section before using this function.
Horizontal scale Enter the horizontal scale for the long section.
Vertical scale Enter the vertical scale for the long section.
Sheet File.
Label Levels at: Pipe Bends Check this option to write Elevation labels at every
pipe bend on the Long Section.
Plot Menu 9-21

Sheet File.
Crossing Pipes Check this option to display the Crossing Pipes

Sheet File Editor
To create or edit a sheet file or template

SheetEdit
Sheet files or templates define the layout of the generated drawing. The
precise position and attributes of the title block and other entities are
defined in the template.
Note that all measurements entered in a sheet file are in 10ths of a

millimeter except where specifically indicated.
It is usually much easier to edit and rename an existing sheet template

file than start a new one from scratch. When loading Stardust 5.x sheet
files Civil Designer will automatically convert the format to a version 6
sheet file. The version 5 sheet will be saved to a new name (e.g.
TPLT5.SHT will be saved as TPLT6.SHT).
Plotting Regions
The template must have a global plotting region and at least one sub
region. This is the only compulsory entry.
The Sheet Template Editor is divided into 5 pages. The first page
contains data which defines the global or overall layout of the sheet. The
next 3 pages, Plan, Cross Section and Long Section, each contain the
data to define the layout of that type of drawing. The Preview page allows
you to view the sheet template.
The global plotting region defines the outer limits on which data will be
plotted. The sheet units are 0.1 mm for absolute accuracy.
A region must also be defined for every plot type if it is to be included on
the sheet. The drawing regions should exclude the areas used by title
blocks. Multiple regions can be configured alongside each other on the
same plan.
All subsequent items on the template are optional.
Preview Page
The sheet file can be viewed graphically at any stage by simply changing
to the [Preview] page. Single entities such as text and lines can be
queried in the [Preview] page after which the appropriate row in the
spreadsheet will be highlighted.
Plot Menu 9-23

Global Page
This section sets up the general sheet layout and the global elements that
make up the title block.
Region
This sub-section controls the overall dimensions of the plot and is a

required element. A page size of 11000 wide and 8000 high is a good
default as these dimension are the nominal size of an A0 sheet in 0.1mm.
The bottom left corner of the sheet is taken as 0, 0 and the top right
corner as 11000, 8000. Sheet files can be created at any sheet size and will
be scaled to the desired sheet size when running the Generate plot
routine.

The drawing sub-regions for the various plot types must be specified
based on the global region. The drawing sub-regions should exclude the
areas used by title blocks. Multiple regions can be configured alongside
each other on the same plot.
All subsequent items on the Global page are optional.
Plot Limits - Top, Right, Set the overall plot limits in 10th mm.
Bottom and Left
Plot Menu 9-25

Lines
This sub-section deals with lines that have to be drawn on the plot such
as title blocks, plot borders, plotting region etc.
Start X and Start Y Specify the coordinates of the start of the line.
End X and End Y Specify the coordinates of the end of the line.
Pen Select the pen to be used for the line. Right click on
the cell to access the pen selection dialog.
LT Enter the line type to be used for the line.

Text
This sub-section deals with text that is to be drawn on the plot such as
Company Names, drawing numbers, plot titles, etc.
X-Origin and Y-Origin Specify the point at which the text item must be
placed.
Height Specify the text height in points.
Rotate Specify the angle at which the text should be
rotated. An angle of 0 degrees draws text from left to
right, and angles rotate anti-clockwise.
Pen Select the pen in which to plot the text. Right click
the cell to display the pen selection dialog.
Lorg Enter the label origin for the text item. Various lorg's
are supported. See the explanation of LORG's
below.
Text Enter the text to be drawn. There are some
predefined variables that can be entered here. Right
click the cell to select a variable from a pop-up
menu. An explanation of the available variables is
shown below.
Font Select the font in which the text should be drawn.
Right click the cell for a list of fonts.
Plot Menu 9-27

The positioning of text relative to the origin is known as the LORG (label
origin). Nine LORG positions may be specified for the text as follows:
Available Variables:
{SCALE.x} Plan scale.
{HSCALE.x} Horizontal scale (Sections only).
{VSCALE.x} Vertical scale (Sections only).
{START.x} Start chainage (Sections only).
{END.x} Stop chainage (Sections only).
{TIME} The current 24 hour time as hh:mm
{DATE1} The current date as dd/mm/yyyy.
{DATE2} The current date as mm/dd/yyyy.
{DATE3} The current date as yyyy/mm/dd
{DRAW_NAME} The original drawing file name
The .x in the above variables can be substituted with a value that

specifies the number of decimals to be displayed. For example, if the
drawing scale was 1 : 1500 and the text item was specified as "1 :
{SCALE.3}" then the text drawn would be 1 : 1500.000.

North Sign Layout
This sub-section controls the layout of a North sign.

X-Origin and Y-Origin Specify the position at which the North sign should
be drawn.
X-Text Origin and Y-Text Specify the origin of the north sign text.
Origin
North Text Enter the text to be drawn for the North sign.
Pen Select the pen to be used. Right click the cell to
display the pen selection dialog.
Lorg Enter the label origin of the text. See the
explanations of LORG's above.
Text Height Enter the text height in points.
CAD Layer Enter the name of the CAD layer that the North sign
should be drawn on.
Plot Menu 9-29

North Sign Lines
This subsection defines the line drawing of the North sign.

The North sign line coordinates are relative to the X and Y Origin settings
in the North Sign Layout section.
Start X and Start Y The position, relative to the North sign origin, of the
start of a line.
End X and End Y The position, relative to the North sign origin, of the
end of a line.
Pen Select the pen to be used for the line. Right click the
cell to display the pen selection dialog.
LT Enter the line type to be used for the line.

Scale Bar
This sub-section defines the layout of a scale bar on the final drawing.
X-Origin and Y-Origin Define the position of left-bottom corner of the scale
bar.
Scale Bar Height Enter the vertical height of the scale bar.
Pen Select the pen to be used for the scale bar. Right
click the cell to display the pen selection dialog.
Text Height Enter the height of the scale bar text in points.
Plot Menu 9-31

Drawings
This sub-section defines the positioning of extra drawings that can be

inserted into the main drawing. These would be, for example, title
blocks, north signs or typical details. The drawings must be created at a
scale of 1:1 in Cartesian coordinates and in millimeters as units.
X-Origin and Y-Origin Define the position of the placing point of the
inserted drawing. This is normally the center of the
drawing to be inserted.
Drawing Path Enter the full path and name of the drawing to be
inserted. Right click the cell to browse for a drawing
file.
Type Select the type of drawing. North: the drawing must
remain North oriented (e.g. north sighn). Draw: the
drawing will not remain north orianted (e.g. title
block). Symbol: the drawing is a symbol drawing.

Plan Page
This section allows you to define the position of the plan region on the
sheet as well as the plan details.
Region
Note that all measurements entered in a sheet file are in 10ths of a
millimeter except where specifically indicated.
This sub-section controls the dimensions of the plan region and is a

required element for a plan sheet file. The plan region is defined as part
of the global plotting region and therefore its coordinates should not
exceed those defined for the global plotting region. This allows you to
position a plan region anywhere on your plot sheet.
Plot Limits - Top, Right, Set the plan plot region limits in 10th mm.
Bottom and Left
Plot Menu 9-33

Titles
This sub-section controls text that is drawn only when a plan is plotted.
X-Origin and Y-Origin Enter the position at which the text will be written.
Height Enter the height of the text in points.
Rotate Enter the text rotation angle in degrees.
Pen Select the pen to be used for the text. Right click the cell to
Lorg Specify the label origin of the text. See the explanation of
LORG's.
Text Enter the text to be drawn. There are some predefined
variables that can be entered here. Right click the cell to
select a variable from a pop-up menu. An explanation of the
available variables is shown below.
Font Select the font in which to draw the text. Right click the cell
for a list of fonts.
Available Variables:
{SCALE.x} Plan scale.
{PLAN_NO] Enter the plan number specified in the Key Plan Generator

drawing scale was 1:1500 and the text item was specified as
"1:{SCALE.3}" then the text drawn would be 1 : 1500.000.

Grids
This sub-section defines grids that can be drawn on the plan region.
Display Grids Select whether grids should be displayed (Yes) or
not (No). Right click the cell to toggle the state.
Grid Interval Specify the interval between grid marks in meters.
Grid Type Select whether to draw grid crosses (Cross) or grid
lines that cross the plan region (Full). Right click the
cell to toggle the selection.
Cross Length Enter the length of the arms of the grid cross.
Pen Select the pen to be used for drawing the grids.
Right click the cell to display the pen selection
dialog.
Text Height Enter the height of the grid text in points.
Font Select the font in which to draw the grid text. Right
click the cell for a list of fonts.
Hor. Constant Enter a constant value to be subtracted from the
Horizontal coordinate.
Ver. Constant Enter a constant value to be subtracted from the

Vertical coordinate.
Plot Menu 9-35

List
This sub-section controls the drawing of a coordinate list on the plan.

X-Origin and Y-Origin Specify the position of the top-left corner of the list.
Draw Frame Select whether the list should be framed (Yes) or not
(No). Right click the cell to toggle the state.
Frame Pen Select the pen in which to draw the list frame. Right
Draw Vert. Grid Select whether vertical lines should be drawn for
each column (Yes) or not (No). Right click the cell to
toggle the state.
Vert Grid Pen Select the pen in which to draw the vertical lines.
dialog.
Draw Hor. Grid Select whether horizontal lines should be drawn for
each row (Yes) or not (No). Right click the cell to
toggle the state.
Hor Grid Pen Select the pen in which to draw the horizontal lines.
dialog.
Line Spacing Enter the vertical spacing between successive rows
in the list.
Text Pen Select the pen in which to draw the list text. Right

Decimal Places Enter the number of decimal places to be displayed.
Y-Constants and X-Constants Enter the constants (in meters) to be subtracted from
coordinate values before the text is drawn.
Header Font Select the font in which to draw the header text.
Data Font Select the font in which to draw the item text. Right
Apply Filter Select whether a name filter should be applied to the
points to be listed (Yes) or not (No). Right click the
cell to toggle the state.
List Labels
The Nr. and Width columns have no bearing on the Table row.
Nr. Enter the column number in which the relevant item

should be drawn. To ignore a particular item set it's
column number to 0.
Width Enter the width of the column.
Pen Select the pen in which the table or column heading
should be drawn. Right click the cell to display the
pen selection dialog.
Text Ht. Enter the text height of the table or column heading
in points.
Headings Enter the text for the table or column heading.
Plot Menu 9-37

Road List
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

List Chainages Change this option to "Yes" in order to list all the
road chainages and the center line coordinates at
each chainage.
Round Chainages Enter a value to filter the listed chainages. e.g. 100
chainages with 100 m increments.
Road List Labels

column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-39

Curve List
This sub-section controls the drawing of a list of horizontal road curve on

the plan.
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Curve List Labels
Define the Label configurations of the Curve List using this Page.
column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-41

Sewer List
This sub-section controls the drawing of a sewer pipe list on the plan.
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Slope as Ratio Select whether pipe slopes should be written as
ratios (Yes) or as percentage slopes (No). Right click
the cell to toggle the state.
Sewer List Labels
Define the Label configurations of the Sewer Schedule using this Page.
column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-43

Storm List
This sub-section controls the drawing of a stormwater pipe list on the

plan.
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Storm List Labels
Define the Label configurations of the Stormwater schedule using this

Page.
column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-45

Water List
This sub-section controls the drawing of a water pipe list on the plan. See
the section on the sewer pipe list for settings details.
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Water List Labels
Define the Label configurations of the Water Schedule using this Page.
column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-47

Slope Key
This sub-section controls the drawing of a slope shading key on the plan.
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Slope Key Labels
Define the Label configurations of the Slope Shading key using this
Page.
column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-49

Height Key
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Height Key Labels

column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-51

Layer List
This sub-section controls the drawing of a slope shading key on the plan.
toggle the state.
dialog.
toggle the state.
dialog.
in the list.

Layer List Labels
Define the Label configurations of the CAD layer list using this Page.
column number to 0.
in points.
Plot Menu 9-53

Cross Section Page
This page allows you to define the layout of cross sections.
The coordinates of section lines, labels and annotations may be specified
using the following position variables (Right click to access the pop up
menu):
{L} The left extent of the rectangle bounding each section
{R} The right extent of the rectangle bounding each section
{T} The top extent of the rectangle bounding each section
{B} The bottom extent of the rectangle bounding each section
{O} The origin of the section
Region
This table allows you to define where on the sheet the cross sections
must be placed.
Specify the cross section plotting region in tenths of a millimeter with the
origin ( 0, 0 ) at the bottom left corner of the paper. This may extend over
the entire sheet or only a portion of the sheet if the sheet contains other
data such as long sections and plan layouts.

Layout
This defines the basic layout of the cross sections in relation to the cross
section plotting region. It also defines the relationship of one section to
another.
Units are tenths of a millimeter.

First Section Spacing (A) The distance from the bottom of the plotting region
to the origin of the first section.
Vertical Section Spacing (B) The distance between the top of one section and the
origin of the section above it.
Horizontal Section Spacing The horizontal distance between sections.
(C)
Section Bottom Spacing (D) The minimum distance from the datum of the section
to the lowest point on the cross section.
Section Top Spacing (E) The minimum distance from the highest point on the
cross section to the top.
The height of the section may be fixed or may float.
If the value is 0, each section will take up the
minimum space possible.
Fixed Section Height (F) The minimum height of the section drawing. In the
example above each section will be 30.0 millimeters
high. If a specific section cannot fit within this limit it
will be drawn to scale in a larger box.
Plot Menu 9-55

Rounding factor for Datum Rounds the datum off if the cross section is not a
fixed height (see above). For example, a rounding
factor of 5.0 will generate cross sections with datums
of say 40.0, 45.0, etc.
CAD Layer for Frame The CAD layer for the cross section frame when
creating a output drawing.
Rotate Rotates section by 90 degrees if set to Yes.
Centralize Set to "Yes" to centralize the cross section
horizontally within the plotting region. This would
normally be used on small plots where only one
column of sections would be plotted
Display Layerworks Yes/No toggle for layerworks display. If the value of
this cell is changed to Yes, the Layerworks dialog
will be displayed
Layerworks Pen Pen used to draw layerworks. Right click to display
the Colour dialog.
Layerworks Line Type Line type for layerworks.

If you used the Pavement Designer to design your layerworks, you can
use this dialog to display the pavement design symbol on the cross
section.
Plot Menu 9-57

Lines
These refer to the lines defining the place in which the cross section is
plotted e.g. datum line, center line (CL), border, etc.
You must define the following for every line:

Start X The X coordinate of the start of the line
Start Y The Y coordinate of the start of the line
End X The X coordinate of the end of the line
End Y The Y coordinate of the end of the line
Pen The pen used to draw the line. Right click on the cell
to select a pen from the Colour Dialog.
Tick Interval Specify the tick interval along the line in meters.
Tick length Left Specify the length of the tick to the left or top of the
line in tenths of a millimeter.
Tick length Right Specify the length of the tick to the right or bottom of
the line in tenths of a millimeter.
Tick Pen Specify the pen the tick mark should be drawn in.
Right click on the cell to select a pen from the Colour
Dialog.
You may use position variables to define the line coordinates.

Titles
Titles are text items added to the cross section region. In the example
below we are adding the horizontal and vertical scales.
You must specify the following for every text item:

X Origin The X coordinate of the reference point of the text
item relative to the cross section origin.
Y Origin The Y coordinate of the reference point of the text
Height The size of the text item in points.
Rotate The text angle in degrees measured anti-clockwise.
Pen The pen used to draw the text. Right click on the cell
Lorg The label origin of the text item.
Text The text to be output.
Font The text font. Double click on this cell to display a list
of available fonts.
Plot Menu 9-59

The variables that may be used for the text strings are:
{START.x} The start chainage of the sections which fit on the
sheet. The "x" determines the number of decimals
the value is rounded to, usually 0.
{END.x} The end chainage of the sections which fit on the
sheet. The "x" determines the number of decimals
the value is rounded to, usually 0.
{1:HSCALE} The horizontal scale as 1 : x.
{1:VSCALE} The vertical scale as 1 : x.

Labels
Labels are added to each cross section and are used to identify the
section (chainage) and plot the datum level.
You may use position variables to specify the label coordinates. The
variables that may be used for the text strings are:
{1:HSCALE} The horizontal scale as 1 : x.
{1:VSCALE} The vertical scale as 1 : x.
{DATUM.x} The datum of this section. The "x" determines the
number of decimals the value is rounded to, usually
0.
{CHNGE.x} The chainage value of this section. The "x"
determines the number of decimals the value is
rounded to, usually 0.
{CUTAREA(n).x} Area of cut for the line 'n'. The "x" determines the
3.
{FILLAREA(n).x} Area of fill for the line 'n'. The "x" determines the
3.
{SKEWANG.x} The cross section's skew angle as specified in the
index file.
Plot Menu 9-61

Annotation
Annotations are cross section data items written in the section plotting
area.
The text origin is specified by a co-ordinate (Hor,Ver) based on the local

section co-ordinate system. The height of the text (0.1mm), the direction
(degree), pen number, label origin (LORG), slant (degrees from the
vertical) and the text string must be specified.
The line number on which the annotations should be based must be
specified, as well as the offset (m) from the CL on the cross section for
the annotation. The offset may be specified as an offset in meters or the
'100 Code' may be used by specifying a negative number for the cross
section line.
Text The text item and/or variable to be added to the
section.
Lin The line number that the annotations are extracted
from. This is specified in the cross section
generation options.
Offset The offset in meters from the centerline or the point
location code depending on the setting in the PLC
column. A negative offset is to the left of the
centerline while a positive value is to the right of the
centerline.

PLC This setting determines if the offset refers to a
physical distance in meters (No) or the point location
code (Yes).
X Origin The X coordinate of the reference point of the text
Y Origin The Y coordinate of the reference point of the text
Height The size of the text item in points.
Rotate The text angle in degrees measured anti-clockwise.
Pen The pen used to draw the text. Right click on the cell
Lorg The label origin of the text item.
Font The text font. Double click on this cell to display a list
of available fonts.
The section data variables are:

{OFFS.x} The horizontal offset from the centerline. The "x"
determines the number of decimals the value is
rounded to, usually 3.
{ELEV.x} The elevation of the point. The "x" determines the
3.
Plot Menu 9-63

Grids
Hor. Grid Spacing (m) Enter the horizontal spacing for the grids in meter.
Ver. Grid Spacing (m) Enter the vertical spacing for the grids in meter
Hor. Grid Hi-Lite Increment Enter the spacing of highlighted horizontal grid lines
(uses highlight pen) in meters. Enter a value of 0 to
ignore horizontal highlighting.
Ver. Grid Hi-Lite Increment Enter the spacing of highlighted vertical grid lines
ignore vertical highlighting.
Grid Pen Select the pen for the grid lines. Right click the cell
to display the pen selection dialog.
Hi-Lite Pen Select the pen for the highlighted grid lines. Right
Line Type Enter the line type for the grid lines.
CAD Layer Enter the layer on which the grid should be plotted.

Grid Text

Text Width Enter the text width in points. Enter a value of 0 for
the default font width
Pen Select the pen for the text. Right click the cell to
Round to Nearest (m) Enter the rounding factor in meters. An entry of 2 will
add a grid label every 2m.
CAD Layer Enter the line type for the grid text
Font Enter the layer on which the grid text should be
plotted.
Plot Menu 9-65

Symbols
Lin Enter the line number on which the annotations should be based. The
line number corresponds to the line numbers in the Cross Section
Setup dialog.
An entry of 0 as a line number (which is not used in the cross sections)
will set the relevant elevation to the datum elevation. Any offset
entered will be then be added to the elevation. This is useful when
plotting an elevation scale up the side of the section.
Offset- Enter the Offset, PLC or ID (specified in Type column) where the
symbol must be displayed.
-Type Specify whether the entered value in the Offset column is a point
location code, point ID or an offset. Right-click the cell to alter the
current setting.
Scale Enter a scale factor for the symbol if you want to scale the symbol
manually. Enter a scale of Zero if the symbols were drawn to scale and
the program will scale the symbol according to the Horizontal and
Vertical plotting scale automatically.
Name Select the symbol name from the pop-down list. Symbol will only be
listed if a symbol file has been specified.

Long Section
All measurements entered in a sheet file are in 10ths of a millimeter
except where specifically indicated.
Region
This sub-section controls the dimensions of the long section region and is
a required element for a long section sheet file. The long section region is
defined as part of the global plotting region and therefore its coordinates
should not exceed those defined for the global plotting region. This
allows you to position a long section region anywhere on your plot sheet.
Plot Limits - Top, Right, Set the plan plot region limits in 10th mm.
Bottom and Left
Plot Menu 9-67

Layout
This sub-section defines the layout of the long sections within the long
section region. It also sets the relationship of one long section to another.
The long section layout is divided into two areas. The Detail area is the
area below the datum where the long section data will be entered. The
Section area is the area above the datum where the long section will be
drawn.
First Frame Spacing (A) Enter the distance from the bottom of the plotting
region to the origin of the first section.
Vertical Spacing (B) Enter the distance between the top of one section
and the origin of the section above.
Horizontal Spacing (C) Enter the distance between the origins of adjacent
sections.
Section Area Width (E) Enter the width of the long section plotting area to
the right of the datum origin. Enter 0 here to have
the long section expand to the length of the road or
pipe (or at least that length that still fits on the page).
Section Area Height (D) Enter the height of the long section plotting area
above the datum origin.
Detail Area Width (F) Enter the width of the long section data area to the
left of the datum origin (to give space for detail
annotation text).
Detail Area Height (G) Enter the height of the long section data area below
the datum origin.

Decimals for Datum Enter the number of decimals for the datum text.
CAD Layer for Frame Enter the layer on which the long section frame
should be drawn.
Slope as Ratio Select whether slopes should be plotted as ratios
(Yes) or as percentages (No). Right click the cell to
toggle the setting.
Plot Menu 9-69

Lines
This sub-section defines the lines that will be drawn on each section.
Typically these will be the lines defining the long section blocks.
Start X and Start Y Enter the position of the start of the line relative to
the long section origin. There are some predefined
variables that can be entered here. Right click the
cell to select a variable from a pop-up menu. An
explanation of the available variables is shown
below.
End X and End Y Enter the position of the end of the line relative to the
long section origin. There are some predefined
variables that can be entered here. Right click the
cell to select a variable from a pop-up menu. An
explanation of the available variables is shown
below.
Pen Enter the pen in which to draw the line. Right click
LT Enter the line type in which to draw the line.
Available Variables
{L} The left edge of the long section.
{R} The right edge of the long section.
{T} The top of the long section.
{B} The bottom of the long section.
{C} The center of the long section.

Titles
This sub-section defines the text that will appear in each section that will
be plotted, and will typically identify the data in the detail area.
X-Origin and Y-Origin Enter the position at which the text is to be placed
relative to the long section origin. There are some
shown above.
Height Enter the height of the text in points.
Rotate Enter the angle at which the text should be written in
degrees.
Pen Select the pen in which to plot the text. Right click
Lorg Enter the label origin for the text item. Various lorg's
are supported. See the explanation of LORG's for
more detail.
Text Enter the text to be plotted. There are some
shown below.
Font Select the font in which to plot the text. Right click
the cell for a list of fonts.
Plot Menu 9-71

Available Text Variables
1 : {HSCALE} The horizontal scale of the long section.
1 : {VSCALE} The vertical scale of the long section.
{START.x} The start chainage of the long section.
{END.x} The end chainage of the long section.
{STARTMH} The first manhole of the long section (for pipe
plotting only).
{ENDMH} The final manhole of the long section (for pipe
plotting only).

start chainage was 375.25 and the text item was specified as "{START.3}"
then the text drawn would be 375.250.

Language
This sub-section defines text substitutions for road elements.

Road element Enter the text to be substituted for the particular road
element text.
Plot Menu 9-73

Grids
This sub-section defines the grid lines that are drawn in the long section
Section area.
Hor. Grid Spacing Enter the spacing of the horizontal grid lines in
meters.
Ver. Grid Spacing Enter the spacing of the vertical grid lines in meters.
Hor. Grid Hi-Lite Increment Enter the spacing of highlighted horizontal grid lines
ignore horizontal highlighting.
Ver. Grid Hi-Lite Increment Enter the spacing of highlighted vertical grid lines
ignore vertical highlighting.
Grid Pen Select the pen for the grid lines. Right click the cell
to display the pen selection dialog.
Hi-Lite Pen Select the pen for the highlighted grid lines. Right
Line Type Enter the line type for the grid lines.
CAD Layer Enter the layer on which the grid should be plotted.

Grid Text
This sub-section defines the plotting of grid and datum text.

Text Width Enter the text width in points. Enter a value of 0 for
the default font width.
Pen Select the pen for the text. Right click the cell to
Round to Nearest Enter the rounding factor in meters. An entry of 2 will
add a grid label every 2m.
CAD Layer Enter the layer on which the text is to be drawn.
Font Select the font in which to draw the text. Right click
on the cell for a list of fonts.
Plot Menu 9-75

Road
This sub-section defines the plot settings for the section and detail areas
for road long sections.
The first grid contains settings for the section and detail areas for the
long section data. The row headings (other than Chainage) can be
changed by double clicking on them. This then allows you to enter
descriptive text for the row which is displayed in the Long Section Setup
dialog as an aid to the data required for each particular line.
Plot Select whether a line should be plotted in the section
area for this data (Yes) or not (No). Right click the
cell to toggle the status.
Label Select whether a label should be generated in the
detail area for this data (Yes) or not (No). Right click
the cell to toggle the status.
Smooth Select whether the plotted line should be smoothed
with a bezier curve (Yes) or not (No). Right click the
cell to toggle the status.
Pen Select the pen in which to plot the data line. Right
LT Enter the line type in which to plot the data line.
CAD Enter the CAD layer on which the line should be
plotted.

Dec Enter the number of decimal places to be used for
the detail data.
All Select whether a line point and/or data value should
be generated for every point in this long section line
(Yes) or only the bend points (road chainage points
or manholes) (No). Right click the cell to toggle the
status.
Min. Y Enter the bottom coordinate of the area in which
labels should be written relative to the datum line.
Enter a value of 0 to use the Y Origin setting instead.
Max. Y Enter the top coordinate of the area in which labels
should be written relative to the datum line. Enter a
value of 0 to use the Y Origin setting instead.
Y Origin Enter the coordinate at which the label origins
should be placed. This is an alternative method to
using the Min Y and Max Y settings.
Lorg Enter the origin of the label text. See the explanation
of LORG's for more detail.
Exag Enter the chainage interval in meters at which data
labels should be exaggerated. The text is written
60% greater than the specified size.
T.Hgt Enter the height of label text in points.
T.Rotate Enter the angle at which label text should be written
in degrees.
T.Pen Select the pen in which to plot the label text. Right
Underline Select whether a line should be drawn under the
data label from the defined Min Y to the defined Max
Y coordinates (Yes) or not (No). Right click the cell
to toggle the status.
Drop Select whether a line should be drawn from the
plotted data point down to the datum line (Yes) or
not (No). Right click the cell to toggle the status.
Round Enter a chainage rounding factor for the specific line.
E.g. enter 100 if you want to display elevations on
100m intervals.
Font Select the font in which the text should be plotted.
Long Section Format Press this button to display the Long Section Format
dialog.
Plot Menu 9-77

The second grid contains settings for the detail area for road elements.
Label Select whether a data label should be generated for
this road element (Yes) or not (No). Right click the
cell to toggle the status. When toggling the Pipe
Crossing option to (Yes), specify the text that has to
be written next to the pipes using the Custom Text
dialog.
Pen Select the pen in which to plot the label text. Right
LT Enter the line type in which lines should be drawn.
CAD Enter the CAD layer on which the data label should
be plotted.
Dec Enter the number of decimal places to be used for
the labels.
Min Y Enter the bottom coordinate of the area in which
labels should be written relative to the datum line.
Max Y Enter the top coordinate of the area in which labels
should be written relative to the datum line.
Hgt Enter the text height in points.
Lorg Enter the origin of the label text. See the explanation
of LORG's for more detail.
Arrow L Enter the length of the arrow head to be drawn for
those data elements which use arrows.
Custom Text Select whether a custom text entry should be
generated for this road entry (Yes) or not (No). If you
select Yes then a dialog is displayed which allows
you to enter the custom text. Right click the edit
box(es) in this dialog to enter pre-defined variables.
Max Super Enter the maximum superelevation value
represented by the Min Y and Max Y entries. This is
used to scale the superelevation to fit the defined
area. This is only applicable to the Left and Right
Super rows.
Font Enter the font in which to draw the data labels. Right
click the cell to display a list of fonts.

Pipe Data
for pipe long sections.
long section data. See the Road Page section for details of the available
settings.
The second grid contains settings for the detail area for pipe elements.
See the Road Page section for details of the available settings.
Plot Menu 9-79

Pipe Settings
This sub-section defines the display of manholes and culverts (pipes) for
pipe long sections.
Manhole Pen Select the pen in which to draw manholes. Right
Manhole LT Enter the line type in which to draw manholes.
Manhole Layer Enter the layer on which manholes should be drawn.
Manhole Width Enter the width in meters to draw the manholes.
Culvert Pen Select the pen in which to draw culverts. Right click
Culvert LT Enter the line type in which to draw culverts.
Culvert Layer Enter the layer on which culverts should be drawn.
Invert Type Select whether to draw the manhole base flat (Flat)
or at the slope of the incoming and outgoing pipes
(Incline). Right click the cell to toggle the option.
Positive Slopes Indicate whether pipe slopes must be indicated as
positive values when pipes are running uphill (Up).
or downhill (Down). Right click the cell to toggle the
option.

Sewer Data
for sewer long sections.
settings.
The second grid contains settings for the detail area for sewer pipe
elements. See the Road Page section for details of the available settings.
Plot Menu 9-81

Sewer Settings
sewer long sections. See the Pipe Settings page for details of the
available settings.

Storm Data
for stormwater long sections.
settings.
The second grid contains settings for the detail area for stormwater pipe
Plot Menu 9-83

Storm Settings
stormwater long sections. See the Pipe Settings page for details of the
available settings.

Water Data
for water long sections.
settings.
The second grid contains settings for the detail area for water pipe
Plot Menu 9-85

water long sections. See the Pipe Settings page for details of the
available settings.

Preview Page
The Preview tab displays the sheet as it is currently defined. Use this tab
to check the effect of different settings in the other tabs. Double-clicking
on items in the preview will also take you to the definition of those items
for possible changes.
Plot Menu 9-87

Long Section Format Dialog
Use this dialog to specify Long Section layout, instead of using the
[Layout], [Lines], [Titles] as well as the Min.Y and Max.Y columns on the
[Roads], [Pipe Data], [Sewer Data], [Storm Data] or [Water Data] pages

Long Section Design Items
Use the combo boxes on each cell to indicate position of the design items
that has to be written. Use the right hand side column to specify a second
design item that has to be written at the same position.
Right click on any item to edit the Text settings.
Entries into this area can either be a Design Item such as Horizontal
Alignment, or it can be elevations for a Long Section line.
Design Item Entries
Arrow Length Enter the length of the arrow head to be drawn for those
data elements which use arrows.
CAD Layer Enter the CAD layer in which this item should be drawn.
Maximum Super Enter the maximum superelevation value represented by the
Min Y and Max Y entries. This is used to scale the
superelevation to fit the defined area. This is only applicable
to the Left and Right Super rows.
Customized Text Select whether a custom text entry should be generated for
this road entry (Yes) or not (No). If you select Yes then a
dialog is displayed which allows you to enter the custom text.
Right click the edit box(es) in this dialog to enter pre-defined
variables.
Line Type Enter the Line type to be used for the Design Item.
Text Settings Click this button to display the Text Settings Dialog.
Plot Menu 9-89

Elevation Entries
Plot Line Check this option if a Long Section line must be drawn in the
section area.
Write Label Check this option if a label should be written in the detail
area.
Pen Press this button to edit the colour in which the Long Section
line will be drawn.
Line Type Use this combo box to edit the line type in which the Long
Section line should be drawn.
Draw Smooth line Check this option if the plotted line should be smoothed with
a bezier curve
Drop line to labels Check this option if a line should be drawn from the plotted
data point down to the datum line
CAD Layer Enter the CAD layer in which this item should be drawn.
Label all break points Check this option if a line point and/or data value should be
generated for every point in this long section line
Underline labels Check this option if a line should be drawn under the data
label from the defined Min Y to the defined Max Y
coordinates
Exaggerate Enter the chainage interval in meters at which data labels
should be exaggerated. The text is written 60% greater than
the specified size.
Text Settings Click this button to display the Text Settings Dialog.

Text Settings
Font Enter the Font to be used

Text Size Enter the Text size in points
Pen Press this button to edit the Pen colour to be used for the
text.
Decimal Places Enter the number of decimal places to be used for the detail
data.
Text Label origin Check the radio button that represents the desired label
origin (Lorg)
Plot Menu 9-91

Display Settings
Opens the Display Settings Dialog

DisplaySettings
This dialog allows you to specify the items that should be shown in the
graphical display and the manner in which they should be displayed.
Procedure
The Display Settings dialog is displayed.
The Display Settings dialog consists of a number of pages. The left side
of the dialog displays a tree list of available items. Click on the top level
item to display the relevant page. Some of the top level items have
further pages implemented as sub-items. Click on the + sign to the left of
any top level item to display the sub-items. Click on a sub-item to display
the relevant page.
Top level items are displayed only for those elements present in the
current project.
The possible top level items and their respective sub-items are as follows:
• IDE Layers - Layer settings for the drawing (if any) in the project.
• Terrain - General display settings
Display Settings 10-1

• Surfaces - Set up of surface names, visibility, active status and line
display
• Filter - Display filtering by point names
• Contours - Settings for contour display
• Banks - Display on banks for terraces and roads
• Slope Shading - Display of slope ranges by colour shading
• Height Shading - Display of height ranges by colour shading
• Point Symbols - Display of specified symbols on specific point names
• Name to Layer - Creating of specific points on selected CAD layers
during plan plotting
• Roads - General display settings
• Plan Layout - Display of lines and chainages from displayed roads
• Sewer - General display settings
• Nodes - Display of sewer nodes
• Links - Display of sewer links
• Storm - General display settings
• Nodes - Display of sewer nodes
• Links - Display of sewer links
• Water - General display settings
• Pipes - Display of water pipes
• Nodes - Display of water nodes
• Reservoirs - Display of water reservoirs
• Pumps - Display of water pumps
• Valves - Display of water valves
• Pressure Release Chambers - Display of water pressure release
chambers
• Map - General display settings

IDE Layers
Layer column Edit the layer names, or right-click on a cell to delete, add or
make the layer the current layer.
Vis column Right-click the cell to toggle the visibility of the layer on and off.
Lock column Right-click the cell to toggle the lock status of the layer on and
off. Elements on locked layers cannot be edited.
Mag column Enter the magnification factor for the layer. A magnification factor
of 1 assumes the drawing scale, a factor of 2 would use half the
drawing scale, and a factor of 0.5 would use twice the drawing
scale.
Pen column Right-click the cell to specify the pen to be used for elements on
this layer which have their pen set to 'ByLayer'.
Line Type column Select the line type to be used for elements on this layer which
have their line type set to 'ByLayer'.
Width column Enter the line width to be used for elements on this layer which
have their width set to 'ByLayer'.
Visibility Click the All Layers button to set the Vis column for all layers to
Yes. Click the Current Only button to set the Vis column for all
layers to No except for the current layer (highlighted in blue)
which is set to Yes.
Highlight Select the layer highlighting mode to be used. Select the None
option to turn off highlighting, select the Pen 8 option to have all
layers except the current layer displayed in pen 8, or select the
Rainbow option to have all layers except the current layer
displayed in various pens. The current layer is always displayed
using the specified element pens.
Operate on Select the All Unlocked option to be able to edit elements on any
layer which is not specifically locked, or select the Current only
option to be able to edit elements only on the current layer.

Terrain
General
Checkboxes Select/deselect the checkboxes to quickly toggle the display of

the various elements.
Font settings - Check this item to have text displayed at a set size regardless of
Draft text the current magnification of the drawing. Uncheck this item to
have the text displayed as it would be plotted.
Font settings - Select the font to be used for all text displayed.
Font
Font settings - Specify the rotation angle for point names and heights. This is a
Rotation cartesian angle.
Font settings - Specify the size of displayed text in points.
Size
Font settings - Specify the number of decimal places to be displayed for point
Decimal places heights.
Line types - Break Select the line style in which to display break lines.
Line types - Select the line style in which to display feature lines.
Feature

Surfaces
Surf. column Displays the actual surface numbers.

Name column Enter the name to be used for this surface.
Pen column Select the pen in which points (including names and heights)
on this surface should be displayed. Right click the relevant
cell to access the standard pen selection dialog.
Vis. column Toggles the visibility of this surface. Right click the relevant
cell to toggle between Yes and No. DTM points that are not
visible cannot be selected in those functions which act on
individual points.
Act. column Toggles the active status of this surface. Right click the
relevant cell to toggle between Yes and No. DTM Points on
inactive surfaces will not be used by any functions that alter
groups of points.
Lin. column Toggles the line display status of this surface. Right click the
cell to toggle between Yes and No.
CAD Layer column Enter the name of the CAD layer on which items on this
surface should be drawn when plotting a plan. Two variables
are available, {NUMBER} and {TYPE}, which translate to the
surface number and item type respectively. Right click the
relevant cell to select from a menu.
Active button Click this button to set the Active status for all surfaces to Yes.
Inactive button Click this button to set the Active status for all surfaces to No.
Visible button Click this button to set the Visible status for all surfaces to Yes
Hidden button Click this button to set the Visible status for all surfaces to No.

Filter
Apply filter Check this option to have the specified filter applied in order to
restrict the points displayed in the IDE window, or processed
by certain functions, to those that pass the filter.
All surfaces Check this option to have the filter applied to points in all
visible surfaces.
Apply to surface Select the surface to which this filter should be applied. The
selected surface must be active (and therefore visible).
Names to pass – All Select this option to allow all points to pass the inclusion filter.
Names to pass Enter up to 5 names that should be tested for when filtering
points in order to determine which points are to be passed for
processing. See the Name Filters section for details on using
wildcards for filtering. The dropdown list shows the names of
points that are currently visible on the screen.
Names to avoid – Select this option to allow all included points (those that
None passed the Names to pass filter) to pass the exclusion filter.
Names to avoid Enter up to 5 names that should be tested for when filtering
points in order to determine which points that have already
passed the Names to pass filter, are now to be excluded from
processing. See the Name Filters section for details on using
wildcards for filtering. The dropdown list shows the names of
points that are currently visible on the screen.

Contours
Contour details - Check this option to enable contour display.

Display contours
Contour details - Select either the Quick option to display contours from
Quick or Generated polygons, or select the Generated option to display contours
as generated by the Contours from Lines or DTM Contour
functions.
Contour details - If you have selected the Generated option then you may also
Smoothed select to have the contours smoothed. This will apply a Bezier
curve to the contour. This smoothing can however sometimes
introduce anomolies such as contours crossing each other.
Use with caution. It is also far slower than displaying
unsmoothed contours.
Contour details - Select the surface for which contours must be displayed. Only
Surface available if the Quick option is selected.
Contour details - Enter the lowest contour elevation to be displayed. Only
Datum available if the Quick option is selected.
Contour details - Enter the minimum height for the displayed contours. A value
Min. Height of 0 implies no minimum. Only available if the Generated
option is selected. Not available for single contours.
Contour details - Enter the maximum height for the displayed contours. A value
Max. Height of 0 implies no maximum. Only available if the Generated
option is selected. Not available for single contours.
Contour display - Enter the height interval at which to display contours, the pen
Contour Interval, to be used to draw the contour lines, and the line type in which
Pen and Linetype to draw the contours.
Contour display - Check this option to display highlighted contours. Enter the
Highlight, Interval, height interval at which to display highlighted contours, the

Pen and Linetype pen to be used to draw the highlighted contours, and the line
type in which to draw the highlighted contours. Not available
for single contours.
Contour display - Check this option to label contours. Enter the height interval at
Label, Interval and which to display labels, and the pen to be used to label the
Pen contours. Only applicable to Generated contours.
Transparent labels Check this option for the background behind the label,
including the contour itself, to be visible. Without it checked
(the default) the label is in a box coloured in the background
Design Centre colour. Only applicable to Generated contours.
Contour display - Txt Enter the height of contour labels in points. Only applicable to
hgt Generated contours.
Contour display - Enter the number of decimal places for contour labels. Only
Decimals applicable to Generated contours.
Contour display - Specify the interval (in metres) along the contour line at which
Label spacing contour labels should be displayed. Only applicable to
Generated contours. To turn off interval labelling along
contour lines, set the spacing to 0.000.
Second surface - Check this option to have contours displayed for an additional
Display contours surface. Only available for Quick contours.
Second surface - Click this button to select the colour in which these contours
Pen should be displayed. Only available for Quick contours.
Second surface - Select the surface for which the second set of contours must
Surface be displayed. Only available for Quick contours.
Difference contour Select the Pen and Linetype in which to display difference
display - Above Pen contours above the datum contour. Only applicable when
and Linetype Generated is selected and the stored contour file was created
from a grid generated by the DTM Ground/Design Difference
function.
Difference contour Select the Pen and Linetype in which to display the datum
display - Datum Pen contour. Only applicable when Generated is selected and the
and Linetype stored contour file was created from a grid generated by the
DTM Ground/Design Difference function.
Difference contour Select the Pen and Linetype in which to display difference
display - Below Pen contours below the datum contour. Only applicable when
and Linetype Generated is selected and the stored contour file was created
from a grid generated by the DTM Ground/Design Difference
function.

Banks
Display banks Check this option to enable bank display.

Bank surface Select the surface on which the banks have been generated.
Bank lines Button Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
a colour in which to display the normal bank lines.
Short lines Button Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
a colour in which to display the short bank lines.
Shoulder lines Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
Button a colour in which to display the bank shoulder lines.
Cut/Fill lines Button Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
a colour in which to display the bank cut/fill lines.
Snip factor Enter the percentage of the bank line length that should be
used for short lines.
Cut line type Enter the linetype with which to display cut lines.
Fill line type Enter the linetype with which to display fill lines.

Slope Shading
Show slope shading Check this option to enable slope shading display.
Display slope Check this option to enable the colour display.
colours
Surface Select the surface for which slope shading should be
generated.
From Slope column Enter the minimum slope for this range.
To Slope column Enter the maximum slope for this range.
Colour column Right-click the cell to access the Windows colour dialog, in
order to specify a colour with which to shade the range.
Out of range pen Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
Button a pen for shading items which do not fall into the specified
ranges.
Display slope arrows Check this option to display arrows in the direction of water
flow across the model.
Arrow pen Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
a pen for the slope arrow.
Arrow length and Enter the length and width of the slope arrow head in
width millmeters on paper.
Slope Ramp Button Click this button to access the Slope Ramp dialog in order to
specify a ramp to be applied to all ranges.
Colour Ramp Button Click this button to access the Colour Ramp dialog in order to

Height Shading
Show height Check this option to enable height shading display.

shading
Surface Select the surface for which height shading should be
generated.
From Height column Enter the minimum height for this range.
To Height column Enter the maximum height for this range.
Colour column Right-click the cell to access the Windows colour dialog, in
order to specify a colour with which to shade the range.
Below range pen Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
Button a pen for shading items which fall below the minimum
specified height.
Above range pen Click this button to access the colour dialog in order to specify
Button a pen for shading items which are above the maximum
specified height.
Autoscale Button Click this button to automatically generate height ranges
based on the minimum and maximum heights of the DTM
points.
Height Ramp Button Click this button to access the Height Ramp dialog in order to
Colour Ramp Button Click this button to access the Colour Ramp dialog in order to

Point Symbols
Display point Check this option to display point symbols.

symbols
Name column Enter the point names to be displayed as symbols. This
functions in the same way as a name filter entry in that the
points whose names contain the entered text will be
processed. Right click to select from a list of point names that
are currently visible on the screen.
Symbol column Right-click the cell and select the appropriate symbol from the
drop-down list. Only those symbols that are contained in the
drawing SurveySymbols.drg (stored in the user directory) will
be available.
Scale column Enter the exaggeration factor for the symbol. The minimum
factor that can be entered is 0.001.
Lbl. column Set the display of labels on or off. Enter either Yes or No in the
desired cell or right-click the cell to toggle the current entry.
This label setting is independent of the normal Name display
option.
Hgt. column Set the display of heights on or off. Enter either Yes or No in
the desired cell or right-click the cell to toggle the current
entry. This height setting is independent of the normal Height
display option.

Name to Layer
Process name to Check this to enable processing of this name list.

layer settings
Name column Enter the point names to be processed. This functions in the
same way as a name filter entry in that the points whose
names match the entered text will be processed. See the
Name Filters section for details on using wildcards for filtering.
Note that processing is done from the first entry to the last,
and the settings for the first entry that matches the name
being processed are applied. This means that duplicate name
specifications are not allowed as only the first of the duplicates
will ever be matched. This also implies that while you can
have any combination of point, height or name displayed on a
specific named CAD layer, you cannot have a specific CAD
layer for the point and another specific CAD layer for the
height and/or label of the same point, other than the standard
CAD layer. Right click to select from a list of point names that
are currently visible on the screen.
Layer column Enter the name of the CAD layer on which items should be
drawn.
Pnt. column Set the processing of points on or off. Enter either Yes or No
in the desired cell or right-click the cell to toggle the current
entry. If set to Yes then the entered CAD layer name is used
for this item. If set to No then the standard CAD layer is used.
Hgt. column Set the processing of height labels on or off. Enter either Yes
or No in the desired cell or right-click the cell to toggle the
current entry. If set to Yes then the entered CAD layer name is
used for this item. If set to No then the standard CAD layer is
used.

Lbl. column Set the processing of name labels on or off. Enter either Yes
or No in the desired cell or right-click the cell to toggle the
current entry. If set to Yes then the entered CAD layer name is
used for this item. If set to No then the standard CAD layer is
used.

Roads
General
Display road plan Check this option to enable display of roads.

Vis. column Set the visible status for each of the available roads. Enter
either Yes or No in the desired cell or right-click the cell to
toggle the current setting.
CAD Layer column Enter the name of the CAD layer on which items for this road
should be drawn when plotting a plan. Two variables are
available, {NUMBER} and {TYPE}, which translate to the road
number and item type respectively. Right click the relevant cell
to select from a menu.
Visible Button Click this button to set all the cells in the Vis column to Yes.
Hidden Button Click this button to set all the cells in the Vis column to No.
Current road Enter the first and last chainages of the range of the horizontal
settings - Start chg alignment to be displayed. Applicable only to the currently
and Stop chg highlighted road.
Current road Check this option to have the batter slopes displayed as
settings - Plot road banks.
banks
Current road Select the layer that contains the cross sections for which
settings - Bank layer banks should be drawn.

Plan Layout
Chainage interval Enter the interval between successive chainage

indicators.
Chainage Label Interval Enter the interval between successive chainage

labels
Chainage kilometre separator Enter the kilometre separator. If you enter "km "
chainage 1250 will be written as "1km 250" on the
road plan.
Decimal places Enter the number of decimals to be displayed in the

chainage labels.
Offset for start of indicator Enter the offset from the centreline at which the
indicator line should start drawing. Offsets to the left
of the centreline should be entered as a negative
value.
Offset for end of indicator Enter the offset from the centreline at which the
indicator line should stop drawing. Offsets to the left
of the centreline should be entered as a negative
value.
Label pen Button Click this button to select the colour in which to
display the labels.
Size Enter the size of the labels in points.
Label Offset Enter the offset from the centerline where the labels
should be plotted.
Label Position Enter the position of the chainage label relative to

the chainage coordinate on the center line. This

option can be set to: Above, Below, Left or Right.
Label Skew Sections Check this option to label all the skew sections with
the change label and skew angle. If this option is
checked then skew sections will always be labeled
regardless of the Chainage Interval.
Box out text Check this option to box out the label text.
Labels parallel to road Check this option to have the labels placed parallel
to the centerline instead of at right-angles.
Label BCC and ECC Check this option to have the beginning and ending
of curves labelled in addition to the regular
chainages.
Plot column Select whether the particular line should be plotted

or not. Enter either Yes or No in the cell or right-click
the cell to toggle the current setting.
Pen column Enter a pen number or right-click the cell to display

the colour dialog in order to specify a pen with which
to plot the line.
LT column Enter the number of the linetype in which to display

the line.
Smth column Select whether the line should be smoothed or not.

Enter either Yes or No in the cell or right-click the
cell to toggle the current setting.
Offset column Enter either the offset, point location code or ID of

the cross section point that should be used for
plotting this line.
Pos column Specify whether the entered value in the Offset

column is a point location code, point ID or an offset.
Right-click the cell to alter the current setting.
Layer column Right-click the cell and select the layer from which
the cross section data should be extracted.

Horizontal Curves
Show Curve Details Check this to display Horizontal curve details onto the Design
Center window.
Show PI Details Check this to display the PI details onto the Design Cener
window.
Pen Pen colour for the curves or PI box
Box out text Check this option to have a box filled in the current drawing
background colour placed behind the details text. This is a
useful option if you wish to blank out portions of the underlying
data in order to highlight the text.
Size Enter the text size for the relative details box in points.
Offset from Road CL Enter the distance in meters from the crown of the horizontal
(Curve Details) curve towards the curve center point where the curve details
have to be plotted.
Offset from Road CL Enter the distance in meters from the PI position away from
(PI Details) the curve center point where the PI details have to be plotted.
PI Indicator Check this option to indicate the PI position.
Indicator Size Enter the size of one of the two lines that form the PI Indicator,
in meters.
Text Enter the text to be written into the Curves, or PI details
boxes. A number of variables are available. These are
{RADIUS}, {TR_IN}, {TR_OUT}, {BACK_DIR}, {FRONT_DIR},
{TAN_IN}, {TAN_OUT}, {I}, {PI}, {PI_Y} and {PI_X}. Right click
the relevant cell to select from a menu.

Sewer
General
Show sewer layout Check this option to display the Sewer layout.
Annotation Font Select the font to be used for all annotations on the Sewer
layout.

Nodes
Symbol - Pen The node is displayed as a circle in the specified colour. To

change the colour click the button and select a colour from the
Colour dialog.
Symbol - Size on Specify the size of the circle in millimeters on paper. Use the
paper arrows to step through a list of available sizes.
Symbol - Linetype Specify the line type the circle must be drawn in. Use the
arrows to step through a list of available line styles.
Annotations - Pen The node annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotations - Size Specify the node annotation text size in points.
Annotations - Box Check this option to have a box filled in the current drawing
background colour placed behind the annotation text. This is a
Annotations - Specify an offset in metres horizontally from the actual node
Horizontal offset position at which the annotation text origin should be placed.
Annotations - Specify an offset in metres vertically from the actual node
Vertical offset position at which the annotation text origin should be placed.
Annotations - Text Select one of the 8 available positions for the annotation text
label origin origin. The centre position is the actual node position.
Annotations - Node Enter the text to be written as annotation at each node. A
text number of variables are available. These are {NAME},
{COVER}, {INVERT} and {DEPTH}. Right click the relevant
cell to select from a menu.

Links
Line - Default Pen The link is displayed as a line in the specified colour if Colour
Scheme (see below) is set to Default. To change the colour
click the button and select a colour from the Colour dialog.
Line - Width on Specify the width of the line in millimeters on paper. Use the
Line - Linetype Specify the line style. Use the arrows to step through a list of
available line styles.
Line - Arrow Length Specify the length and width (in millimetres on paper) of the
and Width flow direction arrow. Use the arrows to step through a list of
available sizes.
Line - Colour Select the design item by which the link colours should be
Scheme determined. The options here are Default (which uses the
default line pen as specified previously), Size, Slope,
Capacity, Flow, Velocity and Depth of Flow.
Line - Range Start Enter the minimum value for the selected design item. Only
available when Colour Scheme is not set to Default.
Line - Increment Enter the increment value for each step in the range of values.
There are 20 steps in the range. Only available when Colour
Scheme is not set to Default.
Annotation - Pen The link annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the link annotation text size in points. Use the arrows
to step through a list of available sizes.
Annotation - Offset Enter the offset in metres from the annotation text to the link.
distance The text label origin will be moved away from the link by that
amount.

Annotation - Box Check this option to have a box filled in the current drawing
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each link. A
above and below number of variables are available. These are {SIZE}, {TYPE},
link {LENGTH}, {BEDDING}, {SLOPE}, {RATIOSLOPE}, {FLOW},
{CAPACITY}, {VELOCITY}, {DEPTH}, {FIXEDSIZE},
{FIXEDSLOPE} and {FIXEDRATIOSLOPE}. Right click the
relevant cell to select from a menu. You may also define the
number of decimals for numeric items. For example, an item
"{LENGTH.1}" will display the length of the link to 1 decimal.
The default display is 3 decimals.
Colour Range Click the relevant button to change the colour assigned to that
particular range item.

Storm
General
Show stormwater Check this option to display the Stormwater layout.

layout
Annotation Font Select the font to be used for all annotations on the
Stormwater layout.

Nodes
Symbol - Pen The node is displayed as a circle in the specified colour. To

Colour dialog.
Symbol - Size on Specify the size of the circle in millimeters on paper. Use the
Symbol - Linetype Specify the line type the circle must be drawn in. Use the
arrows to step through a list of available line styles.
Annotations - Pen The node annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotations - Size Specify the node annotation text size in points.
Annotations - Box Check this option to have a box filled in the current drawing
Annotations - Specify an offset in metres horizontally from the actual node
Horizontal offset position at which the annotation text origin should be placed.
Annotations - Specify an offset in metres vertically from the actual node
Vertical offset position at which the annotation text origin should be placed.
Annotations - Text Select one of the 8 available positions for the annotation text
label origin origin. The centre position is the actual node position.
Annotations - Node Enter the text to be written as annotation at each node. A
text number of variables are available. These are {NAME},
{COVER}, {INVERT} and {DEPTH}. Right click the relevant
cell to select from a menu.

Links
Line - Default Pen The link is displayed as a line in the specified colour if Colour
available sizes.
Line - Colour Select the design item by which the link colours should be
default line pen as specified previously), Size, Slope,
Capacity, Flow, Velocity and Depth of Flow.
Annotation - Pen The link annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the link annotation text size in points. Use the arrows
Annotation - Offset Enter the offset in metres from the annotation text to the link.
distance The text label origin will be moved away from the link by that
amount.

Annotation - Box Check this option to have a box filled in the current drawing
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each link. A
above and below number of variables are available. These are {SIZE}, {TYPE},
link {LENGTH}, {BEDDING}, {SLOPE}, {RATIOSLOPE}, {FLOW},
{CAPACITY}, {VELOCITY}, {DEPTH}, {FIXEDSIZE},
{FIXEDSLOPE} and {FIXEDRATIOSLOPE}. Right click the
"{LENGTH.1}" will display the length of the link to 1 decimal.
The default display is 3 decimals.

Water
General
Show Water Layout Check this item to display the Water layout.
Pipes
Line - Default Pen The pipe is displayed as a line in the specified colour if Colour

available sizes.
Line - Colour Select the design item by which the pipe colours should be
default line pen as specified previously), Diameters, Velocities,
Flows, Headloss and Gradient.
Annotation - Pen The pipe annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the pipe annotation text size in points. Use the arrows
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each pipe. A
above and below number of variables are available. These are {ID}, {NAME},
link {MATERIAL}, {DIAMETER}, {LENGTH}, {FLOW} and
{VELOCITY}. Right click the relevant cell to select from a
menu. You may also define the number of decimals for
numeric items. For example, an item "{LENGTH.1}" will
display the length of the pipe to 1 decimal. The default display
is 3 decimals.

Nodes
Line - Default Pen The node is displayed as a circle in the specified colour if
Colour Scheme (see below) is set to Default. To change the
colour click the button and select a colour from the Colour
dialog.
Line - Size on paper Specify the diameter of the circle in millimetres on paper. Use
the arrows to step through a list of available line styles.
Line - Colour Select the design item by which the node colours should be
default line pen as specified previously), Discharge, Elevations
and Pressure.
Annotation - Pen The node annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the node annotation text size in points. Use the arrows

Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each node. A
link {ELEVATION}, {DISCHARGE}, {HEAD} and {PRESSURE}.
Right click the relevant cell to select from a menu. You may
also define the number of decimals for numeric items. For
example, an item "{DISCHARGE.1}" will display the discharge
of the node to 1 decimal. The default display is 3 decimals.

Reservoirs
Symbol - Line Pen The reservoir is displayed as a symbol in the specified colour.
To change the colour click the button and select a colour from
the Colour dialog.
Symbol - Fill Pen The reservoir symbol is filled with the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Symbol - Size on Specify the size of the symbol in millimetres on paper. Use the
paper arrows to step through a list of available line styles.
Annotation - Pen The reservoir annotations are displayed in the specified
colour. To change the colour click the button and select a
colour from the Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the reservoir annotation text size in points. Use the
arrows to step through a list of available sizes.
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each reservoir. A
link {CAPACITY}, {FSL} and {INFLOW}. Right click the relevant
cell to select from a menu. You may also define the number of
decimals for numeric items. For example, an item
"{CAPACITY.1}" will display the capacity of the reservoir to 1
decimal. The default display is 3 decimals.

Pumps
Symbol - Line Pen The pump is displayed as a symbol in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Symbol - Fill Pen The pump symbol is filled with the specified colour. To change
the colour click the button and select a colour from the Colour
dialog.
Annotation - Pen The pump annotations are displayed in the specified colour.
To change the colour click the button and select a colour from
the Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the pump annotation text size in points. Use the
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each pump. A
link {FLOW} and {HEAD}. Right click the relevant cell to select
from a menu. You may also define the number of decimals for
numeric items. For example, an item "{HEAD.1}" will display
the pump head to 1 decimal. The default display is 3 decimals.

Valves
Symbol - Line Pen The valve is displayed as a symbol in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Symbol - Width on Specify the width of the line in millimeters on paper. Use the
Annotation - Pen The valve annotations are displayed in the specified colour. To
Colour dialog.
Annotation - Size Specify the valve annotation text size in points. Use the
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each valve. A
link {DIAMETER}, {FLOW}, {HEADLOSS} and {OPENING}. Right
click the relevant cell to select from a menu. You may also
define the number of decimals for numeric items. For
example, an item "{FLOW.1}" will display the valve flow to 1
decimal. The default display is 3 decimals.

Pressure Release Chamber
Symbol - Line Pen The pressure release chamber is displayed as a symbol in the
specified colour. To change the colour click the button and
select a colour from the Colour dialog.
Symbol - Fill Pen The pressure release chamber symbol is filled with the
specified colour. To change the colour click the button and
Annotation - Pen The pressure release chamber annotations are displayed in
the specified colour. To change the colour click the button and
Annotation - Size Specify the pressure release chamber annotation text size in
points. Use the arrows to step through a list of available sizes.
Annotation - Text Enter the text to be written as annotation for each pressure
above and below release chamber. A number of variables are available. These
link are {ID}, {NAME}, {ELEVATION} and {FLOW}. Right click the
"{ELEVATION.1}" will display the pressure release chamber
elevation to 1 decimal. The default display is 3 decimals.

Map
Display themes Check this item to display the Map themes.

Reference - Show Check this item to display a marker at the text reference point
theme reference of each theme entity.
points
Reference - Circle, Select the manner in which you wish to display the marker.
Cross, Triangle,
Diamond
Reference - Pen Click this button to select the colour in which the marker is to
be displayed.
Reference - Size Enter the size of the marker in metres.
Graphical Index - Check this item to display the blocks of the graphical index.
Show index blocks This is useful to check that themes have been indexed
correctly as any theme entity falling outside the index will NOT
be selectable.

Notes:

Defaults
Every time you enter Civil Designer or use the File New function to
start a new drawing, a default drawing called STARTUP.DRG is
automatically loaded.
This drawing sets up the defaults - the paper size, scale, units,
background colour you normally use, the way you normally want text
and dimensions to look, etc.
You may change these defaults so that your preferred paper size, scale,
colour etc. are automatically loaded each time you start a new drawing.
To do this, load Civil Designer. Do not draw anything, but set the
defaults to the values you would like loaded each time you start a new
drawing. Refer to the functions in the Settings Menu.
Use File Save As to save the blank drawing. You must save it into your
user directory with the name STARTUP.DRG.
Defaults 11-1
CAD.INI
The CAD.INI file in your user directory store defaults such as your
default directories, etc. A typical file looks like this:
[WINDOW_PLACEMENT]
Main Length=44
Main Flags=2
Main Show=3
Main PosRect=-1 -1 -4 -4 184 207 854 1043
[LOGFILE]
WriteLogFile=0
[PATHS]
drawpath=J:\AllyTest\
[STOREDEF]
AUTOGEOM=0
USEDOM=1
AUTOBACKUP=10
REFERENCEPROMPT=0
ASKBACKUP=0
BACKUPPATH=
[VMEM]
MaxMegAlloc=5
Vmempath=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
[COLORS]
pen0=128 0 0
pen1=255 0 0
pen2=153 41 247
pen3=255 255 0
pen4=0 255 0
pen5=0 128 0
pen6=0 128 128
pen7=0 255 255
pen8=0 0 255
pen9=0 0 128
pen10=128 0 128
pen11=255 0 255
pen12=255 255 255
pen13=128 128 128
pen14=0 0 0
pen15=192 192 192
Use_AutoCAD_Colors=0
CustColor0=244 129 152
CustColor2=2 0 157

CustColor5=0 0 0
CustColor6=0 0 0
CustColor7=41 2 176
CustColor8=176 5 41
CustColor9=20 7 0
CustColor10=176 186 184
CustColor14=176 186 184
[SETTINGS]
UseWidthInPerimeter=0
OpenCreatesNewWindow=1
CompileMacro=0
Create16BitCompatible=0
DefaultEditor=NOTEPAD.EXE
ZoomOutFactor=0
PopUpDoneButton=0
BitmapTilingThreshold=1000
CompressedTiles=0
TilePath=.
[DRAWINGS]
drawing1=I:\DTP\CIVIL DESIGNER 6\PAVEMENT.DRG
drawing2=I:\DTP\CIVIL DESIGNER 6\SKC.DRG
drawing3=J:\ALLYTEST\LINCOLN1.DRG
drawing4=D:\DEMO\DATA\DEMODATA.DRG
drawing5=C:\ALLYCAD3\DRAWING\BOMTEST.DRG
drawing6=J:\ALLYTEST\4486801.DRG
drawing7=J:\ALLYTEST\TESTDUPL.DRG
drawing8=J:\ALLYTEST\PDV\HK_CC.DRG
[TOOLBARPOSN]
Color=TOP 637 917 0 20 VISIBLE 1
File=TOP -2 399 50 82 VISIBLE 1
Main=LEFT -2 31 80 448 VISIBLE 16
Snaps=RIGHT 1249 1282 110 390 VISIBLE 12
Screen=LEFT 0 0 0 0 HIDE 16
View=TOP 397 620 50 82 VISIBLE 1
Modify=TOP 618 1027 206 238 HIDE 1
Trims=TOP -2 106 236 268 HIDE 1
Geometry=RIGHT 1249 1282 388 732 VISIBLE 18
Dimensions=LEFT -2 31 446 697 VISIBLE 13
[CONTROLBAR]
name=Arial
Defaults 11-3
size=8
weight=400
italic=0
charset=0
pitchandfamily=34
[PRINTDEF]
PROFILES=SCE,PRINT
CURRPROFILE=PRINT
[PRINT_PROFILE_PRINT]
PRINTERARCS=1
ALLPENSTOBLACK=1
SCALEHATCH=0
SCALEFATLINES=1
XOFFSET=0
YOFFSET=0
MINPEN=1
MAXPEN=15
PEN0_WIDTH=0
PEN0_COLOR=128 0 0
PEN1_WIDTH=0.13
PEN1_COLOR=255 0 0
PEN2_WIDTH=0.18
PEN2_COLOR=128 128 0
PEN3_WIDTH=0.25
PEN4_WIDTH=0.35
PEN4_COLOR=0 255 0
PEN5_WIDTH=0.5
PEN5_COLOR=0 128 0
PEN6_WIDTH=0.7
PEN7_WIDTH=1
PEN8_WIDTH=0.25
PEN8_COLOR=0 0 255
PEN9_WIDTH=0
PEN9_COLOR=0 0 128
PEN10_WIDTH=0
PEN10_COLOR=128 0 128
PEN11_WIDTH=0
PEN11_COLOR=255 0 255
PEN12_WIDTH=0
PEN12_COLOR=255 255 255
PEN13_WIDTH=0
PEN13_COLOR=128 128 128
PEN14_WIDTH=0
PEN14_COLOR=0 0 0
PEN15_WIDTH=0

PEN15_COLOR=192 192 192
[TEXTEDIT]
TAKERETURN=0
DLGBOXSIZE=492,392,788,603
[INFOWINDOW]
POSITION=118,301
[BOM]
COMMATABSPACE=2
FIRSTLINEFIELDNAMES=1
[ToDXFFonts]
MODERN=TXT
ROMAN=ROMANS
ARIAL=ROMAND
TIMES NEW ROMAN=ROMANC
TIMES NEW ROMAN.I=ITALICC
TIMES NEW ROMAN.B=ROMANT
TIMES NEW ROMAN.B.I=ITALICT
SCRIPT=SCRIPTS
SCRIPT.I=SCRIPTC
UNKNOWNNAME=TXT
[DXFFlags]
ExplodeBlocks=0
TargetVersion=10
[FromDXFFonts]
STANDARD=MODERN
TXT=MODERN
MONOTXT=MODERN
ROMANS=ROMAN
SCRIPTS=SCRIPT
ROMAND=ARIAL
ROMANT=TIMES NEW ROMAN.B
ITALICT=TIMES NEW ROMAN.B.I
ROMANC=TIMES NEW ROMAN
ITALICC=TIMES NEW ROMAN.I
SCRIPTC=SCRIPT.I
UNKNOWNNAME=MODERN
[ToDXFFonts]
MODERN=TXT
ROMAN=ROMANS
ARIAL=ROMAND
TIMES NEW ROMAN=ROMANC
TIMES NEW ROMAN.I=ITALICC
TIMES NEW ROMAN.B=ROMANT
Defaults 11-5
TIMES NEW ROMAN.B.I=ITALICT
SCRIPT=SCRIPTS
SCRIPT.I=SCRIPTC
UNKNOWNNAME=TXT
[DIGITIZER]
TYPE=None
FORMAT=
INITSTRING=
COMPORT=0
BAUD=0
DATABITS=0
STOPBITS=0
PARITY=0
DIGSCALE=0,1000,0,0,1000,0
SCREENSCALE=0,100,0,0,100,0
MINDIST=1
NOBUTTON=0
Paths
This contains the paths for drawing, symbol and macro files - i.e. the
names of the directories where you store these files and where on the
hard drive Civil Designer can find them.
Print
This contains the print settings.
Item Value Description
PRINTERARCS 0 Use plotter arcs
1 Plot arcs as lines
ALLPENSTOBLACK 0 Print with colours
1 Print all colours as black
PEN_WIDTH Define the width of each pen in mm
FromDXFFonts
This section stores the Civil Designer font that an AutoCAD font must be
converted to during a transfer from a DWG or DXF file to a Civil
Designer drawing file.
The font on the left of the = sign is the AutoCAD font, and the one on the
right is the Civil Designer font it must be converted to.
A “.B” or “.I” after the Civil Designer font name indicates that the font
must be bold or italic.

ToDXFFonts
This section stores the AutoCAD font that an Civil Designer font must be
converted to during a transfer from an Civil Designer drawing to a DWG
or DXF file.
The font on the left of the = sign is the Civil Designer font, and the one
on the right is the AutoCAD font it must be converted to.
A “.B” or “.I” after the Civil Designer font name indicates that the font is
bold or italic.
DXFFlags
TargetVersion is 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 depending on the version of
AutoCAD the DWG or DXF files you are creating must be compatible
with. See DXF/DWG Conversion Settings.
Controlbar
This section stores the font used on the Control Bar. See View Settings.
Digitizer
This stores the current digitizer setup. See Digitizer Settings. The
NOBUTTON line stores the code returned as the pen by the digitizer
when you are not pressing any buttons.
Logfile
If WriteLogFile=1, Civil Designer will record everything that you do in a
file called CIVILDESIGNER.LOG. This is useful if you are experiencing
problems and wish to contact the programmers.
Each time you start a new Civil Designer session, the previous log file
will be added on to. If WriteLogFile=0, no log file will be written.
Drawings
This stores the names of the last eight drawings you have worked on.
These names appear at the bottom of the File Menu, where you can click
on them to open the drawings quickly.
Defaults 11-7
Vmem
This section stores the virtual memory settings. See Virtual Memory
Settings in the Settings Menu.
Colors
The first part of this section stores the colours you have assigned to each
pen in the Color toolbar in the format
pen=red green blue
Red, green and blue have values between 0 and 255 and define the
amount of red, green and blue making up each colour.
The second part of this section stores any custom colours you have
defined in the colour palette that appears when you right click on the
Pen button in the Control Bar to define a colour or when you are
entering a solid fill.
Textedit
This section stores the size of the Text Entry dialog box, and whether it
has been set to accept [Enter] (1) or [CTRL][Enter] (0) for multiline text.
See Add Text.
Infowindow
This section stores the last position of the Measure and Query Entity
dialog boxes. See Measure and Query Entity.
All the values in CAD.INI except for the symbol and macro paths are
automatically updated each time you exit Civil Designer. To change the
symbol and macro paths, you need to edit them manually in an ASCII
text editor such as Windows Notepad.
Coordtable
FORMAT contains the format that will be used to display coordinate
labels and tables. See Label Coord.
BOM
This section stores the bill of materials (BOM) delimiter and whether the
first line of the BOM contains field names (set to 1 if it does). The
delimiter is

• 0 comma
• 1 tab
• 2 columns
Defaults 11-9
CAD.MEN
Civil Designer is supplied with its functions arranged on the pull-down
menus and toolbars in a particular way. However, if you want to, you can
re-arrange the functions, re-name them, “switch off” the ones you don't
want, and add your own. You can even create alternative menu systems
and switch between them.
The menu layout is defined in the CAD.MEN file that resides in your
user directory. To create alternative menu systems, you must create files
with the same format as CAD.MEN, and with .MEN extensions.
You can look at, print out or edit the menu file in any text editor such as
the Windows Notepad. We suggest that before you edit the CAD.MEN
file, you make a backup of it.
• Different users can have their own CAD.MEN files. Refer to
Installation in the User Guide.
• Do not use TABS to create spaces in lines in menu files. If you do,
Civil Designer may not be able to understand the commands. Use
spaces.
If you look at your menu file, you will see that it comprises several
sections.
Comments
The first few lines in your CAD.MEN file, as well as some other lines, are
preceded by two slashes: “//”.
For example:
// ally menu
// menus down side of screen
The two slashes mean that the following text is a comment. Civil
Designer will ignore this text. It is just to remind you, the user, of what is
going on. You can add as many comments as you like, so long as each
comment line begins with a //.
CAD.MEN 12-1
Toolbars
You may also assign as many functions as you wish to as many toolbars
as you need. The toolbars can also appear on any convenient spot on
your drawing space. You can program it to dock LEFT, RIGHT, TOP,
BOTTOM or FLOAT by typing the appropriate word next to STYLE.
The term HIDE that may also follow STYLE refers to a toolbar that is
hidden at startup.
The next lines of your CAD.MEN file list the code for the respective
toolbars. These sections start with the word TOOLBAR with a name of
the particular toolbar, for instance “MAIN”. This is followed by the word
STYLE that determines where the toolbar is docked on the Civil
Designer screen. Next comes the word BUTTONS that determine which
functions appear on the Toolbar.
Toolbar Styles
You can use any combination of the following toolbar styles:
TOP This determines if the toolbar is docked to one side of the

BOTTOM Civil Designer main window, or free floating.
LEFT
RIGHT
FLOAT
HIDEONCLICK The toolbar will hide itself when you click on it. Used for the
screen right mouse button pop-up.
SQUARE The toolbar will attempt to make itself as square as possible.
Used for the screen right mouse button pop-up.
HIDE The toolbar is created in a hidden (invisible) state.

Example:
BUTTON "SetSquar" {#cursorhold;} {#lockang "L";}
{Left: Toggle cursor hold. Right: Lock cursor to a line;}
The name in quotes
“SetSquar ”
refers to the name of the bitmap that appears on the buttons on the
floating toolbox.
You can also create your own bitmaps using any graphical editor capable
of creating a .BMP file (e.g. Windows Paintbrush). Create a 16 color
(16x15) pixel bitmap. Save the bitmap in the home directory that was
created when you installed Civil Designer. Place the name of the bitmap
you have created in quotes, without the .BMP extension.
The first set of curly brackets and their contents
{#cursorhold;}
define the macro function that is executed when you click on button
number 0 with your left mouse button. The macro function's name is
cursorhold. See the section headed Using functions in CAD.MEN for
more details on functions.
The second set of curly brackets and their contents
{#lockang "L";}
define the function that is executed when you click on button number 0
with your right mouse button. This function locks the cursor to a line.
The third set of curly brackets and their contents
{Left: Toggle cursor hold. Right: Lock cursor to a line;}
define the help line that appears at the bottom of the screen when you
move your cursor over the icon on the number 0 button. Note that there
is a semicolon (;) after the help text. This help text also shows up in a
tooltip when you move your mouse over a button and leave it there for
about a second.
The word SEPARATOR may also appear, which puts a space between
the respective buttons on the toolbar.
CAD.MEN 12-3
Pull-Down Menus
Next the functions on the pull-down menus are defined. These are the
sub-menus of the main top bar menu.
The part of the menu file that defines the pull-down menus begins with
the words
// main top bar menu
MAINMENU
BEGIN
and ends with the word
END
Each individual pull-down menu is then defined using the following
commands:
POPUP “&File”
BEGIN
MENUITEM "&New" {delall;} {Clear drawing memory;}
etc.
END
The POPUP command “introduces” the menu. The name in quotes,
“&File”, is the name of the menu, File. The & sign causes the letter
following it to be underlined, so that the name File appears as File. The
underlined letter is the one used to select the menu from the keyboard.
Thus, to select the File Menu you could either click on it with your
mouse or press [Alt] F.
BEGIN and END simply signify the beginning and end of the menu.
Each function on the menu is preceded by the word MENUITEM. The
name in quotes, for example “&New”, is the name of the function that
appears on the menu. The “&” sign causes the letter following it to be
underlined. Thus, the name New appears as “New”. The underlined
letter is the one used to select the function from the keyboard. To select
the New function you can either click on it with your mouse or press N.
Some of the function names contain the characters “\t”. These cause the
text following to appear on the right of the menu.

Example:
In the Edit Menu the function:
MENUITEM "&Undo\tCtrl+Z" {Undo;} {Undo last operation;}
is displayed in the menu as shown here.
Ctrl+Z is the standard Windows keyboard
shortcut for the Undo command.
The contents of the first set of curly brackets in
the MENUITEM lines define the function that is
executed when the menu option is chosen.
The second set of curly brackets and their
contents define the help line that appears at the
bottom of the screen when the function is
highlighted.
Note that there is a semicolon (;) after the help
text.
You will note that some MENUITEM lines simply read:

MENUITEM SEPARATOR
This command causes a horizontal line to be drawn across the menu.
CAD.MEN 12-5
Accelerators
The final section of the CAD.MEN file defines accelerators. These are
keyboard shortcuts. For example:
“M” {#magnify;}; VK_SEMICOLON {#longpan;}
The first part of each line defines the key. In the examples above “M”
denotes the [M] key and “VK_SEMICOLON” denotes the semicolon [ ; ]
key. A full list of the keys you can use is given in Appendix V. The
contents of the curly brackets define the function that is executed when
the key is pressed.
In the examples given here, the screen will be magnified when you press
[M] and a long pan will be performed when you press the [ ; ] key. This
saves you selecting these functions from the menu or toolbars.
Digitizer
The final section of the menu file maps Civil Designer functions to
digitizer puck buttons. It looks like this:
DIGITIZER
BEGIN
BUTTON "1" {#enterpt;}
BUTTON "2" {line;}
BUTTON "3" {done;}
BUTTON "4" {#jumppt;}
END
The first part of each line defines the number of the digitizer puck button
that the command is being assigned to. The example above assumes that
your digitizer numbers its puck buttons 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The contents of the curly brackets define the function that is executed
when each button is pressed.

Functions
A full list of function names and the function they perform is given in
Appendix VI. In the menu file the name of the function that is executed
when you click on a button, select a menu option or press a key is
enclosed within curly brackets and followed by a semi-colon (;).
Transparent Commands
Some function names are preceded by a hash sign “#”. This sign is
optional. Its presence means that the function is transparent. If you are
in the middle of one command, and you execute a transparent command,
you will be returned to your original command after the transparent
command has finished. If you are in the middle of one command and you
execute a command that is not transparent, your original command will
be terminated.
Transparency is especially useful for commands like magnify. It means
that if you are drawing a line, for example, and you need to magnify the
screen so that you can see better, you can magnify without interrupting
or losing the line you are drawing.
Theoretically, you could make any of Civil Designer's commands
transparent by adding a # to the front of its name. However, there are
some commands where this is not advisable. The commands it is safe to
make transparent are marked with a bullet-point (•) in Appendix VI.
Short Cuts
When you choose most Civil Designer functions, you are asked various
questions. If your answers to particular questions are always the same,
you can “pre-answer” them in the menu file, thus speeding up your
operation. This is exemplified below, with reference to the Mid Point
Jump command.
If you look at the CAD.MEN file you will see the Mid Point Jump and
Ratio Jump functions in the Tools Menu are defined as follows:
MENUITEM "Mid Poin&t Jump\tC" {#jumpratio .5 "Y";} {Jump to
mid point of line;}
MENUITEM "Ra&tio Jump\tO" {#jumpratio;} {Jump a fixed ratio
between two points or along a line;}
The Mid Point command is in fact the Ratio Jump command, but the
prompts that normally appear during the Ratio Jump command have
been “pre-answered” so that Ratio Jump automatically jumps to the
midpoint of the nearest line.
CAD.MEN 12-7
To jump to the midpoint of a line using Ratio Jump, you would:
• Select Tools Jumps Ratio Jump, or press O to access it quickly from the
keyboard.
• Type “0.5” in response to the prompt:
Enter division ratio of jump.
• Click on the YES button in response to the prompt:
Would you like to jump to ratio point on line (Else
between two points)
In Mid Point Jump, the answers 0.5 and “Y” (YES) are given after the
Ratio Jump macro function name jumpratio. They are separated by
spaces, and the “Y” is enclosed within double quotes.
You can create a short cut of most functions in this way, simply by
adding the letters and numbers that you would normally type to the end
of the function name.
Where you would normally click on a YES or NO button, you must type
“Y” or “N”. Where you would normally choose an answer from a sub-
menu, you must type the underlined letter of the menu option you would
choose. You must enclose alphabetic answers in double quotes.
• To create short cuts for functions like Draw Symbol that give you
options on the Control Bar or in a dialogue box, use the Macro
section to find out the correct function name, letters and numbers.
• The function name and the letters and numbers you type after it are
exactly the same as the parameters you would use when writing a
macro program (see Macros )
Macros
You can add macro programs that you write to the menu or assign them
to an icon in the Toolbar or to an Accelerator. To do this, the function
name must be the following:
{exec “macro_name” ;}
where macro_name is the full name of the macro, including its path. For
example:
MENUITEM “Cut and Ru&b” {exec “.\macro\cut&rub”;} {Cut a
line and delete the segment;}

Hatch Patterns
The hatch patterns are defined in a file called HATCH.PAT, which
resides in your user directory. This chapter shows you how hatch
patterns are defined so that you can edit existing hatch patterns or create
your own.
You can look at, print out or edit the HATCH.PAT file in any text editor
such as Windows Notepad. We suggest that you make a backup of the
HATCH.PAT file before you edit it.
Different users can have their own HATCH.PAT files. Refer to

Hatch Patterns 13-1

Hatch Pattern Definitions
Below are shown the definitions of four sample hatches in the
HATCH.PAT file:
• line (parallel horizontal lines)
• dash (dashed lines)
• newbrick (brick hatching)
• triang (equilateral triangles)
*line,Parallel horizontal lines

10, 0
1, 0, 0, 0,0, 0,.125
*dash,Dashed lines
10, 0
1, 0, 0, 0,0, .125,.125, .125,-.125
*newbrick, Paulus Brick or masonry-type surface
10, 0
1, 0, 0, 0,0, 0,.25
1, 0, 0, 0,.025, 0,.25
5, 1, 90, 0,.025, .25,.25, .225,-.275
*triang,Equilateral triangles
10, 0
1, 0, 60, 0,0, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
1, 0, 120, 0,0, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
1, 0, 0, -.09375,.162379763, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
These definitions comprise the following information.

*hatch name, hatch description
scale, rotation
pen, line width, angle, x origin, y origin, odd line offset, spacing, on
distance, off distance
... for one line of hatch

pen, line width, angle, x origin, y origin, odd line offset, spacing, on
distance, off distance
... for another line of hatch, etc.

The information in each description is summarised below, but is best
understood by studying the examples on the next few pages.
Scale
Scale is a scale factor which multiplies the x and y origins, off line offset,
and on and off distance measurements to give the final size of the hatch.

Rotation
Rotation is applied to the entire hatch pattern and rotates it by the given
angle. The angle is measured anti-clockwise from the 3 o'clock position.
Pen
Pen is the colour of an individual line in the hatch pattern. The colours in
the Color toolbar are numbered from 1 to 15.
Line width
Line width is the width of an individual line in the hatch pattern. It is
measured in tenths of a millimetre and will be the width of the line on
paper, regardless of drawing scale.
Angle
Angle is the angle of an individual line in the hatch pattern. The angle is
measured anti-clockwise from the 3 o'clock position.
X origin and Y origin

X origin and Y origin allow individual lines in the hatch pattern to start
in different places and therefore to be offset with respect to one another.
X and Y origin are measured in millimeters on the final paper plot,
regardless of drawing scale.
Odd line offset

Odd line offset allows alternate lines of a hatch to be offset, i.e.
Offset
like this ...
... rather than like this.
It is measured in millimeters on the final paper plot, regardless of

drawing scale.
Hatch Patterns 13-3

Spacing
Spacing is the distance between
Spacing
subsequent lines of the hatch.
It is measured in millimeters on the final paper plot, regardless of

drawing scale.
On distance and Off distance
On distance
The on and off distances are the
lengths of each dash and gap in a
dashed line. The off distance is always
Off distance a negative number.
On and off distances are measured in millimetres on the final paper plot,
regardless of drawing scale.

Example 1 - Line
Scale
*line,Parallel horizontal lines

10, 0 Rotation
1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, .125 Spacing
Odd line
Pen offset
Line width Y origin
Angle X origin
The line hatch pattern comprises just one line at an angle of 0 degrees.
Spacing The line is repeated at a spacing of

=1.25mm 0.125mm.
This spacing is multiplied by a scale of 10 so the spacing between

subsequent lines is actually 1.25mm.
No on distance or off distance have been included in the hatch pattern
because the line in the hatch is solid, not dashed.
Hatch Patterns 13-5

Example 2 - Dash
Scale
*dash,Dashed lines
10, 0 Rotation
1, 0, 0, 0,0, .125,.125, .125,-.125 Off distance
Pen On distance
Line Spacing
Angle Odd line offset
X origin Y origin
The dash hatch pattern comprises just one dashed line at an angle of 0
degrees.
Spacing = 1.25mm The line is repeated at a spacing of

Offset =1.25mm
0.125mm. This spacing is multiplied by
a scale of 10, so the spacing between
Each alternate line is offset by
On distance =
1.25mm 0.125mm. This offset is multiplied by a
scale of 10, so the offset is actually
Off distance =
-1.25mm 1.25mm.
Each dash is 0.125mm long (on distance), and the gap between each dash
is also 0.125mm long (off distance). Note that the off distance is a
negative number (-0.125). The on and off distances are multiplied by a
scale of 10, so the dashes and gaps are actually 1.25mm long.

Example 3 - Newbrick
Scale
*newbrick, Paulus Brick or masonry-type surface

10, 0 Rotation
1, 0, 0, 0,0, 0,.25
1, 0, 0, 0,.025, 0,.25
5, 1, 90, 0,.025, .25,.25, .225,-.275
The newbrick hatch pattern comprises three lines:
two solid lines at 0 degrees
and one dashed line at 90 degrees.
Line 1
1, 0, 0, 0,0, 0,.25 Spacing
Pen Odd line offset

Line width Y origin
Angle X origin
Hatch Patterns 13-7

Line 1 is at an angle of 0 degrees.

=2.5mm 0.25mm. This spacing is multiplied by a
scale of 10, so the spacing between
No on distance or off distance have been included in line 1 because it is

solid, not dashed.
Line 2
1, 0, 0, 0,.025, 0,.25 Spacing
Pen Odd line offset

Line width Y origin
Angle X origin

=2.5mm 0.25mm. This spacing is multiplied by a
scale of 10, so the spacing between
Line 2 also has a Y origin of 0.025mm. Multiplied by the scale of 10, this
gives an actual Y origin of 0.25mm. The effect of this origin can be seen if
you superimpose lines 1 and 2:
Line 2 has a Y origin of 0.25mm. This means it is

drawn 0.25mm above line 1.
Line 1 has a Y origin of 0mm.
No on distance or off distance have been included in line 2 because it is

solid, not dashed.

Line 3
5, 1, 90, 0,.025, .25,.25, .225,-.275 Off distance
Pen On distance
Line width Spacing
X origin Y origin
Spacing=2.5mm Line 3 is at an angle of 90 degrees. It is

a different colour from lines 1 and 2
Off distance
(it's pen is 5), and slightly thicker (it's
=2.25mm line width is 1 tenth of a millimetre).
The line is repeated at a spacing of

0.25mm. This spacing is multiplied by a
On distance
= -2.75mm scale of 10, so the spacing between
Each alternate line is offset by 0.25mm.

Odd line offset
=2.5mm This offset is multiplied by a scale of
10, so is actually 2.5mm.
Each dash is 0.225mm long (on distance), and the gap between each dash
is also 0.275mm long (off distance). Note that the off distance is a
scale of 10, so the dashes and gaps are actually 2.25 and 2.75mm long
respectively.
Line 3 also has a Y origin of 0.025mm. Multiplied by the scale of 10, this
gives an actual Y origin of 0.25mm. The effect of this origin can be seen if
you superimpose lines 1, 2 and 3:
Hatch Patterns 13-9

Line 3 has a Y origin of
This means it starts
0.25mm.
above line
0.25mm
1.
Line 2 has a Y origin
0.25mm. This means it
of
drawn 0.25mm above line
is
1.
Line 1 has a Y origin of

0mm.

Example 4 - Triang
Scale
*triang,Equilateral triangles
10, 0 Rotation
1, 0, 60, 0,0, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
1, 0, 120, 0,0, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
1, 0, 0, -.09375,.162379763, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
The triang hatch pattern comprises three lines:
a dashed line at 60 degrees,
a dashed line at 120 degrees,
and a dashed line at 0 degrees.
Hatch Patterns 13-11

Line 1
1, 0, 60, 0,0, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875 Off distance
Pen On distance
Line width Spacing
X origin Y origin
Spacing=3.24759526mm
On distance=1.875mm
Odd line offset=1.875mm

Off distance= -1.875mm
The line is repeated at a spacing of 0.324759526mm. This spacing is

multiplied by a scale of 10, so the spacing between subsequent lines is
actually 3.24759526mm.
Each alternate line is offset by 0.1875mm. This offset is multiplied by a
scale of 10, so the offset is actually 1.875mm.
Each dash is 0.1875mm long (on distance), and the gap between each
dash is also 0.1875mm long (off distance). Note that the off distance is a
negative number (-0.1875).
The on and off distances are multiplied by a scale of 10, so the dashes
and gaps are actually 1.875mm and 1.875mm long respectively.
Line 2
1, 0, 120, 0,0, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875 Off distance
Pen On distance
Line width Spacing
X origin Y origin

On distance=1.875mm


negative number (-0.1875).
The on and off distances are multiplied by a scale of 10, so the dashes
and gaps are actually 1.875mm and 1.875mm long respectively.
Line 3
Off distance
1, 0, 0, -.09375,.162379763, .1875,.324759526, .1875,-.1875
Pen On distance
Line width Spacing
X origin Y origin
On distance
=1.875mm
Hatch Patterns 13-13

scale of 10, so the dashes and gaps are actually 1.875mm and 1.875mm
long respectively.
Line 3 also has an X origin of -0.09375mm and a Y origin of
0.162379763mm. Multiplied by the scale of 10, this gives an actual X
origin of -0.9375mm and an actual Y origin of 1.62379763mm. The effect
of this origin can be seen if you superimpose lines 1, 2 and 3:
Line 3 starts 0.9375mm to the left

of lines 1 and 2.
Line 3 starts 1.62379763mm

above lines 1 and 2.
Origin of lines 1 and 2.

Line Types
Every time you start Civil Designer a macro called LINETYPE.MAC is
automatically run. This macro controls the way that different line types
appear on the screen and on paper. This chapter shows you how line
types are defined so that you can edit existing line types or create your
own.
You can define up to 30 line types.
The LINETYPE.MAC file is stored in the MACRO sub-directory of your
Civil Designer directory. You can look at, print it out or edit it in any text
editor such as Windows Notepad. We suggest that you back up the
LINETYPE.MAC file before you edit it.
This file determines whether handles are displayed when you select
something.
Lines in the LINETYPE.MAC that start with the word REM are
comments and will be ignored.
Different users can have their own LINETYPE.MAC files. See
Line Types 14-1

Line Type Definitions
Each line that defines a line type starts with the word SETLINEDASH.
Below are shown the definitions of five sample line types:
• 1 (Continuous)
• 2 (Dashed)
• 3 (Hidden)
• 4 (Center2)
• 5 (Phantom2)
SETLINEDASH 1 “Continuous” 8 32 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SETLINEDASH 2 “Dashed” 8 16 0 70 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SETLINEDASH 3 “Hidden” 4 8 0 50 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SETLINEDASH 4 “Center2” 8 32 0 50 70 80 100 0 0 0 0 0 0
SETLINEDASH 5 “Phantom2” 8 32 0 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 0 0 0
These definitions comprise the following information.
SETLINEDASH Line_number “Description” Plotrepeat Pixrepeat
Percstart Perc_on Perc_off Perc_on Perc_off etc.
This information is summarised below, but is best understood by
studying the diagrams at the end of this chapter.
Line number
Each line is numbered from 1 to 30.
Description
The description is matched to DXF or DWG line types when you load or
save a DXF or AutoCAD DWG file. For example, when you load a DXF
file, the DXF line type “Hidden” is displayed as line type 3 in Civil
Designer.
Plotrepeat
This is the distance over which the line type pattern is repeated on your
printer or plotter - 8mm for line types 1, 2, 4 and 5 and 4mm for line 3.
Pixrepeat
This is the distance over which the line type pattern is repeated on the
screen - 32 pixels for line types 1, 4 and 5; 16 pixels for line type 2 and 8
pixels for line type 3.
Pixrepeat must be a factor of 32, e.g. 4, 8, 16 or 32.

Pixels are the little squares that make up the display on your screen.
Typically there are 640 pixels across the screen and 480 down it, or 800
pixels across the screen and 600 down it, or 1024 pixels across the
screen and 768 down it, depending on screen resolution.
Some dashed/dotted line types appear continuous on the screen,

although they plot or print correctly on paper. This problem can be
overcome by increasing the Pixrepeat.
Percstart, Perc_on and Perc_off

Percstart, perc_on and perc_off show the percentage of Plotrepeat or
Pixrepeat where a line is drawn and where a gap is left. Percstart is
always 0. For example, in line type 4:
SETLINEDASH 4 Center2 8 32 0 50 70 80 100 0 0 0 0 0 0
Plotrepeat Perc_off
Pixrepeat Perc_on
Percstart Perc_off
Perc_on
On paper, a line is drawn between 0 and 50% of the 8mm Plotrepeat. No

line is drawn between 50 and 70%. A line is drawn between 70 and 80%.
No line is drawn between 80 and 100%.
8mm
line type 4
50%
70%
80%
100%
On the screen, a line is drawn between 0 and 50% of the 32 pixel

Pixrepeat. No line is drawn between 50 and 70%. A line is drawn
between 70 and 80%. No line is drawn between 80 and 100%.
Line Types 14-3

32 pixels
line type 4
50%
70%
80%
100%

Glossary of Terms
Alignment
An ordered sequence of points that geometrically control a series of
curves and straights. These define a particular route in feature space,
hence a horizontal or vertical alignment or, by implication, both.
Batter
A batter is the term used for artificial banks in earthwork construction.
By implication the slope is uniform and usually steep.
Batter slope
The inclination of a batter or bank. Sometimes called the rake. See also
'slope'.
Boning Distance
Term used to describe the constant distance below a string line or line of
sight at which a final earthworks level should be achieved.
Carriageway
The part of a road that is designed to carry vehicles. It may be broken up
into lanes. Hence, “left lane”, “passing lane”, etc.
Chainage
The running distance from the start of a road (or alignment) along which
cross-sections have been, or can be, taken. Also sometimes (incorrectly)
known as the “station” of an alignment.
Cross fall
The gradient across a road carriageway taken from the crown or pivot
point to the outer edge. It is expressed as a signed percentage.
Therefore, a cross fall of -2% would correspond to a slope of 1:50 DOWN
from the road crown.
Cross-section
An ordered sequence of offsets and elevations that describe a particular
layer. The elevations are absolute. The offsets are distances relative to a
centre point. The horizontal locations of the cross-section points are
defined as being normal (at right angles) to the horizontal alignment at
that centre point.
Datum
Refers to the base from which a calculation (such as a DTM volume) or
plot (such as a long-section) is carried out.
Glossary 15-1
Dual carriageway
A divided road with two carriageways where each carries traffic in one
direction only. They share a common horizontal alignment but may have
separate vertical alignments.
Feature string
An ordered sequence of topographical points connected with lines that
describe a particular feature on the ground, e.g. fence, drain, edge of
road, and so on.
Layer (sections)
A named cross-section or sequence of cross-sections that describe actual
or theoretical topography. Hence “Original ground” layer, “Top of
Earthworks” layer and so on.
Layerworks
Used to describe the different types of material used as a road foundation
and placed between the top of the earthworks and the final wearing
bitumen or concrete surface.
Lines
Lines refer to “break lines” or “feature lines” which inter-connect
topographical points. A complete network of lines forms the basis for the
mathematical model of the terrain. Lines should conform to (or “hug”)
the actual surface they describe.
Mass Haul
The cumulative running total cut-and-fill volumes along an alignment.
This single figure total gives the excess of cut or fill at any particular
chainage. When this is plotted (ordinate) against the distance from start
(abscissa), it yields a “Mass Haul diagram”.
Median
The portion of road that lies between the two carriageways in a divided
or dual road. Hence “median drain”, “median edge left”, etc.
Nodes
See Points (topographical).
Pivot point
The axis or point about which cross-fall rotations take place. Each
carriageway has a pivot point. In a single carriageway road, this is
usually the centre. In a dual carriageway road, it is usually some location
close to the inner edge but might also be entirely outside the relative
carriageway.

Points (chainage)
Points along an alignment at which sections have been (or can be)
acquired. They have a known distance from the start and may or may not
be defined in terms of Y, X and Z as well.
Points (prick)
A “prick” is the point on a cross-section that represents the intersection
of that layer with some other layer. By implication it will also be the first
or last point on the section and will invariably be the toe or top of a bank.
Points (sections)
Locations in feature space that:
• Have relative Y and absolute Z coordinates (offset and elevation)
• Belong to a particular section surface
Points (topographical)
Locations in feature space that:
• Have absolute Y, X and Z coordinates
• Have a name (not greater than 8 characters long)
• Belong to a particular surface
Road Index
A compilation of information that controls and pertains to the data that is
present at each chainage point on a road. It includes such items as the
layers that are present, batter slopes for each layer, area calculation
control and so on.
Slope
Inclination expressed as a vertical to horizontal ratio and where the
vertical component is assumed to be 1. So “1:2” will be one unit vertically
for every two units horizontally.
Station
A surveyed point that is part of a network of control points. By
implication a station has usually been visited or observed from and
usually has a permanent mark of some form. Hence “traverse station”,
etc.
Surface (topography)
A mathematical model (consisting of a network of lines) that describes
actual or theoretical topography.
Glossary 15-3
Superelevation
The condition on a road that describes a constant cross fall across the
road. It is usually applied as an inward tilt on horizontal curves to
increase design speeds.

Index
A
Accelerator Keys .............................................................................................. 4-18
adding macros to .......................................................................................... 12-8
customising.................................................................................................... 12-6
Adding Users .................................................................................................... 2-10
Alter Dimension ............................................................................................... 7-27
Angles
dimensioning................................................................................................. 7-25
Angular Dimension.......................................................................................... 7-25
Angular Format
saving defaults .............................................................................................. 11-1
Arcs
dimensioning radii ....................................................................................... 7-23
ARCTEXT.MAC................................................................................................. 2-8
Arrow Keys........................................................................................................ 4-18
Arrows
saving defaults .............................................................................................. 11-1
AutoCAD
exporting line types to................................................................................. 14-2
importing line types from ........................................................................... 14-2
Automatic Detailed Views.................................................................see Expand
B
Backdrop ........................................................................................................... 8-13
Background Colour
saving default ................................................................................................ 11-1
Balloons
saving defaults .............................................................................................. 11-1
C
CAD....................................................................................................................... 9-2
CAD Directory .................................................................................................... 2-4
CAD.INI ......................................................................................................2-7, 11-2
CAD.LOG............................................................................................................. 2-7
CAD.MEN............................................................................................................ 2-6
Colour, Background
saving default ................................................................................................ 11-1
Command Line................................................................................................... 4-8
COMPASS.DRG................................................................................................. 2-7
COMPASSN.DRG.............................................................................................. 2-7
Contours ............................................................................................................ 8-15
Glossary 15-1
Control Bar ..........................................................................................................4-4
Coordinate Display...........................................................................................4-15
Coordinates
saving defaults...............................................................................................11-1
Cross Hatching..................................................................................................7-12
Cross Sections........................................................................................... 9-2, 9-54
Cursor
select cursor (arrow-shaped)......................................................................4-14
shape ...............................................................................................................4-14
Customising AllyCAD
accelerator (short-cut) keys ........................................................................12-6
icons.................................................................................................................12-2
toolbars ...........................................................................................................12-2
CUT&RUB.MAC ................................................................................................2-8
D
DDETEST.MAC .................................................................................................2-8
Define Zoom View ..............................................................................................5-8
Deleting
users ................................................................................................................2-11
Demagnify............................................................................................................5-7
Detailed Views .................................................................................... see Expand
Dialogue Boxes .................................................................................................4-15
Dimensioning
angles ..............................................................................................................7-25
radii..................................................................................................................7-23
Dimensions ........................................................................................................7-20
altering object to fit .........................................................see Alter Dimension
angular ............................................................................................................7-25
horizontal .......................................................................................................7-20
linear ...............................................................................................................7-20
radial ...............................................................................................................7-23
saving defaults...............................................................................................11-1
variable ..............................................................................see Alter Dimension
DIMS.MAC ..........................................................................................................2-8
Display Settings ................................................................................................10-1
DIVELN.MAC .....................................................................................................2-8
DOM.TXT ............................................................................................................2-7
Draw by Number.................................................................see Alter Dimension
Drawing Area ....................................................................................................4-14
Drawing Settings................................................................................................6-2
Drawing Units
saving default ................................................................................................11-1
DTM
break lines......................................................................................................8-10
Intelli-Lines ................................................................................................... 8-10
TIN .................................................................................................................... 8-8
triangulate ....................................................................................................... 8-8
E
End Key ............................................................................................................. 4-18
Enter Hatch/Solid Fill ............................................................................7-12, 7-13
Enter Key........................................................................................................... 4-18
Enter polygon about ... prompt ....................................................................... 4-6
Escape Key ........................................................................................................ 4-18
Expand ............................................................................................................... 7-34
Expanded Views..................................................................................see Expand
F
Fillet...................................................................................................................... 7-3
Fills ..................................................................................................................... 7-12
Forward Slash Key .......................................................................................... 4-18
G
Generic Dimensions ...........................................................see Alter Dimension
Geometry ........................................................................................................... 6-11
Grid ..................................................................................................................... 6-14
Guest Sub-directory ...................................................................................2-5, 2-9
H
Hatch Patterns
defining........................................................................................................... 13-2
defining, example 1 - line............................................................................ 13-5
defining, example 2 - dash.......................................................................... 13-6
defining, example 3 - newbrick ................................................................. 13-7
defining, example 4 - triang ..................................................................... 13-11
HATCH.PAT ..............................................................................................2-6, 13-1
Hatching ............................................................................................................ 7-12
with islands.................................................................................................... 7-13
Help, Smart Cursor ......................................................................................... 4-15
Home Directories see also Progam Home Directory; User Home Directory
Home Key .......................................................................................................... 4-18
Horizontal Dimension..................................................................................... 7-20
I
Icons.................................................................................................................... 4-12
adding macros to .......................................................................................... 12-8
customising.................................................................................................... 12-2
IDE.MEN ............................................................................................................. 2-6
Import
ASCII YXZ data.............................................................................................. 8-4
Installation........................................................................................................... 2-2
Glossary 15-3
J
Jumps..................................................................................................................6-16
K
Key / ....................................................................................................................4-18
Keyboard............................................................................................................4-18
Keyboard Short-Cuts........................................................ see Accelerator Keys
L
Layer Display ......................................................................................................4-9
Layers
changing ...........................................................................................................4-9
current ..............................................................................................................4-9
saving default ................................................................................................11-1
Layerworks ........................................................................................................9-54
Learning the CAD ............................................................................................2-13
Left Mouse Button ................................................................................. 4-13, 4-16
Line Type
current ..............................................................................................................4-8
saving default ................................................................................................11-1
setting................................................................................................................4-8
Line Type Display ..............................................................................................4-8
Line Types
exporting to AutoCAD .................................................................................14-2
how displayed................................................................................................14-2
how printed....................................................................................................14-2
importing from AutoCAD ...........................................................................14-2
LINETYPE.MAC..............................................................................................14-1
Load Drawing .....................................................................................................5-3
Loading a Drawing.............................................................................................5-3
LOADTITL.MAC................................................................................................2-8
Long Pan ..............................................................................................................5-6
Long Section ............................................................................................. 9-2, 9-54
M
Macro Sub-directory.................................................................................. 2-4, 2-8
Macros
adding to menus, icons or accelerator keys ............................................12-8
Magnify.................................................................................................................5-4
Menus ...................................................................................................................4-3
adding macros to ..........................................................................................12-8
Mouse..................................................................................................................4-16
Move to Coordinates..........................................................................................6-4
MOVEDIST.MAC...............................................................................................2-8
MOVEPT.MAC ...................................................................................................2-8
Multiple Users.....................................................................................................2-9
N
Name Filter ....................................................................................................... 10-6
Numeric Keypad .............................................................................................. 4-18
O
Offsets................................................................................................................... 7-6
saving defaults .............................................................................................. 11-1
Open ..............................................................................................................5-3, 7-2
Opening a Drawing............................................................................................ 5-3
P
Panning................................................................................................................ 5-5
Long Pan.......................................................................................................... 5-6
using Scroll Bars .......................................................................................... 4-14
Paper Size
saving default ................................................................................................ 11-1
Parallel Defaults..........................................................................................7-6, 7-8
Parallel Line (Draw) ........................................................................... 7-6, 7-7, 7-9
Parallel Lines...................................................................................................... 7-6
saving defaults .............................................................................................. 11-1
Parametric Dimensions .....................................................see Alter Dimension
Pen Selection .................................................................................................... 4-10
Pens
saving default ................................................................................................ 11-1
PgDn Key........................................................................................................... 4-18
PgUp Key........................................................................................................... 4-18
Plan ..................................................................................................................... 8-16
Plot ........................................................................................................................ 9-2
Plotting............................................................................................................... 8-16
site plan .......................................................................................................... 8-16
Polar Move .......................................................................................................... 6-9
Polygon (Enter polygon about ... prompt) .................................................... 4-6
POLYGON.MAC ................................................................................................ 2-8
Polylines
saving defaults .............................................................................................. 11-1
Program Home Directory................................................................................. 2-4
Project
add terrain file ................................................................................................ 8-2
create ................................................................................................................ 8-2
Prompt Area........................................................................................................ 4-4
Q
Quick Detailed Views .........................................................................see Expand
R
Radial Dimension............................................................................................. 7-23
Glossary 15-5
Radiused Corners...............................................................................................7-3
Reference manual ..............................................................................................1-4
Right Clicking ....................................................................................................4-16
Right Mouse Button............................................................................... 4-13, 4-17
ROADS.MEN ......................................................................................................2-6
Ruler Bar............................................................................................................4-14
turning on and off.........................................................................................4-14
S
Save .....................................................................................................................6-22
Save As ..................................................................................................... 6-22, 7-37
Save Options .....................................................................................................6-22
Scale
saving default ................................................................................................11-1
Scroll Bars .........................................................................................................4-14
scroll box (little square) stays at centre ...................................................4-14
Select Cursor.....................................................................................................4-14
SEWER.MEN......................................................................................................2-6
Short-Cut Keys .................................................................. see Accelerator Keys
Smart Cursor Help...........................................................................................4-15
Snap Modes .......................................................................................................6-16
Space Bar...........................................................................................................4-18
STARTUP.DRG..................................................................................................2-6
STORM.MEN......................................................................................................2-6
Stretch ................................................................................................................7-31
SURVEY.MEN....................................................................................................2-6
Symbol Sub-directory .......................................................................................2-5
T
TCMACRO.MAC ................................................................................................2-8
TERRAIN.MEN..................................................................................................2-6
Text .....................................................................................................................7-17
aligning ...........................................................................................................7-18
editing .............................................................................................................7-18
entering...........................................................................................................7-17
saving defaults...............................................................................................11-1
Things You Should Know ..............................................................................2-14
Title Bar ...............................................................................................................4-3
Toolbar
customising ....................................................................................................12-2
Toolbar ...............................................................................................................4-12
Transparent Commands.................................................................................6-19
Tutorials .............................................................................................................2-14
U
Undo......................................................................................................................6-5
Units of Measure
saving default ................................................................................................ 11-1
User Home Directory ........................................................................................ 2-6
Users
adding ............................................................................................................. 2-10
deleting........................................................................................................... 2-11
Users Sub-directory .......................................................................................... 2-5
V
Variable Dimensions ..........................................................see Alter Dimension
Z
Zoom Window..................................................................................................... 5-8
Zooming ........................................................................................................5-4, 5-8
pre-defined views ........................................................................................... 5-8
Glossary 15-7

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DESIGN CENTRE

INSTALLATION AND STARTUP

SCREEN, MOUSE AND KEYBOARD

TUTORIAL 1 – THE SCREEN

TUTORIAL 2 - ACCURATE DRAWING

TUTORIAL 3 – CAD BASICS

TUTORIAL 4 - DTM BASICS

Where do I go from here?

Conventions used in this manual

Clicking means to press and release a mouse button quickly.

1-2 Design Centre Reference

1-4 Design Centre Reference

The Civil Designer program

The recommended system requirements are a Pentium IV processor

Installation and Startup 2-1

The SETUP program does the following:

2-2 Design Centre Reference

Reading the README file

What you need to know

Installation and Startup 2-3

2-4 Design Centre Reference

Installation and Startup 2-5

The User Home directory contains the following files:

2-6 Design Centre Reference

Installation and Startup 2-7

2-8 Design Centre Reference

Installation and Startup 2-9

Adding new users

2-10 Design Centre Reference

Installation and Startup 2-11

2-12 Design Centre Reference

Installation and Startup 2-13

Things you should know

2-14 Design Centre Reference

This seamless interaction between the design tools results in even

The Concept 3-1

3-2 Design Centre Reference

The Concept 3-3

 Display a bitmap showing natural features, a cadastral layout or the

3-4 Design Centre Reference

The Concept 3-5

 Graphical interaction allows you to easily insert nodes and links,

3-6 Design Centre Reference

 Import data from various sources such as ASCII tables,

The Concept 3-7

AllyCAD is a fast, powerful and very easy to use 2D production computer

3-8 Design Centre Reference

Activating a particular mode

The Concept 3-9

3-10 Design Centre Reference

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard 4-1

4-2 Design Centre Reference

Undo, Lines, Construction Lock cursor, Paper size, Online

Individual functions in each menu are described in full detail in the

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard 4-3

You are prompted to enter a point or position

You are prompted to enter information

4-4 Design Centre Reference

Questions with a choice of answers

Various options appear on the Control Bar

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard 4-5

You are prompted to enter a polygon around something

Position the cursor at one corner of the