Penn Foster Civil Project.....

[TimC]

Ok, I'm just starting the civil project and I didn't make it past direction 4 without realizing this makes ZERO sense.

 

1. Create a layer, Spot (color yellow, linetype continuous), on which to draw the elevation values.

 

2. Create an X using two intersecting lines, each 10 feet long, on the layer Spot. The lines should intersect at their midpoints.

 

3. Move the lines from the intersection of the lines (using the Osnap) to the center of the benchmark (again using the Osnap).

 

4. Now, use the ARRAY command. When the command prompt asks you to select objects, enter P for Previous. (AutoCAD will automatically select the two lines you had just moved.) Use a rectangular array with 12 rows and 18 columns. When AutoCAD prompts you for the unit distance between rows, enter –50. (You enter a negative number since you're arraying the rows from the northwest corner to the lower portion of the screen, which is a negative direction in AutoCAD.) When AutoCAD prompts you for the unit distance between rows, enter 50. (This time, you'll enter a positive number since you're arraying columns from the northwest corner to the right, which in AutoCAD is a positive direction.) Finally, ERASE the spot elevation mark that you had positioned with the benchmark.

 

5. Create a text style named SPOT-TEXT. Select ROMANS as the font and use a height of 6″ and a width factor of 0.8. While still in layer Spot, use the DTEXT command, and type XXX alongside the spot elevation mark in the lower-left corner of the screen. Now, use the ARRAY command again to copy the XXX alongside the rest of the spot elevations.

 

6. The Spot Elevations table lists the spot elevations in rows, beginning with the northernmost row at BM 312 and reading from left to right. Double-click on the text to change the XXX for each spot to the appropriate elevation listed in the table.

 

The rest of it is a pain to put on here but anyone whos ever opened excel knows that "Columns" go up and down, "Rows" go left and right. So there are many different ways this could come out with these confusing. Im not even sure how to proceed here....

[ReMark]

I followed the instructions you provided above and got the following result (see attached image). How familiar are you with the ARRAY command? 

[TimC]

Honestly, I started it and go to the point where it contradicted itself and stopped because I wasn't sure if it was a typo or not. Been plenty of those in this ridiculous class so far. Then I saw where they didn't know the difference between a column and a row and I figured it was late enough that I should just be done for the day and go spend some time with my wife and kids before bed time..lol...I guess Ill follow it word for word and se what happens. I've only used the array command 1 time but I DO understand it. I think the biggest part for most of us is were all just fatigued from having to decipher instructions vs actually LEARNING the course. Obviously were still learning the course as well but not as much as if we didn't have to question every little thing. Ok, rant over. Sorry. Ill report back soon. Thank you sir

[TimC]

Nope. mine looks way different. My guess is because -50 and +50 rows cancel each other out. Guessing the second one should be Columns and not rows?

[TimC]

This is what I get if I go with -50 rows and 50 Columns......

[ReMark]

It is not -50 rows and 50 columns.  It's actually 12 rows and 18 columns as stated in the instructions.  -50 & 50 are distances between arrayed objects.  In this case, that's the vertical and horizontal lines you created.  I've tried it twice and both times I have gotten it to work.  Not sure where you are going wrong at the moment.

 

There is another way you could create the grid of spot points.  Draw the vertical and horizontal lines.  Move one, via midpoint, to the midpoint of the other.  Turn the two lines into a block and retain it.  Now, invoke the Copy command and copy your newly created block 50 units to the right.  Repeat a total of 17 more times adding 50 units as you go.  Ex. - 50, 100, 150, 200, 250.... and so on.  Once you have 18 objects, in a straight line, copy all 18 objects down 50 units adding 50 units as you go.  Do this for a total of 11 more times.  Done.  After doing this you will have more appreciation for the Array Command as this method is a bit tedious.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by ReMark