Discipline Graphics

 

Landscape Architects often need to access standardized symbols that are not specific to Landscape Architecture, and instead apply to all disciplines, or a specific discipline, such as Civil or Electrical. The Discipline Graphics libraries are convenient places to file miscellaneous drawing blocks that relate to other disciplines.

 

The power in the Discipline Graphics function is that it is a fluid system of block management that the user can easily add to. In this manner the user can quickly add blocks to a discipline, category folders for discipline blocks, or new discipline groups, all as required.

 

 

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Any discipline folders that have blocks in them will show up within this dialog box.

 

Discipline folders in the Discipline Graphics dialog box.

 

In addition to two specific disciplines of Civil and Electrical, there are also the more generic symbol categories of Callouts, North/Scale, and User-Defined. In addition to these categories, additional symbols can be filed into Discipline Graphics folder, under any folder name the user desires, or the existing folder structure:

Discipline Graphics folder structure. Note the numbering prefix, allowing easy re-organization of the order of the symbol categories.

 

The other discipline categories do not show up on the Discipline Graphics dialog box because no blocks have been placed within them at this time. These folders are there for the user to add to, or create new folders, as required.

 

Land F/X provides several quick methods to add blocks to the database:

§	The Land F/X Save Block function will automatically save an individual block on-the-fly as you are drawing it. The function will select the block, create a slide of the block, update the appropriate slide library, and make the block instantly available to all of the Land F/X office wide users.

§

A user can move any number of existing files in bulk into folders in the Discipline Graphics tree, and then use the Sync button in the Data Manager to add them all at once. This method might involve using the View button within the Discipline Graphics dialog box to edit the scale and rotation desired for each block.

 

Selecting a group of Discipline Graphics will display a dialog box of symbols to choose from. Selecting a symbol will then prompt for its insertion, and if desired, its rotation. If a symbol seems to have the incorrect setting for scale or rotation, highlight the symbol and click the View button to edit its settings.

 

Civil discipline graphics displayed. Note the two categories of “Map Graphics” and “Utilities”. Users can add as many additional categories as desired.

Eletrical symbols displayed in the dialog box. Note the two existing categories of “Lighting” and “Power”. Users can add as many additional categories as desired.

 

Callouts

 

The Callouts section within Discipline Graphics refer to general Construction Document referencing symbols, such as section callouts, viewpoint symbol, and match-lines. They do not refer to a simple block placement, but can be a rather involved callout involving multiple blocks, arrows, lines, and attributes. Utilizing this dialog box interface to access them allows easier additions of other such callouts in future releases. Unlike the other sections of Discipline Graphics, users are not able to add their own symbols.

 

Callouts section of Discipline Graphics.

 

Section Flag Callout

 

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The Section Flag Callout function involves selecting three points to define where the symbol and flag will be located and their direction, and entering the Section Number and Sheet Number.

 

Upon selecting the Section Flag Callout, the command line will prompt,

 

Flag end of section symbol:

 

Click where the end of the flag will be located, in this example Point 1. The command line will then prompt,

 

Section Callout location:

 

Click at the location of the center of the callout symbol circle, in this example Point 2. The command line will then prompt,

 

Direction of section:

 

Click at the general direction you want the flags to appear, in this example Point 3. The command line will then prompt for the Section Number and the Sheet Number, enter those as required.

 

Select three points to create the Section Flag Callout.

In this example the Section Number entered was“4” and the Sheet Number entered was “L6”.

 

F Remember: Selecting Points 1 and 2 will also establish the angle of the section callout line. Point 3 establishes the general direction of the section, as this is automatically ortho to the section callout line. The command will automatically draw a line of ½” (plotted scale) from the section flag and the section callout, leaving a line gap between the two. The section number and sheet number will always be oriented horizontal no matter what direction the section is.

 

Section Double Callout

 

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The Section Flag Callout function involves selecting three points to define where two section callout symbols will be located and their direction, and entering the Section Number and Sheet Number.

 

Upon selecting the Section Double Callout, the command line will prompt,

 

First section callout location:

 

Click the location of the center of the where the end of the flag will be located, in this example Point 1. The command line will then prompt,

 

Second section callout location:

 

Click at the location of the center of the other callout symbol circle, in this example Point 2. The command line will then prompt,

 

Direction of section:

 

Click at the general direction you want the flags to appear, in this example Point 3. The command line will then prompt for the Section Number and the Sheet Number, enter those as required.

 

Select three points to create the Section Double Callout.

In this example the Section Number entered was “12” and the Sheet Number entered was “L401”.

 

F Remember: Selecting Points 1 and 2 will also establish the angle of the section callout line. Point 3 establishes the general direction of the section, as this is automatically ortho to the section callout line. The command will automatically draw a line of ½” (plotted scale) from each section identification callout, leaving a line gap between the two. The section number and sheet number will always be oriented horizontal no matter what direction the section is.

 

Viewpoint

 

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Viewpoint is a convenient way to quickly establish view callouts and their direction.

 

The command line will prompt:

 

Arrow point:

 

Select the location of the center of the Viewpoint. The command line will prompt:

 

Call-out direction:

 

Click a point in the direction that the arrow of the viewpoint will point to. The command line will prompt:

 

View Number?

 

Enter the number that will appear in the Viewpoint.

 

Point 1 will be the center of the viewpoint, Point 2 is the direction of the arrow.

When Point 2 is selected, the arrow is inserted, and the command line asks “View Number?”

When a number (or letter) is entered, a circle is drawn with that number.

 

F Remember: The arrow will point to the direction you selected, and the number within the circle will always be horizontal.

 

Match-Line

 

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The Match-Line tool allows easy insertion of a standard match-line symbol along an adjoining plan edge. The callout can be placed into either Modelspace or Paperspace, and will be scaled according to the drawing scale as necessary.

 

Point 1 selected at one end of Match Line, 2 at the opposite, and Point 3 indicating which is the image side.

Finished callout, after accepting the default text of “Match Line”.

 

Northing/Easting

 

The Northing/Easting callout provides a rapid way to enter Northing/Easting callouts. The coordinates entered into the callout will be from the first point selected, in WCS. The callout will align with the current UCS, yet the coordinates will always be from WCS. Note that you can easily prepare a list of all Northing/Easting coordinates from the Reference Note Schedule.

 

Completed Northing/Easting callout.

 

Revision

 

The Revision callout simplifies the process of drawing a Revision Cloud, and then placing a triangular revision symbol nearby. It will simply fire the AutoCAD Revcloud command, and then when completed, will prompt you to place the revision symbol. Finally, it will pause for you to enter an revision number into the revision symbol.

 

Completed revision cloud, with revision tag symbol.

 

North Arrow & Scale

 

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North Arrow and Scale blocks, intended to be placed into Paperspace. The Scale blocks have specifically named attributes that will be automatically filled out by the system, to match the current drawing scale.

 

North arrow and Scale blocks displayed in the dialog box.

 

 

User-Defined

 

User-Defined graphics is a place for the user to file miscellaneous blocks and symbols. Miscellaneous notes, registration stamps, office logo, title block, and other such blocks can be saved into this sub-folder of Discipline Graphics using the Save Block function.

 

User-Defined graphics displayed in the dialog box.