Civil Explorer panel

To open the Civil Explorer panel:

  • Run the CIVILEXPLOREROPEN command.
  • Right-click a ribbon panel or toolbar and choose Civil Explorer from the Panels list.
  • In the Civil Survey workspace > Ribbon Home tab > click the Civil Explorer icon to show or hide the panel.

Civil Explorer is the main panel for managing and accessing Civil objects. Civil objects are arranged in a tree view and grouped by Civil object type.

Through this panel, you can access settings and properties of Civil objects, add new Civil objects, and edit existing Civil objects and their components.

The Civil Explorer panel contains three tabs: Civil, GIS and Settings.

Civil Tab

If there are no Civil objects in the drawing, only the Create, Import and Attach Civil objects buttons are available on the Civil tab:

The Civil tab manages the Civil objects in the current drawing.

The panel is divided in two parts. The upper part displays a list of Civil objects in a tree view. The bottom part displays the available properties based on the Civil object type selected in the tree view.

Create (1)
Creates all types of Civil objects. Select from the drop-down list the Civil object type you want to create.
TIN Surface
Launches the TIN command.
Volume Surface
Launches the TINVOLUME command.
Grading
Launches the GRADING command.
Civil point
Launches the CIVILPOINT command.
Point Group
Launches the CIVILPOINTGROUP command.
String
Launches the STRING command.
Alignments
Launches the ALIGNMENT command.
Corridors
Creates a corridor.
Corridor
Launches the CORRIDOR command.
Corridor Template
Launches the CORRIDORTEMPLATE command.
Template Element
Launches the CORRIDORTEMPLATEELEMENT command.
Sections
Creates section lines and section views.
Section Lines
Launches the SECTIONLINES command.
Section Views
Launches the SECTIONVIEWS command.
Import (2)
Imports civil drawing files.
Import Civil 3D...
Launches the CIVIL3DIMPORT command.
Import LandXML...
Launches the LANDXMLIMPORT command.
Convert Leica DWG
Launches the LEICACONVERT command.
Add Leica Connection
Launches the LEICACONNECTOR command.
Attach Civil objects (3)
Launches the ATTACHCIVILOBJECT command.
Pick a Civil object (4)
Highlights the Civil object selected in the drawing in the Civil Explorer panel.
Civil object types (5)
Civil objects are arranged in a tree view. The top level displays all Civil object types existing in the drawing, and each type expands to show its individual components.

The context menu for a Civil object type contains the following common options:

  • Create: launches the specific command to create the corresponding Civil object.
  • Hide: switches on or off the visibility of Civil object.
Selected Civil object (6)
Highlights the selected Civil object in a tree-view.
The context menu for a selected Civil object contains the following common options:
  • Edit launches the specific command to edit the corresponding Civil object.
  • Select switches on or off the visibility of the Civil object.
  • Zoom to zooms the Civil object in the drawing.
  • Pan to pans to the Civil object in the drawing.
  • Hide hides the Civil object in the drawing.
  • Delete deletes the Civil object.

The available edit options depend on the Civil object type:

Points
Existing individual points are not listed on the Civil tab in the Civil Explorer panel. To create new Civil points, launch the CIVILPOINT command.
Point Groups
Lists all point groups in the drawing.

The Create option from the context menu opens the Point Group dialog box.

The context menu for a Point Group object includes the following additional options:

  • Civil Point Editor... opens the Civil Point Editor dialog box.
    Note: Double-clicking a Point Groups node also opens the Civil Point Editor dialog box.
  • Edit point group... opens the Point Group dialog box.
  • Set styles... opens the Set Styles dialog box to set the Symbol and Label styles for the point group.
  • Apply auto mapping applies an auto mapping if one is set.
  • Export points... opens the Export Civil Points dialog box.
  • Lock points locks the point group. A locked point group is marked with a locked icon and cannot be edited.
  • Unlock points unlocks a point group.
TIN Surfaces
Lists the TIN surfaces in the drawing, including the TIN surfaces attached to the drawing with the ATTACHCIVILOBJECT command.

The context menu for a TIN Surface object includes the following additional options:

  • Add expands a list of all the TIN command options.
  • Edit expands a list of all the TINEDIT command options.
  • Update updates the TIN surface.
  • Create snapshot creates a snapshot.
  • Remove snapshot removes the snapshot.
  • Extract... opens the Extract from TIN Surface dialog box.
  • Lock locks the surface. A locked surface is marked with a locked icon and cannot be edited.
  • Unlock unlocks a locked surface.
.
Volume Surfaces
Lists all volume surfaces in the drawing.
The context menu for a Volume Surface object includes the following additional options:
  • Update updates the volume surface.
  • Extract... opens the Extract From TIN Volume Surface dialog box.
  • TIN Volume Report runs the TINVOLUMEREPORT command.
Gradings
Lists all gradings existing in the drawing.
The context menu for a Grading object includes the following additional options:
  • Split splits the grading into multiple regions.
  • Merge merges two gradings into one.
Note:
  • These options are also available in the GRADINGEDIT command.
  • You can edit the grading properties in the Properties panel
String Groups
Lists all string groups existing in the drawing. The context menu contains the Create string group option.
The context menu for a Basic string group object includes the following additional options:
  • Create String launches the STRING command.
  • Raise/Lower adjusts the elevation of the selected string within the string group.
  • Add to surface as breaklines selects the surface from the drop-down menu, then opens Add Breaklines dialog box.
  • Remove dynamic links removes the links with parent objects (TIN surfaces).
  • Lock locks the string. A locked string is marked with a locked icon and cannot be edited.
  • Unlock unlocks the string.
Alignments
Lists all alignments existing in the drawing.
The alignments object type collects existing horizontal alignments and associated vertical alignments, vertical alignment views and 3D alignments.

The context menu contains the Create by PI and Create by Element options, which launch the corresponding options of the ALIGNMENT command.

The context menu for a Horizontal Alignment object includes the Edit option with all ALIGNMENTEDIT command options.

The context menu for a Vertical Alignments object includes the following additional options:

  • Create launches the ALIGNMENTVERTICAL command.
  • Manage vertical alignments launches ALIGNMENTVERTICALMANAGE command.

The context menu for Vertical Alignment Views and for 3D alignments objects contains the Create and Hide options

Corridors
Lists all corridors existing in the drawing.
The context menu for the Corridors object contains the Create option, which launches the CORRIDOR command.
The context menu for a Corridor objects includes the following additional options:
  • Edit expands all options available in the CORRIDOREDIT command.
  • Extract launches the CORRIDOREXTRACT command.
Corridor Templates
Lists all corridors templates existing in the drawing.
The context menu for a Corridor Template object includes the additional Add template element option from the CORRIDORTEMPLATE command.
Corridor Template Elements
Lists all corridor template elements existing in the drawing.
The context menu for a Corridor Template Element object includes the Edit option, which provides the same options as the CORRIDORTEMPLATEELEMENTEDIT command.
Sections
Lists the Section Lines and Section Views objects existing in the drawing.
The context menus offer the Create section lines... and Create section views... options.
Connections
Lists the connections to the Leica Infinity file.

The context menu includes the following options:

  • Edit opens the Leica connector dialog box.
  • Remove removes the Leica connection.
Info (7)

Displays information about the selected Civil object (Name and Description). Both fields are editable.

Note: For string groups, the Interact with other strings in the group switch is available.
Definitions (8)

Displays the components (source data) used to build the TIN surface objects, the editing operations used, and the order in which definitions were added.

The TIN surface build process is incremental. Adding or editing data updates the surface, while removing data rebuilds it. The definition list displays all operations performed in sequential order.

The ID field indicates the step at which each component was added to the TIN Surface.

The context menu offers the option to change the order of definitions and to Delete or Disable them. Additionally, for most TIN surface definitions, there are the options Select and Zoom to, which make finding them in the drawing very easy. Double-click a definition or press the Edit option from the context menu to open the Surface: Surface name, Definition step ID dialog box, which displays all details for the selected definition (see the TIN Definitions in the TIN command article). You can edit the definition parameters.

Also displays the components used to build the String objects. The context menu provides all string specific options for editing.

Statistics (9)

The Statistics displays statistical data for the selected TIN surface (number of points and triangles, minimum,maximum and mean elevations, 2D and 3D areas) or for the Volume Surface (cut and fill volumes, 2D and 3D areas).

Visual Styles (10)
Defines the visual styles for the TIN and Volume surface components (borders, points, triangles), contours and TIN analysis.
General
Switches on or off the display of specific TIN surface components.
Border
Switches on or off the display of the TIN surface boundary lines.
Points
Switches on or off the display of TIN surface points.
Triangles
Switches on or off the display of TIN surface triangles.
Contours
Specifies parameters for displaying contours on a TIN surface.
Enable major or minor contours
Switches on or off the display of TIN surface contours. The visual style of contours can be adjusted.
Major contours interval
Sets the interval for major contours.
Minor contours interval
Sets the interval for minor contours.
Major contours color
Sets the color for major contours.
Minor contours color
Sets the color for minor contours.
TIN Analysis
Sets parameters for TIN surface elevation and slope analysis.
Elevation analysis
Switches on or off the display of TIN surface elevation analysis. Click the Edit elevation analysis button () to open Elevation Analysis dialog box to define the visual style.
Slope analysis
Switches on or off the display of TIN surface slope analysis. Click the Edit slope analysis button () to open Slope Analysis dialog box to define the visual style.

GIS Tab

If there is no GIS layer in the drawing, there are three options on the GIS tab:

  • Import GIS Layer
  • Create GIS Layer
  • Convert from Object Data

The GIS Tab displays all GIS layers in the drawing and controls their visibility.

Create (1)
Creates a new GIS layer or a group. Select from the drop down list the GIS type you want to create.
Create group
Creates a new group in the GIS tree view.
Create GIS layer
Opens the Create New GIS Layer dialog box.
Name
Sets the new layer name.
Geometry type
Defines the geometry type as:
  • Point
  • Line
  • Polygon
Add Field
Adds a new field to the GIS layer.

Click the Add field button to add a new field to the fields list, with the default name NewField and String type. You can edit the Name and Type fields.

The following field Types are available:

  • String
  • Real
  • Integer

Click the trash button () to delete a field.

When you double-click a newly created GIS Layer for the first time, an empty GIS Attribute Table dialog box opens. To add GIS features, click the Add GIS features button. Select entities in the drawing and press Enter. The GIS Attribute table dialog box displays the selected GIS features and their associated GIS data.

Import GIS layers (2)
Imports ESRI SHP, GML, KML, or ESRI Geodatabase files. For details, see the GISIMPORT command and the GIS Import dialog box articles.
Convert from Object Data (3)
Converts AutoCAD® Map 3D and Autodesk® Civil 3D GIS features from the current drawing to BricsCAD GIS data.
Note: The AutoCAD® Map 3D and Autodesk® Civil 3D Object Data can be viewed and edited directly in the Properties panel.
GIS tree view (4)
Lists all GIS layers and groups.
Note: You can rearrange groups and GIS layers using drag and drop.

The following context menu opens when you right-click a GIS layer:

Open attribute table...
Opens the GIS Attributes Table dialog box.
Edit GIS layer...
Opens Edit GIS Layer dialog box.
Select
Selects the GIS Layer.
Zoom to
Zooms to the GIS Layer.
Add GIS features
Adds entities to a GIS Layer. A command prompt appears for selecting entities in the drawing. The GIS Attributes Table dialog box opens, and new features are added at the end of the table.
Note: The geometry type of the GIS Layer must be Point in order to add a block to it.
Convert GIS data to Object data
Converts BricsCAD GIS data from the current drawing to AutoCAD® MAP 3D and Autodesk® Civil 3D Object Data.
Export GIS layer
Exports the GIS layer.
Remove GIS layer
Removes the GIS layer.

The following context menu opens when you right-click a group:

Rename group
Renames the group.
Add sub-group
Adds a sub-group.
Remove group
Removes the group.

Settings Tab

The Settings tab manages Civil object styles, label styles and configuration settings.

Import Styles and Settings button
Imports civil label styles and civil drawing settings from other drawings. For more details, see the IMPORTSTYLESANDSETTINGS command.
General settings
Defines general symbol and label styles for Civil objects.
Note: The context menu associated with each Civil object style provides options to Create, Edit, Copy and Delete styles.
Symbol styles
Lists predefined and custom-created symbol styles. Click the corresponding option from the context menu to open the Symbol Style dialog box.
Area Label Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created area label styles.

Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.

Line Label Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created line label styles.

Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.

Curve Label Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created curve label styles.

Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.

Civil Points
Defines Civil points file formats and label styles for Civil points.
Point File Formats
Lists predefined and custom-created point file formats. Double-click the Point File Formats field or click the corresponding option to open the Manage Point File Formats dialog box.
Label Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created label styles for Civil Points. Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.
Auto Mapping Sets
Lists predefined and custom-created auto mapping sets for Civil points. The context menu contains also the Set current option. Click the corresponding option to open the Auto Mapping Set dialog box.
Auto Mapping Command Code Sets
Lists predefined and custom-created auto mapping command code sets for Civil points. Click the corresponding option to open the Auto Mapping Command Sets dialog box.
Surfaces
Defines surface file formats and label styles for Contour, Slope and Spot elevation.
Surface File Formats
Lists predefined and custom-created surface file formats. Double-click the Surface File Format field or click the corresponding option to open the Manage Surface File Formats dialog box.
TIN Surface Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created TIN surface styles. Click the corresponding option to open the TIN Surface Style dialog box.
Label styles
Lists predefined and custom-created styles for contour, slope and spot elevation entities. Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.
Vertical Alignment Views
Defines the vertical alignment view style and label styles.
Vertical Alignment View Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created vertical alignment view styles. Click the corresponding option to open the Vertical Alignment View Style dialog box.
Label Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created styles for station elevation and depth entities. Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.
Sections
Defines the section line label styles and section view styles.
Section Line Label Style
Lists predefined and custom-created section line label styles. Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.
Section Views

Lists predefined and custom-created section view styles and label styles.

Section View Styles
Lists predefined and custom-created section view styles. Click the corresponding option to open the Section View Style dialog box.
Label Styles

Lists predefined and custom-created styles for offset elevation and slope entities.

Offset Elevation
Lists predefined and custom-created offset elevation styles. Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.
Slope
Lists predefined and custom-created slope styles. Click the corresponding option to open the Label Style Editor dialog box.