• Civil 3D

Define and manage point groups

Define point groups to isolate specific sets of points, and manage the display order of point groups.


00:03

In Civil 3D, you can organize survey points by creating and managing point groups.

00:09

Defining point groups has several advantages.

00:12

They can be dynamically updated as new data is added,

00:16

which ensures project organization throughout its life cycle.

00:20

Grouping points can help identify and correct errors or inconsistencies within specific categories.

00:27

Enhanced organization and management tools for point groups allow users to filter points to focus on the task at hand,

00:34

reduce clutter, and improve clarity.

00:38

You can also use point groups to customize visual settings for the various point types,

00:43

making maps and models easier to read.

00:46

Or, isolate specific groups to perform targeted analyses,

00:50

such as topographic or elevation studies.

00:54

You can also use point groups to easily export and import specific sets of points

00:59

for data sharing between teams or software applications.

01:03

To demonstrate how point groups are defined and managed,

01:06

this example shows that a few of the points were brought in using description keys to assign the point symbol.

01:12

The remaining points are part of a default point group that assigns them a generic point symbol.

01:18

First, hide the points that were not brought in using description keys by changing the point style.

01:24

From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points and select Properties.

01:31

In the Point Group Properties dialog, Information tab, expand the Point style drop-down and select None.

01:39

Now, as you create new point groups, you can easily see them.

01:43

Leave the Point label style set to None as well.

01:47

Next, open the Include tab, where the options are grayed out.

01:52

Since this is a default point group that comes with every single drawing,

01:56

you cannot change the points that are available in this group.

01:59

However, you can look at the full list of points by opening the Point List tab.

02:05

Review the point list, and then click OK.

02:09

Notice that only the points assigned with description keys remain visible;

02:14

the others are hidden.

02:16

Now, add a new point group.

02:18

Select a point in the drawing.

02:21

The ribbon updates with context-sensitive commands.

02:25

On the Launch Pad panel, click Create Point Group.

02:29

From the Point Group Properties dialog, Name field, enter a descriptive name for this new point group,

02:36

such as “CLRD” for Center Line of Road.

02:40

From the Information tab, Default styles group,

02:44

expand the Point style drop-down and select Basic.

02:48

This specifies the default style used to display a point in the group if no other style takes precedence.

02:55

Then, choose the Point label style.

02:58

In this case, each point will be labeled with the point number, elevation, and description.

03:05

Open the Include tab to define the points to include.

03:09

Here, enable With raw descriptions matching,

03:12

then enter one or more raw descriptions—for example, “CL*”.

03:18

The asterisk (*) is a wild card, so this code will match all raw descriptions that begin with CL.

03:24

To verify that the correct points are matched,

03:28

open the Point List tab to scroll through the descriptions.

03:31

While most of the points are CLRDX, which is what you want,

03:35

others, like CLSTRM, also appear.

03:39

To refine the list further, return to the Include tab and update the raw description to “CLR*”.

03:46

Review the Point List tab once more, and then click OK.

03:51

In the drawing, the points for the center line of the road are now isolated,

03:57

with the description, elevation, and point number listed.

04:01

Next, create another point group.

04:04

This time, begin with the All Points group visible again.

04:08

From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points, and select Properties.

04:15

Set the Point style to Basic, then click OK.

04:20

Now, all the points are visible in the drawing.

04:23

Pick a point, click Create Point Group,

04:28

and then enter a descriptive Name.

04:31

Here, “TOPO” is entered, as this point group will include topographical points when a new surface is created.

04:39

Leave the Point style set to Basic and set the Label style to None.

04:45

From the Include tab, enable With numbers matching,

04:50

click Selection Set In Drawing,

04:53

and then select points from the drawing.

04:56

In this example, several window selections are used,

04:60

and some points are purposefully left out,

05:02

because they are outside of the desired area.

05:06

Once the selection is made, press ENTER.

05:09

In the Point Group Properties dialog, open the Point List tab to review the list, and then click OK.

05:17

Back in the drawing, notice that some of the point label styles are no longer visible.

05:23

To change the point group display order, from the Toolspace, Prospector tab,

05:28

right-click Point Groups and select Properties.

05:32

From the Point Groups dialog, select the All Points group, move it to the top, and then click OK.

05:41

Review the changes made to the drawing.

05:44

Open the All Points Group Point Properties dialog again and set the Point style to none.

05:51

Then, back in the Point Groups dialog,

05:55

move the All Points to the bottom of the display order and click OK.

05:59

Notice that the TOPO point group points are now at the top of the display order.

06:05

Utilizing point groups in Civil 3D makes it easier to manage and organize your project,

06:10

keep your point data accurate, and visualize what the survey points represent on the site.

Video transcript

00:03

In Civil 3D, you can organize survey points by creating and managing point groups.

00:09

Defining point groups has several advantages.

00:12

They can be dynamically updated as new data is added,

00:16

which ensures project organization throughout its life cycle.

00:20

Grouping points can help identify and correct errors or inconsistencies within specific categories.

00:27

Enhanced organization and management tools for point groups allow users to filter points to focus on the task at hand,

00:34

reduce clutter, and improve clarity.

00:38

You can also use point groups to customize visual settings for the various point types,

00:43

making maps and models easier to read.

00:46

Or, isolate specific groups to perform targeted analyses,

00:50

such as topographic or elevation studies.

00:54

You can also use point groups to easily export and import specific sets of points

00:59

for data sharing between teams or software applications.

01:03

To demonstrate how point groups are defined and managed,

01:06

this example shows that a few of the points were brought in using description keys to assign the point symbol.

01:12

The remaining points are part of a default point group that assigns them a generic point symbol.

01:18

First, hide the points that were not brought in using description keys by changing the point style.

01:24

From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points and select Properties.

01:31

In the Point Group Properties dialog, Information tab, expand the Point style drop-down and select None.

01:39

Now, as you create new point groups, you can easily see them.

01:43

Leave the Point label style set to None as well.

01:47

Next, open the Include tab, where the options are grayed out.

01:52

Since this is a default point group that comes with every single drawing,

01:56

you cannot change the points that are available in this group.

01:59

However, you can look at the full list of points by opening the Point List tab.

02:05

Review the point list, and then click OK.

02:09

Notice that only the points assigned with description keys remain visible;

02:14

the others are hidden.

02:16

Now, add a new point group.

02:18

Select a point in the drawing.

02:21

The ribbon updates with context-sensitive commands.

02:25

On the Launch Pad panel, click Create Point Group.

02:29

From the Point Group Properties dialog, Name field, enter a descriptive name for this new point group,

02:36

such as “CLRD” for Center Line of Road.

02:40

From the Information tab, Default styles group,

02:44

expand the Point style drop-down and select Basic.

02:48

This specifies the default style used to display a point in the group if no other style takes precedence.

02:55

Then, choose the Point label style.

02:58

In this case, each point will be labeled with the point number, elevation, and description.

03:05

Open the Include tab to define the points to include.

03:09

Here, enable With raw descriptions matching,

03:12

then enter one or more raw descriptions—for example, “CL*”.

03:18

The asterisk (*) is a wild card, so this code will match all raw descriptions that begin with CL.

03:24

To verify that the correct points are matched,

03:28

open the Point List tab to scroll through the descriptions.

03:31

While most of the points are CLRDX, which is what you want,

03:35

others, like CLSTRM, also appear.

03:39

To refine the list further, return to the Include tab and update the raw description to “CLR*”.

03:46

Review the Point List tab once more, and then click OK.

03:51

In the drawing, the points for the center line of the road are now isolated,

03:57

with the description, elevation, and point number listed.

04:01

Next, create another point group.

04:04

This time, begin with the All Points group visible again.

04:08

From the Toolspace, Prospector tab, right-click _All Points, and select Properties.

04:15

Set the Point style to Basic, then click OK.

04:20

Now, all the points are visible in the drawing.

04:23

Pick a point, click Create Point Group,

04:28

and then enter a descriptive Name.

04:31

Here, “TOPO” is entered, as this point group will include topographical points when a new surface is created.

04:39

Leave the Point style set to Basic and set the Label style to None.

04:45

From the Include tab, enable With numbers matching,

04:50

click Selection Set In Drawing,

04:53

and then select points from the drawing.

04:56

In this example, several window selections are used,

04:60

and some points are purposefully left out,

05:02

because they are outside of the desired area.

05:06

Once the selection is made, press ENTER.

05:09

In the Point Group Properties dialog, open the Point List tab to review the list, and then click OK.

05:17

Back in the drawing, notice that some of the point label styles are no longer visible.

05:23

To change the point group display order, from the Toolspace, Prospector tab,

05:28

right-click Point Groups and select Properties.

05:32

From the Point Groups dialog, select the All Points group, move it to the top, and then click OK.

05:41

Review the changes made to the drawing.

05:44

Open the All Points Group Point Properties dialog again and set the Point style to none.

05:51

Then, back in the Point Groups dialog,

05:55

move the All Points to the bottom of the display order and click OK.

05:59

Notice that the TOPO point group points are now at the top of the display order.

06:05

Utilizing point groups in Civil 3D makes it easier to manage and organize your project,

06:10

keep your point data accurate, and visualize what the survey points represent on the site.

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