The Calculator

At the prompt that asks for the beginning elevation you have the option to use Select. This option will allow you to click on an existing text object (TEXT, MTEXT, ATTDEF, ATTRIB, or MULTILEADER), another label for instance, and use that number. This option works even with prefixes as well as suffixes. Also, you can select a limited list of drawing objects for which an elevation can be extracted.

Enter top elevation or [Select Bottom] <100.00>: s (type the letter 's')

Filter: TEXT MTEXT ATTDEF ATTRIB MULTILEADER LWPOLYLINE VERTEX CIRCLE ARC POINT AECC_POINT AECC_COGO_POINT AECC_CONTOUR

Select object or <back>: (select an object using the mouse)

102.50 TC 102.00 FL

When selecting an MTEXT or Multileader and it contains more than one number, EC Pro will prompt you to select the correct elevation (default is the first found number). If the Heads-Up option is enabled you may be prompted in a small dialog box to select the number.

Enter top elevation or [Select Bottom] <100.00>: s (type the letter 's')

Filter: TEXT MTEXT ATTDEF ATTRIB MULTILEADER LWPOLYLINE VERTEX CIRCLE ARC POINT AECC_POINT AECC_COGO_POINT AECC_CONTOUR

Select object or <back>: (select an existing multi-line text object with the mouse)

Multi-line text detected! Select correct elevation [1=100.00 2=99.50] <100.00>: 2 (type the number '2')

99.50 TC / 99.00 FL -

Specify end point of label or [Styles Mini Tail] <none>:

The elevations are output to the commandline. The Bottom option will allow you to specify the bottom elevation instead of the default top elevation. While in Bottom mode, Top replaces Bottom as an option.

Enter top elevation or [Select Bottom] <100.00>: b (type the letter 'b')

Enter bottom elevation or [Select Top] <100.00>: 102.25 (type an elevation or type an option)

EC Pro then automatically calculates the top elevation for you.

When asked to enter the slope, you are given 6 other options: Select, Ratio, Difference, Elevation, Intermediate, and Test. Choosing Ratio will allow you to enter 5/1 for a 5 horizontal to 1 vertical slope.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: r (type the letter 'r')
Enter slope as a ratio H/V: 5/1 (type '5/1')

If you select just the Difference, or step option, it skips over the slope prompt and calculates the slope from your difference in elevation.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: d (type the letter 'd')
Enter difference in elevation (ft) <0.0>: -1 (type '-1')
102.50 TC 102.00 FL (program labels the slope based on the elevation difference)

If you did not choose the Difference option, you are always prompted for a difference after. In the simple example, you used the default '0' value. This value could represent any change in elevation; this is more useful in situations other than designing curb.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: 2 (type the number '2')

Enter difference in elevation (ft) <0.0>: (press enter)

103.70 TC 103.30 FL

Alternatively, you could select Elevation and type the elevation, or optionally, Select it as you did before. EC Pro then calculates the slope automatically for you. See Select Option section for more info.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: e (type the letter 'e')

Enter top elevation or [Select Bottom] <back>: 102.5 (type the elevation)

Slope: 2.13%

The Select option will allow you to pick a text object (TEXT, MTEXT, ATTDEF, or ATTRIB) to extract the slope value from. This extraction takes into account the distance label portion of the text you click on and will correctly return the slope value. Also, you are able to select a line (LINE). The slope will be derived from the actual slope of the line.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: s (type the letter 's')

Filter: TEXT MTEXT ATTDEF ATTRIB LINE

Select object or <back>: (select an object using the mouse)

Slope: 1.00%

The program will prompt you to correct the sign of the slope. This is due to the fact that sometimes the slope is labeled using the ABS value. Typing 'No' will automatically change the sign of the slope value.

Is the sign of the slope correct? [Yes No] <Yes>: n (type the letter 'n')

Slope: -1.00%

Enter difference in elevation (ft) <0.0>:

The Intermediate option will allow you to skip entering a slope or elevation until you get to your end point. It will bank the distances and then calculate the elevation or slope for you at the end. This is nice when you have several steps between your start and end points, but do not know what the slope is. You can select intermediate an unlimited number of times, but it will not remember the banked distance if you quit out of the command.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: i (type the letter 'i')

Current Style: <Default> Alternate Style: <Default>

Select next point or [Arc Target Styles Mini sWap] <quit>: continue your design

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: 2 (type the slope '2')

102.50 TC 102.00 FL

The Test option will allow you to see what the resulting elevation would be for different slope values. You can specify either the Slope or Elevation.

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <1.00>: t (type the letter 't')

TEST>> Select type of test [Slope Elevation] <Slope>: s (type the letter 's')

TEST>> Enter slope in percent or <1.00>: 5 (type the slope 5)

TEST>> 102.50 TC 102.00 FL

Enter slope in percent or [Select Ratio Difference Elevation Intermediate Test] <5.00>: t (type the letter 't')

TEST>> Select type of test [Slope Elevation] <Slope>: e (type the letter 'e')

TEST>> Enter slope in percent or <1.00>: 5 (type the slope 5)

TEST>> Enter top elevation or [Select Bottom] <back>: 102.5 (type the elevation)

TEST>> Slope: 2.13%

The resultant will be displayed on the command line, and then you can choose to use this entered or calculated slope in your design.

The command ECS starts the Styles dialog box. Also from the commandline, when prompted for a point while using EC Pro in design mode you have the option to change the settings. This can be done on the fly without losing your place.

Current Style: <Default> Alternate Style: <Default>

Specify first point or [Styles Mini sWap] <quit>: s (type the letter 's')

The label styles dialog box should appear as shown below or at the top of this page. There is also a quick mini dialog that you can invoke using 'M' instead of 'S' at most prompts or by typing ECM at the commandline. Select a style in the Alt Style select box. Press OK.

This next section only applies when you register EC Pro! Request a free 6-Week Trial License today!

The Swap option will switch between the Current and Alternate styles. This can save you time if you frequently need to use two styles at any point in time while designing.

Current Style: <Default> Alternate Style: FS

Specify first point or [Styles Mini sWap] <quit>: w (type the letter 'w')

Current Style: FS Alternate Style: <Default>

See Label Styles for more information about the dialog.