Applying Subassemblies That Can Use Targets

Before you can use targets within your corridor, you must apply subassemblies that have targeting capabilities. Civil 3D comes with hundreds of subassemblies, each designed for a different purpose or application. Some of these subassemblies can use targets and some cannot. For example, the BasicLane subassembly that you used earlier does not have the ability to target anything. So if you would like to use a width or offset target to incorporate a turning lane, pull-off area, or some other feature into your corridor, you will have to use a different subassembly.

To modify an assembly by adding subassemblies that utilize targets, follow these steps:

The Exercise File can be downloaded at the end of the article  

1. Open the drawing named Adding Target Subassemblies.dwg located in the Chapter 09 class data folder.
2. Open the Tool Palettes window, and click the Basic tool palette.

3. Right-click BasicLaneTransition, and select Apply Tool Properties To Subassembly, as shown in Figure 9.11.

   Figure 9.11  Selecting the Apply Tool Properties To Subassembly command

   Tips :Using the Apply Tool Properties command is a great technique for switching out one subassembly for another. Just be aware that all of the properties are switched, which is why the subassembly is on the wrong side in this step.

4. In the upper right viewport, select both lane subassemblies in the Subdivision Road assembly and press Enter. The assembly will appear a bit odd because everything shifts over to one side.

5. Press Esc to clear the current selection. Click the assembly baseline (the vertical line which the subassemblies are attached to), and then click Assembly Properties on the ribbon.
6. In the Assembly Properties dialog box, do the following:
   1. Click the Construction tab. Click twice on Group (1) to edit the name. Type Right and press Enter. Use the same procedure to change the name of Group (2) to Left.
   2. Under the group now named Right, rename the two subassemblies as Right Lane and Right Curb. Do the same for the Left group, naming the subassemblies Left Lane and Left Curb.
   3. Click Right Lane, and change the Side value to Right. Do the same for Left Lane by setting the Side value to Left.
   4. For Left Lane and Right Lane, scroll down and change the valuefor Transition to Hold Grade, Change Offset.
   Figure 9.12 shows the Assembly Properties dialog after completing all of the tasks in this step.

   Figure 9.12  The Assembly Properties dialog box after the groups and subassemblies have been renamed and the properties for the lanes have been set properly

7. Click OK to close the Assembly Properties dialog box and return to the drawing. The assembly now looks the way it should.

8. On the Basic tool palette, click BasicSideSlopeCutDitch.
9. In the Properties window, verify that Side is set to Left. Click the marker in the upper-left corner of the Left Curb subassembly.
10. Click the marker in the upper-right corner of the Right Curb subassembly. The assembly should now look similar to Figure 9.13.

    Figure 9.13  The assembly with newly added BasicSideSlopeCutDitch subassemblies on either side

    Tips :Notice that this time you didn’t change the Side property to Right. Civil 3D has a special feature that automatically guesses which side of the assembly you are on.


11. Press Esc to end the current command. Click the right BasicSideSlopeCutDitch subassembly, and then click Subassembly Properties on the ribbon.
12. On the Information tab of the Subassembly Properties dialog box, change the name to Right Daylight.
13. Repeat the previous two steps for the same subassembly on the left, this time naming it Left Daylight.

What’s in a Name?

Take the time to rename your subassemblies using logical, easy-to-remember names. This not only makes it easier to keep track of these things as you continue to work on your corridor, it also helps if you have to pass your work on to someone else.

Applying Corridor Targets

• Understanding Surface Targets
• Understanding Width or Offset Targets
• Understanding Slope or Elevation Targets
• Applying Subassemblies That Can Use Targets
• Assigning Targets

Download Exercise File :

• Applying Corridor - Metric     --- ( 2.18 MB )
• Applying Corridor - Imperial  --- ( 2.05 MB )