Civil3D Point User Defined Properties

Like a lot of things in Civil3D, it is possible but not easy to do. This post is an attempt to provide a step-by-step procedure on how to add additional properties to AeccCogoPoints.

While changes are possible, it’s highly recommended that before you setup a UDP classification that you think through all the fields you might need.  For this sample, we will assume you want to add information about trees located in the field.  This procedure concentrates on the UDP data aspect, not appearances, symbols, etc.

Potential fields include:

• Type (String)
• Trunk (Double)
• Height (Double)

Setting up the UDP fields:

1. Make sure ToolSpace is showing.
2. Switch to the [Settings] tab.
3. Expand the Point section.
4. Expand User Defined Properties.
5. Select User Defined Properties.
6. Right click, choose new.
7. Classification Name, enter Trees.
8. Select Trees under UDP.
9. Right click, choose new.
10. Enter Type for Name, make sure field type is [String]. Optionally enter a default value, for example is pine trees are prominent in your area, enter Pine. Click [OK].
11. Right click on Trees again, choose new.
12. Enter Trunk for Name, make sure field type is [Double]. Optionally enter range information, such as 0.0 for minimum and 72.0 for maximum, adjust these numbers as you see fit. Click [OK].
13. Right click on Trees again, choose new.
14. Enter Height for Name, make sure field type is [Double]. Optionally enter range information.
15. Click [OK].

Setup the point group:

1. Switch to the [Prospector] tab.
2. Click on then Point Groups item.
3. Right click, choose New.
4. Change the Name to Trees.
5. Change the Point Style to Tree.
6. Change the Point Label Style to Point# and Description (or another other layout you want to start with).
7. Choose the pulldown to the right and choose “Copy Current Selection”
8. Change the name to “Trees (Custom)”
9. Click the Layout tab at top.
10. In the Text section below, click the […] to the right of cContents.
11. Click the right pane and press enter after “<[Full Description(CP)]>”.
12. In the left pane, pull down Properties and choose “Type”, then click [>].
13. Click the right pane and press enter for a new line.
14. Repeat the properties for Trunk and Height.
15. Click [OK] to close the Text Component Editor.
16. Click [OK] to close the Label Style Composer.
17. Click on the [Include] tab.
18. Check on “With raw description matching” and Click [OK] to close the Point Group Properties.

In the process above you could have entered prefix text in front of the fields, such as “Type: <[Type(CP)]>”.  Now when you create points in the Trees group, it will have the Tree UDP available. You can select a point and the Tree UDP can be entered/edited in the PROPS pane and there are other edits possible in the point panarama, etc.

Setup point table:

1. Initiate the Point Table Creation tool.
2. Choose the pulldown to the right and choose “Copy Current Selection”
3. Change the name to “Trees (Custom)”
4. In the [Data Properties] tab, click the [+] in the lower right.
5. Use the horizontal scroll to scroll to see the column.
6. Double click the Column Value cell, Type is already selected, click [>], click OK.
7. Double click the Column Header cell (right of Description), enter “Type” in the right pane, click OK.
8. Repeat at step four for the Trunk and Height UDP values, then close the Table Style dialog.
9. Click the “[+] No point groups selected” and choose the Trees point group.
10. Click [OK] and pick a point for the table.