An assembly set is a group of assemblies used to create a corridor in an intersection object.
Assembly sets are used only with intersection object creation. A default assembly set is included with AutoCAD Civil 3D. You can create an intersection using this default assembly set, or you can create your own custom assembly sets to suit the needs of specific intersection design.
When you apply the assembly set, and create or update the intersection object corridors, the referenced assembly objects are imported into the current drawing, if they are not already there.
The following table describes the components that are associated with an assembly set:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| assembly set | A group of assemblies that have been designed for use in specific type of intersection design. An assembly set is defined in an assembly set file. |
| assembly set file | An .xml file containing information that defines the assemblies that are included in an assembly set. An assembly set file contains the names of the assembly objects, the location (path) where the individual assembly drawings exist, and other information about the assemblies included in the set. This .xml file serves primarily as a pointer (reference mechanism). It does not contain the actual assembly drawing data. |
| assembly object names | The name of each assembly object referenced in the set is maintained in the assembly set file. Note that the assembly object data itself is not contained in the assembly set file, just the information that enables AutoCAD Civil 3D to locate the assembly object data (a reference to the assembly name, and the name of the drawing file that contains the assembly object.) |
| assembly drawings | Each assembly object referenced in an assembly set is also saved to an assembly drawing file. An assembly drawing file contains a single assembly object. The assembly drawing file typically has the same name as the assembly object. For example, the assembly drawing file for an assembly object named Secondary_Road_Half_Section _Daylight_Left is named Secondary_Road_Half_Section _Daylight_Left.dwg. The assembly drawing file associated with each assembly object referenced in the assembly set is also stored (referenced) in the assembly set. |
The fist time you use the Create Intersection wizard, it is recommended that you accept and use the assembly set that is referenced by default on the wizard. As you become more familiar with creating intersections, you will want to create your own customized assembly sets. For instructions see, To Create an Assembly Set.
The assembly set that is included with AutoCAD Civil 3D is typically located by default in the following location:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ Autodesk\AutoCAD Civil 3D2013\enu\Assemblies\Imperial (or Metric)
If the assembly set file references an assembly name that cannot be found, then a null assembly will be used to in its place to create the intersection object. For more information, see Null Assemblies.
The following illustration shows the contents of the default assembly set file that is included with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Modifying Assemblies Referenced in Assembly Sets
It is important to note that if you modify an assembly that is referenced in an assembly set, and that is already used in the current drawing, and you do not change the name of the modified assembly, this does not change the intersection area corridor definition.
In such cases, if you try to create a new intersection, or recreate an existing intersection, the intersection corridor will continue to use the assembly of the same name in the current drawing, and will not use the modified assembly that is referenced in the assembly set folder.
If you want to apply the updated assembly that is referenced in the assembly set to the intersection corridor, you must delete (or rename) the assembly with the same in name in the current drawing first.
- Ensure that the assemblies that you intend to save to the new assembly set exist in the current drawing.
You can perform this procedure using the Create Intersection wizard, or by editing an existing intersection object.
- Do one of the following:
- Using the Create Intersection Wizard: You can create an assembly set during intersection creation, using the Corridor Regions page of the Create Intersection wizard. To do so, start the CreateIntersection comand, select the new assemblies in the Assemblies To Apply section of the Corridor Regions page, and then proceed to Step 3 below. If desired, you can click Cancel on the Create Intersection wizard after you have saved the new assembly set. This allows you to create a new assembly set without creating a new intersection object.
- Edit an Existing Intersection: Select an existing intersection, and then click Recreate Corridor Regions on the Modify panel of the Intersection contextual tab. On the Intersection Corridor Regions dialog box, select the assemblies in the Assemblies To Apply section of this dialog box.
- After selecting the desired assemblies, click Save As a Set.
- On the Select Assembly Set File dialog box, enter a name for the new assembly set file, and then click Save.
- To apply the assembly set to the intersection, do one of the following:
- If you selected the assemblies from the Corridor Regions page of the Create Intersection wizard, click the Browse button, select the newly created assembly set file, and then click Create Intersection.
- If you selected the assemblies from the Intersection Corridor Regions dialog box, click the Browse button, select the newly created assembly set file, and then click Recreate.
To apply a different assembly set to an intersection
- In the current drawing, create the desired assemblies. You can edit the existing assemblies, or create new ones from scratch.
- Do one of the following:
- If you are creating an intersection, on the Corridor Regions page of the Create Intersection wizard, select the new assemblies in the Assemblies To Apply section of this dialog box.
- On an existing intersection, select the intersection, and then click Recreate Corridor Regions on the Modify panel of the Intersection contextual tab. On the Intersection Corridor Regions dialog box, select the assemblies in the Assemblies To Apply section of this dialog box.
- After specifying the desired assemblies, click Save As a Set.
- On the Select Assembly Set File dialog box, specify the name and location for the assembly set file, and click Save. If desired, you can select an existing assembly set file and save (update) it with the information about the newly specified assemblies.
- Click Browse to navigate to and select the desired assembly set file.
- Use the drop-down arrow on the Select Assembly Set To Import field to ensure that the desired assembly set file is specified on this dialog box.
- To apply the new assembly set to the intersection, do one of the following:
- If you are creating a new intersection, click Create Intersection on the Corridor Regions page of the Create Intersection wizard.
- If you edited an existing intersection, click Recreate on the Intersection Corridor Regions dialog box.