Trimble Business Center

Working with Linestrings

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About this tutorial
We will show you the power and flexibility of Trimble Business Center (TBC) by guiding you
through a simple exercise for creating, editing, and exploring linestrings.

Prerequisites:
You must have a TBC license for Field Data. On the TBC ribbon, select Support > License
Manager to see if you are licensed for this feature set. If you are not, contact your dealer for
help.

Tip:
Unless you have two, side-by-side monitors, you may find it easier to print this tutorial so that
you can maximize the program on your monitor. Working from a printed copy also prevents
focus issues caused by switching back and forth between the tutorial PDF and the program.

Time:
This tutorial should take you 1 - 2 hours to complete.

Understanding Linestrings
For more exercises and conceptual information on linestrings, see the paper called
Understanding and Using Linestrings in the downloaded folder or posted on the TBC
Community.
 Step 1. Deleting and Breaking Lines

Step 1. Deleting and Breaking Lines

These steps will show you how to work with multiple types of lines, all of which are converted
into TBC’s native type of line called a linestring as you edit them. Start by cleaning up the lines in
a parking lot design that was imported as two separate .dwg files: Parking design.dwg and
Parking elevations.dwg.

As you begin any project, you should confirm the measurement units and specify any other
settings that your specific data or workflow might require.

Note: The downloaded WorkingWithLinestrings folder contains this PDF file, a

WorkingWithLinestrings.vce to start with, and a WorkingWithLinestrings-Finished.vce project file.

1. On the ribbon, select File > Open and navigate to the folder you downloaded.
2. Open the project file called WorkingWithLinestrings.vce. The project opens, looking like
this (without the red numbers):

Note: For a white background in the Plan View, click the Toggle Background Color icon
on the Status Bar. Alternately, you can select File > Options > General > Display, and set
the Background color to White.

Notice that there are a few excess lines (in black) that you need to remove.
3. To avoid overwriting the original file, select File > Save Project As on ribbon.
4. Type a new name for your project, and click Save.
5. In the Plan View, pick the line labeled 1 in the image above.
6. Right-click and select Delete from the context menu.
7. Now pick the line labeled 2 in the image.
You want to delete this line, but only where it extends past the lines parallel to it.

Working with Linestrings 3

 Step 1. Deleting and Breaking Lines

8. On the ribbon, select CAD > Delete Line Segment. The line you picked is converted into a
linestring (noted in the Line box), and a "rubber-band" line appears between your cursor and
the linestring.

Note: This command and others used on lines, such as Join, Edit, and Delete Line
Segment, convert CAD lines into linestrings. Linestrings are generic lines which offer more
editable properties than the original CAD lines or polylines.

9. Move the cursor along the line to see that there are two segments from which to choose.

Tip: You may have to narrow the command pane or right-click-and-drag to pan the view to
see the segments.

10. Using the rubber-band line, move the cursor so the segment on the right is selected, and
click. The segment is deleted.

11. Click back in the Line box, pick the line labeled 3 in the image above.
12. Move your cursor back and forth, and notice that the right segment of this line extends past
the ends of the two lines parallel to it. You need to break the segment at that point so that
you do not delete more of the line than you intend.
13. With the Delete Line Segment command still open, select CAD > Break Line from the
Lines group. The Break Line command opens on top of the previous command (this is
referred to as the ‘command stack’).
In this instance, you will find the End Point Snap useful. This 'running' snap is a mode that is
on by default; it will use the coordinate of any segment's end point that is within the pick
aperture (the box on the cursor) when you click.

Note: To see which running snaps are on, click Snap on the status bar at the bottom of the
application window.
Tip: Roll your mouse wheel forward to zoom in so you can pick the end point more
accurately.

Working with Linestrings 4

14. With focus in the Distance along box, pick the end point of the parallel line below the
segment you want to break.

The selected line's segment is broken at the point perpendicular to the parallel segment's
end point, splitting it into two separate linestrings. The linestrings remain coincident at the
break point, but they are now two separate objects which can be edited separately.

15. Click Close to return to the Delete Line Segment command.

16. Click in the Line box, pick the newly-created linestring that you want to delete (to the right
of the break point), and click. The segment is deleted.
17. Click Close and double-click your mouse wheel to zoom to the extents of the data.
Now your lines are starting to look cleaner:

Working with Linestrings 5

 Step 2. Creating Linestrings

Step 2. Creating Linestrings

1. Zoom in again and examine the outer curb (back of curb) lines.
2. On the far left side (4 in the first image), notice that there are a couple of lines missing.

3. Before you fix the lines, review the line markers that are displayed to make the end points of
the lines easier to see.
Line marking (markers and labels) shows horizontal and vertical values along linestrings in
2D views to make viewing and editing them easier.
 Markers are symbols that distinguish between horizontal segment end points, vertical
control points, and the overall line's end points.In the image above, the filled circles
denote line start points. Hollow circles denote lines end points.
 Labels are annotations that indicate the elevation of vertical control points. None are
shown above; the labels are from spot elevations.
In the future, you can control which markers are shown by clicking the Project Settings on
the Quick Access toolbar at the top of the application window.

Then select View > Display Options, and review the Marking settings. Smaller round dots
denote segment end points; smaller square dots denote "point on curve" mid points on arcs.

Now add the missing lines by creating a linestring.

4. Select CAD > Create Linestring (Many names on the ribbon are shortened).

Working with Linestrings 6

 Step 2. Creating Linestrings

Note: Some ribbon buttons have two parts: an upper half that launches the command shown,
and a lower part that opens a sub-menu of related commands.

5. In the Name box, type Back of Curb or (CAD Polyline).*

*Linestring names and layers are optional, but you should add them to maintain consistency
with the other curb lines, in case you need to select them by name in the future.
6. In the Layer list, select NL-PV-CURB and click OK.
7. In the Start Point group's Type list, confirm that Coordinate is selected.
Using a coordinate means that the linestring's starting point will be fixed at that location,
unless it is edited. Using a point ID means that the linestring's starting point will move if the
point object's coordinate is edited.
Notice that the leader line of each spot elevation ends at an existing curb line, so you will
draw the new linestring using the spot elevation leader lines as a guide.
8. Click in the Coordinate box, zoom in, and pick the end point of the leader line for the spot
elevation 178.40.

9. For the Elevation, click the 178.40 text. The spot elevation text carries the elevation value,
which is then applied to the new line's start point.

Working with Linestrings 7

 Step 2. Creating Linestrings

10. Move your cursor up the end point of the leader line for the elevation annotation 178.00, and
pick the end point of the leader line to draw the linestring.

11. For the Elevation, click the 178.00 text. The first segment is saved.
Now add the next segment.
12. In the Segment group's Type list, select Deflection to add a segment at a 90° angle from
the bearing of the last segment.
13. For the Deflection angle option, select Perpendicular right.
14. Click in the Length box, and (again using the running end point snap) pick the end point of
the parallel segment below the one you are adding.

15. You do not know the interpolated elevation at this point, so press [Enter] or click Save to
skip it.
16. To add the final missing curved segment, in the Segment > Type list, select Best Fit Arc.

Working with Linestrings 8

 Step 3. Joining Lines

17. Click in the Coordinate box to specify an intermediate point along the curve, and pick the
end on the leader line for spot elevation 177.54.

18. Pick the text 177.54 for the elevation.

19. With focus in the Coordinate box again, pick the next point up to connect the new linestring
with the existing curb line. The Elevation will be interpolated from the surrounding segment
end points (vertices).
20. Click Save in the command pane, and then click Close.
Your finished linestring should look like this:

21. Click any blank space in the view to deselect the linestring.

Step 3. Joining Lines

If you zoom out slightly with line markers still on, you can see from the circles that one section
of the curb (5 in the initial image) is made up of several lines. This is unnecessary, so join the
lines to form one continuous linestring.

1. On the ribbon, select CAD > Join Lines.

Working with Linestrings 9

 Step 3. Joining Lines

Notice that there are three methods you can use for joining lines. You will start with the
simplest method and later use the most comprehensive.
2. Confirm that the Two lines option is selected.
3. With the focus in the Base line box, pick one of the lines indicated above. The line is
converted into a linestring and the name is noted in the Base line box.
4. Pick another of the adjacent lines indicated. The lines are joined as a single linestring.
5. Continue picking the other adjacent lines (indicated in the image above) to join them to the
base line.
When lines are joined, the resulting linestring's direction and properties are inherited from
the first (base) line that you chose.
Most of the lines in this data have elevations of 0.00 or no elevation at all. Using the spot
elevations, you can add elevations to the lines in several different ways. Where it is indicated
that a line has a constant elevation, you can add the elevation to the entire line. Where a line
has multiple elevations, you can add the elevation at each point or distance along the line
where it is indicated.
Before you add any elevations, however, simplify your data by joining the rest of the lines. To
make selecting only the lines easier, filter the Plan View by displaying data from only one of
the two imported files.
6. On the ribbon, select Home > View Filter Manager.
7. Click the drop-down arrow next to the selection set list (second from the top of the pane).

8. Then check the box for the imported file named Parking design, and click OK. Only data
that is in that selection set is now visible and selectable.
9. Back in the Join Lines command that you left open, select the All selected lines option.

Working with Linestrings 10

 Step 4. Adding Elevations to Linestrings

10. Draw a window around all of your data to select all of the lines. The number of lines selected
is noted in the Lines to join box.

11. Click Join. The command searches from each selected line to each consecutive line, joining
them until it reaches a break in the lines or a branch to multiple lines, where it stops. The
number of lines that were successfully joined to the base line is reported at the bottom of
the pane.
12. Click Close, and click a blank area in the Plan View to deselect everything.
Notice that most of the lines were joined as linestrings. This makes your data simpler and
easier to work with.

Step 4. Adding Elevations to Linestrings

Now set the elevation for the back of curb line of the island. To easily identify which lines have
been elevated, set your zero-elevation data to an alternate color in the View Filter Manager
and open a 3D View alongside the Plan View first.
1. In the View Filter Manager, uncheck the box for the imported file's selection set named
Parking design to redisplay the spot elevations.

Working with Linestrings 11

 Step 4. Adding Elevations to Linestrings

2. Click the Display Options tab at the bottom right of the manager (fourth tab). You may
have to click the right arrow to get to the tab:

3. In Zero Elevation Display Options, select Display in alternate color.

4. Scroll down and choose a new color in the Alternate color list. Gray is used for all of the
unelevated data in the images below.

5. Click the icon at the top of the pane to close the View Filter Manager.
6. On the ribbon, select Home > New 3D View. Then right-click the 3D View tab and select
New Horizontal Tab Group so you can see both the Plan View and 3D View at the same
time.
7. In the 3D View, press Control, right-click-and-drag to rotate the view.

Working with Linestrings 12

 Step 4. Adding Elevations to Linestrings

8. Notice that the line that you created using spot elevations is elevated above the other 2D
lines (with unknown elevations) in the view. Your graphic views should now look something
like this:

Back in the Plan View, notice how the center island (6 in the initial image) indicates the
same back of curb elevation "177.36" at two points. This line is a good candidate for applying
a constant elevation.

9. On the ribbon, select CAD > Set Line Elevation.

10. For this example, skip the Options group at the top of the pane. Click in the Line box.
11. In the Plan View, pick the interior linestring representing the back of curb (indicated in the
image above). This is the line to which the spot elevations apply.

Working with Linestrings 13

 Step 4. Adding Elevations to Linestrings

12. Pick either elevation annotation "177.36". The elevation is applied to the entire linestring. You
will see it elevate in the 3D View.

13. You do not know the elevations of the other concentric, island curb lines, so click Close.
14. Click a blank area of the view to deselect everything.
Notice that the exterior back of curb line around the parking lot has multiple elevations, so
you cannot set a constant elevation for it. You will have to specify the elevation at each of
the spot elevations.
15. In the Plan View, pick the section of curb line shown below (between the elevation
annotations "178.10" and "177.58")

16. Right-click and select Edit from the context menu.

17. Notice that there are two tabs in the Edit Linestring command pane: Horizontal and
Vertical. You can set elevation data on either tab, so it is essential to understand the
difference between them:
 Horizontal tab: This is where you specify elevations when you want them to be tied to
specific coordinates or named points. When you edit one of the coordinate or point
locations, the associated elevation moves with it.
 Vertical tab: This is where you specify the elevations of vertical control points when you
want them to be tied only to a distance along the linestring, independent of the
locations and elevations of horizontal segment end points. When you edit a segment's
horizontal geometry, the vertical control point elevations at each distance along the
linestring are not affected.

Working with Linestrings 14

 Step 4. Adding Elevations to Linestrings

Note: If a horizontal segment's end point and a vertical control point coincide at the same
location on a line, the elevation of the vertical control point overrides the elevation of the
end point.

18. Click the Vertical tab to see the options for specifying vertical control points.
Your data will determine whether you establish elevations at segment end points or at
distances along the linestring. For the simple example offered in this tutorial, you can
establish elevations at the horizontal segment end points.
19. Click back to the Horizontal tab.
20. In the Plan View, move your cursor to the end point of the segment shown (because it has a
spot elevation), and click to select it.

21. Back in the command pane, highlight the ? value in the Elevation box and then pick the
spot elevation text in the Plan View. The elevation value of the text (178.10) is applied to
end point, giving the linestring a slope.
22. Work along the outer back of curb lines using the same method (pick the end point of a
segment; pick the associated elevation label) to add elevations wherever possible. To switch
from line to line, you will have to click in the Line box at the top of the command pane and
pick the new line.
As you add elevations to each line, you will see it change color and rise in the 3D View.

Working with Linestrings 15

 Step 4. Exploring Linestrings

Also notice that, when you are editing a linestring, elevation labels appear at each applicable
segment end point. This helps you to see where you have been and confirm that you have
applied the correct elevations. Confirm that the blue elevation label that appears matches
the spot elevation text at each node you elevate.

23. Deselect any lines and click Close when you are done.

Step 4. Exploring Linestrings

After you have added each of the spot elevations, you should check a few of the linestrings
to ensure that the elevations and slope are correct. You can explore objects, such as lines
and alignments, by viewing geometric values at any distance along the object (based on the
cursor's position in a graphic view). Some values are displayed dynamically at the cursor as
you move it along the object. Additional values are displayed statically in the command pane
when you click in the view to specify a specific location.
Now explore some of the linestrings that you edited.
1. On the ribbon, select Home > Explore Object.
2. Pick one of the linestrings you edited in the Plan View and move your cursor along it. The
'distance along' (D:*) and elevation (E:*) values appear above and to the right of the cursor
and update as you move it.

3. Click any location along the line to report additional values in the command pane.
4. Click in the Object box and pick a different linestring to explore. If the linestring has no
elevation (it is a 2D line), the E:* label does not appear.

Working with Linestrings 16

 Conclusion

Note: If you have linestring end segments that have no elevations, there is an additional way to
specify interpolated elevations: use the Extend vertical property. For example, if a linestring
with three segments has elevations specified at only the two middle points, select the linestring,
right-click and select Properties from the context menu. Then set Extend vertical to Yes in the
Property group.

Linestring with the Extend vertical Linestring with the Extend vertical
property Off; there is no interpolated property On; there is an interpolated
elevation on the last segment (values elevation on the last segment.
shown using Explore Object).

5. When you are done exploring, click Close.

6. If you want to save the project in this state, select File > Save As.
7. Type a new name for your project, and click Save.

Conclusion
Congratulations! You have worked some of the important functionality for creating and editing
the linear data in your project. This completes the tutorial.

Remember: For more exercises and conceptual information on linestrings, see the paper called
Understanding and Using Linestrings in the downloaded folder or posted on the TBC
Community.

Working with Linestrings 17