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 labeled 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.
Inserting All Items Into a Table (1:30) - The All style, adds all labels of that type to the table. We add a curve table for this example.
•Choose the options you want from the table dialog then choose OK. Use the format letters to include just the information you want in the table. For detailed information on the options in the table dialog, open the table dialog and press F1 for help.
•TPC inserts the table into the drawing. You can now move the table anywhere on the drawing you want.
•To move the table, just move the cursor over any part of the table and drag the table to the new location, then release the left mouse button.
Table Styles
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 switch the table to Manual and fine tune the selection of items.
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.
Editing a Table
Once a table has been created, you can edit it, changing any of its properties. See Table Properties.
Editing a Column Names
You can edit the column names in any table. TPC starts with default column names, but you can change them to whatever you want. See Editing Column Names.
Editing Table Items
You can add data, like record data, to table items but you can't edit the information TPC provides for the table item. See Editing Table Items.
Formatting Table Items
You can tell TPC how to format table items. Like labeling table items ROW1, ROW2, etc. for a Right-Of-Way traverse. Or choosing LOT1, LOT2 vs L1, L2 for lot labels.
When you place a drawing object label 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.
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.
Decimal Places
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.
Traverse Tables
Each traverse in a drawing can have its own point and line tables. Any labels for that traverse that go into a table, will go into the corresponding traverse table instead of the corresponding drawing table. See Traverse Tables.
