Convert Multiple Arcs to Lines

I have shapes made of multiple line and arc segments.  I need to eliminate all arcs from these shapes, converting them to line segments.

The Facet Curve tool is inadequate.  There doesn't seem to be a way to have the degree of curvature be the factor which sets the line segment length.  For example, say I have 50 arcs, all with a radius of 100 ft, which vary in length from 10 ft long to 500 ft long.  It is inefficient treat these 50 variable length arcs one at a time using the Facet Curve tool and manually selecting the number of segments every time.  If you try to do them all at once, at maybe a number of 100, your 500 ft long arcs would work out well resulting in 5 ft long line segments, but your 10 ft long arcs would be ridiculous with a new line every 0.1 ft.

I thought maybe there was an answer in dropping the linestyle, but in order to do that the line would have to have breaks instead of being continuous.  I tried converting to a dashed line, then dropping the linestyle.  But when I tried to reconnect all the line segments, I could not find an efficient way to do that either.  

Please assist.  Thanks.

  • It would be quite helpful if you could supply an example design file containing one or more of these shapes that contain multiple line and arc segments. That way we can have an idea of the complexity of these elements to understand what would be the best workflow for your situation.

    Regards
    Andrew Bell
    Technical Support
    Bentley Systems

  • Hi,

    I agree with Andrew it would be helpful to have some example design file. The main question is I guess clear, but what is not clear is how your design file is created and it can affect what tools and workflows can be used.

    Unknown said:
    I have shapes made of multiple line and arc segments.

    MicroStation shape element cannot contain arcs. Are your "shapes" created using Complex Shape element or are the segments indendent elements?

    Unknown said:
    The Facet Curve tool is inadequate.  There doesn't seem to be a way to have the degree of curvature be the factor which sets the line segment length.

    Did you try to use "Max. Chord Height" mode? It's not about the arc curvature, but because max. error (distance between original curve and a new element) is fixed, not number of elements or length of elements, this mode is able to adapt to arc curvature flexibly.

    Unknown said:
    I need to eliminate all arcs from these shapes, converting them to line segments.

    In the first step you should define the rules how the arcs will be linearized. It can be done by a number of ways and there is no generally correct solution. Usually the rules are defined based on how data will be used and what conditions have to be fulfilled.

    Unknown said:
    I thought maybe there was an answer in dropping the linestyle

    That's not clear how a line style relates to faceting of curved elements. The example file can help to explain it.

    With regards,

      Jan

    Answer Verified By: 0000jz 

  • Hi http://communities.bentley.com/cfs-filesystemfile/__key/communityserver-components-imagefileviewer/communityserver-components-selectableavatars-283a01e3-09cd-4a2d-b857-bdc0aad80822/avatar.png_2D00_68x68x2.png

    I would do the following:

    1. Drop Elements Linestring/Shapes to lines and arcs,

    2. Create Complex Chain , now you have one element _Complex Chain/Line

    3. change element to Convert to B-spline Curve , now you have B-spline Curve, 

    4.Measure Distance / along element / we need this info for decision what is important how we will divide element  by distance or number of parts

    4. Facet Curve / we can use only for B-spline Curve /  and now we decide / for example method fixed chord lenght Facet to Linestring Chord lenght: 1.0m , let Keep original to try another method if you not satisfy with it 

    5. Done , have a nice day :-)

    Karol

  • Alternativelly, people with Bentley map , in Map Finishing tool box there is a tool named "Stroke" to linestring that does so, has a displacement bar that lets you control the final control point density.