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Multi-Offset

Gang-offsets one source: an AutoCAD curve or a Civil 3D alignment, to a whole plan-section template in a single shot: up to 6 parallel copies per side , each row a distance + its own layer, fired out from a reusable template you build once.

Command VDCOFFSET · VDC Utilities tab › Drawing Tools panel
Gang-offsets one source: an AutoCAD curve or a Civil 3D alignment, to a whole plan-section template in a single shot: up to 6 parallel copies per side, each row a distance + its own layer, fired out from a reusable template you build once.
Pick one centerline → EOP / curb / ROW blast out both sides, each on its row layer. SOURCE CL (alignment or curve) L1 EOP  C-ROAD-EOP L2 CURB  C-ROAD-CURB L3 ROW  C-PROP-ROW R1 EOP  C-ROAD-EOP R2 CURB  C-ROAD-CURB R3 ROW  C-PROP-ROW 12' 24' 30' From original: 12 / 24 / 30 +12' +12' +6' From previous (stacked): 12 / 24 / 30 Copy Left Right (mirror)
Source centerline   Left offsets   Right offsets   ROW C-PROP-ROW   Distance dimension

What it does, per source

  • Template: Left and Right columns, up to 6 rows each, every row a distance + layer. A blank or zero distance turns the row off.
  • Curves: polylines, lines, arcs, circles, splines offset directly via GetOffsetCurves; the offset keeps the source type (arc→arc).
  • Alignments: offset to static polylines, the centerline is sampled (arcs/spirals densified into a fine polyline) and the alignment itself is left untouched.
  • Multi-select: pick any number of sources; the whole template applies to each.
  • Side is resolved per source from the curve's start direction; on a closed curve left/right reads as inside/outside.

Settings & options

  • Distance mode (radio): From the original (each measured from source) or From the previous (distances stack; a disabled middle row contributes nothing and doesn't shift the stack).
  • Copy Left → Right: mirrors the left column into the right for symmetric sections.
  • Auto-create layers: each offset lands on its row's layer (created when missing unless toggled off); a blank layer leaves it on the source's layer.
  • Template (both sides + mode + auto-create) persists to settings.json; env var VDC_OFFSET_SETTINGS, default %APPDATA%\VDC\MultiOffset\settings.json.
  • Schema-tolerant load pads/truncates any row list to 6 per side; keep several sections by pointing the env var at different files.

Dialog

Multi-Offset dialog
Multi-Offset, VDCOFFSET

When to use it

  • Building a road cross-section's parallel lines (EOP, ROW, sidewalk) in one step.

How to run it

  1. Run VDCOFFSET and select the curve or alignment.
  2. Enter the offsets per side, choosing Absolute or Cumulative distances and the layer per offset.
  3. Review the parallel copies created.

Options

  • Absolute vs Cumulative: distances measured from the source, or added one to the next.
  • Per-offset layer: each offset lands on its own layer.

Watch out for

  • Offsetting an alignment produces static polylines - they do not update if the alignment changes.
  • On a plain-AutoCAD seat an alignment in the selection is skipped with a note - everything else offsets normally.

Related: Place Hydrants · Station-Offset Table