CAD Output of Long and Cross Sections

(This functionality is available with the Profiles and Design module)

When creating a long or cross section CAD file, the information put out is dependent on both the information displayed in the currently active window and the settings in the long or cross section parameter files.

The display will determine what sections are to be represented. In the case of the long section it may also determine which alignment to use as the base alignment for distance. As line styles and point symbols are attributes of the sections this too will be determined by the display.

All other information is set and stored against the parameter file to be used. The information within the parameter file broadly divides into two categories. Information that is relevant to the whole layout and information that is relevant to each individual section.

The type of information relevant to the whole layout, relates to the grid dimensions, frame, drop line dimensions, spacing between sections, scale, font styles and sizes etc.

The type of information relevant to each section determines what information should be placed in the tables and against the points, as well as what types of points this information should be displayed at. Typically, as the information will differ for each section, it is possible to save, within the long and cross section parameter files, multiple combinations of options that can be loaded up and used again in future sessions.

When selecting scales it is possible to use different horizontal and vertical scales to give a vertical exaggeration. Obviously CAD files themselves only support one scale over the entire plan. To achieve this, the CAD file is produced at the horizontal scale, with the co-ordinates exaggerated in the vertical to give the appearance of a different vertical scale. Therefore, distances measured in the resultant CAD file in the horizontal direction will be correct, whereas distances measured in the vertical direction will need to be divided by the vertical exaggeration factor used.