THE CROSS-SECTION LABELER

Below are brief instructions on using the Cross Section Labeler as well as instructions on how to set up custom labels. I've already set up a file (western.lsf...) located on the server at locations shown below:

.X21 Generation of Criteria files/Level Libraries: F:\V8_Resource\X_21\Standards\Bin\ western.lsf

.X30 Generation of Criteria files/Level Libraries: F:\V8_Resource\X_30\Standards\Bin\ western.lsf

There are 2 ways to invoke the Labeler:
1.   Click on Applications > Geopak Road > Cross Sections > Labeling.
2.   Use the Cross Section Labeler icon available through the GEOPAK ROAD Tools dialog.   It is shown by clicking HERE

Click HERE to view the Labeler as it appears initially.  Rather than have a huge dialog box, the Labeler is broken into 6 different views available by clicking on one of tabs displayed across the top.   The tabs are organized as follows: Text, Parameters, Shape, Leader, Rotate and Style.   Each of these tabs will be discussed separately.

The initial view appears showing the Text tab by default, with the Computed Inserts selected.   The computed inserts that appear initially are the ones setup for DP, (data pointing or snapping to specific points).   Additional Computed Inserts are available for identifying elements, such as line slopes, or superelevation values.   These computed inserts are available by first clicking on Select XS Element and then data pointing the element.

I'll quickly review each of the Tabs and their options and then explain how to create and/or use custom label styles, (another cool enhancement).
The "Tabs":

Text:

This tab basically allows the user to create 2 types of text within the label:

• Computed Text that is extracted from the cross section.   These are created with the Computed Inserts toggled ON.

 
• User Text is created by having the User Inserts toggled ON.  It is now very easy to edit/select/sort the ASCII file that contains these inserts by using the icons on the dialog.

This tab allows the user to select exactly how the text is to be configured.   In addition of selecting the individual aspects of the text, the user can set the text and it's label 3 ways:

• By Current... Click on this to set the text parameters and attributes to the current MicroStation settings.

 
• By Element... Click on this and select any text to set the text parameters and attributes, or click on this and select any element to simply change the text attributes.

 
• Set All...Click on this to set all components of the label to the current symbology shown on the active tab.

This tab allows the user to select exactly how the shape looks that surrounds the text label.

• By Current... Click on this to set the shape attributes to the current MicroStation settings.

 
• By Element... Click on this and select any text or element to set the shape attributes.

• Set All...Click on this to set all components of the label to the current symbology shown on the active tab.

This tab allows the user to select the Leader Type (it's symbology) and Terminator.

• By Current... Click on this to set the leader attributes to the current MicroStation settings.

 
• By Element... Click on this and select any text or element to set the leader attributes.

• Set All...Click on this to set all components of the label to the current symbology shown on the active tab.

Rotate:

This tab allows the user to place the label at a user defined angle determined 3 different ways:

• Current Angle... The label will be placed at whatever angle is shown to the right of this option.

 
• Element Angle... The angle of the label can be determined 3 ways:

DP... Click on this and data point to places on the screen to set the angle.

Element... Click on this and data point any element in view to set the angle.

AA... Click on this to set the label angle to the current MicroStation active angle.

• Alignment Angle...Only available through the Plan Labeler.

 

This tab allows the user to either create or use previously created label styles for fast custom labeling.   Farther down the page, I explain how to create custom label styles.

For now... I've already set up several custom labels for you to use.   The file is named western.lsf and is located on the server under F:\V8_Resource\X_30\Standards\Bin\.   If you need help creating your own, give me a call.

The Cross Section Labeler Pulldowns:

Style Files:

This pulldown basically provides the user with the normal Windows functions New/Open/Save/Save As (a label style file) or exit the application.

Options:

This pulldown allows the user 5 options, but only 3 are actually available:

• Minimize dialog... When checked, the Labeler collapses after a label is placed.

 
• Use Reference File Coordinates... This is only available using the Plan Labeler.

 
• Use DP Element Association... This is only available using the Plan Labeler.

 
• Label Tools... When checked, this invokes the Cross Section Label Control dialog.   This dialog offers a plethora of label manipulation tools, such as moving the label after it is placed.   These are all fairly self explanatory, so I don't intend to go into detail at this time.

 
• Label Viewer... When checked, allows the user to view the label prior to placing and has an optional "Automatic Label" mode.

 

This pulldown basically just allows the user to change the label scale.

Tools:

This pulldown is used for the Plan Labeler only, as a result all options are ghosted out.

TO PLACE A LABEL USING A CUSTOM STYLE:
(For this example I'll use the computed inserts associated with DP rather than Identify Element).

1. Invoke the Cross Section Labeler and click on the Styles tab.   Select the custom label style file using the pulldowns:


Style Files > Open and select F:\V8_Resource\Geopak\Bin\western.lsf.

2. Double click on Labels and XS Labels.

 
3. Double click on the desired style, such as Elevation.

 
4. Click on DP (back on the Text tab or by using the Labeling tools available from the pulldowns...Dialog Options > Label Tools).

 
5. Snap to the point on the cross section and accept it.

 
6. Click on Place Label and slide the label into position.   Data point the screen and move the cursor around.   You'll notice that the leader can be started from a variety of locations around the label shape.   Once the position for the leader is established, data point the screen again.   A compass similar to AccuDraw will appear and allow you to manipulate the leader into position.

 
7. Data point the screen one more time to release the leader from the cursor.

 
8. Subsequent labels can be placed by simply repeating steps 5 through 7.

TO CREATE/SAVE A CUSTOM STYLE:

The tricky part here is that you must first create and place the label.   The label can then be saved as a New Style.

For this example... let's create a label that looks like this:

• Click on the Text tab and click on Clear.

 
• Click on DP and data point the screen, (a small circle should appear).

 
• Click in the white window at the upper left of the Labeler and type Elev=

 
• Click on Space and double click on XS Elevation

 
• Click on Return and type Offset=

 
• Click on Space and double click on XS Offset.

 
• Click on Space and double click on XS LT / RT

 
• Click on the Params. Tab and set the parameters as desired.

 
• Click on the Shape tab, pick the Shape and it's symbology.   Note: The Shape Offset field sets the spacing around the text inside the label.

 
• Click on the Leader tab and pick the Leader Type and Terminator.   Note: The AT (active terminator) is selected from the MicroStation cell library dialog.

 
• Click on the Rotate tab and set the angle of the label, (Current Angle and 0.00 for this example)

 
• Click on the Styles tab, click on Place Label and place the label.

 
• Under the Item Selector window, (left side of the dialog), click on the appropriate folder for the label to be saved within until the New Style button is "unghosted".

 
• Click on New Style, type in the Style Name in the Create Style window and click on OK at the bottom of it's window.

THAT'S IT!