THE CROSS-SECTION NAVIGATOR

There are 2 ways to invoke the Navigator:

1. Click on Applications > Geopak Road > Cross Sections > Navigator
2. Use the Cross Section Navigator icon available through the GEOPAK ROAD Tools palette, (shown below):

The Cross Section Navigator now has 2 ways of negotiating your way around inside of the cross section file. The Navigator reads all of the cross section cells within the cross section file. The first way (shown below) was introduced in Geopak 98, where you simply pick the station from a pulldown. Simply click on the down arrow and slide down to the desired station and click on it.

Back by popular demand is the original way of getting to a desired station, where you simply type in the desired station, (shown below).

The center portion of the Navigator provides 5 Navigation tools:

Click here to go to the first cross section in the file, (sort of anyway). This icon is supposed to take you back to the first cross section, but it maintains the relative view. The best way to go to the first cross section in the file is to click on the "reset" (re synch) icon explained below.

Click here to go back one cross section at a time.

Click here to "reset" the Navigator. This will "fit" the entire (first) cross section, very similar to how previous versions of Geopak used the << button. Since it is now possible to navigate through multiple views at various "zoomed" ratios, this is also used to "re synch" the multiple views back together, just in case they get "out of synch".

Click here to advance one cross section at a time.

Click here to go to the last cross section in the file. Note that this uses the same logic as the << button, where it also maintains the relative view, rather than automatically "fit" the last cross section in the view.

The next portion of the Navigator provides 4 drawing tools:

Click here to invoke the new and improved DP Offset Elevation tool. To place a line or cell at a specific elevation and offset, key in the values, select the MicroStation tool "place line" or "place cell" and click on the adjacent button as shown below left.

The DP Offset Elevation tool has another function as explained below. It can be used for determining an elevation and offset, dynamically. To use this tool, click on the X with the little question mark just above it. Watch as the cursor moves off the dialog box as the cursor position field changes as you move the cursor around the cross section.

The DP Delta Distance Slope tool is shown below. The user can place a line using MicroStation at a user defined "delta horizontal distance" and slope. Slope options include run:rise, rise:run, percent, and slope based on a unit per unit.

An example of placing a sloped line based on the (Unit/Unit) option is shown below, and would result in the 4:1 diagonal line shown.

In other words...the value entered into the Delta Horizontal Distance field determines the "x" distance (4). The value entered into the Slope (Unit/Unit) field determines the line slope, or n:1 The "y" length (16) of the sloped line is determined by these two values being multiplied together.

Click here to invoke the XS Active Angle Tool Several slope "type" options are offered and are somewhat self explanatory Basically, this tool offers the user the ability to select (for example) a slope type of rise:run, key in the actual values and when Set AA is pressed, the MicroStation active angle setting is changed In other words, the user no longer has to calculate the angle of a 1:-6 slope and key that value in as the desired active angle.

Click here to invoke the GEOPAK Place XS Line tool This one is a little different than the others Do not use the MicroStation place line tool with this one This actually is Geopak's way of placing a line in a cross section file Key in the values shown to the left and notice that a line with a set delta horizontal distance of 4 and slope of 1:3 will be displayed As you move the cursor around the four quadrants, you'll notice that the slope value is unnecessary, as the application is waiting for user to DP the screen after the line is displayed in the desired quadrant Take a shot at it....you'll get it!

Next on the Navigator you'll fine the Profile Elevation tool.

As far as I can tell, this tool simply allows the user the ability to define a position horizontal to a selected profile. The "on-line" help states, "Once the dialog is populated, pressing the DP button in the upper right corner acts as a MicroStation data point in any MicroStation command where a data point is utilized." I'll write more on this later as I continue to search for a practical use for it.

Finally, click here to invoke the XS View tool If you have multiple windows open in MicroStation, this tool allows you to navigate through your cross sections and view different locations on the cross section For example, open windows 1 and 2 in MicroStation Now toggle On Windows 1 and 2 in the XS View tool Put the entire cross section in view 1 and just the right edge of pavement in view 2 As you click on the VCR button to advance ahead one cross section at a time, you'll notice that view 2 is also following along There is still a little problem with Geopak drifting up or down the view as you advance through the cross sections I'm sure they'll fix this some day.

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