Hardscape properties

Many of the parameters on the Object Info palette are identical to those used to create the hardscape object (see Hardscape preferences). Only the parameters that are different are described here.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Shape Tab
Style	Replace, remove, or edit the current style, or create a new plug-in object style for this object; see Changing plug-in object styles from the Object Info palette. Editing a style changes all instances in the file that use the style.
Hide style parameters	Hides the parameters that are set by style; these cannot be edited from the dialog box or Object Info palette
Hardscape Settings	Click to edit the selected hardscape object. Only one hardscape can be selected at a time when editing its settings. To modify the default hardscape object settings, click Preferences on the Tool bar.
General
Hardscape Name	Provide a name for the hardscape, for use in tags and reports
Path Width	Enter the width of the pathway hardscape object
Path Offset	Sets the offset of the pathway centerline from the placement line
Joint I/J Scale	Specifies the size of the joint pattern units, for flagstone, pavers-grid, and pavers-running joint patterns
Joint Pattern Angle	Specifies the rotation angle of the joint pattern
Border Pattern Size	Sets the width of the spaced joints, when spaced joints are selected for the border
Border Pattern Angle	Enter the angle of the pattern inside the border
Draw 3D
3D Type	Changes the 3D hardscape type; see Creating hardscape objects. A slab with a pathway configuration cannot be changed to a slab drainage type.
Main Area Components/ Border Components	For an unstyled main area slab, opens the Hardscape Main Area Components or Hardscape Border Components dialog box to specify the hardscape components; see Creating hardscapes
Border Components	For an unstyled border slab, opens the Slab Components dialog box to specify the components; see Creating slab components
Drainage Settings	For a slab drainage hardscape, opens the Slab Drainage Settings dialog box; see Slab drainage settings.
Site Modifier
Cut the site model	For a planar pad, aligned, path, or draped site modifier Configuration, cuts the site model by the volume of the hardscape components below the datum component, to allow accurate cut and fill calculations; see Reporting site model volume
Simplification Tolerance	Enter a positive value to redefine the horizontal distance between the closest parts of two neighboring portions of the modifier. A longer distance simplifies the modifier polygon, reducing the number of source points that modify the site model. A shorter distance increases the number of source points that modify the site model. A value of 0 (zero) does not simplify the modifier.
Modifier Vertex Count	Displays the number of vertices created by the hardscape to modify the site model
Update Site Model	Updates the site model with any site model modifications that have occurred. If the update causes the site model contours to fall outside the minimum/maximum elevation range specified in the site model settings, an alert displays, allowing the range to be adjusted.
Vertical sides for inner modifiers	Determines whether inner modifiers, such as a hardscape within grade limits, create a transitional surface (when disabled) or a vertical retaining edge (when enabled) Vertical sides for inner modifiers deselected (on the left) and selected (on the right)
Pad (Planar Pad configuration)
Elevation	Sets the elevation of the hardscape
Slope Definition	Select the method of defining the slope, or select None for a flat pad. After selecting the method, specify the Slope, the Elevation at End of the slope, or the Contour Angle, and the other values are automatically calculated and displayed.
Aligned (Aligned configuration)	Uses the hardscape as 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
Realign	Resets the surface alignment with surrounding geometry
Align with Objects on	Selects the objects to align to, based on the layer 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 Modifier: 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 hardscapt 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. Custom Set of Layers: Opens the Select Layers dialog box, to select or to modify the selected layers
Interpolate surface	Increases the level of detail of the surface created by the profiles and modifiers
Smoothness Sampling	Enter the sampling rate (0 – 100); higher values add vertices and increase the smoothness
Falloff	Enter the percentage (0 – 100). This value determines the effect of the surface's defining elements (profiles, stakes, grade objects and adjacent objects) on the interpolated surface. The bigger the value, the less the influence of the defining elements. When the Interpolation Type is Concave, falloff values control the curvature of the surface. Larger falloff values result in a straighter, less curved surface; lower falloff values create a varied curved surface with hills and valleys. When the Interpolation Type is Convex, larger falloff values "pull" more on the surface points. The surface points may move close to the minimum elevation.
Interpolation Type	Select Concave or Convex, depending on the surface, the falloff value, and the desired results. Concave uses multiquadratic radial function calculations, and usually produces the best results. The surface effects are more stable and minimize the curvature. Convex uses inverse multiquadratic radial function calculations, and is useful when a bigger falloff is desired. The gravitational effect of this option pulls the surface points down to the minimum elevation based on their distance from the defining elements (profiles, stakes, grade objects and adjacent objects).
Elevation	Specifies the modifier elevation (does not apply to the aligned edges)
Profiles (Aligned configuration)	Modifies the surface of the hardscape with profile lines; see Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with profile lines
Profile	Scrolls through the profiles, highlighting the selected one; click the center button to highlight the current profile
Name	Displays the name of the currently selected profile
Profile Line Class	Select <Hardscape Class> to place the profile in the same class as the hardscape; select a class, or create a new class, to control profile line appearance and visibility.
Show profile lines	Toggles the display of all profile line parameters (name, slope, elevation, and markers)
Show profile names	Toggles the display of all profile names
Show slopes	Toggles the display of all slope values
Show vertex elevation	Toggles the display of all vertex elevations
Show profile line markers	Toggles the display of all profile markers
Add Profile	Adds a profile line to the hardscape for modifying the surface
Edit Profile	Enters editing mode for the selected profile, for Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with profile lines
Reverse Direction	Reverses the direction of the profile line section
Profile Line Marker Styles	Opens the Set 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
Delete Profile	Deletes the selected profile
Surface Modifiers (Aligned configuration)	Modifies the surface of the hardscape with stake and grade objects
Show stake objects	After modifying the hardscape with stake objects, displays the stake objects
Show grade objects	After modifying the hardscape with grade objects, displays the grade objects
Edit Surface Modifiers	Edits the surface modifiers; see Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with surface modifiers
Longitudinal Profile (Path configuration)
Edit Profile	Enters editing mode for the selected profile, for Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with profile lines
Start Elevation/End Elevation	Enter the starting and ending elevation of the modifier; alternatively, enter one of the elevations and ender a Slope value to automatically calculate the other elevation
Slope	Enter the slope value; alternatively, when the Start Elevation and End Elevation are entered, the slope displays
Realign Elevations	If changes occurred to an elevation, resets the affected vertex elevations
Fit to Surface	Conforms the longitudinal profile line to the surface of the site model
Profile Line Class/Profile Text Class	Select <Hardscape Class> to place the profile or its label text in the same class as the hardscape; select a class, or create a new class, to control profile line appearance and visibility
Elevation Marker	Select the elevation indicator type
Elevation Marker Factor	Specifies the scale factor of the elevation marker
Slopes Grade Def	Determines the how the Slope is calculated and displayed
Show profile line	Shows profile lines when profiles are added to edit the aligned slab (see Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with profile lines)
Show slopes	Toggles the display of all slope values
Arrow indicates downward	When Show slopes is selected, adds an arrow to indicate which side slopes down
Show vertex elevation	Toggles the display of all vertex elevations
Show profile line markers	Toggles the display of markers at the ends of the profile line
Profile Line Marker Styles	Opens the Set Marker Styles 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
Transverse Profiles
Profile	Scrolls through the profiles, highlighting the selected one; click the center button to highlight the current profile
Name	Displays the name of the currently selected profile
Profile Line Class Profile Text Class	Select <Hardscape Class> to place the profile in the same class as the hardscape; select a class, or create a new class, to control profile line appearance and visibility
Slopes Grade Def	Determines the how the Slope is calculated and displayed
Show profile lines	Toggles the display of all profile line parameters (name, slope, elevation, and markers)
Show profile names	Toggles the display of all profile names
Show slopes	Toggles the display of all slope values
Arrow indicates downward	When Show slopes is selected, adds an arrow to indicate which side slopes down
Show vertex elevation	Toggles the display of all vertex elevations
Show profile line markers	Toggles the display of markers at the ends of the profile line
Add Profile	Adds a profile line for modifying the surface
Edit Profile	Enters editing mode for the selected profile, for Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with profile lines
Profile Line Marker Styles	Opens the Set 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
Delete Profile	Deletes the selected profile
Texture Bed (Texture Bed configuration)
Texture from Class	Select <Hardscape Class> to use the texture specified for the hardscape class; select a class, or create a new class, to control texture bed appearance and visibility. The indicated class should have a texture applied on the Textures pane, with Use at Creation selected. See Concept: Applying textures by class.
Information
Main Area	Displays the size of the main area
Border Area	Displays the size of the border area
Footprint Area	Displays the area of the entire footprint of the hardscape
Main Perimeter	Displays the perimeter measurement of the main area polyline
Border Perimeter	Displays the perimeter of the border only
Footprint Perimeter	Displays the perimeter measurement of the entire footprint polyline
Site Modifier Information
Update Calculations	Updates the area and volume calculations displayed in the Object Info palette for the area of the site model located under the hardscape modifier (grade limits must exist around the pad)
Site model area and volume data	Displays the area and volume information for the site model area located under the site modifier; select the units for the area and volume (grade limits must exist around the pad). For more information, see Site model properties.
Vertex parameters	Edits the vertices of the path object that the hardscape is based upon; see Editing vertex-based objects
Render Tab
Texture	You can apply and manage textures for Slab and Slab Drainage type hardscapes on the Object Info palette Render tab. See Managing object textures from the Object Info palette and Textures on objects with components.

Keep in mind the following when editing the hardscape properties:

To set individual border segments to invisible for boundary hardscapes or cut-out holes, select the hardscape object, and then click the Reshape tool. Click Hide or Show Edges mode. Click the midpoint of the hardscape border segments or the cut-out hole to hide. Repeat this process to set the border segments back to visible, if necessary.

To quickly determine the left and right side of a pathway hardscape object, select the hardscape object and click the middle button next to the Vertex field on the Shape tab of the Object Info palette; when the button is clicked, the first vertex of the hardscape object is highlighted with a red box.

When classing the subcomponents of the hardscape object, such as for the joints or tags, the class visibility of the specified class controls the visibility of the corresponding subcomponent. The class attributes are only applied to the corresponding subcomponent when the Use at Creation option is selected for the class. For example, if the Joint Class is set to the Hardscape - Component - Main Joint class, and that class specifies a hatch Fill Style, edit the class and select the Use at Creation option to apply the fill attribute. See Setting class attributes.

A hardscape object can be used as the basis of a retaining wall. This provides the ability to sculpt the site model around the hardscape. See Creating retaining walls.

Editing hardscape objects

Reshaping a hardscape object

Converting a hardscape object to different configuration

Aligning hardscapes or modifiers with existing geometry

Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with profile lines

Editing aligned hardscapes or modifiers with surface modifiers

Workflow: Creating a section view of a hardscape

Hardscape tag appearance

Specifying hardscape joint patterns

Editing hardscape fills and joint patterns

Creating hardscapes

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