Creating Pipe Network Tables

As you have learned in previous chapters, tables are an effective way to convey information about a design. The main advantage of tables is that they organize the information in an orderly fashion, making it easy to read. The disadvantage is that the reader has two places to look for information: the main drawing for the graphical representation of the design and the table for the numerical and textual information. For this reason, tables are typically used if the main drawing becomes too cluttered or difficult to read if the textual and numerical information were included in it.

Tips:Tables for pressure networks are a new feature in Civil 3D 2014. Prior to this release, only gravity network tables were available.

In previous chapters, you created tables for parcels and alignments. One fundamental difference when working with pipe network tables is that they do not need to reference labels in the drawing. For parcels and alignments, you had to create tag labels and then create the tables by selecting those labels. For a pipe network, the table references the pipes and structures directly, so no tag labels are required. However, it is good practice to provide labels in the drawing that identify each pipe and structure so that the reader of the drawing can see how they relate to the table.

To create a pipe network table in your drawing, complete the following steps:

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

1. Open the drawing named Creating Pipe Network Tables.dwg located in the Chapter 16 class data folder.

2. On the Annotate tab of the ribbon, click Add TablesPipe NetworkAdd Structure. This opens the Structure Table Creation dialog box.
3. For Table Style, select C-SSWR – Structure & Pipe Data.
4. Verify that By Network is selected and that Sanitary is chosen under Select Network. Click OK.

   Tips:With these settings, all of the pipes and structures in the Sanitary pipe network will be included in the table. There is also a Multiple Selection option, which enables you to handpick the items you want represented in the table.

5. Pick a point in the left viewport in some open space. The table will be inserted into the drawing. Zoom in and study the information shown on the table (see Figure 16.14).

   Figure 16.14  A portion of a structure table created for a sanitary sewer pipe network.


6. On the Annotate tab of the ribbon, click Add Labels.
7. In the Add Labels dialog box, do the following:
   1. For Feature, select Pipe Network.
   2. For Label Type, select Entire Network Plan.
   3. For Pipe Label Style, select C-SSWR – Name Only.
   4. For Structure Label Style, select C-SSWR – Name Only.
   5. Click Add.
8. Click any sanitary pipe or structure in the drawing. The entire network will be labeled with the name of each pipe and structure.
9. For each sanitary sewer manhole, click the label and then use the square grip to drag the label into a clear location of the drawing.
10. For each sanitary sewer pipe label, click the label and use its diamond-shaped grip to slide it to a location that is clear of other text or linework. If that is not possible, use the square grip to drag it to a clear area in the drawing. With the labels you have added, a person reading the drawing could match the name of a pipe or structure with information in the table.

Download Exercise File :

• C16 - Creating Pipe Network Tables - Metric     --- ( 1.69 MB )
• C16 - Creating Pipe Network Tables - Imperial  --- ( 3.87 MB )