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Pipe Views

Turns gravity pipe runs into finished profile sheets in one command : detects every branch-free run, then per run creates the alignment through its structures, samples EG + FG surface profiles , builds the profile view , draws the run's parts into it, and labels them.

Command VDCPIPEVIEWS · VDC Utilities tab › Pipes panel
Turns gravity pipe runs into finished profile sheets in one command: detects every branch-free run, then per run creates the alignment through its structures, samples EG + FG surface profiles, builds the profile view, draws the run's parts into it, and labels them.
Runs detected in plan → alignment + profile view + EG/FG profiles + parts + labels, per run. PLAN, run detection outfall (STA 0+00, downstream) Run 1, trunk continues straight through the tee Run 2 tee, deflection > 45° ends the lateral here Detected runs, untick to skip ☑ STORM Run 1 · 3 pipes · 612' ☑ STORM Run 2 · 1 pipe · 96' names: {network} Run {n} PROFILE VIEW, created per run EG (solid) / FG (dashed), live surface profiles 140', 18" RCP @ 0.45% 140', 18" RCP @ 0.40% STA 0+00 · RIM / INV labels per structure elevation bands, Profile1/Profile2 wired to EG/FG automatically views stack from your picked point, gap 50' default, wrap after 5 per column parts drawn via the same mechanism as VDCPROFXING · ref alignment assigned (optional, on) gravity networks only · one Undo reverses the whole batch
Pipe runs / created objects   Surface profiles / ticked runs   Labels & cautions   Bands / grid

What it does

  • Run detection: interior structures never split a run (bends at manholes are normal); at a junction the two pipes closest to collinear (≤ 45° deflection) continue as one run, the trunk keeps going past a lateral tee, and every pipe lands in exactly one run.
  • Per run: alignment through the structure centers (siteless, name de-duplicated) → EG/FG profiles via CreateFromSurface (dynamic, they track the surface) → profile view with your style + band set → parts drawn in the view → pipe + structure profile labels.
  • Station 0 = downstream end (lower invert) by default, how pipe profiles are conventionally read; flip to upstream in the dialog.
  • Stacking: views place from your picked top-left point, stepping down by measured height + gap, wrapping to a new column.

Settings & options

  • Name template ({network} {n} {first} {last}), alignment style / label set / layer, EG + FG surfaces (blank skips), profile + view styles, band set, pipe/structure label styles, all editable drop-downs.
  • Reference alignment toggle (on): the run alignment becomes each part's reference so station labels read correctly, the by-hand VDCPIPEREF step, folded in.
  • Settings persist at %APPDATA%\VDC\PipeViews\settings.json (override VDC_PIPEVIEWS_SETTINGS).
  • Pairs with: VDCPROFXING to pull crossing utilities into the new views; VDCPIPELABEL for crossing callouts; VDCPIPETABLE for the schedules.

Dialog

Pipe Views dialog
Pipe Views, VDCPIPEVIEWS

When to use it

  • A utility plan is drawn and the plan-and-profile sheets are next - the create-alignment / create-view / sample-profiles / draw-parts / label chain is the alternative, per run.
  • After an imported or converted network lands in the drawing and nothing has profile views yet.
  • Re-cutting profile views after a major re-route: pick just the changed runs.

How to run it

  1. Run VDCPIPEVIEWS - the dialog lists every detected run (network, name, pipe count, length, end structures), all ticked. Untick what you don't want.
  2. Pick the alignment style/label set/layer, the EG + FG surfaces (leave one blank to skip that profile), profile + view styles, band set, and the label styles.
  3. OK, then pick the TOP-LEFT insertion point - views stack downward with your gap and wrap to a new column.
  4. Read the summary (alignments / views / profiles / parts / labels + any per-run notes). Undo reverses everything.

Options

  • Name template: tokens {network} {n} {first} {last} - e.g. '{network} Run {n}' names 'STORM Run 1'; names de-duplicate against existing alignments.
  • Reference alignment: on by default - each part's reference alignment becomes the new run alignment so station-based labels read correctly.
  • Station direction: downstream-first by default (station 0 at the lower invert end); untick to start upstream.
  • Stacking: gap between views (default 50 ft) and views per column (default 5) control the layout from the picked point.

Watch out for

  • Gravity networks only in this version - pressure networks are skipped (crossings in the new views are VDCPROFXING's job).
  • Leave both surfaces blank and the views are created with no profiles - parts still draw, but the elevation bands have no source.
  • Curved pipes are chorded structure-to-structure in the alignment - fine for labels, not a survey-grade centerline.
  • A run that fails (rare - e.g. an unresolvable name) lands in the summary notes; the rest of the batch continues.

Related: Profile Pipe Crossings QC · Pipe Ref · Pipe Crossing Labels · Pipe Table