Civil Geometry points use MicroStation Snap Codes.  The Civil Geometry tools utilize cursor prompts, dynamic feedback, and on-screen manipulation to provide an interface that helps keep focus on your work.  Data presented on the cursor can be changed by keying in a new value followed by an Enter to accept the new value.  A Data Point (left mouse click) advances to the next prompt.  Minimal prompts are also echoed to the MicroStation dialog.

When the cursor offers options instead of a numeric value, the available options can be cycled through using the Arrow keys.  The bottom right of the cursor prompt displays arrow head icons indicating which arrow keys to use at that moment.  The above cursor prompt graphic indicates that the Down Arrow will cycle thru the Placement Method options for that tool.

In addition, any of the tool's criteria can be locked in the dialog panel at any time.  Locking some values may limit or otherwise affect the other values.

Relationships between elements are preserved when things change.  Elements can be edited by way of onscreen graphic Manipulators or adjusting the element's properties.  Advance to the Manipulators section to learn about editing an element.

Design Standards can be created and used for control of alignment.  For more sophisticated constructions, use Civil AccuDraw.  It can be found on the MicroStation menu, select Tools => Civil AccuDraw => Activate Toolbar.

There are also options to set the feature type.  However if the element (or alignment) is to be converted to an MX alignment, then the feature assignment is lost.

Import MX Geometry from Active Model

Civil Geometry can import geometric elements from MX.  Click the Import MX Geometry from Active Model button to obtain the Import Geometry panel.  Select the MX items desired, then click the Import button.

• The elements are imported as civil geometry elements but will have less intelligence than if an equivalent element was created by the Civil Geometry tools.  This is especially true for alignments.
  

• Previously imported elements will show as checked if the import command is run again.

Design Standards Toolbar

The Design Standard will supply values for the element creation tools (such as minimum radius and transition lengths) as well as direct which prompts are offered for a construction tool.  The Design Standard will also check for kinks in the alignment.

This toolbar allows the selection of a Design Standard and also controls it's application to a civil geometry element.  From the pulldown, select the desired Design Standard.  Next, click the Apply Design Standards button on the left of the toolbar to toggle the standard ON or OFF.  When ON, the button turns amber and all subsequent commands will make use of the values contained in the standard.  When OFF, the selected standard is ignored.

If a Design Standard is violated, then feedback is provided in two ways:

1. An icon appears on the element that has the problem.  Hover near (over it is too close) the icon to reveal a tool tip report of the error.

2. In the Civil Message Center (Tools => Civil Geometry => Civil Message Center).

Design standards are very alignment oriented.  There is limited value for using Design Standards for non-alignment constructions.  To verify a Design Standard has been applied, use the Element Information tool on the new element.

Set Element Design Standard

The Set Element Design Standard is for applying a standard to previously created civil elements.  However, the Design Standard Toolbar must be open and the Apply Design Standards button must be toggled ON before applying an Element Design Standard.

From the Civil Geometry Task menu (SS2) click on the Set Element Design Standard button.  Despite this icon appears the same as the one on the Design Standard Toolbar, it's not.  Next, choose the element to which the design standard will be assigned.  To verify a Design Standard has been applied, use Element Information on the selected element.

Complex By PI creates a linear element with curves based on user input of PI (point of intersection) locations.  These curves can include transitions.

This is basically the Civil Geometry version of MX's Quick Vertical alignment.  As the command suggests, the resulting alignment is a Complex Element.

Follow the dialog and/or the cursor prompts to guide your alignment construction.  Data Points place the PI's.  The value for the curves back radius is seeded on the cursor.  To change the seed radius enter the new value followed by an Enter.  This back seed radius will be used for all subsequent curves till it's changed.  A Data Point (left mouse click) advances to the next prompt.  Select the Reset button to terminate the placement of PI's.

Advance to the Manipulators section to learn about editing an alignment.

Line Between Points creates a line between two user defined points.

Arc Between Points creates an arc.  There are six Workflows for creating an arc:

• Start Point, Radius, and Sweep Angle (or length)

• Center Point, Radius, and Sweep Angle (or length)

• Start Point, End Point, and Pass-Thru Point

• Start Point, Pass-Thru Point, and End Point

• Start Direction, End Point

• Start Point, End Direction

Use the Down Arrow key to cycle through the Workflows.  Follow the dialog and/or the cursor prompts to guide your element construction.

Line Between Arcs constructs a line between two previously placed arcs.  This tool has the ability to apply both a back and/or a forward Transition (spiral) between the arcs and the constructed line.  This tool also has the ability to apply both a back and/or a forward Offset.  Follow the dialog and/or the cursor prompts to guide your element construction.

There are four possible solutions and each solution is assigned a number.  After the second arc is identified, the four possible solutions are displayed with their solution numbers.  The position of the cursor directs which solution is taken.  If your not paying attention, then you might accept the wrong solution.

The last prompt offers four Truncation Methods, choose from the following:

• None

• Back

• Ahead

• Both (recommended for most situations)

Use the Down Arrow key to cycle through the Truncation options.  

Simple Arc constructs an arc between two previously placed elements.  Similar to Line Between Arcs, there are four possible solutions and the position of the cursor directs which solution is taken.  If your not paying attention, then you might accept the wrong solution.  There are also four Truncation methods.

Spiral Curve Spiral also constructs an arc between two previously placed elements.  However this tool has the ability to optionally apply both a back and or forward transition between the elements and the constructed arc.  Follow the dialog and/or the cursor prompts to guide your element construction.

Note that Civil Geometry alignments are easy to adjust after assembly.  Refer to the Manipulators section to learn about editing an alignment.

Similar to MX, these tools for Floating Elements are designed for constructing an element with respect to one other element.  In addition there is an Offset option and a Skew option, both are features MX does not offer and are useful for the creation of intersections and ramps.  There are two workflows for float lines and two workflows for float arcs.

To Elements

Line To Element & Arc To Element  constructs a line/arc to a base element.  Both of these commands require an End Point that the new element will pass thru.  Next, identify the connecting element.  If using the Arc To Element command, in order to change the arc's projection, toggle the Hand option between Clockwise and Counter Clockwise.  Follow the dialog and/or the cursor prompts to complete the element construction.  

From Elements

Line From Element & Arc From Element constructs an line/arc from a base element, COGO style.   Both of these commands require the point of tangency and the new element is projected from there. Then follow the dialog and/or the cursor prompts to complete your element construction.

Note that Civil Geometry alignments are easy to adjust after assembly.  Refer to the Manipulators section to learn about editing an alignment.

Complex by Elements

Complex By Elements assembles a Complex Element of previously placed elements (lines and arcs).  You are not limited to using Civil Geometry elements to use this tool, any existing graphics may be selected.  Therefore, be careful of your proximity to other elements when building a Complex by Elements

Using the Automatic method, hover over the beginning element until the directional arrow points to the desired direction.  Left Mouse click to accept the chosen element.  At this point, the complex path will be highlighted.  Left Mouse click again to accept the complex creation or Right Mouse click to cancel.

Alternatively, using the Manual method, select each element individually using the Left Mouse click.  Be sure the directional arrow is pointed in the proper direction before selection.  Once all items are selected, Left Mouse click away from any MicroStation elements to accept the complex element creation.

Advance to the Manipulators section to learn about editing an alignment.

Civil Geometry alignments are editable by selecting them with the MicroStation Element Selection tool.  The selected alignment highlights and additional graphics appear showing the alignment Manipulators.  These manipulators enable adjustments to be made to the alignment.  Tool tips always confirm which manipulator you are at.  Relationships between elements are preserved whenever possible, this includes intersections.

The Text Manipulators display Lengths, Bearings and Radii which can be selected and lets you type in new values.

The Dots represent drag handles that allows one to move the points without constraint.

The Triangle or Arrow shaped drag handle redefines the point with one or more directions constrained.  This insures that aspects of the alignment's geometry are held.

A MicroStation Snap icon displays if a point was created by a snap.  Hovering near the point will display the normal manipulator.  Click and move the dot to remove the snap constraint and replace it with new constraints.

The Civil Accudraw drag handles display when a point was created with a Civil AccuDraw constraint.  Text manipulators display the Civil Accudraw constraints which were input.  Hovering near the point will change it to a normal manipulator.  Click and move the dot to break the Civil AccuDraw constraint and replace it with new constraints.

As you zoom in and around the design, the position of the manipulators may change.  The software will attempt to display as many manipulators as are valid for the part of the item displayed.  This includes automatically moving a manipulator if necessary.

Note that Manipulators may be toggled On or Off from the Element Selection panel with the Disable Handles button.

Offset Transition                        

Offset Transition constructs linear elements based on various methods of offsets from a base element.  The base element may be a line, arc, spiral, or a complex element.  There are four methods:

• Single Offset Entire – The offset element maintains a constant offset along the entire length of the base element.

• Single Offset Partial – Same as above but with additional control for Start and End distance.

• Variable Offset – The offset is variable and defined by station and offset at each end of the base element.

• Offset and Ratio – The offset element is defined by a station offset at the beginning, and then the end point is defined by a ratio.

Civil Geometry alignments may be transferred to MX using the MX Conversion toolbar.  However, Civil Alignment strings that are transferred to MX do not follow our MX Design String Naming Convention.  Therefore, rename any MX Strings that are transferred from Civil Geometry.  Use the RenameM Add-In to insure that the reference and sub-reference strings are properly addressed, refer to the MX Add-In Index for details.

Note that Spirals do not transfer from MicroStation to MX.