Static objects are meshes saved from 3ds Max or AutoCAD software, while parametric objects are provided by Civil View.
Civil View includes a localized country resource kit featuring a library of objects split into various categories. You can also set up project and private resource kits that can hold additional project-related or personal object libraries.
In each case, these object libraries are made up of three different types of object.
Static objects have been built in 3ds Max or AutoCAD software, then saved to the library as simple editable meshes. These objects have no editable parameters, except for their XYZ position in the scene.
You can easily create your own static objects and add them to the Civil View Object Library. This is simply a case of creating an object in 3ds Max, then saving the resulting .max file to the appropriate Civil View Object Library directory. Full instructions on how to add custom static objects to any current Resource Kit appear in the Civil View Object Library topics.
Parametric objects retain permanently editable parameters that can directly affect the geometric structure of the object. For example, lamp columns with permanently variable heights, or signs with permanently changeable sign plates.
Civil View ships with a standard library of parametric objects, but you can also use MAXScript to build your own parametric street furniture objects. See the MAXScript help.
The geometry of some parametric objects is totally dependent on the path of a parent shape; for example, as an imported civil design feature line. If the parent shape is modified in any way, the dependent parametric object geometry is instantly updated. Examples of this kind of object are road markings, guard rails, and railway tracks.
Civil View object library definitions in the Civil View object categories (both static and parametric) are defined by a series of INI files. Each INI file holds a range of default values for object parameters. The structure of these INI files varies between each object category and is discussed in more detail in the Civil View Object Library topics.
Additionally, the structure of some objects is partly defined by material channels in one of the materials from the Civil View Material Library. For example, the dimensions of a sign face on a parametric sign object are defined by the shape of an associated bitmap from the CivilViewObjects material.