Carlson 2013 -- Point layers and colors

> Is there a 'quick, easy' way to import my points as different colors?

"Quick and easy" are subjective but what you're seeking is possible in one of two scenarios:

• Using Attribute Definitions (Carlson permits up to 10 different Attribute Layouts)
• Using Text Attributes

Attribute Definitions

I'm not sure if this gets you the complete order, but it's fairly easy to change the layer, color, position, rotate, text style, etc, of Carlson point attributes. Check out the information and some examples at Carlson Knowledgebase Article 779. You might specify Attribute Layout ID 1 with a:

>point # to be yellow, the elevation to be green, and the description to be cyan.

You might then choose Attribute Layout ID 2:

>to be different colors again (maybe all blue), etc

For a given Attribute Layout (e.g. 0 through 9), you'd use the Points -- Point Defaults command to set the desired layout (and optionally, the default layer) for the points you want to place:

>I'd like the points to go into their own layer. Yesterday's points would be in the layer, "POINTS-SU-12-18-12", today's points should go to the layer, "POINTS-SU-12-19-12".

Presuming you want a given day's points to all have the same type of symbology (layer, color, symbol, etc), you'd use the Points -- Draw-Locate Points command:

Text Attributes

If the Attribute Definition approach is too much effort, another approach would be to use Carlson's Field-to-Finish routine (Survey -- Draw Field-to-Finish -- Edit Codes/Points) to contain a single field code (e.g. DEFAULT). You could set the values as shown below:

With the Text Attribute option, you'd choose the layer(s) for the attributes and then set the desired color through the Layer Manager. You'd be missing much of the power of Field-to-Finish but you would have a lot more flexibility when it comes to the layer (and subsequent color) of your attributes.

The Tech Support guys might have a different approach for you.

I bought Carlson this year, but still use LDD for now. I handle points the same as you in LDD and noticed the same difficulties with Carlson. I also liked how you could click on points in LDD and move the point txt around. You can do the same in Carlson, but you have to click a command every time to achieve it.

Ladd,

I am having a similar but separate problem. I use separate attribute layers for each point code. When using Field to Finish, the points come in with the colors set with the default white point no, blue elev, and green desc. In FTF, I have the layers and colors set for each individual code. The linework and symbols will draw with the set color as intended, but draw the no, elev, desc with the default white, blue, green, which I do not want.

I know one answer to my question would be to have the point layers for each code preset in my template drawing. However, that would require having many preset layers that are not used in every drawing.

I would like it to draw the point attribute colors defaulted to red. I tried changing the srvpno2.dwg in the /support directory to the desired colors, but they still get drawn as white, blue, green.

The points I have common in every drawing are fine, but for a larger topo drawing with lot of different points codes, I am spending a lot of time changing point layer colors from the default to the desired layer.

Any ideas on where to change the default point colors permanently? BTW, this is Carlson Survey 2011 embedded ACAD.

> I know one answer to my question would be to have the point layers for each code preset in my template drawing. However, that would require having many preset layers that are not used in every drawing.

One of the features that was introduced with the 2011 version of the product is the Layer Library command (found under Settings). With this command, you should be able to develop any and all layers that you'd ever want to use in a drawing and categorize them as desired. If a Carlson command needs to place something in the drawing and on a layer that is not yet defined in the drawing, it is to look in the Layer Library for instructions on how to create the layer and then create the layer with the pre-defined properties. This permits you to start with an empty shell of a template drawing yet have the layers added in as needed. The only "rub" I saw is that it appears that F2F doesn't fully utilize the Layer Library (at least in the 2012 version that I tested, possibly the 2011 version, also). However, the Match DWG option of the Layer Library does permit non-conforming layers in the drawing to be updated.

FWIW, I did test the F2F - Layer Library routines in the 2013 version and found them to work nicely together.

> I would like it to draw the point attribute colors defaulted to red. I tried changing the srvpno2.dwg in the /support directory to the desired colors, but they still get drawn as white, blue, green.
>
> Any ideas on where to change the default point colors permanently? BTW, this is Carlson Survey 2011 embedded ACAD.

Make sure that your srvpnoX.dwg blocks are not already defined in your template drawing or project drawing. If they are, AutoCAD convention of "use a block definition in the drawing before using the block definition in the support path" governs.

I hope this helps.

> I bought Carlson this year, but still use LDD for now. I handle points the same as you in LDD and noticed the same difficulties with Carlson. I also liked how you could click on points in LDD and move the point txt around.

This was a difference between LDD and Carlson that I quickly learned to live without a couple years ago now.

I have not looked back.

> You can do the same in Carlson, but you have to click a command every time to achieve it.

I don't think so? I just grip & drag.

I am very happy with my Carlson software.

I do not miss LDD one iota.

I'm running Carlson 2013 on top of AutoCAD 2013 and I also miss the ability to simply click and drag the pt#, elev, and desc away from the node automatically getting a leader if I drag beyond a certain distance. Does anyone know what setting to change to get the LDD like behavior? Can't say that I really miss anything else, but that one would save me a ton of time.

I just started using the Layer Library based on a Carlson seminar last week from That CAD Girl- Jennifer DiBona.
Also, just fine tuned my Field To Finish which led to my previous question. I think I will redo my template file and see if the srvpnt "block" definitions change when points are drawn.
I like having individual control of the point numbers, elevations, and descriptions, but with larger projects and a lot of different codes it gets unruly. I also learned about the FTF ability to add points to groups. Maybe I can reduce the layers by grouping them by type and layer. i.e. boudnary, control, surface....

Thanks again Ladd.

Points>Move Point Attributes with Leader
This command allows the user to move Carlson point attributes (including the point number, elevation or description), and to draw a dynamic leader to the point node.

That's how I currently move point attributes out of the way. What I'm looking for is a way to click on the attributes to reveal the grips and then drag them out of the way without moving the point node or having to click a command. It's sort of like grip editing lines where you just click and drag the end of the line where you want it.

I don't doubt that Carlson is a superior surveying package, there is too much positive feedback out there from surveyors for me to think otherwise. I just haven't taken the time to learn or be trained how to use it yet. I wasn't overly impressed with the feel of Intellicad, which felt more dated then my 2000 vintage Autocad, or how the points seemd to be handled. I did find the setting to allow for points to be inserted on a specified layer, but if I remember right they where still on the default layer too. I also found the command that allowed you to move the point attribute data, which is okay for a few points, but not very handy for a topo that may have a few thousand points. I haven't played with the software since the last update, so I'll have to see if I can move the point attribute data via a grip now.

Kelly

Check on Fix Overlapping Point Attributes when you draw/locate points:
Fix Overlapping Point Attributes will detect point number, elevation and description attributes that overlap with other points. Rules can be applied to rearrange the point attributes to avoid the overlaps. A point overlap manager then steps through each overlap for review or manually moving the attributes.