Labels are an important part of any design because they provide specific information about the design that is often necessary for it to be properly constructed. Civil 3D enables you to create many different types of labels that associate themselves with the different types of Civil 3D objects. Labels are Civil 3D objects too, and just like the objects listed in the previous section, their appearance and behavior are controlled by styles. Also, just like the relationship between objects and their styles, labels also react when a different style is assigned or the assigned style is modified.
Here are some label types that correspond to the Civil 3D objects listed in the previous section.
- Surface Spot Elevation Label
- This type of label is typically used to display the elevation of a key point in the design, such as a low point where water will drain toward or a high point that water will drain away from.
- Alignment Station Offset Label
- This type of label is used to express the location of a feature in reference to a linear object. For example, you could express the location of a manhole by saying that it is at a certain distance along the length of the road (station) and a certain distance to the left or right of it (offset).
- Profile Grade Break Label
- This type of label is used to show the location and elevation of a slope change along a profile. For example, if the profile slopes upward and then changes to a downward direction, the highest point where the change occurs is considered a grade break and is a common location to place a label.
- Parcel Segment Label
- This type of label is typically used to express geometric information about a line or curve that forms part of a legal boundary. For example, it is common to label the bearing and distance of a straight line segment along a property boundary.
Station and Offset
Long linear designs such as roads and pipelines often use station and offset notation to express locations. Stations themselves are usually expressed in a special notation that has a plus sign in it.
For example, if you’re working in imperial units, a station of 2+00 would refer to a location that is 200 feet “down the road” (assuming the road begins at station 0+00). To get to station 2+00, offset 12', you would travel down the road exactly 200 feet, turn right exactly 90 degrees, and travel exactly 12 feet.
If you’re working in metric units, a common format is to use three digits after the plus sign. In this case, a station of 0+200 would refer to a location 200 meters “down the road.” To get to station 0+200, offset 4m, you would travel 200 meters down the road, turn right exactly 90 degrees, and travel exactly 4 meters.
To use label styles to change the appearance and behavior of labels, follow these steps:
- Open the drawing named Labels and Styles.dwg or (Labels and Styles.dwg (METRIC)) located in theExercise_02 class data folder.
- In the top-right viewport, click the label, and then click Properties on the Home tab of the ribbon.
- Change the value for Station Offset Label Style to Station And Offset. Notice how the content of the label changes.
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| Assigning the Station And Offset label style to the label. |
- Change the value for Station Offset Label Style to Station And Offset – Existing. This time, the content stays the same but the style of the text changes.
- With the label still selected, click Label Properties ➢ Edit Label Style on the Labels - Alignment Station Offset Label contextual ribbon tab.
Tips:This is another example of a contextual ribbon tab.
- On the Station Offset Label Style dialog box, click Edit Current Selection.
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| Clicking the Edit Current Selection command for the selected label style. |
- In the Label Style Composer dialog box, click the Dragged State tab. Change the Visibility value for the Leader to False.
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| Changing the visibility of the leader by modifying a label style. |
- Click OK twice to dismiss all dialog boxes and return to the drawing. The label is updated to reflect the change to the style and now no longer displays a leader.
Styles and Company Standards
Civil 3D styles can make it easier for end users to meet company standards and can make graphical output more consistent. With a good set of styles that integrate company standards, all that an end user has to worry about is choosing the right style from a manageable list of choices. Conversely, if end users have to create their own styles, labels, and/or other graphical components, their drawings will most likely vary and may not comply with those standards.
