Profile Layout Tools

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

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

For dynamic surface profiles, most tools in this toolbar are not available. Use the Profile Entities vista to display profile data. Similarly, many of the tools are unavailable for use with locked PVIs, including the endpoints of curb return 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 tangents can be drawn in either direction using the Fixed Tangent (Two Points) command. Floating tangents and fixed and floating vertical curves can also be drawn in either direction.

Draw Tangents

Adds a series of fixed tangents between specified points.

Draw Tangents With Curves

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

Curve Settings

Specifies the curve parameters to use with the Draw Tangents 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 previous 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 recognizable in these previous 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 recognizable in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018. If you do not 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 Update 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 cannot 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 cannot be converted and will be missing if the drawing is opened in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.

Note: This command does not convert PVI-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.

PVI Edit Operations

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

Insert PVI

Breaks a tangent into two adjacent tangents by creating a point of vertical intersection (PVI) at a specified location on the profile view.

Click above or below an existing tangent to specify the new PVI location.

Delete PVI

Creates a single tangent from two adjacent tangents by removing a point of vertical intersection (PVI) from a profile.

If two tangents meet at the PVI, they are replaced by a single tangent between two adjacent PVIs.

Move PVI

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

The tangents connected to the PVI remain attached. You can also use editing grips to move a PVI.

Tangent Creation Operations

Use these buttons to add tangents to a layout profile.

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

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

Float Tangent (Through Point): Adds a floating tangent from an existing entity to a specified pass-through point.
Float Tangent - Best Fit: Adds the most probable floating tangent 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 entity, regardless of how the entity is edited.
Free Tangent (Between Two Parabola): Adds a free tangent between two parabolic curves.
Solve Tangent Intersection: Creates a PVI at the intersecting grade line of two tangents.

Curve Creation Operations

Use these buttons to add a curve to a profile. You can create curves by selecting entities to attach to, specifying parameters, or selecting a PVI 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 (Entity End, Through Point): Adds a fixed curve from the end of an existing entity to a specified pass-through point.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Two Points, Grade at Start Point): Adds a fixed curve that is defined by two specified pass-through points and a specified grade at the start point.
Fixed Vertical Curve (Two Points, Grade at End Point): Adds a fixed curve that is defined by two specified pass-through points and a grade 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 entity and a specified pass-through point.
Floating Vertical Curve (Through Point, Grade): Adds a floating curve, which is defined by a specified pass-though point and grade, to an existing entity.
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 entity, regardless of how the entity 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 tangents.
Note: This type of curve cannot be created between two curves or between a tangent 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 entities.
Free Vertical Parabola (PVI Based): Adds a free vertical parabola, which is defined by a specified curve length, pass-through point, or K value, to an existing point of vertical intersection (PVI).
Free Asymmetrical Parabola (PVI Based): Adds a free asymmetrical parabola, which is defined by specified before and after PVI curve lengths, to an existing point of vertical intersection (PVI).

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 station distance between the PVI you select and the station value of the previous PVI (or end station of the previous curve).
Free Circular Curve (PVI Based): Adds a free circular curve, which is defined by a specified radius or pass-through point, to an existing point of vertical intersection (PVI).

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 entities, regardless of how the entities are edited.

Convert AutoCAD Line and Spline

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

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

PVI Operations

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

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

Selection Operations

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

Extend Entity

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

Extend Entity: Extends a fixed or floating tangent 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 entity will not be extended to the full extents of the profile view.

Delete Entities

This button enables you to delete a tangent or curve.

Delete Entity: Deletes a specified tangent or curve. If you do not see this button, click to change to an entity-based view.

Data Analysis

Edit Best Fit Data For All Entities: Toggles the display of a horizontal table of regression data for all entities 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 subentity or PVI.
Profile Grid View: Toggles the display of a horizontal table of numeric data about multiple, selected profile sub-entities or PVIs.
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.