Elevation Graphics
Quick video
- Elevation Graphics Overview
- The Elevation Graphics Library
- Keyboard Commands for Placing Elevation Graphics
- Saving Blocks Into the Elevation Graphics Library
- Editing Blocks in the Elevation Graphics Library
- Assigning Data to Elevation Graphics You've Already Placed
- Block Libraries, Dynamic Blocks & Colored Blocks
- Related Webinars
- Troubleshooting
Our Elevation Graphics library includes blocks that provide an elevation view (side view) of objects.
We made some major updates to both our Plan Graphics and Elevation Graphics block libraries back in 2019, with tons of new blocks and an updated source block folder organization. See our Updated Blocks and Block Folder Structure article to earn more about these updated blocks, how to get them, and how to integrate your custom blocks into the new folder structure.
Elevation Graphics Overview
Open the Elevation Graphics tool:
F/X Site ribbon, Elevation Graphics flyout
F/X Details ribbon, Elevation Graphics flyout
F/X Graphics pull-down menu
or type ElevationGraphics in the Command line
When you select this tool, the Elevation Graphics dialog box will open. Click the name of a library to display its contents (example: SITE_FURNISHINGS). A dialog box showing several options for the selected library will open.
1. The left pane of the dialog box shows the Elevation Graphics library categories. Click the plus (+) sign next to a category to expand it and show its subcategories. Seeing duplicate categories here? Here's why, and what to do.
2. Click one of the subcategories to select it and show the blocks it contains.
3. The blocks within the selected subcategory appear as thumbnails in the area on the right side of the dialog box. Click a thumbnail to select the corresponding block. Click OK to place it in your drawing.
4. Click Edit to view and change information about the selected block.
The Elevation Graphics Library
The list of categories and subcategories in the Elevation Graphics dialog box is a mirror image of the contents of the Elevation_Graphics folder in your LandFX folder. (The full path to this folder is LandFX/Blocks/Graphics/Elevation_Graphics).
Notice that these subfolders are reflected in the subcategories listed in the Site Furnishings dialog box.
Seeing duplicate folders here? Here's why, and what to do.
The Elevation Graphics tool is simply a block manager. As such, it provides location and file system for this type of block.
Keyboard Commands for Placing Elevation Graphics
Our keyboard commands for placing objects now apply to generic blocks, such as Elevation Graphics. Use these easy, intuitive keyboard commands to toggle between blocks, block categories, and views of the selected block on the fly, as well as enter our Copy along tools. More information
Saving Blocks Into the Elevation Graphics Library
If you have an item you want to save within the Elevation Graphics library, use the Save Block tool to achieve this quickly and automatically create a thumbnail image of your item.
When you use Save Block to save an item, the system will take you to the folder LandFX/Blocks.
Because you're saving a block, click the Elevation_Graphics folder to save within it. When you do, you'll see subfolders if they exist.
You can also use Windows to create a subfolder.
Click a subfolder, or create a new subfolder. You can save within the file system as you want it to be organized.
Because all our default blocks are now stored on the Cloud, you may not see each of these subfolders until you have selected one or more blocks contained in that subfolder.
The Elevation Graphics tool is simply a block manager. As such, it provides a location and file system for this type of block.
Save the item as indicated in the Save Block tool.
Editing Blocks in the Elevation Graphics Library
If a block in the Elevation Graphics library is not scaled correctly or is not set to proper rotation, or if you want to open the block's source file to customize it, select the block's thumbnail preview in the Elevation Graphics dialog box and click Edit to make changes to that block.
You can then view and edit information about the block.
1. Larger preview of the selected block
2. If you want, type a Description for the block.
3. Set a Scale for the block. In this example, the item is set for a Scale of 1:1, meaning it will go into the drawing at full size rather than Dimscale or Manual.
4. The Rotation that will be applied to the block when placed in a drawing.
- In this example, the Rotation is set to No Rotation, meaning the block will be placed into the drawing with no rotation on your part.
- Selecting Manual will allow you to rotate the block to your desired angle when you place it in the drawing.
5. Use this menu to select the Units assigned to the block: Inches, Feet, Meters, etc.
6. Click Edit File to open and edit (customize) the source file for the selected block.
- Most blocks in the Elevation Graphics library are set to 1:1 scale, as they're full-size objects such as a side view of a person, bench, table, etc.
- Those blocks that might require Manual scale may be objects whose size you want to be able to define manually when you place them. Possible examples include a tree or light fixture.
- Most blocks in the Elevation Graphics library are set to No Rotation by the nature of what they are.
If you change the Units of a block in the Elevation Graphics library and then add the block as a Reference Note, you will then need to change the units in the Reference Note as well.
Assigning Data to Elevation Graphics You've Already Placed
Quick video
What if you've you've already placed several Elevation Graphics in your drawing, but you now want to assign those objects with data (such as cost) and call them out in a materials schedule?
We've engineered a quick and simple way to do just that – by converting them into Amenity (Object) Reference Notes. For instructions, see our Assign Data to Generic Blocks documentation.
Block Libraries, Dynamic Blocks & Colored Blocks
We're constantly expanding our block libraries, updating our blocks, and adding dynamic block support. We've also added color fills to most of the blocks in our Elevation Graphics and Plan Graphics block libraries. For more information, please see our documentation sections on:
- Our site block libraries
- Colorizing Site & Hardscape Blocks (both ours and yours)
- Dynamic Blocks
Related Webinars
- Fundamentals of Blocks: Take a tour of the streamlined process for proper block creation and management brought to you by Land F/X. We’ll cover the dos and and don’ts of creating and saving blocks, and demonstrate how our numerous block library locations work with different parts of the software. (1 hr 2 min)
- Working with Blocks: We go over the role played by blocks within our software, showing the various types of blocks you have access to and how they all function. We'll also show you how to integrate your personal set of custom blocks into our system. (51 min)
Troubleshooting
Issue: Elevation Graphics are missing, not installed, or unavailable
Issue: You are experiencing a significant delay when attempting to add or place Elevation Graphics
Issue: Bad DXF group (10) error when placing an Elevation Graphic
Issue: You saw a Missing File Error when attempting to place an Elevation Graphics block
Contact
- Land F/X
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