Digitize Sections (XSec)

This command creates a section file (.sct) by digitizing a section drawing. The command starts with the dialog shown below where you specify the section file name to create. The station interval is used to automatically default to the next station value when digitizing a series of stations. The Interpolate Zero Offset option will interpolate an elevation at the exact zero offset.

After the dialog, the program will prompt to pick three reference points on the section. These points should have known offsets and elevations. Additional sections can be aligned by a single point. Corners on the section grid can be used for these reference points. The reference points and the user-entered offset and elevations for them sets up the program for the section. Now you can start picking the section grade points.

You can also digitize existing and final surfaces back to back, and there is an undo function that will allow undo while digitizing points. As the section is digitized, it is shown in a real-time graphics window. Holding down the right mouse button acts as a zoom function, while holding down the mouse scroll button acts as a pan. The puck keys can be used to enter all the input data.

Prompts

Digitize Section dialog

Calibrate section sheet:
Pick First section sheet reference point: pick a point on the section grid
Enter offset <0.0>: -50
Enter elevation: 200
Pick Second section reference point: pick another point on the section grid
Enter offset: 50
Enter elevation: 210

Pick Third section reference point:
Enter offset: 50
Enter elevation: 230
Section station to digitize <0.000>: 133.63
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID section 133.630 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section starting at the left and working right
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID section 133.630 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID section 133.630 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Save changes to SAMPLE GRID section 133.630 [<Yes>/No]? press Enter
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 133.630 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section starting at the left and working right
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 133.630 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 133.630 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Save changes to SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 133.630 [<Yes>/No]? press Enter
Digitize another station [<Yes>/No]? press Enter

Calibrate next section:
Pick section reference point: pick a point on the section grid
Enter offset <-50.00>: 0
Enter elevation <200.00>: 200
Section station to digitize <233.630>: 200
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID section 200.000 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID section 200.000 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Save changes to SAMPLE GRID section 200.000 [<Yes>/No]? press Enter
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 200.000 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section starting at the left and working right
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 200.000 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Digitize break point for SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 200.000 (Enter to end): pick a point on the section
Save changes to SAMPLE GRID FINAL section 200.000 [<Yes>/No]? press Enter
Digitize another station [<Yes>/No]? N

Pulldown Menu Location: Sections > Digitize Sections
Keyboard Command: digxsec
Prerequisite: Affix cross section on digitizing tablet