SmartDraft PConnect 8
· Polyline Tools
PConnect is an easy to use point-connection tool designed with the office surveyor or map technician in mind. It works by using field-collected point data, your company's standardized description keys either alphanumeric or numeric) and connection suffix codes. The line work is drawn on specified layers as defined by the description key file.

Two pieces of data are used to achieve the desired line work: Coordinate-data and the description key file. The field-data coordinate consists of a point number, northing, easting, elevation, and description. The description key file specifies a user-defined description to process features (lines and arcs) onto a user-specified layer name. PConnect can read coordinate data from an ASCII file (formatted as PNEZD), Land Desktop, and Civil 3D point data.

Three draw options are avaliable to create line work: 1) 2d polylines drawn at elevation 0 for planimetrics, 2) 3d polylines (breaklines) drawn at the collected elevations, and/or 3) Civil 3D figures drawn at the collected elevations. The 3d polylines and/or Civil 3D figures can be used to create surfaces. Essentially, PConnect creates line work by connecting points with the same code.

User-defined description keys are used to separate features and line work. For example, the code EP could indicate edge of pavement. If there are two separate edges of pavement being collected in a cross-section method, the field personal can indicate the right edge of pavement as EP1 and the left edge of pavement as EP2. PConnect will draw a separate polyline for each code. In addition, PConnect has suffix codes that the field personal can add to the description key to instruct it to begin a curve, end a curve, end a polyline, recall a previous point, and close a polyline. With the combination of description keys and suffix codes, field personal can reuse EP1 once a previous EP1 has been terminated with the correct suffix code.

 
Description Key Style: Multiple description key files saved as styles. This option helps when working with multiple agencies which have different layer requirements.

Description Keys: List of all the description keys in the current style. Select only the description keys to process.

Point Source: Select the point source, such as points in the current drawing, the points in the Land Desktop or Civil 3D project database, Civil 3D survey database, or an ASCII coordinate file in PNEZD format.

Exclude: Option to exclude specific points or descriptions.

Draw Options: Select if 2d polylines, 3d polylines, Civil 3d figures, or all will be drawn. The figure option is open avaliable with the Civil 3D Survey Database point source

Description Suffixes: Option to Leave (don’t change), or Strip (remove suffix codes).

 
Suffix Codes: Specify suffix codes that instructs PConnect when to begin drawing a curve, end a curve, end a polyline, recall a previously collected point, or close a polyline.

 
3D Polylines:
Maximum Mid Ordinate Along Arcs:This option permits the user to set a maximum value for the mid ordinate of each 3D polyline segment which would have been an arced segment as a 2d polyline. PConnect will compute the number of additional segments to create based on this value.

Maximum Distance Between Vertices:This options permits the user set a maximum segment length for 3D polylines along both straight and arced 2D segments. PConnect will compute the number of additional segments to create based on this value.

3D Polyline Layer: Use Single Layer: Option to create all the 3d polylines on a single layer. Helpful is all the user needs to do is create a surface from the 3d polylines. If this options is not checked, the 3d polylines will be created on the layer specified in the Description Key Style file.

Single Layer Name: Enter the layer name to place all 3D polylines when the Use Single Layer option is selected.

 
Civil 3D Figures:
Civil 3D Figure Layer: Use Figure Prefix Database Layer:Check this option to instruct the command to use the layer name specified in the Figure Prefix Database. If an entry for the collected description key is not found in the Figure Prefix Database, than the command will either use the Single Layer option if checked, or use the layer specified in the Description Keys if the Single Layer option is unchecked.

Use Single Layer: Option to create all the Civil 3D figures on a single layer. Helpful is all the user needs to do is create a surface from the 3d polylines. If this options is not checked, the 3d polylines will be created on the layer specified in the Description Key Style file.

Single Layer Name: Enter the layer name to place all Civil 3D Figures when the Use Single Layer option is selected.

Examples:

Cross-section example
When collecting cross sections, add a “#” to indicate multiple features of the same type being collection in this manner (even if there is a single feature).

 
Note: Field personal can collect multiple edges of pavement. “EP# “, for example, is the format code as long as each EP has a separate # and, once finished with a feature, terminate the # with a (.T).

If there was a median in this example, the field crew could have used EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4.

Arc example using .PC (2 point tangent curve)
To instruct PConnect there is an arc, add (.PC) to the description key. (.PC) instructs the command to start an arc. The field crew can continue to collect points along the arc. To instruct the command to end arc processing add (.PT) to the description key.

 
Note: The field personal does not have to add a description suffix at a point of reverse or compound curve. As long as there isn't a tangent piece don't add the (.PT) code and the command will draw the reversing or compound curve segments. PConnect checks for direction changes between segments and automatically determines the presence of a PRC or PCC. So there is no need to identify the PRC or PCC with at PT/PC. See point numbers 112 - 119 above.

Arc example using .C3 (3 point non-tangent curve)
To instruct PConnect there is a 3 point non-tangent arc, add (.C3) to the description key. (.C3) instructs the command to start an arc and read the next to 2 consecutive points with the same description key. The description suffix code of the 2nd point is ignore unless it is a terminator with optional point number (.T#) or recall with optional point number (.R#). If only one point is collected with the same description key after using the (.C3) suffix code, the command defaults the curve calcualtion to the 2 point tangent method.

 
Note: The field personal does not have to add a description suffix at a point of reverse or compound curve. Since the .C3 suffix code only reads 3 consecative points. The field personal can add a new C3 to start a new 3 point curve. PConnect checks for direction changes between segments and automatically determines the presence of a PRC or PCC. So there is no need to identify the PRC or PCC when using the C3 suffix code. See point numbers 162 - 171 above.

Arc example using .BC (best fit or 4+ point non-tangent curve)
To instruct PConnect to calculate a best fit or 4+ point non-tangent arc, add (.BC) to the description key. (.BC) instructs the command to start an arc and read the next to all consecutive points until a curve termination code encountered or no more points with the same description key are found. The curve ternimation codes are (.PC, .PT, .C3, .BC, .CC, .CS, and .T#). The description suffix code of the 2nd point is ignore unless it is a terminator with optional point number (.T#) or recall with optional point number (.R#). If only one point is collected with the same description key after using the (.BC) suffix code, the command defaults the curve calcualtion to the 2 point tangent method.

 
Note: The field personal does not have to add a description suffix at a point of reverse or compound curve. Since the .BC suffix code also terminate the perivous .BC curve, a new non-tangent curve is started. PConnect checks for direction changes between segments and automatically determines the presence of a PRC or PCC. So there is no need to identify the PRC or PCC with at PT/BC. See point numbers 173 - 186 above.

Terminating a feature and recalling a point example
To instruct PConnect to end a feature line add (.T) to the description key. To instruct PConnect to recall (draw from a previous point before using the current point) add (.R#), where # is the recalled point number. Using a recall (.R#) saves the field personal from collecting two points at the same location with two separate description keys.

Example without using (.R#) - two points collected at the same location.

 
Note: Duplicate points collected 121 and 122, 125 and 126.

Example using (.R#)

 
Note: Common point 129 to end TC1.T and start WA1 by recalling 129 from point 130. R129. Also point 132 to end WA1.and start TC1 by recalling 132 from point 133.R132.T. Point 133 is an example of multiple description suffixes added to a single point. 133 recalls 132, and terminates the polyline at 133.

Terminate to a point example
To instruct PConnect to terminate a feature line at another point, add (.T#) to the description key (where the “#” code specifies the terminating point number).

 
Note: Duplicate points collected 121 and 122, 125 and 126.

The illustration below illustrates the same feature using the “cross section method” of collecting points:

 
Note: Using these options requires the field personal to denote the point numbers with corresponding “terminate” and “recall” suffixes.

Close polyline with curve (.CC) or tangent (.CS)
The user can close features back to the point of beginning by adding the description suffix (.CC) for curves and (.CS) for tangents.

 
The key to successful feature generation lies with standard nomenclature understood by both field and office personnel. Proper coding standards will ensure the desired results.
.PC vs. Close Curved (.CC)
.PT vs. Close Straight (.CS)

The capsule-shaped parking island (depicted as two straight sides and two curved ends in the illustration above) needs a minimum of four (4) data-collected points:

If 154=.PT, then 156=.PC, 157=.PT, and 157=.CC (not .PC)

Neither the PC nor PT code instructs PConnect to "close" the polyline, but the .CS and .CC codes do both.

Multiple description keys at a single point
To apply multiple description keys at a single point seperate the description keys by a space.
Each description key can also have a seperate suffix code or no suffix code.

 
In the example above tc2 and ra1 description keys are applied to points 20877 and 20881.
Note the suffix code added to the description key ra1.t of point 20881 but not the tc2 description key.


Program includes:
· PConnect
· Description Key Style Manager
· Commands documented in the online help
· 100+ page printable PDF manual
· One year subscription included
 
Introductory price: $299 per seat license.
Multiple seat license discounts and site licenses available.
 
For pricing, training, or scheduling a demonstration, contact sales at:
Email: Sales
Call: 818-335-8065

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