CG Options

The CG Options menu item brings up the C&G Options dialog, allowing you to view or change various CGSurvey settings or save the currently configured settings to be used as the default settings for a newly created drawings.

The C&G Options dialog

There are nine tabs on the C&G Options dialog. Each tab pertains to a category of settings:

1. General tab - settings regarding the coordinate file type for new files, units, scale factors, and other general settings.
2. Rounding tab - number rounding settings used for the print file and for text placed in the drawing.
3. Graphics tab - specify when CGSurvey draws points and lines, format of bearings and other graphics related settings.
4. Traverse tab - settings used by all traverse related features.
5. Output tab - specify the name and layout of the print file and how the results of C&G features are displayed.
6. Data Path tab - specify the default path to your data files
7. Drawing Settings tab - specify drawing scale, text size, and details of how point symbols and their labels are to be drawn.
8. Topography tab - specify contouring parameters along with the layers used for the TIN, contour and other topographic entities.
9. Calls tab - specify the components, format and layer for calls (annotations).

Each of these tabs will be covered in the following sections.

General tab

This tab contains a wide variety of settings that apply to almost all of the features found in the CG-Survey menus. These are settings such as Next Point ID, Elevations, State, Arc Definition, Bearings/Azimuths, Coordinate order and more.

Creating New Coordinate Files section

File Type: You may select one of the following coordinate file types:
    C&G numeric (*.crd)
        - point ID can be an integer between 1 and 65,536
       - description from 1 to 100 characters
    C&G alphanumeric (*.cgc)
        - point ID can contain up to 10 characters using any combination of letters and numbers.
       - description from 1 to 100 characters
    Carlson numeric (*.crd)
        - point ID can be any integer containing up to 9 digits.
       - description from 1 to 31 characters
    Carlson alphanumeric (*.crd)
        - point ID can contain up to 9 characters using any combination of letters and numbers.
       - description from 1 to 31 characters
    Simplicity (*.Zak)
        - point ID can contain up to 8 characters using any combination of letters and numbers.
       - description from 1 to 28 characters
    Land Desktop Format (*.mdb)
        - point ID can contain up to 255 characters using any combination of letters and numbers.
       - description from 1 to 255 characters

Description Length: This value can only be set for C&G coordinate files. It becomes the default description length for new C&G coordinate and C&G raw data files. It can be set to from 1 to 100 characters.

Current Coordinate File section

Elevations ON If this checkbox is checked, elevations will be carried on all points computed and/or you will be able to enter an elevation when saving a point.

Enter Elev.: If this checkbox is checked, you will be prompted to manually enter elevations.

Calculate Elev.: If this checkbox is checked and an elevation can be computed from the data that has been entered during the command, it will be. Otherwise you will be asked.

Descriptions ON If the Descriptions ON checkbox is not checked, you will not be prompted to enter a description as points are created or edited.
If descriptions are ON, and Get Description From Table IS NOT checked, you will be prompted to manually enter a description for each coordinate point created. However, if Descriptions are on and Get Description from Table IS checked, when a point is stored and a description table IS NOT open, you will be prompted to select a description table. The description table will then be used to look up any integer number in the description in order to substitute the description in the table for the integer and move the integer to the Code files. (see help under CG-Survey > Management > Description Tables)

Point Codes ON If the Point Codes ON checkbox is checked, you will be allowed to enter a two to four character code depending on the number of characters in the code type you are using. This code can be used later to group points with the same code for plotting or listing points. When Point Codes are off, you will not be prompted to enter the point codes.

Automatic Point Numbering ON If the Automatic Point Numbering ON checkbox is checked, as points are created they will automatically be assigned the next available point ID in the current coordinate file. If Automatic Point Numbering is OFF, as points are created you will be prompted to enter their ID. If you enter a point number that already exists in the coordinate file, you will be asked if you want to overwrite the existing point or enter a new point ID.

Scale Factors section

Input: This allows you to set a scale factor that will be applied to all entered distances and coordinate values during any C&G feature.

Output: This allows you set a scale factor that will be applied to all output. For example, if this factor is et to 2.0 and the inversed distance between two points is 100.00, the output will show the distance as 200.00.

Apply Scale to Elevation If the Apply Scale to Elevation checkbox is checked, the Input and Output Scale Factors will be applied to elevation values.
Apply Scale to Coordinate Listings If the Apply Scale to Coordinate Listings checkbox is checked, the Input and Output Scale Factors will be applied to coordinates listed at the command line and in the print file using the C&G feature in menu item CG-Survey > Management > List.

Units section

Angles: Choose either the Degrees or Gradians radio buttons.
Distance: Choose Feet, Meters or Metres from the list.
Note: The only difference in the two metric choices is the spelling used for output.
Foot Definition: Choose either the US or International radio button.

Location section

State: specify the state in which the current survey was done.
This is only used in the following features:
Solar Observation
NAD83 (to and from longitude and latitude)

Hemisphere: Hemisphere can be set to Northern or Southern.
This is only used in the following features:
Solar Observation (Calculating the Convergency Angle)
NAD83 (to and from Longitude and Latitude - UTM only)

Miscellaneous section

Azimuth/Bearing: Allows you choose between Bearing and Azimuth for all direction input and output.

Azimuth Direction: This sets all azimuth input and output to either North or South azimuth.

Curve Definition The Curve Definition can be set to Arc or Chord.

Arc: the most commonly used definition in roadway design. When units are set to Feet, the degree of curve is the central angle of a 100 foot arc length.
Chord: is most commonly used in railroad work. When units are set to Feet, the degree of curve is the central angle of a 100 foot chord.
When a curve is added to a Curve Table or the results of calculations are listed at the command line and in the print file, the displayed information will reflect the Curve Definition setting.

Coordinate Order: Can be set to North-East or East-North. This sets the order in which coordinates are displayed and input.

Rounding tab

Allows you to specify the rounding settings for various types of numbers for the print file text and for the drawing text.
Note: All internal calculations are performed with double precision accuracy. Only the output is rounded.

When you select the Rounding tab , you will see the following dialog:

The Rounding dialog has a section for At Command Line and in Print File rounding settings and a section for Text in Drawing rounding settings. Both sections have similar settings but they apply to different output. At Command Line and in Print File rounding settings effect all output to the command line and the print file. Text in Drawing rounding settings effect numeric text placed in the drawing.

Angular precision can be specified to the nearest:

Angles in Degrees or    Angles in Grads
0.1 Second                    0.000001 Grad
Second                          0.00001 Grad
5 Seconds                      0.0001 Grad
15 Seconds                    0.001 Grad

30 Seconds 0.01 Grad
Minute 0.1 Grad

Distance precision can be specified to the nearest:

Foot (or Meter)                                     0 (no decimal places)
Tenth of Foot (or Meter)                        0.1
Hundredth Foot (or Meter)                     0.12
Thousandth Foot (or Meter)                    0.123
Ten Thousandth Foot (or Meter)         0.1234
Hundred Thousandth Foot (or Meter)     0.12345

Graphics tab

The Graphics tab settings apply only to CGSurvey features that draw points, lines, etc. to the drawing. When you select the Graphics tab, the following dialog will appear:

Point Drawing section

Auto Point Plot ON if the Auto Point Plot ON checkbox is checked, points symbols will be drawn as they are calculated and saved to the coordinate file by the various C&G features.

Use Description table for point plotting parameters When this checkbox is checked the description(s) for a given point in the coordinate file will be matched with the descriptions in the description table. If a match is found then the description table information will be used to set the layer, symbol type, symbol size, and label positions of each point plotted. If no descriptions in the description table match then the layer will be set to the layer specified in the Default layer for codes or descriptions not found in description table edit box and the other settings specified in the Drawing Settings tab will be used (see below).
If the Use Description table for point plotting parameters checkbox is not checked, the points, symbols and labels will be plotted on the Current Layer as set in the CAD layer manager.

Default layer for codes or descriptions not found in description table: When the Use description table for point plotting parameters checkbox is checked, any points plotted that do not have a description or having a description that does not match any of those in the description table, will be plotted on the layer you have specified as the default layer in this edit box.

Use Elevation as Z Value: If this checkbox is checked, objects (lines/arcs/points) will be placed in 3-D space with the point elevation serving as the Z-value. C&G features, such as intersects and inverse, ignore the Z-value of lines and arcs. If you inverse a 3-D line, the 2-D distance between the points will be shown.
If the Use Elevation as Z Value checkbox is not checked, all objects will be placed at zero elevation.

Note: 3D lines can cause problems in trimming or editing using CAD functions. 3D lines do not intersect if their elevations are different. Thus two lines may appear to intersect in plan view but do not actually intersect in 3D space.

Line Drawing section

Auto Line Plot ON If the Auto Line Plot ON checkbox is checked, those features that create points that can be interpreted as a line will draw C&G lines.
The following features can draw lines and curves as the points are calculated:

Quick Traverse (not to side shots)
Curve Between Tangents and Tangent Between Curves
Bearing and Hinge/Radial Area-Cut-Off
Roadways (Right of Way/Easements and Intersections/Cul-de-Sacs)
Middle Ordinate Solution
Best Fit

Line Stop Size This allows you to terminate C&G lines at the edge of the point symbols plotted. If you are drawing lines and/or arcs with a C&G feature that draws lines and you want the line to end before crossing into the symbol, then set the Line Stop Size to the symbol size.

Note: If you set the line stop to something other than 0.0, the line that is drawn is shorter than the actual distance between the coordinate points. So if you wish to check the true distance of that line, use the Query command (on the Draw menu) rather than the CAD LIST command.

Text section

Arc Annotation Prefix
This is used when annotating arcs when drawing calls. This should be set to the desired prefix for arc length annotation.
Example:
“Arc =“ annotation prefix results in the annotation being
Arc = 256.32

“A =“ annotation prefix results in the annotation being
A = 256.32

Radius Annotation Prefix
This is used when annotating arcs when drawing calls. Similar to Arc Annotation Prefix, This should be set to the desired prefix for radius annotation.

Leading Space in Bearing
When the Leading Space in Bearing checkbox is checked the bearing text has a space between the N or S and the degrees text (eg, N 85º15’30"E). When left unchecked there is not space (eg, N85º15’30"E).

Miscellaneous section

Process Descriptions before Displaying:
This setting will allows you to specify how descriptions are processed prior to being displayed. It allows the removal of all underscores (_) and/or mapping codes. No change is made to the data in the coordinate file.

C&G Snap can be set to:
Off: No snap.
POINTS - Snap to C&G point symbols and labels.
LINES - Snap to C&G lines.
POINTS-LINES - Snap to C&G points and lines.
All C&G functions will use this setting when you are picking point symbols, point labels, lines, and arcs on the screen.

Curve Fit Type

When contouring, the contour lines that are created can be smoothed using one of the following methods:
No Fit - Straight line segments between the points.
Fit - Use the CAD program's standard fit method. Contours may not pass through point symbols having the same elevation as the contour.
C&G Spline - Use the C&G Spline Fit algorithm. Contours are guaranteed to pass through point symbols having the same elevation as the contour.

Traverse tab

These settings are specific to traverse raw data entry using the CGEditor and the traverse reduction and quick traverse features.

Raw section

Raw Angle Input
This allows you to specify how you want to specify angles when inputting raw traverse data. The options are: Angle, Azimuth or Deflection Angle.

Adjustment Method

You have the following choices for traverse adjustment:

None
Least Squares (NOT network least squares - see SurvNET for that)
Find Bad Angle
Compass
Transit
Crandall

Note: See the Reduce Traverse feature help section for more details on these methods.

If the Backsight Distance ON checkbox is checked and you entering raw traverse data, you must specify the distance to the backsight at each instrument point. These distances will then be used during the reduction process.

If the Adjust Angles ON checkbox is checked, angles will automatically be balanced prior to traverse adjustment. Angular error will be spread equally between all points. Closure information prior to and after balancing will be displayed at the command line.

If the Balance Elevations ON checkbox is checked, the elevations in a 3-D traverse will automatically be balanced during traverse adjustment. The elevations are adjusted proportional to the length of the traverse legs.

Tolerances section

Horz. Angle.

When comparing multiple angles for a given foresight point from a given instrument point and backsight point, this value will be used as the maximum acceptable angular error. If the difference between any two angles is greater than the acceptable limit, the reduction process will pause and showing the instrument point ID and angle measurements will be displayed at the command line.

Horz. Dist.

When comparing multiple horizontal distance components or measurements to a single foresight point, this value will be used as the maximum acceptable distance difference. If the difference between any two distances is greater than this limit, the reduction process will pause and the instrument point ID and the involved distances will be displayed at the command line.

The horizontal distance tolerance is also used as the maximum allowable difference between the two calculated curve radii at the curve end points. If the difference between the distances from the radius point to the PC point and the radius point to the PT point is greater than this value, the calculations will be terminated with an appropriate error message.

Note: for curves, if this value is set unreasonably low, many curves will produce this error message. If you change the setting to a larger, more reasonable value, the curve can be recalculated and generated without error.

Vert. Dist.

This value is the maximum acceptable elevation difference. It is used when comparing multiple vertical distance components/measurements to a given foresight point from a given instrument point. If the difference between the distances is greater than this limit, the reduction process will pause, showing you the instrument point ID and the involved distances. This only applies to the reduction of a 3-D traverse.

Quick section

Quick Angle Input
This specifies the default angle input mode for the Quick Traverse Feature. This can be changed when using the Quick Traverse feature.
The angle input modes are:

Angle
Deflection Angle
Azimuth
Bearing

If the Print Traverse Input ON checkbox is checked, all raw input data will be displayed along with the traverse output. If this checkbox is not checked, only the traverse output will be printed.

If the Vertical Angles ON checkbox is checked you will be asked to enter vertical angles with the traverse distances. This can be changed when using the Quick Traverse feature.

Curve Bearing
This defines how non-tangent curve bearings will be input and can be set to either Chord or Radius depending on how you wish to define the orientation of non-tangent curves.
When set to Chord and you are traversing around a non-tangent curve, you must enter the bearing or angle from the PC to the PT.
When set to Radius and you are traversing around a non-tangent curve, you must enter the bearing or angle from the PC to the radius point.
Curve Tables and printed calculations will reflect this setting.

Traverse Mode
Sets the default traverse mode for the Quick Traverse feature.
It can be set to Traverse or Side Shot mode .
Traverse mode: as a point is created the new point is occupied and backsight the previously occupied point.
Side Shot mode: as a point is created the currently occupied point and backsight will be held.

Common section

Instrument Height (HI)
The value entered for the HI can be either the actual instrument Elevation or the distance from the ground to the instrument (Plus up). In the latter case the elevation of the point the instrument is over is read from the coordinate file and the instrument height is added to it to determine the instrument elevation.

Vertical Angle Input - can be set to one of the following, depending on the type of instrument used:

Zenith: Zero angle up
Nadir: Zero angle down
Transit: Zero angle level

Note: If set to Transit, vertical can either be full circle (0 to 360 degrees; 0 to 400 grads) or positive angle up and negative angle down.

EDM Offset
Depending on where your EDM is mounted, enter the vertical difference between the center of the scope of the instrument and the center of the beam of the EDM (+ if EDM is above; - if EDM is below). Do not use an EDM Offset for scope mounted EDM’s. This offset should only be applied to yoke or azimuth base mounted EDM’s.

Note: Use of the EDM offset allows you to turn your vertical angles directly to the target. A correction will be applied to all distances and elevations computed from field entries in the Traverse and Quick Traverse routines. Most total stations today have the EDM coincident with the center line of instrument scope. In this case the EDM Offset should be set to zero.

Note: When an offset is entered, it is used on all distances in the traverse. If some distances are chained, the correction will also be applied. These shots should be reduced separately with no EDM Offset.

Distance Components - This option can be set to allow either Slope Distance/Vertical Angle or Horizontal Distance/Vertical Distance data entry.

If the Curvature and Refraction ON check box is checked, the horizontal and vertical components of all slope distances are corrected for curvature and refraction. If your EDM does not already make this correction, it is recommended that this correction be used when carrying elevations using vertical angles and distances.

Output tab

This tab allows you to specify the name and format of the print file and how it is viewed.

Print File Name section

The final results of calculations and other actions performed during C&G command execution will always be printed to this ASCII text file. New information is always appended to this file and never overwritten. The default file name is PRINTER.TXT. It is recommended that you use a name that corresponds with the project you are working on. This way you will have a record of all calculations throughout the project. Use the New Print File button to specify a new print file to create. Use the Existing Print File button to specify an existing file.

Print File Viewer section

You can choose to use Microsoft Notepad or Wordpad when viewing or printing the print file. If you want the viewer to always come up full screen, check the Force print file viewer to use full screen checkbox.

Point Configuration section

If the Headings On checkbox is checked, a heading is printed to the command line and/or the print file any time multi-line output is generated by a C&G feature. The heading information contains date, time, feature name, coordinate file name and input and output scale factors. The header is repeated when the number of lines output by a function exceed the value set for Lines Per Page.

If the Display On checkbox is checked, the output from CGSurvey features is printed at the command line. Regardless of this setting, output is always sent to the print file.

Printable Columns
Use the edit box to specify the maximum number of characters per line to be written to the print file. This allows you to fit the text to the printed page given the font and paper your uses. The acceptable values are 80 through 255.

Lines Per Page
This allows you to set the number of lines that will be placed on a page. If headings are on, a header will be printed to the print file and the command line each time this number of lines is exceeded.

Data Path tab

On this tab you can specify the path to your data files. The data path is the default directory for file dialogs used in various C&G commands that open or save files.

You can type the path in the Data Path edit box or you can use the Browse... button to use a file dialog to specify the data path.

Drawing Settings tab

On this tab you can specify drawing scale, text size, point symbol type and its format, and point symbol layers.

Drawing Scale section

This sets the horizontal scale. For example, if units are set to feet and you want a horizontal scale of 1" = 20' then type 20 in the Horizontal (ft/in) edit box. For metric units, if you want a scale of 1m = 500m then enter 500 in the Horizontal (m/m) edit box

Text Size section

Allows you to set the text size for any text drawn using a CGSurvey feature. The text size is the size of the text as measured on the plotted or printed page. It must be specified in inches if using feet or centimeters if using meters.

Point Symbol Configuration section

Current Symbol section

This section allows you to control the symbol, its size and how it is scaled (called units here).

Type of Point to be Drawn: There are two point symbol libraries to select symbols from, the C&G and the Carlson symbol libraries.

Using symbols from either the C&G or Carlson symbol library both allow you to use all of the associated C&G features for plotting, sorting, line stops, attribute information, selection, etc. If you choose to use Carlson symbols the Label Position section of the dialog changes somewhat. This will be discussed later in this section.

Select Symbol button

Choosing Select Symbol button will bring up the Choose Point Symbol dialog:

Use this dialog to choose the active point symbol. You do this by highlighting the symbol name in the list on the left or by clicking the symbol image on the right. Symbols CG00 and CGDCA are compatible with LDT/LDD points. The CGDCA symbol is the correct size for a true LDT/LDD point, and should be used if you are also using LDT/LDD.

Symbol Size and Units

There are two options available for specifying symbol size: (Height) X (Scale) and Literal

If Units are set to (Height)x(Scale), then the symbol size entered here is specified as plotted page units (inches or centimeters - depending on whether feet or meters are being used). In this case, regardless of scale, the symbol will always be the same size when plotted. In example above, the symbol is set to .300”. At 30 scale the symbol height will be 9 feet in the drawing itself, at 40 scale it would be 12 feet. Thus, in either case, its plotted size will be 0.3 inches.

If Units are set to Literal then the symbol will be drawn in the drawing at the size specified. This setting is often used for inserts such as title blocks, north arrows, company logos, standard notes, etc.

Label Layer Control section

If you check the Separate Layers check box, you can assign each point label to a specific layer. This allows you to see only the labels you want by turning different layers on or off. If this checkbox is not checked, all the point labels will be drawn on the current layer.

Label Position section

C&G Labels:
If the label location is set to 0 <Off> that label will not be displayed when a point is plotted. Only the elevation is allowed to be at the Center position. If you select Center for the elevation label, the whole number portion of the elevation will be on the left side of the insertion point of the symbol and the decimal portion on the right side (example: the elevation 987.23 will be drawn as 987+23, where the plus sign represents the symbol).

If Plot Radial is checked, the point labels will be plotted radially from the symbol’s center. If not selected, point labels will be plotted horizontally.

Label Position for Carlson Symbols

In the Point Symbol Configuration section of the dialog you have the option to plot C&G symbols or Carlson symbols. When the Carlson symbols are used, the Label Position portion of the dialog box changes to display the Carlson method for defining label positions (see below).

These "label positions" are actually pre-defined blocks with a predefined location and orientation for the attributes (or labels). There are ten blocks available. The available blocks are identified by the numbers 0 through 9.

Note: when Carlson point symbols are used, the Sample drawing is only approximate - the actual layout will look slightly different when drawn.

Label Format section

Label Height: this is the text size in inches/centimeters when Units are set to (Height) x (Scale) or feet/meters when Units are Literal. The Label Height is used for all three labels: point number, point description, and point elevation.

Number of description characters to show: Depending on the type of coordinate file being used, here may be as many as 255 characters in the description field. This option allows you to truncate the description at a given number of characters.

Elevation: This sets how many characters are displayed before and after the decimal point. On a flat piece of property 2 placed before the decimal may be enough information. On a steep mountain site 3 or 4 decimal places may be needed.

Topography tab

NOTE: The information on this tab is used for items on the CGTopo menu which has limited functionality and does not allow you to create a TIN. You must use the Carlson features to make, use and manipulate TINs (see Surface menu). These settings may be used when opening a CG-SURVEY for DOS drawing (*.PL1) when it has topo data in it.

The items on this tab allow you to specify contouring parameters and Tin, contour and other topographic entity layer specifications.

This dialog allows you to specify the drawing layers for the various topographic entities, as well as set various parameters for the creation of a new surface and placement of contour elevation labels.

Layer Names section

In this part of the dialog you can specify the layers for the various previously existing topographic entities found in the drawing. These allow you to label contours and, if necessary, remove contours and/or labels from the drawing.

TIN Layer: Specifies the layer on which triangulation network lines or TIN are found.
Main Contour Layer: Layer on which main contours are found.
Intermediate Contour Layer: Layer on which intermediate contours are found.
Main Contour Label Layer - Elevation labels for the main or index contour lines will be drawn on this layer.
Intermediate Contour Label Layer - Elevation labels for the intermediate contour lines will be drawn on this layer.

Note: The last two Contour Label Layer names will be used when labeling contours.

TIN and Contour Parameters section

TIN Interpolation Range: The interpolation range determines which points will be joined to form the triangles in the TIN. (MAY be used converting a CG-SURVEY for DOS PL1.)

Contour Interval: (MAY be used converting a CG-SURVEY for DOS PL1.).

Labeling Parameters section

Label Interval: When labeling contours, only the contours falling on this interval will be labeled. For example, if you enter a 10' interval, only the contours at 900, 910, 920, etc will be labeled.

Label-Contour Separation Distance: This is the space between each end of the elevation label text and the contour line being labeled. A separation distance that is too small can make the elevation label hard to read, while a separation distance that is too large may not be visually pleasing.

Calls tab

This tab gives you several options for specifying the call or annotation format

Desired Components section

The of the dialog allows you to specify what you want displayed for a given call and whether the call text is stacked. The text in parentheses indicate the call items for a curve.

Format and Location section

The allows you to specify whether the call is placed Parallel to Line, Perpendicular to Line or requires the user to pick the location for horizontal call text (At Crosshair). If the Place Calls to Right of Line checkbox is checked the calls will be placed on the right side as determined by standing at the first point picked or the first point in a C&G line and looking toward the second point. You may also specify whether to use the foot symbol when units are feet. If bearings are being used, you may specify whether to limit bearing text to NW,NE only or SW, SE only or <no preference>.

Layer name for call text:

Specify the layer the call text is to be drawn on.

Automated Placement of Calls on Specified Layers section

This section of the dialog sets the parameters for a feature that allows you to place calls on C&G and/or CAD lines and/or polylines found on specified layers. To use this option, check the Automate Placement of Calls checkbox. Choose one or more layer names from the list of layer names. You can specify multiple layers by holding the Ctrl key down while picking the layers to search.

In the Types of Lines to Annotate section, check the types of entities you wish to annotate.

Example Call section

The of the tab allows you to see a good approximation of how the call will look when drawn.

C&G Options dialog buttons

OK - click the OK button to save all the settings and close the dialog.

Cancel - click the Cancel button to close the dialog and discard any changes.

Set As Default

Click this button to save the settings to the CGSURVEY.OPT file. These settings will then be used whenever a new CGSurvey drawing is created.
Note: You can set the default settings and not affect any of the settings for the current drawing by clicking the Cancel button after clicking the Set As Default button.

Pulldown Menu Location: CG-Survey > Tools
Keyboard Command: cg_options
Prerequiste: None