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Named Symbology

Named Symbology is managed from the Symbology Manager. 

1.      Select InRoads>Tools>Named Symbology Manager

 

The Symbology Manager form is invoked.  It alphabetically lists all the Named Symbologies in the preference file.

 

1.      Scroll through the list to get an idea of the range of predefined symbology definitions.

 

This may look intimidating, but it is not really that complex.  Everything InRoads displays can be segregated into three types of elements: Linear elements, Points, and Text.  InRoads, like Civil Engineers, display three Views of objects:  Plan/3D, Profile, and Cross Section. 

 

Three types multiplied by three views equals nine permutations.  In most cases, an object is either only displayed in one View or the symbology requirements are identical in all views.  In these cases the settings only need to be defined for Default Line, Default Point and/or Default Text.

Definition Hierarchy

How does InRoads read the Named Symbology definition?  First, an InRoads command displays graphics in Plan, Profile, OR Cross Section and looks to the appropriate View entry.  If there is a definition, InRoads uses it.  If the appropriate definition is Not Initialized, it looks to see if the appropriate type is defined in the Default entries.  If so, it uses that definition.  

 

For example, if a Profile command is looking to display a Point it looks for a Profile Point definition.  If it Profile Point is not defined, it looks to Default Point.  If that is not initialized, it will not display the profile points. 

 

In this way, Named Symbology can limit unnecessary displays in InRoads (although the preferred ways are through Feature Style Display properties and Feature Filters). For example, it almost never advisable to project Random points onto a profile.  If the Random Point Named Symbology is Not Initialized for Profile Point and Default Point, you will not have to worry about 100,000 points accidentally projected onto a profile.

 

 

2.      Scroll through the list to the pave_Lane symbology.

 

The Edit Named Symbology form is invoked. 

 

This form shows a fairly typically defined Named Symbology.

 

All three object types Defaults are defined.  Therefore Lanes can be displayed in all possible views (lines crossing a profile or section is displayed by the appropriate point definition).

 

Line Symbology

3.      In the Symbology list, double-click on the Default Line object.

 

These are the settings definition for road_Lane Lines.

 

4.      The Level is “road_Lane”.

5.      The remaining symbology settings are set to ByLevel.

6.      Hit OK or Cancel to close the form.

 

Text Symbology

 

7.      In the Symbology list, double-click on the Default Text object.

 

The Default Text Symbology is defined in case we need to annotate Lanes in Cross Section or Profile (it is unlikely that we’d need to annotate the Striping lines in Plan view, but this Named Symbology is set up to allow it.).

 

This Text definition uses a Text Style from which the other settings are defined.  Changing the MicroStation Text Style will “ripple” throughout InRoads.  Because MicroStation Text Styles can be based on a Parent Style, this makes global changes to text definitions much easier to manage (and should be used whenever possible in InRoads).

 

8.      Hit OK or Cancel to close the form.

 

Note: maintaining text size consistency throughout InRoads can be a challenge.  Make sure that if you create Named Symbology with Text definitions that you are conforming to your organization’s text standards (this is where an InRoads Administrator is wonderful to have).

 

When InRoads displays Text it reads the Height and Width values and multiplies by the Global Text Scale Factor (found under InRoads>Tools>Options>>Factors.  In this way, individual settings do not need to be defined for every drawing scale you use.
 

Point Symbology

 

9.      In the Symbology list, double-click on the Default Point object.

 

The Default Point Symbology is defined in case we need to display Lane locations in Cross Section or Profile (or Lane feature vertices in Plan).  The point display can be defined as a symbol (circle, triangle, plus mark, cross, etc.) and/or as a cell using this form.

 

10.  Hit OK or Cancel to close the form.

 

Non-cell representations of points are multiplied by the Global Text Scale Factor (NOT the Cell Scale factor!).

Site Map       Contact Jeff Martin with comments/concerns.        KHA San Diego Transportation Group.                    this page last edited: 2008-01-17 16:26