Quick Section

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Introduction

Creates dynamic cross-sections along a selected polyline, displaying multiple data sources (surfaces, models, sub-models, survey strings, and pipe networks) in an interactive 2D viewer. This allows engineers to visualise and analyse vertical profiles of the design.

Usage Workflow

1. Select Polyline: Click the "Select Polyline" button and choose a polyline in the drawing. The section line is established.
2. Configure Display: Check/uncheck surfaces, models, and sub-models. Select a point group if COGO points are desired.
3. Adjust Settings (Optional): Click "Settings" to modify scale factors, grid intervals, and line weights.
4. Generate Section: Click "Refresh" or allow auto-updates to calculate and display the section in the 2D viewer.
5. Export (Optional): Click "Draw in CAD" to export the section geometry to the drawing on separate layers.

Best Practices

For Large Projects: Use simpler display settings, limit displayed elements, use surface caching, and increase grid intervals.
For Detailed Sections: Increase sampling density, use higher line weights, enable all data sources, and decrease grid intervals.
For Presentations: Use high-contrast colours, add annotations, save view settings, and export to CAD.

Details

Upon selecting the command the following form is displayed:

Toolbar Buttons	Top of form controls
Select Polyline	Initiates polyline selection from the drawing. Click to select a polyline; section updates automatically. Must select a valid polyline to generate section.
Refresh	Rebuilds the section view with current settings. Use after making changes to source data or settings (Hotkey: F5).
Surface Selection	Left panel, top section. Populated from project's surface list.
Include (Checkbox)	Toggle surface visibility on/off.
Surface Name	Identifies each available surface.
Colour Swatch	Click to change the display colour for that surface.
Model Selection	Left panel, middle section. Includes terrain models, road models, etc.
Include (Checkbox)	Toggle model visibility on/off.
Model Name	Identifies each available model. "TotalModel" represents combined data.
Colour Swatch	Click to change the display colour for that model.
Sub-Model Selection	Left panel, lower middle section. Hierarchical components loaded dynamically.
Include (Checkbox)	Toggle sub-model visibility on/off.
Sub-Model Name	Identifies each sub-model.
Colour Swatch	Click to change the display colour for that sub-model.
Survey Settings	Left panel, bottom section. Configure display of COGO points and survey strings.
Point Group	Select which point group to display from available groups in the project.
Include Survey Strings	Toggle display of connected survey strings from selected point group (Default: Checked).
Show COGO Points	Toggle display of COGO points within tolerance as circles near the section line (Default: Checked).
Settings	Detailed Settings Dialog Opens the Quick Section Settings dialog to configure scales, intervals, and styles. General Tab Scale and Interval Settings    Horizontal Scale Scale factor for X-axis (stationing). Affects width of displayed section. Range: 0.1 to 10.0 (Default: 1.0).    Vertical Scale Scale factor for Y-axis (elevation). Affects height of displayed section. Range: 0.1 to 100.0 (Default: 10.0).    Show Crossfall Labels (toggle) Turn on to show crossfall labels for models    Threshold Switch between display as a grade (%) or slope (1:x)    Text Color Set a text color    Text Height Set a pixel height Surfaces Tab surface display controls    Color Default colour for sampled surface    Line Weight Thickness of all surface lines Models Tab Model display controls Design Models      Color Default colour for model display    Line Weight Thickness of all model lines    Show Code Labels (toggle) Toggle to display code labels    Text Color Set a text color    Text Height Set a pixel height Sub Models      Color Default colour for model display    Line Weight Thickness of all sub model lines    Show Code Labels (toggle) Toggle to display code labels    Text Color Set a text color    Text Height Set a pixel height Survey/Pipe Networks Tab      Survey Set text heights, offset tolerance for display of points, point circle size and string circle size    Pipe Networks Set text height Grid Tab Display of grid    Show Grid by default Toggle on for grid to show when new polylines are selected    Grid Color Set grid colour    Line weight Thickness of grid lines    Offset interval Horizontal grid spacing    Elevation Interval Vertical grid spacing    Text color Color of text    Text Height Text height Bottom section   Reset Defaults Restore default settings Set as Default Set form inputs as default for future quick sections OK Applies settings and closes dialog. Cancel Discards changes and closes dialog. Apply Apply changes and keep dialog open
Draw CAD Section	Pick a location in the drawing to draw the section as CAD objects.
Show Grid	Toggle grid overlay lines on the section view (Default: Checked).
Main 2D Viewer	Centre panel. Interactive 2D visualisation.
Navigation Controls	Pan: Middle mouse button + drag Zoom: Mouse wheel scroll Fit View: Double-click middle mouse
Status Bar	Bottom of form
Toggle Settings Panel	Shows/hides the left settings panel (Arrow icon).
Offset Display	Shows current mouse position along section line in project units.
Elevation Display	Shows elevation at current mouse position in project units.
OK	Closes the Quick Section viewer.
Cancel	Closes the Quick Section viewer.