In Civil 3D, feature lines are complex linear 3D objects that can be created from scratch with specific tools or by converting AutoCAD® lines, arcs, or polylines. Grading feature lines can also be exported from corridors. Feature lines can be edited through grips, much like regular polylines can be manipulated.
Feature Line Grips
When you select a feature line, blue grips are displayed. Square grips represent vertices of a feature line and circular grips represent elevation points on the feature line. If you hover over a grip, it turns red and a tooltip menu is displayed, as shown below.
Note: If you select a grip by clicking it, you will begin moving the vertex or stretching the elevation point along the feature line, and the menu will not be displayed. Be sure to hover, not select, if you want to see the menu.
The options are as follows:
|
Command |
Description |
|
Stretch |
Moves the vertex or slides the elevation point along the feature line. This is the same as selecting the grip. |
|
Insert PI |
Adds a new vertex to a feature line. You can add multiple vertices; press <Enter> when finished. You are prompted for an elevation for each PI you insert. |
|
Delete PI |
Removes the selected vertex from a feature line. |
|
Insert Elevation Point |
Adds a new elevation point to a feature line. You can add multiple elevation points; press <Enter> when finished. You are prompted for an elevation for each elevation point you insert. |
|
Delete Elevation Point |
Removes the selected elevation point from a feature line. |
|
Edit Elevation |
Prompts you at the command line for a new value for the elevation of the vertex or elevation point. |
Elongated rectangular grips are located at the midpoint of line or arc segments. When you hover over one of these grips, it turns red and a tooltip menu is displayed, as shown below.
You can convert the segment to an arc (as shown above) or a line or insert an elevation point (as shown below) or a point of intersection. Be sure to hover, not select, if you want to see the menu.
The ability to insert elevation points/PIs or convert lines to arcs is a new feature that was introduced in Civil 3D 2026.2.
Conclusion
Feature lines are an important tool for Civil 3D users. Through the addition of right-click tools when hovering over grips, they have become easier to edit, resulting in a more intuitive workflow that mimics editing polylines.
About the Author
Follow on Linkedin More Content by Jeff Morris
