Plotting parcel shape overlaps with solid lines

Question: Is there a best practice for keeping close parcel shapes and ensuring they print correctly, i.e. not as a solid line?

Explanation: When we receive property data from our survey department, the property lines are closed shapes complex elements with ruled geometry. When we print these shapes often there are overlaps and the dash-dot linestyle appears as a solid line. Usually we would just break the parcel shapes and delete any duplicate or overlapping elements. Since these are ruled geometry and essentially Inroads chains we don't want to drop them. Our workaround now is to create another model in our property file and in that model have the dropped geometry, referencing that model and it's "dumb" lines into our drawings to ensure no overlaps.

Thank you for the information!

  • Which version of the software are you using? Specific version numbers (10.xx.xx.xxx) are most helpful.

    I don't know of anything offhand. I've never found a good solution to overlapping lines that are anything other than solid.
    While I understand why you want to create the parcels as ruled geometry and chains...Would it be an option to create them as line segments? Data cleanup could assist with eliminating duplicates, but it's less helpful with overlaps or gaps. And it defeats the purpose of a closed parcel that can be measured and annotated.

    I'll be interested to see what anyone recommends.

    MaryB

    Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918
    Power InRoads 08.11.09.918
    OpenRoads Designer 2021 R2

        

  • 10.10.21.4 is the version.

    Would it be an option to create them as line segments?

    My understanding is that these chains need to be ruled in order to print RW tables that correctly reference an alignment, as the chains have points attached to them. By line segments do you mean the drawing commands (pline etc.)?

  • Yes, I don't know how your data is processed, but I wondered if it would be possible to only draw one segment between any pair of points. They would still be ruled to the points themselves, but instead of three ruled lines, you might get away with one. This doesn't help if the lines have item data identifying the parcel. but if they are simply boundary lines, it would be "smarter" than the REALLY dumb data, and might save you some cleanup effort. Even if they were simply drawn as line segments instead of shapes or line strings, it would make cleanup a little easier.

    I can see why this is a problem for you, and I can think of some reasons this may not be a workable solution. But it's the first thing that came into my mind.

    MaryB

    Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918
    Power InRoads 08.11.09.918
    OpenRoads Designer 2021 R2

        

  • This has always been an issue with parcels. The only time I found it not to be an issue was if you used the old InRoads Lot Layout tool. It treated all lots in an ALG as a group and understood shared lot lines, so when it drew a shared lot line, it drew it once.

    The only option for current workflows might be to work with a copy of the file that contained all of the parcels, with the copy dumbed down to simple MicroStation graphics, and to use the data cleanup tool to remove any duplicates.


    Charles (Chuck) Rheault
    CADD Manager

    MDOT State Highway Administration

    • MicroStation user since IGDS, InRoads user since TDP.
    • AutoCAD, Land Desktop and Civil 3D, off and on since 1996

    Answer Verified By: Taylor Brownlow 

  • I understand what you're saying now. Since these are closed chains and need to remain I don't see this a an option we will go with. I appreciate the input though. I'll actually run it by our team and see what they think.