Geometry

Source file: geometry-group.htm

The Geometry group tools enable you to query properties and measurements concerning various primitives.

	Property Editor Open the property editor window.
	Properties (Ctrl+I) Query properties of selected objects.
	Point (Ctrl+P, Q+pick) Display spatial information about a point in the view window.
	Distance (Ctrl+Alt+D, D+pick) Measure the distance between selected points.
	Geometry Measure angles and distances between primitives.
	Spot Height Query the elevations of selected points.
	Grade Create a 3D grade annotation.
	Average Point Spacing Calculate the average spacing between selected points.

Property Editor

The property editor enables you to view a complete list of a selected object’s properties and metadata, and to modify any that are editable.

• Click Property Editor to open the property editor pane.

  

  The property editor pane appears on the right-hand side of the Workbench, but you can relocate it in the same way as other panes. Properties of any objects selected when you open the property editor will appear in the pane automatically.

  Note

  You can also open the property editor in one the following ways:

  • On the Workbench toolbar, click .

  • On the Workbench ribbon, in the Utilities group, click Property Editor.

  If the property editor was open last time PointStudio was running, it will re-open with PointStudio the next time.

• To view properties of objects in the property editor, select those objects in the project explorer or view window.

  Where a large amount of processing is required, such as with loading large scans or validity checks on large surfaces, time to update the property editor can be quite significant. The property editor will indicate progress where this is the case.

Note:  You can select multiple objects or containers to display and edit their properties simultaneously. Objects are sorted into groups according to type. From each group, you can display and edit properties for either all objects or an individual object; select an object or All <object type> in selection from the group drop-down list.

• To locate a specific property, start typing key words in the main Filter field.

  Tip:   You don’t need to type the full property name. As you type, PointStudio will automatically filter the list; select the required property when you see it.

  Note

  Some object types include minor or lower-level filter fields that you can use to search for more localised properties.

  

Editable properties depend on the selected object types and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordinates

• Dimensions and angles

• Units of measurement

• Font and line styles

• Colours and patterns

• To edit a property, select the corresponding control, then enter or select the new details.

You can also apply and edit features. Select an existing feature from a Features drop-down, or Edit... to open the Manage Features panel. See Preferences > Features for further details.

For scans and point sets, you can apply or change a coordinate system. This includes converting or redefining the applicable coordinate system. From the Coordinate group, select a coordinate system or click the appropriate button.

Note:  Changes are applied immediately, but are remembered so they can be undone as long as the project is open.

• Click or press Ctrl+Z to undo changes when necessary.

Properties

The Properties query (Ctrl+I) enables you to view spatial and other data of any selection, or multiple selections of any type of data.

To view data properties:

1. Highlight the data to be queried in the project explorer, or select the data in the view window.

   Tip:  To query the size of the total project right-click on it in the project explorer and select Properties of <project name> from the context menu.
   

2. On the Query tab, in the Geometry group, click Properties.

   Note:  The properties query is also available in the project explorer and view window context menus for objects.

   The basic properties of the selected objects will be listed in the report window.

   

3. Click Properties a second time to get a comprehensive list of properties.

   

Note:  This tool is useful for checking scan level correction, particularly when generating scans using the vehicle mount.

Point

The Point query (Ctrl+P, Q+pick) displays spatial information about a specific point in a scan or any other data.

To view point properties:

1. On the Query tab, in the Geometry group, click Point.

   This will launch the point dialog in the status bar.

   

2. Click on the required point in the view window. Query Point Information is displayed in the view window and in the report window.

   

3. The process is repeatable until you click the button or press Esc .

   

4. Press Enter to complete the operation. A Query point summary will be generated in the report window and the Query point information panel will open.

   

   

The Query point information panel enables you to save all the point data summaries in a .txt file in the specified location. The project location is selected by default.

Note:  When active, this query is displayed in the status bar. While it is active, other operations may be difficult to perform. Best practice is to close the tool when finished. To quit the query, click in the status bar (bottom left of the screen) or press Esc.

Distance

The Distance query (Ctrl+Alt+D, D+pick) allows you to measure the distance between selected points. There are two methods for measuring distance. Expand below for instructions on each.

Geometry

The Geometry query enables you to measure the angles and distances between primitives (points, lines, and facets). The first primitive selected is the reference against which all subsequent selections are measured. You can make measurements between different primitive types; results reported depend on the combination of primitive types chosen:

	Point	Edge	Facet
Point	Distance
Edge	Distance	Distance and angle
Facet	Distance	Angle and intersection coordinates	Angle

To measure geometry, proceed as follows:

1. On the Query tab, in the Geometry group, click Geometry to launch the query geometry dialog in the status bar.

   

2. From the drop-down menu, select the type of primitive to be used as the reference.

3. Select the reference primitive.

   Note:  Snap modes are available for selecting primitives.

4. From the drop-down menu, select the next primitive type.

5. Select the next primitive, which will be measured against the reference.

   The measurement is displayed in the view window and measurement data are displayed in the report window.

6. Continue selecting primitives to be measured. Results will be added to the report window.

   

7. When finished, click to complete the operation.

Note:  When active, this query is displayed in the status bar. While it is active, other operations may be difficult to perform. Best practice is to close the tool when finished. To quit the query, click in the status bar (bottom left of the screen) or press Esc.

Spot Height

The Spot Height query reports the elevation of a selected point (or points).

To query a spot height:

1. Select the points where you wish to indicate spot height.

2. On the Query tab, in the Geometry group, click Spot Height.

3. Click to display the results in the report window and retain them in the view window.

   Note:  Results will also be saved as 2D text objects in the cad container, in sub-containers called spot heights <number>.

4. Repeat steps 1–3 as many times as required.

5. When finished, click cancel button or press Esc.

6. A summary of spot height data and basic related statistics is also displayed in the report window.

   

   

Note:  When active, this query is displayed in the status bar. While it is active, other operations may be difficult to perform. Best practice is to close the tool when finished. To quit the query, click in the status bar (bottom left of the screen) or press Esc.

Grade

The Grade tool allows you to indicate grades (or slopes) at selected regions in the view window.

To view a grade:

1. Click Grade.

   Alternatively, from the Create tab, in the Create group and from the Annotation drop-down list select Grade.

   

2. Enter appropriate values into Point A and Point B data fields, or snap to points along where the grade is to be measured and displayed in the view window.

   The grade will be displayed as text and an accompanying triangle displaying the vertical and horizontal distances between the points specified.

   

3. Set up and adjust the following aspects of the grade annotation display:
   • Label height: Input a value appropriate for the overall display.
   • Orient text: Select either vertically or horizontally, depending on which suits the main view angle being used.
   • Display the grade as: Select from an angle, a ratio, or a percentage according to your requirements.

4. Select OK or Apply to complete the process.

   The grade annotation is saved in a secondary container in the cad container by default and is displayed in the active view window. A grade annotation consists of 3D text annotations and a right-triangle loop .