Carlson question

cptdent is probably the one to ask, but I would think that you will probably have to create a point group based upon description, and then draw by point group. It is pretty easy after you have your point groups set up.

Just starting out in Carlson, the easiest way for you to do this may be to use Point Groups. Go to "Points" then down to "Point Group Manager". Then under Groups, select New and follow the prompts. You can build a Point Group for each description. One advantage to this is that those groups will stay with the drawing, so this will be a one time set up if you bring in all of your points at one time.
As you get more familiar with Carlson, you can set up your Field To Finish *.fld file to create these points groups at one time when you insert your points. Again this is a one time set up so it will all happen on every job from then on.
That CAD Girl, Jennifer DiBona has an excellent training manual on using point in Carlson that may well be worth your time in looking into. Check her web site for all the training manuals that she has available. It's some of the best money you will ever spend. The manuals are written so that even I can understand them, so you should have no problem.

Are you trying to put points on layers by description or are you just trying to plot all points with a description of "G" for example?

POINTS PULL DOWN
DRAW LOCATE POINTS
DRAW ALL
This is the fatest way if you have not set up Field to finish .

Never mind just re-read your question . Set up field to field to finish codes or use the point groups as suggested.

Steven, you raise an interesting thing I have often wondered about; what is the purpose of putting points on a specific layer by description? Usually I do not send my drawings out with any of the points in the drawing and working on Corps projects, I already have 200+ layers. Adding all those point layers will really bog me down when I am working in a multi-MB drawing.
The ability to insert only specific points and then remove them as needed is a handy tool via Point Groups. I don't have to go back and purge 97,000 layers generated by a gazillion descriptions, etc.
I know people do things differently, but in this instance, is this method better than point groups? Is it faster and easier? If so, I may look into it, but if not, I won't add that little gem to my CADD Standards Manual.

I just put them all on one layer and use point groups. However, when I first installed Carlson 2013 and ran F2F it created a layer for each unique description. I only asked the question because I knew it was possible and thought that might be what he was looking for.

Gotcha'!B-)

Using field to finish, you can put your points on differing layers and freeze/thaw layers instead of inserting and removing them via point groups..if i have curb and pavement shots side by side, i just freeze the curb shots and draw my pavement edge..You can also assign whether or not points are used in a surface in the FTF...just a different way to work.

Very similar to what I do. I like having my control points on a separate layer, as well as non-dtm points such as power poles, fire hydrants, low wire shots, etc.

I also like being able to turn off top of curb points when looking at gutter points, or invert shots when drawing in certain features.

You can do all of that with Point Groups.
Usually my drawings already have a plethora of layers (client's desire, not mine) and enough other data to be pushing the limits so much that it starts to slow down my computer.
I HATE a drawing with tbcgptno, tbcgptelev, tbcgptdesc layers created for each feature.
I can bring in the points to get what I need and then get rid of them without adding eleventyseven layers to my layer list. But then, different strokes for different folks.

There is also a change layer of points by point range.

I find it strange that no one else plots by description. No point ranges or groups to create or pick points from. Just simply plot the points you need when you need them. I guess I picked that up using CG many years ago. You can plot by desc, radius from a known point and several other options.

I "used" to do that, but Carlson isn't that flexible. It's just one of the small annoyances of switching CAD packages.

You must do things their way.

I suppose they figure that everyone would see the power of Field To Finish and use that so that all of this stuff automatically happens whenever you bring in your points. Once it's all set up it just cannot be any simpler or faster. They ignored the "Old dog, New tricks" factor. 🙂

You can do all of that guys. Yes you have to create a "point group", but in that creation you can specify points by radius, polyline, elevation range, code/s or just select point no's, or use a combination of the above. Takes less than 1min to setup. If you like to exclude certain points from that group then you can apply these techniques in the same way for those points.

You can also plot the points on a layer by description (code) in the "Draw-locate points" command too (look for the tick-box).

Another tip is you don't need to create the point group first before using "Draw-locate", just select point group button in the "Draw-locate" window and select the "Group" menu item and create one right then, and presto. One command to do it all.

Hint: in other commands where it asks for point no's and doesn't offer a point group option, just type in group and hit enter to wildcard option and the "point group" window will appear. The wildcard can allow you to just use a particular code if that suits you too.

You have the power to do so much more now so fast, just need to watch the many videos on Youtube and you'll be a power user in no time.