Selecting the Polyline button from the Create panel in the Action Tab will open the Create Polyline dialog. The Current Mode will be set to Polyline Creation.
The Snap Mode Panel offers twelve different options for snapping to points in the cloud in the open scene.
Cloud - No snap function is active. The vertex of the polyline will be placed at the cloud point nearest to the selected location.
Low - The polyline vertex is placed at the lowest point (smallest z value) within the Snap Radius.
High - The polyline vertex is placed at the highest point (largest z value) within the Snap Radius.
Low Edge - Snaps to the low edge of a feature. A dynamic window in the upper left of the scene displays a cross section of the area within the Snap Radius and displays the high and low edge as red squares.
High Edge - Snaps to the high edge of a feature. A dynamic window in the upper left of the scene displays a cross section of the area within the Snap Radius and displays the high and low edge as red squares.
Slope Bottom - Snaps to the bottom edge of a slope that is less than 45 degrees. This is useful for finding low edges on mountable curbs and other non-vertical features. Slope Top - Snaps to the top edge of a slope that is less than 45 degrees. This is useful for finding upper edges on mountable curbs and other non-vertical features. Average Point - This snap averages Northing, Easting and Elevation for all points within the Snap Radius and uses the averaged values for the coordinate for the new polyline vertex.
End Point - Snaps the new polyline vertex to the endpoint of existing polylines.
Mid Point - Snaps the new polyline vertex to the midpoint of existing polylines.
Node - Snaps the new polyline vertex to points placed in the drawing using Carlson Point Cloud.
Nearest - Snaps the new polyline vertex to the point on an existing polyline nearest to the cursor location.
The Create Polyline Panel sets options for creating polylines from the Point Cloud. Each option is discussed below.
Point Number - This options allows the user to draw polylines between points created by the create point command. Simply type the starting point number in the Point Number field and press enter. Type the next point number and press enter. A polyline is drawn between the numbers entered. Continue entering point numbers to draw more segments. The point numbers must be in the Coordinate Points list found on the Project Tab.
Segment Mode - Segment mode can only be used when the Snap Type is set to High Edge or Low Edge. Segment Mode creates a best fit polyline between the two selected points by breaking the selected distance into smaller segments with length equal to the snap radius. A point is found at each new segment location and a best fit line created through the resulting points.
Polyline Layer - Users can specify the layer to draw the new polyline on by typing a name in the Polyline layer field. Users may also click the Select button and select any layer currently in the scene or they may create a new layer to be used by typing it at the bottom of the Select Polyline layer dialog box.
Undo - Removes the last polyline segment drawn and allows the user to continue the polyline creation from the previous endpoint.
Draw Arc - Draws a three point arc in the current polyline using the last point selected as the PC. The user is prompted to specify second point on arc. A line will display for the PC to the POC. After selecting the second point the user is prompted to specify end point of arc. The arc is drawn and the line from the PC to POC is gone.
Draw Curb - The draw curb toggle when selected activates the Curb Settings Button
Curb Settings - There are three curb types to choose from by clicking the radio button below the desired curb type. The Dimensions for each curb can be specified using either feet or inches. The curb direction is relative to the direction you select the curb points in.
The polyline created from your picked points will be named like any other polyline you draw. The additional polylines created from the draw curb routine will include the name of the main polyline and a suffix number.
Below is an example of polylines created using Curb Type 1.
The Active Polyline Panel controls the polyline creation for the current or active polyline. There can be more than one active polyline at a time. The polyline that is being worked with will be highlighted in the list of polylines that are active. You can change polylines you are working by clicking them in the active list. It is recommended to work with only one polyline at a time, ending its session when you are to avoid confusion with multiple active polylines.
New - Starts a new polyline
End - Ends the polyline that is highlighted in the list of Active Polylines
Close - Closes the current polyline to its starting point
Edit - Opens the Edit Polyline dialog box. The Edit Polyline dialog box can also be accessed by double clicking a polyline on the project tab or right clicking a polyline on the project tab and selecting Edit. For more information on the Polyline edit Dialog box see Polyline Editor
Draw to CAD - Draws the active polylines into the current CAD file.
The Screen Pick Action Panel provides options for editing polylines in the active scene. Each option is discussed below.
Edit Vertex - The user is first prompted to select the polyline they want to edit. After selecting a polyline the user is prompted to pick near the point to edit. The dialog box below is presented to the user.
The user can change coordinates by typing in the X, Y or Z fields or screen picking. There are buttons to advance to the Next vertex or return to the previous vertex. The user can also change the point type from basic to Coordinate Point reference.
Add Vertex - The user is prompted to select the polyline to add a vertex to and then to select the point to add. Vertices can be added until the End Add Vertex button is clicked.
Remove Vertex - The user is prompted to select the polyline to remove a vertex from and then to pick the vertex to remove. The user can continue to remove vertices until the End Remove Vertex button is clicked.
Activate - The Activate button can be used to make a polyline previously drawn active again so you can add on to that polyline. The user is prompted to select the polyline to activate. Multiple polylines can be activated. Click the End Activate button before trying to work with one of the activated polylines.
Delete - The user is prompted to select the polyline to delete. There is not an undo command for this delete function.
Tab Location: Action
Panel and Button: Create Polyline
Prerequisite: Open Point Cloud Scene