Line Table Curve Table Point Table Lot Table
Tables present drawing data in rows and columns with a reference to the location of the table item in the drawing. Each row represents one drawing object like a line, curve, point or lot. Each column displays some information about that object like a coordinate, area or distance.
| Line | Distance | Bearing |
| L1 | 14.56 | N45°30'15"E |
In this line table, L1 is the reference for the Distance and Bearing listed in the table. The actual line in the drawing is labled with the 'L1' reference instead of the distance and bearing. Each type of table has its own prefix as follows - Line Table 'L', Curve Table 'C', Point Table 'P', Lot Table 'T'.
The entire L1 row is called a Table Item and represents one item in the drawing. In the case of a Line Table, it represents all the information about one line. As you move the cursor over a table item the status bar will display Table Item followed by the reference label to indicate which table item the cursor is over.
TPC inserts the table on the right side of the drawing. You can now move the table anywhere on the drawing you want.
WWhen you place a drawing object in a table, TPC references the label on the object with a number like L1, L2, L3, etc for lines and C1, C2, C3 for curves. The reference label is drawn next to the line just like the line label would be if it wasn't in the table, and the reference label is included in the first column in the table.
One of the benefits of using TPC for your drawings is that TPC keeps track of all line and curve references for you - automatically. As you add or remove lines or curves from their tables. TPC checks all referenced lines and curves and renumbers the references as needed to insure that they are sequential. TPC also expands or contracts the table itself to make room for the items in the table. As such, you don't have to manually re-size the table.
The Point and Lot tables are unique in that in addition to creating references like P1, P2 for Points or T1, T2 for Lots, TPC can use the Point or Lot name as the reference. You will probably prefer this for the Point table and may want to consider it for the Lot table.
Table styles determine how items are added to a table. The style can be All, Auto or Manual. You can start with one style, like Auto and have TPC add the appropriate table items, then swtich the table to Manual and fine tune the selection of items.
With this style, all the drawing objects of that type are added to the table. Remember that an object has to appear in the drawing before it can be added to a table.
The line table includes a Style option called Auto. The Auto style automatically places a line label in the line table if it doesn't fit on its line. As you re-scale the drawing, TPC re-checks the line labels and rebuilds the line table to include those labels that don't fit on their line. If the new scale allows a line label to fit on its line, TPC removes it from the table and places it back on the line.
The table is rebuilt each time the drawing is regenerated. As a result, you will see the reference labels (L1, L2, etc) change to reflect the status of the table.
For more control over the line and curve table items, choose the Manual Style. When a table style is set to Manual, you can append point, line and curve labels to their respective tables in the order you want them. Unlike the Auto Style available for line tables, the Manual style does to select which line or curve labels go in the table each time the drawing is regenerated.
As you add items to a table, it grows away from the corner that is being held. If you are holding one of the bottom corners of the table, it will grow up - past the top. If you are holding one of the top corners, it will grow down - past the bottom.
The hold corner is most important as you are adding items to the table since it will keep the table from growing over the top of other objects in the drawing. Regardless of which corner you have held, you can always reposition the table once you have added all the items to it.
To edit the properties of the table itself, position the cursor over any blank space in the table and choose Properties. If the cursor is over an individual table item, choosing Properties will edit the table item not the table.
To edit a table item, position the the cursor over the table item and choose Properties. TPC displays a dialog allowing you to edit the table item.
Use the Columns feature in the table dialog to split long tables into multiple, equal length sections. If a line table has three columns (Label, Bearing, Distance) and you specify 2 columns, you will get a second set of these same three columns to the right of the original three and all columns will half as many rows.
The decimal places used for bearings/azimuths and distances in the table are determined by the current values in Tools, Program Settings, Decimals. After you change these decimal settings, you will need to regenerate the drawing to update the table.
TPC also uses these settings when you create a new table or open a drawing with a table in it.
Line Table
Curve Table
Point Table
Lot Table
Labeling Drawing Objects
Smart Drawing Objects
Working with Drawing Objects
Drawing Commands
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