Alignment layout tools

Last updated: 2025-10-17

Total video time: 11:24

Exercise file: ali-data-C3D22.zip

ali-lyout-tool-01.mp4 2:36

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-4thAve-ali-lyout-tool-01.dwg
    3. Open

Layout Creation Tools

  1. Ribbon > Home tab > Create Design panel > Alignment dropdown > Alignment Creation Tools
  2. Create Alignment - Layout dialog box
    1. Name: Lcl 4th Ave
    2. Type: Centerline
    3. Description: (added information about alignment) Leave blank
    4. Starting station: leave set to default, 0+00.00", but any start number can be given.
    5. Site: <None>
    6. Alignment style, layer, and label set: Leave as is.
    7. OK
  3. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar

    Info: The title bar displays the current alignment, Lcl 4th Ave.

    1. Left-click Draw Tangent-Tangent tool
    2. Specify first point: Left-click point 1201
    3. Specify next point: Left-click point 1202
    4. Specify next point: Continue left-click all points, west to east, ending at point 1205

      Info: Direction of an alignment should be west to east or south to north.

    5. Right-click to end command

Alignment Layout Tools toolbar

The Alignment Layout Tools toolbar performs site specific design by layouts.

  • Design tangents, curves, and spirals.
  • Add or remove PI (point of intersection).
  • Convert AutoCAD lines and arcs to an alignment.
  • Reverse or edit created layout entities.
  • Delete sub-entities.
  • Display design elements in a table/grid format.

ali-lyout-tool-02.mp4 1:29

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-4thAve-ali-lyout-tool-01.dwg
    3. Open

Edit curve settings

  1. Ribbon > Home tab > Create Design panel > Alignment dropdown > Alignment Creation Tools
  2. Create Alignment - Layout dialog box
    1. Name: Lcl 4th Ave
    2. Leave all other setting as is.
    3. OK
  3. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Tangent-Tangent tool dropdown > Curve and Spiral Settings...
  4. Curve and Spiral Settings dialog box
    1. Type: Clothoid
    2. Box checked Curve
    3. Default radius: 100
    4. OK

ali-lyout-tool-03.mp4 2:22

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-4thAve-ali-lyout-tool-01.dwg
    3. Open

Set Object Snap (OSnap) setting

  1. Status bar > Object Snap dropdown > Node (uncheck all other OSnaps)

Tangent-Tangent (no curves)

  1. Ribbon > Home tab > Create Design panel > Alignment dropdown > Alignment Creation Tools
  2. Create Alignment - Layout dialog box
    1. Name: Lcl 4th Ave
    2. Leave all other setting as is.
    3. OK
  3. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Tangent-Tangent tool dropdown > Tangent-Tangent (No curves)
  4. Specify start point: Left-click point 1201
  5. Specify next point: Left-click point 1202
  6. Specify next point: Left-click point 1203
  7. Right-click to end command

Tangent-Tangent (with curves)

  1. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Tangent-Tangent tool dropdown > Tangent-Tangent (With curves)
  2. Specify start point: Left-click point 1203
  3. Specify next point: Left-click point 1204
  4. Specify next point: Left-click point 1205
  5. Right-click to end command

ali-lyout-tool-04.mp4 2:59

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-4thAve-ali-lyout-tool-04.dwg
    3. Open

Set Object Snap (OSnap) setting

  1. Status bar > Object Snap dropdown > Node (uncheck all other OSnaps)

Add missing points to the alignment

  1. Left-click the alignment
  2. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Geometry Editor OR Right-click menu > Edit Alignment Geometry...
  3. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Insert PI command
  4. Pick point near PI to insert: Hover over point 1204 and left-click to snap
  5. Right-click to accept
  6. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Insert PI command
  7. Pick point near PI to insert: Hover over point 1207 and left-click to snap
  8. Right-click to accept

Deleting PI from the alignment

  1. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Delete PI command
  2. Pick point near PI to delete: Hover over point 1207 and left-click to snap
  3. Right-click to remove

Break-apart PI

  1. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Break-apart PI command
  2. Pick point near PI to split: Hover over point 1204 and left-click to snap
  3. Enter distance by which to split PI:25Enter
  4. Right-click to accept

X to close Alignment Layout Tools toolbar

ali-lyout-tool-05.mp4 1:58

Open drawing file

  1. Quick Access > Open
  2. Open File dialog box
    1. Look in: browse to folder dataset is saved.
    2. Select AliProf-4thAve.dwg
    3. Open

Reverse sub-entity direction

Looking at the alignment, the labeling stops midway. This means there is a sub-entity going in the wrong direction.

  1. Left-click the alignment
  2. Contextual ribbon > Modify panel > Geometry Editor OR Right-click menu > Edit Alignment Geometry...
  3. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Reverse Sub-entity Direction command
  4. Select fixed line or curve to reverse: Left-click curve by point 1203

Labels should appear complete to the end of the alignment.

Delete sub-entity

  1. Alignment Layout Tools toolbar > Delete Sub-entity command
  2. Select subentity to remove: Left-click line between points 1204 & 1205
  3. Right-click to accept.