Name

Enter a name for the hardscape object, which is useful for identifying hardscapes in tags and reports

Saved Settings Options

See Using saved sets to save and apply saved settings

Configuration

When Preferences is accessed from the Tool bar, the selected Configuration automatically switches the selected mode on the Tool bar to match when the Preferences dialog box closes

Boundary

Defines the hardscape object with a user-defined polyline as the outer edge of the hardscape object (for example, to define regular or irregular patio areas).

Aligned Boundary

Defines the hardscape object with a user-defined polyline similar to the boundary type; the hardscape aligns vertically along the edges of surrounding geometry. On the Draw 3D pane, the 3D Type switches to Aligned Slab.

Pathway

Defines the hardscape object with a user-defined polyline as an alignment for a linear path

Width

Width of the pathway hardscape object

Offset

Sets the offset of the pathway centerline from the placement line

Draw 2D

Joint Pattern

Select the main hardscape joint pattern; see Specifying hardscape joint patterns

Main Area Class

To control appearance and visibility, select a class for the joint pattern from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class

Draw Border

Includes a border pattern along the edges of the hardscape object

Width

Enter the width of the border

Joint Pattern

Select the border joint pattern. For more information, see Specifying a hatch, stipple, or tile joint pattern and Specifying a spaced joint pattern.

Background Color

Click the color box to select the desired border color

Border Class

To control appearance and visibility, select a class for the border joint pattern from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class

Pathway Borders

Select the border configuration for pathway hardscape objects with borders

Draw 3D

Specify 3D hardscape object parameters. Certain hardscape object types can modify an existing site model; see Site model modification overview.

3D Type

Select the 3D hardscape format. See Concept: Hardscape types for more information.

●       None displays a schematic view of the hardscape in 3D views.

●       Slab creates a slab object for the main hardscape and another slab for the border if one is specified.

●       Slab Modifier (Top/Bottom) uses a slab as a site model modifier. Select this type if the site model needs to be made planar beneath the hardscape, similar to a pad modifier; see Creating a pad or pad with retaining edge. Both types modify the proposed site model surface, but align to either the top or bottom of the hardscape.

●       Texture Bed Modifier uses the hardscape as a site model texture bed modifier. Select this type to change the texture on part of the site; see Creating a texture bed.

●       Slab Drainage creates a slab for the main hardscape to support a drainage system; see Creating slab drainage systems. If a border is specified, another slab is created, but drainage elements are not applied to it.

When Slab Drainage is selected, the entire hardscape cannot be set to slope. However, the Slab Drainage tool can modify the main hardscape, adding slopes and ridges to the main slab geometry.

●       Aligned Slab creates a non-planar slab that automatically matches relative elevations along horizontally collinear edges of adjacent roadways, hardscapes, massing models, extrudes, 3D polygons, landscape areas, walls, and pad/pad with retaining edge site modifiers

●       Aligned Slab Modifier (Top/Bottom) uses an aligned slab as a site model modifier. Both types modify the proposed site model surface, but align to either the top or bottom of the hardscape.

Hardscapes that are based on an embedded slab can use the slab's material resource for the main hardscape area.

Align with Objects on

(aligned slabs only)

Selects the objects to align to, based on location of the objects. This offers flexible control over the alignment.

●       All Layers: Aligns the hardscape with geometry from any layer in the file

●       Visible Layers only: Aligns the hardscape with modifiers from visible layers only; geometry on invisible layers does not affect the hardscape

●       Same Layer as Hardscape: Aligns the hardscape with geometry that exists only on the same layer

●       Select Layers: Opens the Select Layers dialog box, to choose which layers with geometry can affect the hardscape alignment. Click in the Use column to select a layer. To create a new design layer, click New Layer; specify the name for the new layer, and click OK. Click OK to return to the Hardscape Object Settings dialog box. The Align with Objects on list displays Custom Set of Layers.

Interpolate Surface

(aligned slabs only)

Increases the level of detail of the hardscape by adding vertices; this increases the smoothness when the hardscape is aligned or modified

Thickness

For any of the slab types, enter the main slab thickness

Border Thickness

For any of the slab types, enter the border slab thickness

Main Texture

Select the texture resource for the hardscape object or assign it by class; the displayed textures are from a library or the current file. The texture origin and rotation are automatically set to match the 2D fill origin and rotation for the main texture area.

Border Texture

Select the texture resource for the border object or assign it by class; the displayed textures are from a library or the current file. The texture origin and rotation are automatically set to match the 2D fill origin and rotation for the border.

Annotations

Tag Display

Select whether to display the hardscape tag to the right or left of the leader line, without a leader line (floating), or not at all

Tag Style

Select the ID tag display style.

●       Name Only displays the name of the hardscape object only (as defined in the Name field).

●       Name-Area(s) displays the hardscape object name, main area, and area of the border if applicable.

●       Name-Area(s)-Perim displays the hardscape object name, main area, area of the border if applicable, and perimeter length.

Tag Class

To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Hardscape Class> to place the tag in the same class as the hardscape object.

Display Tag Line Marker

Displays a marker at the end of the leader line; specify the marker style by editing the hardscape tag class (see Setting class properties)

Snap Tag to Hardscape Edge

Select this option to automatically align the endpoint of the tag with the edge or corner of the hardscape that is nearest to the shoulder point of the tag

Show Stake Surface Modifiers

(aligned slabs only)

Shows stake objects that are added when editing the surface of an aligned slab (see Modifying aligned hardscapes with surface modifiers)

Show Grade Surface Modifiers

(aligned slabs only)

Shows grade objects that are added when editing the surface of an aligned slab (see Modifying aligned hardscapes with surface modifiers)

Slope Arrow Class

(slab or slab modifiers only)

To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Hardscape Class> to place the tag in the same class as the hardscape object.

Show Profile Lines

(aligned slabs only)

Shows profile lines when profiles are added to edit the aligned slab (see Modifying aligned hardscapes with profile lines)

Show Profile Line Markers

(aligned slabs only)

Shows markers at the ends of the profile line

Default Profile Line Marker Style(s)

(aligned slabs only)

Opens the Set Default Marker Style dialog box, to select the profile marker type at each end of the profile line; markers can be the same (Match Beginning) or different (Differentiate) at each end of the section line