Section Lines and Section-Elevation Markers

Section lines and section-elevation markers look very similar on a drawing, but they are created differently.

A section line is automatically created when a vertical section viewport is created (horizontal sections do not have them). The section line graphically indicates the cutting plane of the section viewport and shows the orientation of the section view. Specify the graphic properties of the section line (such as the marker style) when you create the section viewport. To access a section line from its section viewport, click Section Line Instances from the Object Info palette (see Section Line Instances).

A section line that has been pasted from a copy, duplicated, or mirrored from a section line that is associated with a section viewport becomes an “unlinked” section line. It displays with black and yellow stripes. In the Object Info palette, Section Viewport displays Not Linked.

A section-elevation marker is graphically similar to a section line, but it is not necessarily linked to a viewport. Use the Section-Elevation Marker tool from the Dims/Notes tool set to insert a marker, as a reference line graphic for sections and elevations, or as a cutting plane graphic. Select Preferences from the Tool bar to specify the graphic properties of the object before you create it.

A section-elevation marker can be linked to a viewport. Depending on the type of viewport it is linked to, its drawing number and sheet number are synced to the selected viewport, similar to a section line. Section-elevation markers that are linked to a viewport display with a green link icon next to the beginning marker. The linked section-elevation marker can have different graphic properties from a section line that is also associated with a section viewport.

When a section viewport is deleted, the associated section line and any linked section-elevation markers are also deleted.

Creating Section-Elevation Markers

● Use the Object Info palette to edit the graphic properties (such as the marker style).

● Use the Attributes palette to apply attributes (such as the fill or pen color).

● Use options on the Text menu to control the text appearance (such as the font or size), or assign a text style.

● A section-elevation marker can be linked to a viewport by selecting the viewport from the Link To Viewport list on the Object Info palette.

Properties of Section Lines and Section-Elevation Markers

Parameters display on the Object Info palette for selected section lines and section-elevation markers. Many of these parameters also display on the Section Line Settings dialog box, which you can access when you create a section viewport.

Parameter	Description
Section Viewport (Section Lines only)	Displays the name of the viewport associated with the section line; a section line that is not associated with a viewport is labeled “Not Linked”
Reverse Direction (Section Lines only)	Reverses the side to display when objects beyond the section plane are visible
Navigate to Section Viewport (Section Lines only)	Navigates to the section viewport associated with the section line
Rotation (Section-Elevation Markers only)	Sets the marker rotation; if the marker was created from a rotated plan view, this parameter can be used to reset the marker to the world coordinate system
Text Style	Select a text style from a library or the current file. To use the style defined for the object’s class, select <Class Text Style>. To format the text using options on the Text menu, select <Un-Styled>. See Using Text Styles and Formatting Text.
Configuration	Select the section line configuration ● Section: draws a section marker at both ends of a straight or broken section line ● Partial Section: draws a section marker at the beginning of a straight or broken section line ● Elevation: draws a section marker along a straight section line at a control point, which can be dragged to a new location
Flip (Section-Elevation Markers only)	Reverses the direction of the marker
Set Marker Style(s) (for Section-Elevation Markers) or Section Marker Style(s) (for Section Lines)	Opens the Set Marker Style dialog box, to select the section marker type at each end of the section line; markers can be the same (Match Beginning) or different (Differentiate) at each end of the section line. Select from a library or the current file.
Link To Viewport (Section-Elevation Markers only)	Links the section-elevation marker to an existing viewport; select the viewport to link to from the list. A green link icon (next to the beginning marker in the drawing) indicates that the section-elevation marker is linked to a viewport. When a section-elevation marker is linked to a standard viewport, the sheet number is synced; when it linked to a section viewport, both the drawing number and sheet number are synced.
Marker Size	Specifies the size of the section marker, measured from the marker’s insertion point to the top of its longest point. Changes to the marker size do not affect the text size.
Use Gapped Line (Section and Partial Section configurations only)	Displays the section line with a gapped line
Gap Line Length	If Use Gapped Line is selected, specifies the length of the solid section line at each end of the section line
Text Auto-Rotate	When selected, the marker text always displays in the same orientation; when deselected, the text is rotated according to the Text Rotation value
Text Both Ends (Section configuration only)	Displays text at the end of the marker, as well as the beginning
Text Config	Specifies the display style for the Drawing Number and Sheet Number text; if Dwg. No.-Sheet No. or Sheet No.-Dwg. No. is selected, specify a Text Separator to place between the text items
Text Rotation	When Text Auto-Rotate is not selected, specifies the rotation of the marker text
Text Sheet %	Specifies the scale value for the Sheet Number portion of the marker text. Enter a number larger than 100 to make the text larger. Enter a number below 100 to make it smaller. The scale value must be larger than 1.
Text Separator	For the Dwg. No.-Sheet No. and Sheet No.-Dwg. No. text configurations, specifies the separator to place between the Drawing Number and Sheet Number text
Auto-coordinate (Section Lines only)	For section line objects associated with a section viewport, automatically displays the Drawing Number of the referenced section viewport, and the viewport’s Sheet Number. Deselect this option to enter the Drawing Number and Sheet Number manually.
Drawing Number	Enter the Drawing Number of the referenced section viewport; this value is assigned by default for section lines when Auto-coordinate is selected, and for section-elevation markers that are linked to a section viewport
Sheet Number	Enter the Sheet Number of the referenced section viewport; this value is assigned by default for section lines when Auto-coordinate is selected, and for section-elevation markers that are linked to a viewport
Detail Text (Section-Elevation Markers only)	Enter additional text to appear next to the marker; the text has its own control point and can be positioned separately