Examine Offset

Description

Compute the offset from objects, reference lines and reference planes, to a vertex.

Access

Home / Tools / Examine / Offset

Controls

Control	Description
Mode	Existing Object - Input the object. Reference Line - Input the reference line. Reference Plane - Input the reference plane.
Convention	Select one of the following: + / - - Display signed values for the horizontal and vertical offsets. Left / Right - Display a L or R prefix for the horizontal offsets. Intercardinal - Display a prefix on the horizontal offset based on a rough cardinal direction of the vertex. Above / Below - The direction of the z-axis determines the up side of the plane. Right-hand Rule - The order that vertices for the reference plane are input, determines the up side of the plane. Note: For + / -, a positive offset is displayed when the vertex is to the right of the line.
Object	Input the line or alignment to compute the offset from.
Reference Line	Input the reference line to compute the offset from.
Reference Plane	Input the reference plane to compute the offset from.
Vertex	Input the vertex to compute the offset to.
Project start/end segments	Do one of the following: Select the checkbox to consider the offset to reference lines projected from the start or end vertex when determining the smallest offset. Clear the checkbox to exclude offsets to reference lines projected from the start or end vertices.
Project at external deviation	Do one of the following: Select the checkbox to consider the distance from the lines internal vertices to the Vertex when determining the smallest offset. Clear the checkbox to exclude offsets to lines projected from the internal vertices. Note: If the smallest offset is the distance from the lines internal vertex then both line segments sharing that vertex are projected, and offsets are reported to both of the projected lines. Computes two dimensional offsets only.
Horizontal Offset	The offset on the horizontal plane, perpendicular to the Object.
Vertical Offset	The vertical offset from the horizontal plane.
Distance	The reduced distance from the start of the line to the location on the line determined from the Horizontal Offset.
Chainage	The chainage along the alignment to where the offset is computed from.
Grade (%)	The grade from the location on the line determined by the Horizontal Offset, to the Vertex.
Grade (Ratio)	The grade between the two vertices as a ratio.
Grade (Angle)	The vertical angle between the two vertices.
3D Offset	The offset from the line, computed in 3 dimensions.
3D Distance	The slope distance from the start of the line to the location on the line or projected line where the 3D offset is computed from.

Notes

Options available depend on the Mode selected.
Configure the Distance Type in Units Options.
Where multiple offsets can be computed, the smallest offset is reported.
An asterisks indicates the offset is to a projected line segment .
A reference line is considered to be of infinite length when computing offsets.
If the Convention is Above / Below and the reference plane is vertical, an offset will not be displayed.
If a user coordinate system is selected the difference in Z is displayed.
Where two offsets are reported the offset order reflects the direction of the line or alignment. The first offset is for the segment that is first.
Intercardinal displays the prefix N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W or NW to indicate the approximate direction of the vertex from the line.

Diagrams

Project start/end segments
		Line Projected Line Projected Offset Offset Vertex
Project at external deviation
		Line Projected Line Projected Offset Radial Distance Offset Vertex