Exercise 2: Using the Panorama Window

In this exercise, you will learn how you can use and customize the Panorama
window.
For more information, see the AutoCAD Civil 3D Help topic The Panorama
Window.
This tutorial continues from Exercise 1: Understanding the Toolspace (page
6).
To display object data in the Panorama window
NOTE This tutorial uses Intro-1.dwg from the previous tutorial.
1 In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Point Groups collection.
2 Right-click _All Points and click Edit Points. A table called Point Editor
is displayed inside your drawing window in a separate window called the
Panorama. In the next few steps, you will add another table to this
window.
3 Ensure that you can see one of the road alignments in your drawing. The
alignments are lines with labels in the center of the roadways. If necessary,
8 | Chapter 2 Getting Started Tutorials
use Pan and Zoom controls. To move the Panorama window, click the
middle part of the vertical control bar where you see the Panorama title.
Drag the window to a new location.
TIP Hold down the Ctrl key to prevent the Panorama window from docking
when you move it.
4 Click Alignments menu ➤ Edit Alignment Geometry. You are prompted
to select an alignment.
5 Click an alignment in the drawing.
6 In the Alignment Layout Tools toolbar, click . Another table, called
Alignment Entities, is added to the Panorama window.
Notice that the table names appear on tabs. The main control bar is
labeled Panorama. Each table in Panorama is called a vista. These tables
are useful for editing object attributes. Other vistas are available for
features such as Surfaces and Profiles. You can edit data in cells that
appears as black text. You cannot edit data in cells that are shaded
(unavailable). In the next few steps, you will learn to use some of the
Panorama controls.
7 Click the two vista tabs in turn to switch from one table to the other.
Bring the Alignment Entities table to the front.
8 Scroll to the right until you see the Chord Length column. You will move
this column to a position next to the Length column, which is about five
columns to the left.
9 Click the Chord Length column heading, drag the column to the left,
and drop it to the right of the Length column. Notice that each column
heading is highlighted as you pass through it.
10 Right-click the Radius column heading. Click Customize Columns.
The Customize Columns dialog box allows you to modify the appearance
of the columns in the current vista. You can hide unnecessary columns
by clearing the appropriate check boxes in the Visibility column, or
change the width of columns using the Width column. Clicking the New
button allows you to save a custom vista configuration for later use.
11 Click Cancel to close the Customize Columns dialog box.
Exercise 2: Using the Panorama Window | 9
To change the appearance of the Panorama window
1 On the Panorama control bar, click to temporarily close the window.
2 Without clicking, move your pointer over the Panorama control bar. The
window opens while the pointer is on the bar. It closes when you move
the pointer off the vista. This is Auto-Hide Mode, indicated by . It is
useful when you want to periodically consult a table while working in
the drawing window.
3 Click to turn off Auto-Hide Mode.
4 On the Panorama control bar, click . Click Transparency.
5 In the Transparency dialog box, move the General slider to a position in
the middle of the range. Click OK.
6 Drag the Panorama window. When you move the cursor away from the
window, notice that you can see some drawing details through the table.
7 In Panorama, click the Point Editor tab. Click to close the vista. If
other vistas are currently open, they remain open in the Panorama
window.
To continue this tutorial, go to Exercise 3: Using Workspaces (page 10).