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Field Tables

Lot, pipe and structure tables whose cells are AutoCAD object fields bound to the Civil 3D objects - the Paper Labels mechanism - so the table reads the live value and updates on regen and plot. {#Property} static columns cover what a field cannot reach and are re-read by Update , which also adds and drops rows in place. Columns chosen in the dialog; every cell centre-justified.

Command VDCFIELDTABLES · VDC Plans tab › Tables + Reports panel
Lot, pipe and structure tables whose cells are AutoCAD object fields bound to the Civil 3D objects - the Paper Labels mechanism - so the table reads the live value and updates on regen and plot. {#Property} static columns cover what a field cannot reach and are re-read by Update, which also adds and drops rows in place. Columns chosen in the dialog; every cell centre-justified.
Pipes in model space (left) → a PIPE TABLE whose cells are fields on those pipes (right) Gravity network STM-1 18" RCPSTM-2 24" RCP move a pipe, change its size: the table follows PIPE TABLE PIPESIZELENGTHSLOPESTART INVFROM STM-118 inch101.230.52341.25STM MH-1 STM-224 inch112.800.40340.72STM MH-2 green = live object fields: %<\AcObjProp Object(...).Length2D>% red = static {#...} values, re-read by Update tagged (VdcTableTag) with scope + handles + signature; Update refills in place, adds / drops rows, leaves a current table alone every cell centre-justified; rows in natural order (STM-2 before STM-10)
Live object fields   Static values (Update re-reads)   Civil 3D objects and the table frame

What it builds

  • Lots (every site's parcels), pipes or structures (every gravity network): every one, the ones inside a window, or picked.
  • Columns ticked in the dialog: live {Name}, {Length2D}, {Slope}, {RimElevation} ... and static {#Area}, {#StartInvert}, {#InvertIn}, {#Station}, {#NetworkName} ...
  • Title row, header row, one row per object in natural order; table style, layer, plotted text height, decimals from the dialog.

Update

  • The tag carries the settings, the scope (window or handles) and a signature of rows + static values + columns: Update re-scans each table with its own scope and refills it in place; a current table is left untouched.
  • Fields update by themselves (FIELDEVAL / FIELDDISPLAY); #### = a property the field cannot read.
  • Settings under %APPDATA%\VDC\FieldTables\ (override VDC_FIELDTABLES_SETTINGS). Civil 3D only.

Dialog

Field Tables dialog
Field Tables - VDCFIELDTABLES

When to use it

  • A lot table, pipe schedule or structure schedule that must stay current through design changes.
  • A sheet-by-sheet table: window scope keeps the rows to the objects the sheet shows.
  • A table for a hand-picked set of pipes or structures.

How to run it

  1. Run VDCFIELDTABLES; pick Lots, Pipes or Structures and the scope.
  2. Tick the columns (live {Property} fields and static {#Property} values), set decimals, style, layer, text height and the title.
  3. Place; pick the window or the objects when asked, then the table's upper-left point.
  4. After a design change: run again and Update. Tables already current are left alone.

Options

  • Columns: any mix of live fields and static values, in catalog order; the first is the name.
  • Scope: every object, a window (stored with the table), or a pick (the handles are stored with the table).
  • Decimals: the number format on every numeric field and static number.

Watch out for

  • Live cells are fields, not text: FIELDEVAL / FIELDDISPLAY are AutoCAD's own switches; a #### cell means that property is not readable on that object.
  • Static columns are only as current as the last Update.
  • A table whose columns were changed by hand no longer matches its tag and is reported, not rebuilt.

Related: Pipe Table · Lot Table · Paper Labels