James Anding's Activities

ORD Properties Menu "no content to display"

Kelby Wilkison — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 06:05:10 GMT

Hi there, I'm using OpenRoads Designer. For some reason, when I have the properties menu docked it'll be working just fine. However, if I leave the properties palette docked and open a different .DGN, the properties menu will then display "no content to display" when I select an element to display the properties of. I've tried to close the pallet and re-open the properties menu, as well as docking the menu to all a bunch of locations on the screen, and lastly un-docking the menu altogether. It seems that no matter what, the same message displays no matter what type of element I select (include referenced objects).

Does anyone have a fix for this? I just have to close ORD and re-launch the software, but I'd rather not have to do that every time I want to switch between files.

Thanks in advance!

Kelby

Ask A Question I

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:21:05 GMT

Ask a question in a forum.

Workflow for adding Box Culverts into a corridor?

Ben Claessens — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 15:19:56 GMT

I have a corridor but I am trying to add the proposed culverts in there.

I tried the Subsurface utility but it does not have any nodes/conduit templates for box culverts, so that did not work.

Then I tried to just draw in the culvert and assign profiles/elevations to it but that does not seem very intuitive.

I read something about using a template but was not sure how to go about that.

Should I make a corridor for every culvert with its own culvert template?

I think that would work but I am worried that would take a lot of computer resources.

Thank you

Let me Help You

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 21:02:35 GMT

Answer a question that is verified as helpful or correct.

Multicenter Curve Geometry utility?

Mike Longstreet — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 19:55:50 GMT

Is there an OpenRaod Geometry tools that replaces the Multicenter Curve tool in InRoads. Specifically the ability to Create the curve return geometry and the "Create Vertical Alignment" function based on the surfaces at the ends of the Multicenter Curve. We This tools was very useful in creating intersection curb return horizontal and vertical point controls geometry.

Cross Section Named Boundary Groups

Matt Murphy — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 20:44:17 GMT

I'm working in ORD 2020 R3.

I initially cut cross sections for a corridor then later on cut more entrance cross sections for the same corridor but placed them in another group. I now want to merge these together to create cross section sheets. Is there any way to combine these groups and have ORD automatically arrange them on the sheets?

Curve Tables

Mike Madrid — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:27:53 GMT

Is there any chance we can have the ability to create a curve table? It would be really nice to be able to have it dynamic as well.

GenerativeComponents Concepts

James Anding — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:13:42 GMT

Introduction

The purpose of this section of the wiki is to introduce beginners to the underlying concepts of GenerativeComponents (dead link) and offer some more conceptual background to the more experienced user. The GenerativeComponents - Capturing Design (dead link) section is structured from a design point of view rather than as a purely technical manual. These wiki pages can be read sequentially, or as reference material on the side while working with GenerativeComponents.

Geometric Basics

GC - Geometry Basics in Parametric Design (dead link)

GC - Features and Interfaces (dead link)

GC - Parametric Space (dead link)

GC - Free Form Geometry (dead link)

GC - Geometric Continuity (dead link)

Model Based Approach

Modeling in a CAD environment is centered on geometric tools. In a parametric associative environment such as GenerativeComponents, the approach is similar but offers the additional benefit of storing relations between elements in an associative way. These associations require defining the creation methods explicitly. This has some consequences to the interface of the geometric tools. The main difference is that inputs are created by reference to existing Features by referring to their unique name in the system. In turn, each new Feature receives a new unique name.

The main tools are the shortcuts to create points, planes and coordinate systems and the complete list of Features available. First, choose the Feature type you would like to create. Second, identify the update method most appropriate for the way you want to create and later vary the Feature. Once the Feature is created there are multiple ways to edit it or interact with it.

Feature assemblies can in turn be captured and turned into new Feature available to users for future designs. This is a powerful function that otherwise would only be possible through programming. It allows users, modeling designs, to harness some of the power of programming without requiring them to have programming expertise.

Modeling Examples

GC - Simple Free Form Roof Example (dead link)

GC - Free Form Roof Example (dead link)

GC - Simple Bridge Example

GC - Landscape Bridge Example (dead link)

Script Based Approach

Another approach, besides manual modeling of geometry, is that of scripting generative statements to define and manipulate Features. The main advantage of a script-based approach is the ease with which a large number of elements can be created using equations or other forms of varying expressions to vary the inputs to the different instances of the Features. Scripting is a step towards programming while still maintaining the modeling context. Syntax across GenerativeComponents is consistent and allows the use of methods in a modeling context as well as in a scripting context. The scripting approach offers more possibilities in its generative possibilities and logical structure. For instance, it is possible to work with the full set of commands allowing for conditionals and data set management. Nonetheless, the scripting approach works in parallel with the modeling environment. A script generates the exact same data and geometry Features as would a manually modeled design but allows the designer to use the efficiency of generative techniques such as loops, conditionals, and functions.

Examples/ Tutorials

GC - Point By Function Example

GC - List Of Points With A Loop Example (dead link)

GC - Simple Equations To Describe Form Example (dead link)

GC - Scripting Data Structures For Use With Features Example (dead link)

Programming Based Approach

GenerativeComponents also supports the developing of programmed Features in the C# language using Visual Studio or Visual Studio Express by Microsoft. This allows for the refinement of Features that have either been previously prototyped in modeling or scripting and require a faster and more robust implementation for large scale deployment, or for very calculation-intensive Features with many geometric elements and operations that would be too slow to execute in the parametric, associative modeling environment. For instance, a structural form optimization may be calculated within a programmed Feature and then made available within an office as an easy-to-deploy Feature within the normal modeling environment of GenerativeComponents. The C# programming approach is most likely used for capturing computationally-intensive calculations for a Feature that is used frequently and has gone through some design revisions. The parallel tracks of GenerativeComponents, therefore, also support and encourage teamwork across the different forms of design and expertise. As an intended side benefit, the introduction of beginners to the parametric modeling environment also prepares them for learning scripting and, potentially, programming. These are skills that become increasingly important in complex design projects.

Programming Examples

Coming Soon

Openroad-Guardrail not showing in 3D View & Dynamic Section

Kbb9327 — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 13:59:33 GMT

Dear All,

i have created Guardrail (with features Guardrail_V2_Single_Sided_L) in Plan but in 3D view & Dynamic Section it is not showing, why?

Left Turn Median Civil Cell (Open Roads)

Ben Claessens — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:07:30 GMT

I am new to the software, but have been playing around quite a bit with the civil cells and have watched the tutorials/videos.

I have a median with left turn lane civil cell, with a ditch in the median. I have a terrain model going from EoP to EoP which is DNC (called Construction), just in order to get the elevation for my median. I also have a terrain model inside the median which is based on the elevation of my median EoP, and two bottom of ditch lines I have offset both horizontally and vertically to the median EoP.

This works fine when the Construction TM is active, but when I clear it the second TM goes wrong, as it is based on the Construction TM to be active.

As such, I can't place multiple of the same civil cells in one corridor as it stops working.

Is my workflow not correct? I based it off the tutorial on Youtube from Bentley, and changed it to fit my needs.

Attached is the dgnlib, the correct civil cell is called test left turn

communities.bentley.com/.../Left-Turn-Median.dgnlib

Driveway End Conditions

Ben Claessens — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 22:00:31 GMT

I have set up a template for a driveway on a corridor I am working on. The corridor itself has ditches on both sides, and ties to existing terrain.

I am looking for the best option when it comes to tieing the end conditions of the driveway into the modeled end conditions of the corridor.

I have tried in the template editor to have the end condition to target a certain feature definition, that I then manually have to draw into the 3d model. It is a microstation line that I have going perpendicular to the eop of the corridor, and the ditch lines, basically creating a profile of where I want the EC of the driveway to tie into.

This works, but is time consuming and when it targets a feature definition both horizontally and vertically, I have no control over the slope of the EC.

I was hoping there would be an easier way that I have no discovered.

Thank you for your time and help.

Surface area of retaining walls?

Ben Claessens — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 18:58:30 GMT

As the title sums up, is there a way to calculate the surface of a face of a retaining wall?

Thanks