Civil 3D User Interface Overview This lesson describes the user interface in Civil 3D and explains how you manage the user interface to maximize your productivity. Civil 3D is a complex design and drafting environment. Users work with many interface components to accomplish design and drafting tasks. When used properly, the final drafting and production of engineering and construction drawings is a by-product of the design process. Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Navigate through the Civil 3D software. Use the user interface to open files and display static and contextual ribbons. Examine the two main components of Toolspace: the Prospector and Settings tabs. Describe the function of Toolspace in drawing creation and management. Use the Panorama window, Properties Palette, and Tool Palette Explore existing workspaces and create a custom workspace. Create reports using the Toolbox tab of Toolspace. Exercises The following exercises are provided in a step-by-step format in this lesson: 1. Explore the Civil 3D User Interface 2. Explore Toolspace 3. The Panorama Window, Properties and Tool Palettes 4. Work with Workspaces 5. Create Reports Lesson 2 AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 Education Curriculum Student Workbook Unit 1: Civil 3D EnvironmentUnit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪2 The Interface The standard interface is shown in the graphic below. Notice the following elements: 1. The Graphic Window or Drawing Area: This is the main window where the user inputs, modifies, and views visual data. 2. Toolspace: Toolspace is an integral component in the user interface for accessing commands, styles, and data. Use it to access the Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox tabs. Right-click each collection or item on these tabs to access commands. 3. Ribbon: The ribbon provides access for AutoCAD Civil 3D commands. Displayed at the top of the drawing window, the ribbon provides one location for commands, in an organization that provides the most-frequently used commands in the most accessible places. 4. Application Menu: Provides drawing-related commands, such as New, Open, Save, and Export to AutoCAD. 5. Quick Access Toolbar: The Quick Access toolbar displays frequently used tools. You can add ribbon buttons to the Quick Access toolbar 6. InfoCenter: The InfoCenter enables you to search for key words, enter a question for help, display the Communication Center panel for product updates and announcements, and display the Favorites panel to access saved topics. It also displays links to Help topics, RSS feeds, and product updates and announcements. 7. Command window: Also known as the command line or the text window, the command window enables user input using the keyboard for commands or numerical values. It also queries the user for information when required and reports data about the drawing. 8. Status bar: The status bar displays status information and includes some controls for changing the view.Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪3 About Ribbons In AutoCAD Civil 3D, the ribbon is the primary user interface for accessing commands and features. While the traditional menus are still available, all commands for both AutoCAD and Civil 3D are available on the ribbon. The ribbon is a palette that displays task-based commands and controls. It is automatically displayed when you create or open a drawing file. The ribbon consists of tabs, panels, and commands. The tabs contain panels, and the panels contain commands. Tabs Commands Panel Ribbon Types Ribbons are classified as either static or contextual ribbons. Static ribbons are always displayed, and contain the tabs, panels, and commands that you use most often. In Civil 3D, the static ribbon displays the Home, Insert, Annotate, Modify, Analyze, View, Output, and Manage tabs. A contextual ribbon tab is displayed when you select an object in the drawing area or execute certain commands. It identifies the object, and shows panels and commands that can be used to work with the selected object. Contextual ribbons filter and display only the applicable commands, thereby making it easier to work with your data. Static Ribbon Civil 3D uses the Home, Insert Annotate, Modify, Analyze, View, Output, and Manage tabs. When you select a tab, the ribbon displays the panels associated with that tab. For example, the Home tab contains panels named Palettes, Create Ground Data, Create Design, Profile & Section Views, Draw, Modify, Layers, Clipboard, and View. The panels and their commands directly relate to the name of the tab.Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪4 Contextual Ribbons A contextual ribbon appears as a tab when an object is selected in the drawing area. For example, when a surface model is selected in the drawing area, the contextual ribbon displays the name of the surface, as well as the commands associated with surfaces. About Toolspace Toolspace is one of the primary interface components in Civil 3D. It provides an object-oriented view of the engineering data in your drawing and lists the object and label styles used to display the data. Toolspace is also used to display survey data and create external reports on your engineering data. Toolspace is the primary tool that you use to control and display civil engineering data. With Toolspace, you can manage drawing and project data, create and manage settings and styles, manage survey data, and create reports. Toolspace presents a large amount of data about the drawing, project, object styles, label styles, and drawing settings. The Toolspace palette can: - Float or dock. - Become semitransparent. - Automatically hide itself. - Be located on a second monitor. Toolspace Components There are two main components to Toolspace: the Prospector and Settings tabs. When you work with the Survey functionality, Toolspace displays a Survey tab. When you create reports, Toolspace displays a Toolbox tab.Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪5 Prospector tab The Prospector tab displays information about all of the Civil 3D objects in a drawing. Select this tab to manage drawing and project data. You work with point, point group, surface, alignment, profile, section, grading, parcel, and sheet layout data. In the bottom pane is the item view area. This pane
View Full Document
Unlocking...