Copy parallel- I need to keep the elevations of original line.

I'm trying to 'copy parallel' a smartline by distance. If there are any elevation changes in the original line (and there always are) the copied line gets skewed in elevation which causes my XY to be off. This is very frustrating and time consuming. Is there a way to 'copy parallel" by distance and maintain the elevations of the original smartline without having to buy a third party software to achieve this simple task?

Thank you!

  • Maybe I need your example. When I copy parallel - and I pay attention to use AccuDraw "T" to maintain the top view rotation. It looks good form me. If I select the element at a skewed portion AccuDraw is at the skewed plane of the element at that poing- still pressing "T" seems to parallel copy flat to the top plane.
  • Didn't work. I just copied a line and the Z changed by over 1' from the original.

    Is there an 'copy parallel in XY only' tool? I can't imagine EVER wanting the z to change when parallel copying an element.
  • If you have a sample file that would be great to test. I think your problem with the elevation change (if all points are not at the same elevation) is due to the truncating of the line segments. When you offset a 3d line each segment of the line string will either grow or shrink in length. At the intersection of the line segments (the vertices) will need to be interpolated to the elevation at the intersection point. The greater the horizontal offset the more drastic the vertical difference. The only way I would know to accomplish what you need is to use something like InRoads that contains specific tools for what you are trying to accomplish.

    Microstation CONNECT 10.17.00.209

    ORD CONNECT 2021 R1 10.10.1.3

    Microstation v8i SS 10 08.11.09.919

    Power InRoads v8i 08.11.09.615

    ORD CONNECT 2021 R1 10.10.1.3

    ProjectWise 10.0.3.453

  • Thinking about it further, InRoads would also need to truncate and interpolate a linestring also so even that would change the elevations of the vertices. Can you explain exactly what you need to do and screenshots of the original line and finished line after performing the operations.

    Microstation CONNECT 10.17.00.209

    ORD CONNECT 2021 R1 10.10.1.3

    Microstation v8i SS 10 08.11.09.919

    Power InRoads v8i 08.11.09.615

    ORD CONNECT 2021 R1 10.10.1.3

    ProjectWise 10.0.3.453

  • Pretty basic actually. Just drawing a centerline of road and trying to copy it out 45-60' to establish working boundary limits. Sometimes when I copy it the XY will be pretty close (within a couple of inches horizontally) other times it can be off as much as 5'!

    I can't seem to find any info to correct this. It seems like it would be e welcomed tool. I may be dense but I can't imagine why anyone who is trying to parallel copy a feature would need it to truncate and interpolate the line's elevation. What's the logic behind it?