[SS10] Array along path into Graphic Group?

Hi Mary,

Associative I believe isn't possible. Not sure why you want to use Graphic Groups, going from what you say, Named Groups sounds more like it would be useful to you

Actually, named groups would be a pain. I am going to have dozens and dozens of runs of barrels, and coming up with names for all of them is extra work I don't care about. And a Named Group is little more than a graphic group with extra work, for all I can tell.

The only reason I was thinking of graphic groups (if there was a was to do that automatically) is that, when plans change, selecting and deleting all of the barrels in that area is tedious. Often, a few get missed here and there, so we have random barrels scattered about. If all of the barrels for a particular line of pavement marking were grouped together, they could be easily deleted when that line is changed. But I don't care about naming them; I can't even think of a workable naming scheme.

The crux of this is that I was hoping it were something that could be done somewhat automatically. Having to select every barrel on any particular run, for every run that I need to do, to add it to any kind of group for future management is additional work.

Placing and maintaining barrels is always tedious. My DOT has a custom linestyle for barrels, but they only come at one of two spacings, neither of which is appropriate for an urban job. Scaling the linestyle down to my spacing also scales down the size of the barrel points, which is less than ideal. Not to mention, the linestyle is just a little whacked. I believe this may be an issue with custom linestyles with points and no "lines", but I do not only get points where I want them, I get points at other, apparently random, locations, and arcs do not always display as I would expect them to. Or it could just be a poorly designed linestyle. My DOT does a reasonably good job, but everything is supplied as is, and a lot of it is a conglomeration of resources collected together by people who have neither the time nor the budget to sort through it all and completely standardize everything.

When I talk about barrel runs, I am talking about the barrels along any particular stretch of line from "here" to "there". Eastbound white line between Shortridge Rd. and Franklin Rd. would have a run of barrels. Westbound yellow line from Shortridge to Franklin would have another run. Channelizing one lane for Berkley Ave. would be another one or two runs. some are long stretches, others are shorter, more specific to an isolated traffic pattern. Along Path has been a lifesaver for placing them, but I was hoping there was some easy way to manage them in any way after placement, instead of having to keep track of thousands of barrels individually.

I do have ORD, if there are tools in CONNECT that can make this happen. We aren't using it for design, but I've been known to pop in when I need a specific tool to get a job done.

Actually, named groups would be a pain. I am going to have dozens and dozens of runs of barrels, and coming up with names for all of them is extra work I don't care about. And a Named Group is little more than a graphic group with extra work, for all I can tell.

The only reason I was thinking of graphic groups (if there was a was to do that automatically) is that, when plans change, selecting and deleting all of the barrels in that area is tedious. Often, a few get missed here and there, so we have random barrels scattered about. If all of the barrels for a particular line of pavement marking were grouped together, they could be easily deleted when that line is changed. But I don't care about naming them; I can't even think of a workable naming scheme.

The crux of this is that I was hoping it were something that could be done somewhat automatically. Having to select every barrel on any particular run, for every run that I need to do, to add it to any kind of group for future management is additional work.

Placing and maintaining barrels is always tedious. My DOT has a custom linestyle for barrels, but they only come at one of two spacings, neither of which is appropriate for an urban job. Scaling the linestyle down to my spacing also scales down the size of the barrel points, which is less than ideal. Not to mention, the linestyle is just a little whacked. I believe this may be an issue with custom linestyles with points and no "lines", but I do not only get points where I want them, I get points at other, apparently random, locations, and arcs do not always display as I would expect them to. Or it could just be a poorly designed linestyle. My DOT does a reasonably good job, but everything is supplied as is, and a lot of it is a conglomeration of resources collected together by people who have neither the time nor the budget to sort through it all and completely standardize everything.

When I talk about barrel runs, I am talking about the barrels along any particular stretch of line from "here" to "there". Eastbound white line between Shortridge Rd. and Franklin Rd. would have a run of barrels. Westbound yellow line from Shortridge to Franklin would have another run. Channelizing one lane for Berkley Ave. would be another one or two runs. some are long stretches, others are shorter, more specific to an isolated traffic pattern. Along Path has been a lifesaver for placing them, but I was hoping there was some easy way to manage them in any way after placement, instead of having to keep track of thousands of barrels individually.

I do have ORD, if there are tools in CONNECT that can make this happen. We aren't using it for design, but I've been known to pop in when I need a specific tool to get a job done.

I’m not familiar with these barrels, how do they appear in a model?

Hi Mary,

It sounds like a 3D line style would be a good solution.

Here's a blog post talking about them and it includes some example 3D custom line styles.

Regards,
Ron

Those would be nice, but I actually do not need 3D - these are 2D representative plans, and will be for probably another decade at this rate. I'm not certain that would work anyways, because depending on speed, my barrels would need different spacing. I'd either have to make a linestyle for every possible spacing, or  my barrels would shrink as I scaled the linestyle up or down (which is where I am today).

I am looking forward to this day, but I am afraid today is not it.

Mary, 

Ohio DOT has custom 2D linestyles for different drum spacings. I've attached the .rsc file if you want to use them. 

ODOT_Linestyles.rsc

Nice!!!

I'll have to add that RSC to our office library, so everyone has it. Thank you!