Alignment Entities Vista

Use this vista to view and edit entities that are part of the solved alignment geometry.

Use the Alignment Entities window to navigate through all solved alignment entities. You can select an entity in the Alignment Entities window and then edit it in the Alignment Layout Parameters window. Attributes in the Alignment Entities window are automatically updated as you edit the alignment.

You can filter the display to show a selected range of entities along an alignment.

The Alignment Entities vista is like a spreadsheet. Each row represents an alignment entity and each column represents an attribute for that entity. You can resize, move, and copy columns.

The first column (No.) is always displayed. It does not move when you use the scroll bar.

Note: Two column configurations are available: default and criteria-based design. To switch between the configurations, or to create your own configuration, right-click a column heading, and click Customize Columns.

This window remains open when you grip edit the alignment or enter another command. The window closes when you either delete the currently selected alignment, click the X button, or click on the Alignment Layout Toolbar.

No.

Specifies the entity number in the order of selection. This variable changes as entities are selected and deselected.

A warning symbol is displayed in this cell if the sub-entity violates the specified design criteria.

Number

Specifies the entity number in the order in which it appears along the alignment. This value changes as alignment entities ahead of it are created or deleted. This column cannot be hidden or deleted.

Type

Specifies either line, curve, or spiral as the entity type.

Tangency Constraint

Specifies how the entity is constrained by other entities: either Not Constrained (Fixed), Constrained By Previous (Floating), Constrained By Next (Floating), or Constrained On Both Sides (Free).

Parameter Constraint Lock

Specifies whether the parameters associated with the Parameter Constraint property may be edited.

  • (Locked): Only the parameters permitted by the Parameter Constraint property are enabled for editing.
  • (Unlocked): All parameters (with some exceptions) are enabled for editing.

If the Lock All Parameter Constraints option on the Constraint Editing Tab (Alignment Properties Dialog Box) is selected, then all entities will be set to locked.

Parameter Constraint

Specifies the number of points in the constraint of the tangent.

If the entity was created by best fit, [...] appears to the right of the Best Fit entry. If the entity has been edited since it was created from best fit regression data, appears. Click [...] to open the Regression Data vista and review the regression points and synchronize the entity to the regression data.

Length

Specifies the length of the entity.

A warning symbol is displayed in this cell if the sub-entity length value is not greater than or equal to the value in the Minimum Length cell.

Radius

Specifies the radius of the curve.

A warning symbol is displayed in this cell if the sub-entity radius value is not greater than or equal to the value in the Minimum Radius cell.

Direction

Specifies the direction of the entity.

Start Station

Specifies the starting station for the entity.

End Station

Specifies the ending station for the entity.

Delta Angle

Specifies the angular difference in the direction of the incoming and out going tangents.

Chord Length

Displays the chord length of the circular curve.

Specifies the distance along the line joining the beginning of the curve (PC) and the end of the curve (PT).

Mid-Ordinate

Specifies the distance from the midpoint of the curve, perpendicular to the midpoint of the chord.

External Tangent

Specifies the distance from the beginning of the curve (PC) to the PI or from the PI to the end of the curve (PT).

External Secant

Specifies the radial difference from the PI to the midpoint of the curve.

PI Included Angle

Specifies the included angle between the incoming and outgoing tangents of the curve.

Greater than 180 Degrees
  • Displays True if the curve angle is defined as greater than 180 degrees.
  • Displays False if the curve angle is defined as less than 180 degrees.
Start Point

Specifies the coordinates for the starting point of the entity.

Direction At Through Point1

Specifies the XY coordinates of the first user-specified pass-through point.

Direction At Through Point2

Specifies the XY coordinates of the second user-specified pass-through point.

Center Point

Specifies the coordinate of the center point of a circular curve.

Curve Group Index

Specifies the curve group description.

Curve Group Sub-Entity Index

Specifies the curve group sub-entity description.

End Point

Specifies the coordinates for the end point of the entity.

PI Station

Specifies the station value of the PI by adding the PC to the PI tangent length to the station value at the beginning of the curve (PC).

Pass Through Point1

Specifies the point coordinates for the first pass-through point of an alignment entity.

Pass Through Point2

Specifies the point coordinates for the second pass-through point of an alignment entity.

Pass Through Point3

Specifies the direction of the third user-specified pass-through point on a curve entity.

Minimum Length

Specifies the minimum transition length defined in the design criteria file for the current design speed.

Minimum Radius

Specifies the minimum radius value defined in the design criteria file for the current design speed.

A

Specifies the A value.

Bearing

Specifies the direction of the entity.

Spiral Type

Specifies the spiral type.

Incurve

Specifies whether the curve is incoming or outgoing.

Compound

Displays True when a spiral has a curve at each end.

Radius In

Specifies the incoming curve radius.

Radius Out

Specifies the outgoing curve radius.

Total X

Specifies the tangent distance between the beginning point of the incoming spiral (TS) and the endpoint of the spiral and beginning point of the circular curve.

Total Y

Specifies the perpendicular offset distance between the beginning point of the circular curve (SC) and the incoming tangent.

Short Tangent

Specifies the distance from the spiral point of the horizontal tangent intersection (SPI) to the end of the spiral (SPI).

Long Tangent

Specifies the distance from the beginning of the spiral (TS) to the spiral point of horizontal tangent intersection (SPI).

P

Specifies the offset distance from the incoming tangent to the beginning point (PC) of the shifted circular curve.

K

Specifies the abscissa between the beginning point of the spiral (TS) and the beginning point of the shifted circular curve.

Spiral Definition

Specifies the spiral definition.

SPI Station

Specifies the station value of the SPI. Adds the tangential distance from the beginning of the Spiral (TS) to the SPI to the station value of the TS.

SPI Northing

Specifies the XY coordinates of the spiral point of horizontal tangent intersection.

SPI Easting

Specifies the XY coordinates of the spiral point of horizontal tangent intersection.

SPI Included Angle

Specifies the angle representing the difference in direction of the incoming tangent and the outgoing tangent of the spiral.

Degree of Curvature

Specifies the degree of curvature that was calculated for the curve. This value is directly related to the Radius value. It uses the same constraints, and if one changes, the other updates automatically.

Radial Point Northing

Specifies the coordinates of the spiral northing.

Radial Point Easting

Specifies the coordinates of the spiral easting.

Compound

Displays True when the spiral has a curve at each end.

Design Speed

Specifies the design speed for each sub-entity.

Minimum Radius Table

Specifies the minimum radius table for each sub-entity. The Minimum Radius Table is defined in the design criteria file.

A warning symbol is displayed in this cell if the sub-entity radius value is not greater than or equal to the value in the Minimum Radius cell.

Transition Length Table

Specifies the minimum transition length table for each sub-entity. The Transition Length Table is defined in the design criteria file.

A warning symbol is displayed in this cell if the sub-entity length value is not greater than or equal to the value in the Minimum Length cell.

Attainment Method

Specifies the superelevation attainment method for each sub-entity. The Attainment Method is defined in the design criteria file.