Has anybody ever had success in setting up an AutoCAD label to automatically import GIS attributes such as pipe inverts, types, sizes, depths. We use carlson survce and we setup our storm and sanitary points to be GIS points with drop down attribute menus for logging structure details while locating structures. Last year I did some research on having an autocad label grab information from this data and automatically label the inverts from this attribute data. I remember a website from a DOT explaining how to get this done but i can't find it anymore. This is a very time consuming portion of our basemap building which can lead to errors taking field notes to the CAD drawing so we are trying to figure out a better solution. Any ideas or some insight as to a better way rather than just manually typing in all the paper field notes.
If I am understanding your question correctly, this can be done easily in Carlson, IF you have your field codes set up correctly.
It's a dance between the descriptors, the Field to Finish set up and the dwt file.
Use the "/" forward slash to separate the base descriptor and the data you wish to add to the labels. For example, the invert elevation of am 18"
rcp would be RCP/18. That's all. That will label the pipe as an 18"RCP. The invert elevation is taken from the Z value of the shot via the attribute format settings in the RCP entry i8n the Field to Finish set up. Go down to "Attribute Format" in the Edit Field Codes window. Set that to "Both" then go over to the Radio Button to the right that says "GIS/Note/Point Attributes". Click on that and look at all the options. That;s where you can auto-label coordinates on control points, add invert elevations and item descriptors.
That's how Carlson does it. IF you are using C3D, I'm sure there is an equivalent somewhere in that package.
If this is not what you are talking about, never mind. :-$
Let me know if you are looking for a way to do it in Civil 3d I've got it down, I don't know anything about carlson though.
I use C3D and using description keys that use point styles and Label Styles it does exactly what you are asking.
If you are interested I can explain in detail.
For example....
Any MH hole shot comes in with a MH symbol (San or Storm) and text reading T.C.=900.25
Drag the text and it makes a leader to the point.
It can be customized to your liking.
Bo
Swim4Life, post: 334701, member: 6035 wrote: I use C3D and using description keys that use point styles and Label Styles it does exactly what you are asking.
If you are interested I can explain in detail.
For example....
Any MH hole shot comes in with a MH symbol (San or Storm) and text reading T.C.=900.25
Drag the text and it makes a leader to the point.
It can be customized to your liking.Bo
I think that he is looking for how to bring in loads more data that just NEZD he's looking to bring in all inverts, top elevation, lining info etc. Which can also be accomplished using C3D and description keys/label styles, but requires you to create user defined property classifications to hold the data. Once you create those then that is available to build your label style or table style with. The other thing that you have to do is to create a custom point file format with adequate columns/categories for all of the potential information, and last but not least you have to get carlson to export the data to a comma delimited file (or tab/space if that's your preference and how you created your custom point file format).
Randy
(Ariddle I, still working on a detailed workflow, but I'm having busy week so I probably won't get you that until the weekend)
Randy- I am trying to do exactly what you describe. I did create a user defined property classification with loads of columns so we could have up to 5 inverts of information and i also created the custom point file format. I then setup carlson to have certain GIS attributes associated with the specific codes for storm and san. My problem is getting it into a general note label or any type of label for that matter. It would be easier if you could write code into a label to extract column information from excel by somehow getting it to recognize that it is associated with the first column of the spreadsheet, find the point number that the shot is and then start importing things from the adjacent columns after the description. This would be about column F in a spreadsheet. Then you could skip the whole property classification and point file format stuff but i'm pretty sure you can't code a label to import it in this way. Any help would be appreciated.
Ariddle, post: 335176, member: 8350 wrote: Randy- I am trying to do exactly what you describe. I did create a user defined property classification with loads of columns so we could have up to 5 inverts of information and i also created the custom point file format. I then setup carlson to have certain GIS attributes associated with the specific codes for storm and san. My problem is getting it into a general note label or any type of label for that matter. It would be easier if you could write code into a label to extract column information from excel by somehow getting it to recognize that it is associated with the first column of the spreadsheet, find the point number that the shot is and then start importing things from the adjacent columns after the description. This would be about column F in a spreadsheet. Then you could skip the whole property classification and point file format stuff but i'm pretty sure you can't code a label to import it in this way. Any help would be appreciated.
You're almost there, all you need to do now is create a new point label style, in the label style composer select the layout tab, see the pull down for components...pull it down and delete point number and point description that should leave just point elevation go to the contents category and click the ellipsis to the right hand side... this opens the text component editor you will see code in the right hand pane that extracts the point elevation and places it into your label. You will also see a pull down in the left hand pane called properties, this is where your user defined properties are exposed for use in labeling. Select the property you want in your label and click the right arrow to "shoot" it into the label, you will now see more code in the right hand pane that will extract the value of this user defined property for this point and put it in the label. Continue adding elements to you label as needed. I would be happy to set up an example label style for you if you email me a drawing with your custom properties and a few points populated with data.
Randy
