Vertical Alignment tools

Hi Michael,

The VCs are inserted based on the existing ground surface and the tolerances for upper and lower envelopes and desired curve lengths. There is no option to define them based on grade differences in the best fit tool.

To modify the best fit geometry, select the geometry and using the mini toolbar choose the convert to profile rule icon.

To insert a VC use the "profile insert curve" tool in the vertical geometry task or on the toolbox beside the profile views' view controls.

Regards

Paul

Hey Michael:

There is not a setting for max grade change.  It simply tries to insert the curve lengths specified.  If nothing fits then you get a PI and not curve.  For point of reference, if you are or have someone who is expert in the InRoads best fit commands, itis the same algorithm as the InRoads simplified best fit.

The only edits available ot the best fit element is the curve minimums and envelope.

But, once you get a semi close bets fit, you can convert it to a normal vertical complex and do all the other edits such as change curve lengths, insert VPI, etc.  Select the best fit element and then in right click menu you can convert.  I forget the exact name of the right click item but you'll see it when you look.

Once converted, you can move, PI, Insert curves and edit curves.  Various commands that will be useful when editing are the civil insert vertical curve command, microstation delte vertex and of course, the manipulators.

Robert

Thanks Robert and Paul.

I'd previously found the tool to convert to Profile Rule and applied that.

I'd also found the "Profile Insert Curve" tool and tried that. It seems to want to insert a new VPI, to add the new curve. Thats not what I want to do. I want to insert a VC to an existing VPI.

I did try the drop complex yesterday to drop the complex Vert Profile back to its components and it didnt work. Today it does.. maybe the new data I generated this morning was the difference, who knows.

Anyway, I have now tried to place a VC between elements and, while I can select a VC element (from the dropped complex), I cannot select the tangents. The message reads "invalid element".

Oddly, if I select the tanget first, it will allow the selection.

Very odd.

Oh, sorry Michael.  Misunderstood.  Once converted to a ruled profile element, you should be able to create a curve using the tangent in the complex without exploding.  IN the Profile Curve Between ELements command, note the first prompt "...ALT to select components of a complex".  

Click ALT on the keyboard and then you can select the individual tangent elements in the complex.  This may solve your needs, but there were some trimming difficulties discovered late in the development cycle that may affect you.  I don;t know how this was finally resolved, so when you use this method, it might make a new curve but not trim out the complex, which would not be useful to you.

The pick curve first or pick tangent first issue is indeed odd. Maybe you can send us a sample?  I'm glad to help and I'm sure Paul would say the same.  Send direct to Esther might be more efficient though.

I've checked two things in my last reply:

- when create profile curve between elements and use the unexploded complex elements, there is no trimming.  It just makes a new curve sitting by itself.

- I also confirmed the oddity where you must pick tangent first when making a curve between a tangent and a curve.  I've passed this to Civil PM and certification for investigation in future versions.  In current SS3, just remeber that you'll need to pick the tangent first in thes situations.