I am looking to improve the way we plot the symbols in Carlson so that they match the actual size of the feature on site. For example I would like to be able to use a symbol for a manhole cover and size it to the actual feature size.
We have tried using the 2ND and 3RD codes but it has always ended up a mess if a point has been missed on the feature and if it is circular object it is difficult to size with the first point being approximate centre.
Could anyone using Carlson let me know the way they are sizing the symbols field to finish. I am using Carlson Survey 2020.
Probably not gonna be any help since I don't draft with Carlson, but I'm kind of curious...?ÿ are you saying you shoot the center of the manhole and then the edge of the manhole and Carlson scales the symbol according to those measurements?
The the places I've worked the only symbols that scaled to different sizes were trees.?ÿ We'd code the feature like this "DEC 6" for deciduous tree, 6 inch diameter.?ÿ Maybe Carlson can do something similar-- MH 24 for a 24 inch lid and the symbol will scale?
Probably not gonna be any help since I don't draft with Carlson, but I'm kind of curious...?ÿ are you saying you shoot the center of the manhole and then the edge of the manhole and Carlson scales the symbol according to those measurements?
The the places I've worked the only symbols that scaled to different sizes were trees.?ÿ We'd code the feature like this "DEC 6" for deciduous tree, 6 inch diameter.?ÿ Maybe Carlson can do something similar-- MH 24 for a 24 inch lid and the symbol will scale?
The type of surveys we do require the size of the utility covers to be shown. At the moment we are using a combination of string lines, circles and then symbols for smaller objects. It seems the way Carlson is setup you would have to use the 2ND and 3RD special codes to size any symbols.
What way do you size utility cover symbols if at all? Thanks.
?ÿ
I've never had to show cover sizes before so that's not even a thing I've had to account for.?ÿ Aside from trees like I mentioned the other symbols simply scale up or down with the drawing scale.
Maybe a bit of a workaround, but might suit your needs: create 2 field to finish files. One for symbols that you run at a 1 scale (just setup the symbol sizes to scale their real life dimensions) then run field to finish again in your desired drawing scale with a text only file. Another work around might be to just do a combined file like normal, run ftf at a 1 scale, then use the rescale drawing command with a quickselect of mtext. Trees might get a bit tricky, but again, just create a different ftf file to run at scale if you don't want to pick at getting it perfect all into one.
I see you want it to be more about a dynamic size: potentially you could just create new codes for a range of typical sizes say to the nearest tenth. Like a 2.2 diameter water manhole lid might be WMH22, 2.5 diameter lid might be WMH25. It's not so bad using copy in the FTF editor. I've done this for rebar/pipe sizes on boundary for example to get different text to come out right with easy coding in the field.
Special code "SZ"
For example if your manhole code is "MH" and it is 2.5' dia
The code would be MH SZ2.5
No space between the SZ and size.
That should get you going.
I'm not big on most dynamic things in CAD.
I usually run my F2F with a small scale, 1"=5' or 1"=10', so everything comes in small.?ÿ When I'm ready to draft, I figure out the scale needed, and then use:
Points/Resize Point Attributes, and pick Absolute, then 20 (for a 1"=20' scale dwg), and only for Symbols.?ÿ Window in all my points, and all the symbols then scale up to the appropriate size for a 20 scale dwg.
If I change my mind, and decide I need a 30 or 40 scale dwg, I repeat for the correct scale/size.?ÿ It's not automatic, obviously, but it doesn't take a lot of time, and it works