Profile Layout Tools

Use the tools in this toolbar to draw and edit profiles and to analyze vertical straights and curves.

These tools are most useful for editing profiles by adding straights and curves, or moving VIPs.

For dynamic surface profiles, most tools in this toolbar are not available. Use the Profile Elements vista to display profile data. Similarly, many of the tools are unavailable for use with locked VIPs, including the endpoints of corner radius profiles.

The name of the currently selected profile is displayed at the top of the toolbar. When you click an icon, the current command is displayed at the bottom of the toolbar. The toolbar remains open if you grip edit the profile or enter another command. The toolbar closes if you delete the currently selected profile or click the X button in the upper right-hand corner of the toolbar.

Layout Profile Creation

These three buttons control how a layout profile is drawn in a profile view.

Note: Using the Draw Tangents and Draw Tangents With Curves commands, you can draw profile entities from left-to-right or right-to-left. Fixed straights can be drawn in either direction using the Fixed Straight (Two Points) command. Floating straights and fixed and floating vertical curves can also be drawn in either direction.

Draw Straights

Adds a series of fixed straights between specified points.

Draw Straights With Curves

Adds a series of fixed straights between specified points, with free curves automatically added at the vertical intersection points.

Curve Settings

Specifies the curve parameters to use with the Draw Straights with Curves command.

To change the default curve settings, go to the Profile Creation section of the Edit Feature Settings - Profile dialog box.

Convert Curves

Converts some types of vertical curves for backward compatibility with preceding versions. Use the command line options that are displayed after you select this command to specify which type of curves to convert.

Free vertical curves (created with the Free Vertical Curve (Parabola) command) which use a pass-through point as their constraint type are converted to curves that use length as their constraint type. This command converts the constraint type of all relevant curves in the selected profile at once.
Important: The free curve through point option of the Convert Curves command is intended to provide backward compatibility with previous versions of the application (version 2014 and earlier). Free vertical curves created with the Free Vertical Curve (Parabola) command that use a pass-through point must be converted to a format that is recognisable in these preceding versions of the application. If you do not convert the curves, the curves will be missing when the drawing is opened in previous versions of the application.
Fixed parabolic curves (created with the Fixed Vertical Curve (Parabolic, High/Low Point, Parameter, Length) command) which use a high/low point and a parameter as their constraint type are converted to fixed curves that use two points and a parameter as their constraint type. This command converts the constraint type of all relevant curves in the selected profile at once.
Important:
- The fixed parabolic option of the Convert Curves command is intended to provide backward compatibility with AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.
- To view them in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018, fixed parabolic vertical curves created with the Fixed Vertical Curve (Parabolic,High/Low Point, Parameter, Length) command in Autodesk Civil 3D 2019 must be converted to a format that is recognisable in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018. If you don't convert the curves, the curves will be missing when the drawing is opened in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.
  Note: Fixed vertical curves created with the Fixed Vertical Curve (Parabolic, High/Low Point, Parameter, Length) command in the Autodesk Civil 3D 2019.1 Updates are automatically converted to use two points and a parameter as their constraint type when you open the drawing in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.
- After the curves are converted, they can not be converted back to their original constraint type.
- Fixed circular vertical curves created with the Fixed Vertical Curve (Circular, High/Low Point, Parameter, Length) command can not be converted and will be missing if the drawing is opened in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.

Note: This command doesn't convert VIP-based curves that are defined by a pass-through point.

For more information, see To Change the Constraint Type of Vertical Curves for Backward Compatibility.

VIP Edit Operations

Use these three buttons to graphically modify the VIPs in a layout profile.

Insert VIP

Breaks a straight into two adjacent straights by creating a vertical intersection point (VIP) at a specified location on the profile view.

Click above or below an existing straight to specify the new VIP location.

Delete VIP

Creates a single straight from two adjacent straights by removing a vertical intersection point (VIP) from a profile.

If two straights meet at the VIP, they are replaced by a single straight between two adjacent VIPs.

Move VIP

Moves a profile vertical intersection point (VIP) to a new location on a profile view.

The straights connected to the VIP remain attached. You can also use editing grips to move a VIP.

Straight Creation Operations

Use these buttons to add straights to a layout profile.

Fixed Straight (Two Points): Adds a fixed straight between two specified points.
Fixed Straight - Best Fit: Adds the most probable fixed straight through a series of Autodesk Civil 3D points, AutoCAD points, existing entities or clicks on screen.

Float Tangent (Gradient, Length): Adds a floating tangent from an existing entity using a specified gradient and length.

Float Straight (Through Point): Adds a floating straight from an existing element to a specified pass-through point.
Float Straight - Best Fit: Adds the most probable floating straight from a point on an existing entity through a series of Autodesk Civil 3D points, AutoCAD points, existing entities, or clicks on screen. Tangency is maintained to the attached element, regardless of how the element is edited.
Free Straight (Between Two Parabola): Adds a free straight between two parabolic curves.
Solve Straight Intersection: Creates a VIP at the intersecting gradient line of two straights.

Curve Creation Operations

Use these buttons to add a curve to a profile. You can create curves by selecting elements to attach to, specifying parameters, or selecting a VIP where you want to add a curve. Parameters can be specified numerically or graphically.

For example, to numerically specify a pass-through point, enter the point coordinates. To graphically specify the point, select a point in the drawing window.

To graphically specify a curve length, K value, or radius, use the cursor to pick two points on the screen the correct distance apart. For parabolic and circular curves, you see a preview of the curve as you move the cursor. For asymmetrical curves, you do not see the preview until you begin to specify the second length.

Fixed Vertical Curve (Three Points): Adds a fixed curve through three specified points.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Two Points, Parameter): Adds a fixed sag or crest curve, with a specified K value or minimum radius, through two specified points.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Element End, Through Point): Adds a fixed curve from the end of an existing element to a specified pass-through point.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Two Points, Gradient at Start Point): Adds a fixed curve that is defined by two specified pass-through points and a specified gradient at the start point.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Two Points, Gradient at End Point): Adds a fixed curve that is defined by two specified pass-through points and a gradient at the end point.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Parabolic, High/Low Point, Parameter, Length): Adds a fixed parabolic curve that is defined by a specified high or low point, a K value or a minimum radius and a curve length.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Circular, High/Low Point, Parameter, Length): Adds a fixed circular curve that is defined by a specified high or low point, a minimum radius and a curve length.
Fixed Vertical Curve - Best Fit: Adds the most probable fixed vertical curve through a series of Autodesk Civil 3D points, AutoCAD points, existing entities, or clicks on screen.
Floating Vertical Curve (Parameter, Through Point): Adds a floating curve, which is defined by either a K value or minimum radius, between an existing element and a specified pass-through point.
Floating Vertical Curve (Through Point, Gradient): Adds a floating curve, which is defined by a specified pass-though point and gradient, to an existing element.
Floating Vertical Curve - Best Fit: Adds the most probable floating vertical curve from an existing entity through a series of Autodesk Civil 3D points, AutoCAD points, existing entities or clicks on screen. Tangency is maintained to the attached element, regardless of how the element is edited.
Free Vertical Curve (Circular): Adds a free circular curve, which is defined by a specified pass-through point, curve length, or radius, between two straights.
Note: This type of curve cannot be created between two curves or between a straight and a curve.
Free Vertical Curve (Parabola): Adds a free parabolic curve, which is defined by a specified pass-through point, curve length, radius, or K value, between two elements.
Free Vertical Parabola (VIP Based): Adds a free vertical parabola, which is defined by a specified curve length, pass-through point, or K value, to an existing vertical intersection point (VIP).
Free Asymmetrical Parabola (VIP Based): Adds a free asymmetrical parabola, which is defined by specified before and after VIP curve lengths, to an existing vertical intersection point (VIP).

Note: If the first length you specify is too large for the asymmetric curve, you cannot enter the length for the second curve. The length of the first curve must be less than the chainage distance between the VIP you select and the chainage value of the previous VIP (or end chainage of the previous curve).
Free Circular Curve (VIP Based): Adds a free circular curve, which is defined by a specified radius or pass-through point, to an existing vertical intersection point (VIP).

Free Vertical Curve - Best Fit: Adds the most probable free vertical curve between two existing entities and through a series of Autodesk Civil 3D points, AutoCAD points, existing entities or clicks on screen. Tangency is maintained to the attached elements, regardless of how the elements are edited.

Convert AutoCAD Line and Spline

This button enables you to convert an AutoCAD line or spline to a profile sub-element.

Convert AutoCAD Line and Spline: Creates a fixed straight or three-point vertical curve element from an AutoCAD line or spline.

VIP Operations

These buttons control various operations with VIPs when the Profile Grid View dialog box is active. If the profile is dynamic, only the Copy Profile button is available.

Insert VIPs – Tabular: Creates vertical intersection points (VIPs) at multiple locations simultaneously.
Raise/Lower VIPs: Changes the vertical position of a series of vertical intersection points (VIPs) simultaneously.
Copy Profile: Copies all or a part of a layout profile or static surface profile.

Selection Operations

VIP Based: Edits the profile VIP parameter values in tabular format.
Element Based: Edits the profile element parameter values in tabular format.
Select VIP: Displays a selected VIP's parameter values in the Profile Layout Parameters dialog box. If you do not see this button, click to change to a VIP-based view.
Select Element: Displays a selected profile sub-element's parameter values in the Profile Layout Parameters dialog box. If you do not see this button, click to change to an element-based view.

Extend Element

This button enables you to extend an element to the extents of the profile view.

Extend Element: Extends a fixed or floating straight or parabola to the extents of the profile view.
Note: This command respects any grid padding that is included in the profile view style. If the grid padding is greater than 0, the element will not be extended to the full extents of the profile view.

Delete Elements

This button enables you to delete a straight or curve.

Delete Element: Deletes a specified straight or curve. If you do not see this button, click to change to an element-based view.

Data Analysis

Edit Best Fit Data For All Elements: Toggles the display of a horizontal table of regression data for all elements in the profile that were created by best fit.
Profile Layout Parameters: Toggles the display of a vertical table of numeric data about a single, selected profile sub-element or VIP.
Profile Grid View: Toggles the display of a horizontal table of numeric data about multiple, selected profile sub-elements or VIPs.
Undo: Reverses the last Autodesk Civil 3D or AutoCAD command.
Redo: Reverses the last Autodesk Civil 3D or AutoCAD undo operation. Redo is limited to one operation.