Inserting Grade Objects

To insert a grade object:

1. Click the Grade tool from the appropriate tool set:

●    Designer and Landmark workspace: Site Planning tool set

●    Architect and Spotlight workspace: Building Shell tool set

2. Select Insert mode from the Tool bar.

3. Click to set the start of the grade. Move the cursor and click again to set the end point.

The Grade Settings dialog box opens. Click the Object Properties tab and enter the desired settings.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
General	Given two parameters, the grade parameters are calculated for the remaining parameters. Enter the two known parameters to calculate and display the other grade parameters. The initial elevation of the first and/or second points of the grade object is determined by these methods: ●    If an existing grade object is under one of the points, the elevation of the existing grade object is used ●    If a stake object is under one of the points, its elevation is used ●    If a site model is under one of the points, the calculated elevation of the point is used ●    If none of the above occurs, the elevation of the last created grade object is used
Parameter 1	Select the first known parameter (Elevation 1, Elevation 2, Downward Grade in %, Upward Grade in %, Downward Ratio (rise/run), Upward Ratio (rise/run), or elevation change) and enter the value associated with the parameter
Parameter 2	Select the second known parameter (available choices depend on the first parameter selected), and enter the value associated with the parameter
Parameter Display	The remaining parameters are calculated and displayed, including the grade length
Graphics	Sets the graphic appearance of the grade object. The appearance of the indicator, grade definition, and precision is set in the global settings (see Specifying Global Grade Object Preferences). Once created, each graphic element of the grade object has its own control point. Move a control point to adjust the position of the text and indicator.
Elevation marker symbol	Select the symbol to use to indicate the elevation marker at each end of the grade object; grade symbols are also provided in libraries
Scale	Scales the elevation marker with respect to the layer scale by the specified scale factor; a Factor of less than one decreases the size of the marker while a Factor of more than one increases its size
Show Slope Value	Displays the grade value If the value does not display, increase the text size by selecting Text > Size.
Show Projected/Surface Length Value	Displays the projected grade length/surface length and the slope arrow; the slope arrow always indicates the downward slope direction. Enter a prefix for the value, if desired. The projected length is the distance between the points as measured along a horizontal projection; the surface length is the distance between the points as measured along the surface, which facilitates a more accurate calculation for purchasing materials. If both Show Projected Length Value and Show Surface Length Value are selected, both values are displayed along the grade object, with a slash (/) between them (prefix + projected length/prefix + surface length).
Show Length Value(s) Below Arrow	When Show Projected Length Value and/or Show Surface Length Value is selected, select to display the value below the slope arrow
Show Elevation Value	Displays the elevation value at each end of the grade object
Draw Line	Draws a slope line to represent the distance between the two elevation points
Site Model
Grade Object Mode
Use Grade Object Heights	Uses the elevation values specified in the General parameters
Use Heights from Site Model	When the grade is drawn over a site model, the elevation of the first and second points is derived from either the existing or proposed site model. The values in the General parameters do not apply. The grade object updates with the site model.
Change Site Model (Use Grade as Pad Modifier)	Uses the grade object as a site modifier object; the elevation values specified in the General parameters are applied to either the existing or proposed site model. Update the site model to apply the changes (select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette).
Apply To
Existing/Proposed Site Model	Selects the site model to provide elevation values when Use Heights from Site Model is selected, or the site model to be modified when Change Site Model is selected

4. Click OK.

Grade objects can be edited from the Object Info palette. Commonly-required parameters can be accessed directly from the Object Info palette, or click Settings to change any of the parameters of selected grade objects. Alternatively, edit the settings of a grade object by double-clicking on it, or right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on a grade object and select Edit from the context menu.

Grade objects can be used together, using an existing grade object as a reference for another grade object. Either move the endpoint of one grade object onto the line of another grade object, or create a new grade object with an end point on an existing grade object. The existing grade object is split at the new endpoint, creating a network of overlapping grade objects. The elevation of the shared point is interpolated from the slope of the existing object; if an elevation point is updated, all overlapping grade objects automatically update. Click Update mode from the Tool bar of the Grade tool to force an update of all overlapping grade objects.

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Calculating Grade for a Site Model

Specifying Global Grade Object Preferences

Editing Elevation

Analyzing Grade

Creating Loci from a Grade Object

Site Model Section

Inserting Stake Objects

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