Input-Edit Section Alignment

Function

This command will create or append to a section alignment file which is stored as a Multiple Cross Sections (.MXS) file. This file contains the coordinates that define the center and endpoints of section lines and is a requirement of many section commands such as Sections from Surface Entities and Sections to 3D Polyline. The section alignment defines the stations along a centerline and how far left and right to create cross sections. This routine starts by asking for a new or existing .MXS file name. Then the centerline is specified by either by choosing a centerline file (.CL file) or selecting a polyline that represents the centerline. Next, the program prompts for the starting station of the centerline. If this is a new section alignment, the Make MXS File Settings dialog appears.

The Input-Edit Section Alignment dialog lists all the section stations and offsets in the alignment of an existing .MXS file.

Dialog if using an existing .MXS file

Edit: Allows you to edit the currently highlighted row.
Add: Allows you to add more sections by displaying the Make MXS File Settings dialog (shown below).
Delete: Deletes the currently highlighted row.
Save: Saves the MXS file, exits this dialog and draws the section alignment on the screen using temporary vectors (yellow for left offsets, magenta for right offsets). Any viewport change such as Redraw or Zoom will cause these vectors to disappear. The draw the section lines with Line entities, use the Draw Section Alignment command.
SaveAs: Saves a new MXS file with a user-specified name.

Dialog used for a new section alignment

Station Interval: Enter the station interval for sections.
Right Offset: Enter the width for the sections, right of the centerline. Not available if Pick Offset Distances is checked.
Left Offset: Enter the width for the sections, left of the centerline. Not available if Pick Offset Distances is checked.
Type of Curve: Specify either Roadway or Railroad curve.
Prompt for Starting and Ending Stations: Click or do not click.
Pick Offset Distances: Allows you to specify the offsets by using the distance between two picked points in the drawing.
Use Perimeter Polyline: Allows you to specify a closed polyline that will be used as the limit of the cross sections. The offsets will be contained within this closed polyline.
Station Options: There are five methods for locating the stations:
Stations at Interval: Creates cross sections at the specified interval such as every 25 feet. If the Prompt for Starting and Ending Stations is on, then the program will apply the station interval to the user-specified range of stations. Otherwise the station interval is used along the entire centerline.
Stations at Centerline Points: Creates cross sections at every transition point in the centerline such as the PC, PT, spiral points and end points.
Stations at Crossing Polylines: Allows you to select polylines that cross the centerline and creates cross sections at the intersections of these polylines with the centerline.
Odd Stations with Specified Endpoints: Creates cross sections at stations that are entered or at picked points along the centerline. This option also allows you to pick the left and right offset points which do not have to be perpendicular to the centerline.
Additional Odd Stations: Creates cross sections at the specified stations but the offsets are always perpendicular to the centerline with the user-defined default offset distances.

Prompts

Specify an MXS file dialog Choose new or existing.
Polyline should have been drawn in direction of increasing stations.
CL File/<Select polyline that represents centerline>: pick centerline
Enter Beginning Station of Alignment <0.00>: press Enter

Pulldown Menu Location: Sections
Keyboard Command: editmxs
Prerequisite: A polyline centerline or a centerline .CL file
File Name: \lsp\profedit.arx