AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010

Education Curriculum Student Workbook

Unit 1: Civil 3D Environment Lesson

Civil 3D User Interface

Overview
This lesson describes the user interface in Civil 3D and explains how you manage the user
interface to maximize your productivity.
Civil 3D is a complex design and drafting environment. Users work with many interface
components to accomplish design and drafting tasks. When used properly, the final drafting and
production of engineering and construction drawings is a by-product of the design process.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
 Navigate through the Civil 3D software.
 Use the user interface to open files and display static and contextual ribbons.
 Examine the two main components of Toolspace: the Prospector and Settings tabs.
 Describe the function of Toolspace in drawing creation and management.
 Use the Panorama window, Properties Palette, and Tool Palette
 Explore existing workspaces and create a custom workspace.
 Create reports using the Toolbox tab of Toolspace.
Exercises
The following exercises are provided in a step-by-step format in this lesson:
1. Explore the Civil 3D User Interface
2. Explore Toolspace
3. The Panorama Window, Properties and Tool Palettes
4. Work with Workspaces
5. Create Reports
The Interface
The standard interface is shown in the graphic below. Notice the following elements:
1. The Graphic Window or Drawing Area: This is the main window where the user inputs,
modifies, and views visual data.
2. Toolspace: Toolspace is an integral component in the user interface for accessing
commands, styles, and data. Use it to access the Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox
tabs. Right-click each collection or item on these tabs to access commands.
3. Ribbon: The ribbon provides access for AutoCAD Civil 3D commands. Displayed at the top of
the drawing window, the ribbon provides one location for commands, in an organization
that provides the most-frequently used commands in the most accessible places.
4. Application Menu: Provides drawing-related commands, such as New, Open, Save, and
Export to AutoCAD.
5. Quick Access Toolbar: The Quick Access toolbar displays frequently used tools. You can add
ribbon buttons to the Quick Access toolbar
6. InfoCenter: The InfoCenter enables you to search for key words, enter a question for help,
display the Communication Center panel for product updates and announcements, and
display the Favorites panel to access saved topics. It also displays links to Help topics, RSS
feeds, and product updates and announcements.
7. Command window: Also known as the command line or the text window, the command
window enables user input using the keyboard for commands or numerical values. It also
queries the user for information when required and reports data about the drawing.
8. Status bar: The status bar displays status information and includes some controls for
changing the view.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪2

About Ribbons
In AutoCAD Civil 3D, the ribbon is the primary user interface for accessing commands and
features. While the traditional menus are still available, all commands for both AutoCAD and
Civil 3D are available on the ribbon. The ribbon is a palette that displays task-based commands
and controls. It is automatically displayed when you create or open a drawing file. The ribbon
consists of tabs, panels, and commands. The tabs contain panels, and the panels contain
commands.

Tabs

Commands

Panel

Ribbon Types
Ribbons are classified as either static or contextual ribbons. Static ribbons are always displayed,
and contain the tabs, panels, and commands that you use most often. In Civil 3D, the static
ribbon displays the Home, Insert, Annotate, Modify, Analyze, View, Output, and Manage tabs. A
contextual ribbon tab is displayed when you select an object in the drawing area or execute
certain commands. It identifies the object, and shows panels and commands that can be used
to work with the selected object. Contextual ribbons filter and display only the applicable
commands, thereby making it easier to work with your data.
Static Ribbon
Civil 3D uses the Home, Insert Annotate, Modify, Analyze, View, Output, and Manage tabs.
When you select a tab, the ribbon displays the panels associated with that tab. For example, the
Home tab contains panels named Palettes, Create Ground Data, Create Design, Profile & Section
Views, Draw, Modify, Layers, Clipboard, and View. The panels and their commands directly
relate to the name of the tab.

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Contextual Ribbons
A contextual ribbon appears as a tab when an object is selected in the drawing area. For
example, when a surface model is selected in the drawing area, the contextual ribbon displays
the name of the surface, as well as the commands associated with surfaces.

About Toolspace
Toolspace is one of the primary interface components in Civil 3D. It provides an object-oriented
view of the engineering data in your drawing and lists the object and label styles used to display
the data. Toolspace is also used to display survey data and create external reports on your
engineering data.
Toolspace is the primary tool that you use to control and display civil engineering data. With
Toolspace, you can manage drawing and project data, create and manage settings and styles,
manage survey data, and create reports.
Toolspace presents a large amount of data about the drawing, project, object styles, label
styles, and drawing settings. The Toolspace palette can:
 Float or dock.
 Become semitransparent.
 Automatically hide itself.
 Be located on a second monitor.

Toolspace Components
There are two main components to Toolspace: the Prospector and Settings tabs. When you
work with the Survey functionality, Toolspace displays a Survey tab. When you create reports,
Toolspace displays a Toolbox tab.

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Prospector tab
The Prospector tab displays information about all of the Civil 3D objects in a drawing. Select this
tab to manage drawing and project data. You work with point, point group, surface, alignment,
profile, section, grading, parcel, and sheet layout data. In the bottom pane is the item view
area. This pane shows additional information about the selected item. In this illustration, the
item view displays a list of the surfaces in the drawing.

Settings tab
The Settings tab is where you manage object styles, label styles, and drawing settings for Civil
3D. Select this tab to configure drawings and drawing templates. You can specify drawing setup
parameters such as units, scale, and coordinate zone. You can also set up object styles and
object label styles.

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Survey and Toolbox tabs
The Survey and Toolbox tabs are optional tabs for Toolspace. When you open the Survey
Toolspace, this tab is added and used to manage survey observation data. You create survey
databases, create survey networks, import survey data, and edit survey observations. You also
create the survey network, points, and figures. When you open the toolbox, this tab is added to
create external reports on Civil 3D objects in a drawing.

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The Panorama Window, Properties and Tool Palettes
The Panorama window can display many types of data, such as the Point Editor vista and the
Alignment Entities vista. The Panorama window is especially useful for horizontally-oriented
data, such as point data.

The Properties palette displays the current properties for any selected object(s) in your drawing.
You can modify these properties directly in the palette.

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The Tool Palettes provide an efficient method for organizing, sharing, and placing many types of
commonly used design objects. You can customize your own object or even gather commonly
used objects into a new tab for frequent use.

About Workspaces
Civil 3D has several predefined workspaces. You can use these workspaces as they are, or copy
and modify them. The workspace is the configuration of the user interface. Workspaces are sets
of ribbons, menus, toolbars, and their positions, which are grouped and organized so that you can
work in a custom, task-oriented drawing environment. When you use a workspace, only the
ribbons, menus, toolbars, and secondary windows specified in that workspace are shown. You
can modify workspaces to add or remove toolbars, menus, and ribbon tabs and panels. You make
these modifications in the Customize User Interface dialog box.
The following workspaces are included in Civil 3D:
Civil 3D: This workspace displays the ribbon tabs, panels, and other interface components that
show all Civil 3D related commands. You use the Civil 3D workspace to create site and
transportation designs.

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2D Drafting and Annotation: This workspace displays the ribbons tabs, panels, and other
interface components required for two-dimensional drafting and annotation tasks. You use this
workspace to produce engineering and construction drawings.

3D Modeling: This workspace displays the ribbon tabs, panels, and other interface components
required for three-dimensional modeling. You use this workspace to create 3D rendered models
and animations that show your proposed design.

Workspace Switching
You can switch to a different workspace at any time by using the Workspace Switching
command. This command is displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the graphic screen.

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 Key Terms

Ribbon The ribbon is the primary user interface for accessing commands and
features. While the traditional menus are still available, all commands for
both AutoCAD and Civil 3D are available on the ribbon. The ribbon is a
palette that displays task-based commands and controls. Contextual
ribbons appear when an object is selected and common commands used
for that object are displayed.
Toolspace Toolspace is the primary tool that you use to control and display civil
engineering data. With Toolspace, you can manage drawing and project
data, create and manage settings and styles, manage survey data, and
create reports. Toolspace contains Prospector and Settings tabs as well
as the optional Survey and Toolbox tabs.
Application Menu The Application Menu provides drawing-related commands, such as New,
Open, Save, and Export to AutoCAD.
Quick Access The Quick Access toolbar displays frequently used tools.
Toolbar
InfoCenter The InfoCenter enables you to search for key words, enter a question for
help, display the Communication Center panel for product updates and
announcements, and display the Favorites panel to access saved topics. It
also displays links to Help topics, RSS feeds, and product updates and
announcements.
Command window Also known as the command line or the text window, the command
window enables user input using the keyboard for commands or
numerical values. It also queries the user for information when required
and reports data about the drawing.
Status bar The status bar displays status information and includes some controls for
changing the view.
Panorama window The Panorama window can display many types of data, such as the Point
Editor vista and the Alignment Entities vista.
Properties palette The Properties palette displays the current properties for any selected
object(s) in your drawing. You can modify these properties directly in the
palette.
Tool palette The Tool Palettes provide an efficient method for organizing, sharing, and
placing many types of commonly used design objects. You can customize

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 your own object or even gather commonly used objects into a new tab
for frequent use.
Workspace A workspace is a set of ribbons, menus, toolbars, and their positions,
which are grouped and organized so that you can work in a custom, task-
oriented drawing environment. The workspace is the configuration of the
user interface.

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Exercise 1: Explore the Civil Application Menu
3D User Interface 3. Click the Application Menu button.

In this exercise, you explore the user

interface of Civil 3D.
No visible changes will be made to the Note the various types of drawing-related
drawing during this exercise. commands that are available.

For this exercise, start AutoCAD Civil 3D and

a new drawing, drawing1.dwg, is opened.
Overall Interface
1. View the interface. Notice the major
interface elements:

1) Graphic window or drawing area

2) Toolspace
3) Ribbon
4) Application menu
5) Quick Access toolbar
6) InfoCenter
7) Command window
8) Status bar

4. Click the Application Menu button again

to close the menu.
Quick Access Toolbar
Note the series of buttons that form the
Quick Access toolbar. This toolbar can be
modified to add commands that are used
frequently.
2. Click the Toolspace button to cause
Toolspace to appear and disappear.
Click Toolspace again. 5. Click the down arrow on the right side
of the toolbar.

Note the option to customize the toolbar

and the capability to show the menu bar
used in previous versions of Civil 3D.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪12

 Command window and Drawing area
The Command window and the Drawing
area work together to help the user interact
with the software graphically.
8. Draw a polyline to see this interaction.
 Enter pl. Press ENTER. Note the
options in the Command
Window.
 Click in the drawing area to
begin a polyline.
 Move the cursor and click again
InfoCenter to draw a polyline.
Note the series of buttons that form the  Press ENTER to end the
InfoCenter. The purpose of these command.
commands is to help you find information
and stay in touch with Autodesk.  Press F2 to open the command
window as a dedicated text
window where you can view
6. Click the Help button. Be sure to explore your previous commands.
the Help system in Civil 3D.  Press F2 again to toggle off the
text window.

The Ribbon
One of the biggest changes to the interface
for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 is the ribbon. The
ribbon essentially replaces the menus and
provides one location for the most
frequently used commands in the most
accessible places. The ribbon is divided into
tabs according to the purpose of the
command. Each tab is further divided into
panels. A computer with better resolution
will show more complete descriptions for
the panels and buttons.

7. Click the down arrow next to Help to

view frequently used help topics.

9. On the Home tab, Create Design panel,

click Parcel. Note the additional
commands that are available.
Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪13
Note the down arrow next to the Create
Design panel name.
10. Click the panel name and note the
additional commands available.

Layout Toolbars
Additional commands are available on the
Layout Toolbars. AutoCAD Civil 3D has the
following layout toolbars:
 Alignment Layout toolbar
 Grading Creation toolbar
 Parcel Layout toolbar 12. Click the double down arrow on the
 Pipe Network Layout toolbar right side of the toolbar.
 Point Object Creation toolbar 13. Expand the various Parameter trees to
view the options that are available when
 Profile Layout toolbar creating points. Close the toolbar.
11. On the Create Ground Data panel, click
the Points > Point Creation Tools. The
Point Object Creation toolbar displays.

Status bar
The status bar resides along the bottom of
the Civil 3D screen.
14. Hold your cursor over the various
buttons to view the explanations of the
many options available to you.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪14

15. On the View tab, Windows panel, click
Status Bar. This is where you control
what is shown on the status bar.

16. Close the drawing and do not save the

changes.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪15

Exercise 2: Explore The default location for Toolspace is docked
left, but you have several options.
Toolspace 5. Double-click the gray bar at the top of
In this exercise, you explore Toolspace. the window to undock the window.
Toolspace is a critical interface component Toolspace can be moved, resized, or docked
of AutoCAD Civil 3D. The Prospector tab on the right side.
shows and permits interaction with all of 6. While Toolspace is a floating window,
the open drawings, projects, or objects right-click the solid gray bar on the left
within the drawings. The Settings tab side and notice the commands: Move,
contains a tree structure of object styles, Size, Close, Allow Docking, Anchor Left
label styles, and settings for the drawing. and Right, AutoHide, and Transparency.
The Survey tab can be displayed and used to You can get this same menu using the
work with survey data. The Toolbox tab is Properties button.
also optional and enables you to generate
reports. Toolspace can be docked on the 7. Try the AutoHide toggle and pull the
left or right side of the screen, or it can cursor off the window to watch it
float. disappear.
No visible changes are made to the drawing
during this exercise.
For this exercise, open …\I_Civil3DInterface-
EX2.dwg.
Toolspace Docking and Properties
1. If Toolspace is not open, click the
Toolspace button.

2. Click the Survey Toolspace button to

display the Survey tab on the Toolspace
window.

3. Click the Prospector and Settings tabs to

navigate between them.
4. To display the Toolbox tab, click Palettes
> Toolbox.
You can also click the button at the upper
The Palettes panel is located under the
left to quickly activate the AutoHide mode.
Toolspace button. A fourth tab is added to
Toolspace.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪16

Examine the Prospector tab commands that are available on the
Toolspace Prospector tab.
8. Click the Prospector tab.
9. Click the Active Drawing View drop-
down list.
From the Active Drawing View list, you can
select Master View or Active Drawing View.

The Master View enables you to view all of

the open drawings and their components,
and as many projects and templates that
are available. All of these are available for
you to expand by clicking the plus (+) sign to
the left. Note that the current drawing is 11. Click Create to view the Create Points
listed with a bold font. You can make Layout toolbar. Close the toolbar.
another drawing active by right-clicking its 12. Click Points. View the corresponding
name and clicking Switch To. Expand the information listed in the Item View
current drawing and note the objects. If you window at the bottom of the Prospector
switch to the Active Drawing View, you see tab.
only the active drawing.

13. In the Item View window, right-click

10. Expand the active drawing’s objects. point 20573. Click Zoom To.
Right-click Points. Notice the many

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪17

 18. To preview the parcel, click the
magnifying glass icon at the top of
Toolspace.
19. Right-click Parcels. Click Show Preview.
20. Click the Standard:1 parcel to see a
preview Item View window.
14. Expand the Surfaces tree in the active
drawing.
15. Right-click Surface1. Click Surface
Properties.
The Surface Properties dialog box displays
and enables you to review and alter the
properties of this surface.
16. Close the Surface Properties dialog box
when finished.

The Toolspace Settings tab

21. Click the Settings tab in Toolspace to
view the various types of settings.

Preview Graphic Objects

In addition to tabular information, most
graphic objects can also be previewed in the
Prospector tab. Here you preview a parcel.
17. Expand the Sites, Site 1, and Parcels
trees in Prospector. Notice that there is
one parcel named Property:1.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪18

22. Expand the Point heading to view the
various types of Point settings.
Notice the many point and label styles that
Point Styles and Label Styles enable you to can be used when creating points. You can
change the look of the points and labels. copy and alter these styles to be your own.
You can specify that certain points use style
A and others use style B. The same is true
for the labels. Once the styles are defined,
the Prospector tab is used to designate the
styles used for each object.
24. Close the drawing and do not save the
changes.

23. Expand the Point Styles and Label Styles

headings.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪19

Exercise 3: The Panorama 4. Highlight any point row. Right-click the
row to see the available commands.
Window, Properties and 5. Try zooming to a particular point with
Tool Palettes this method. Click Zoom Previous or
Undo to return to the prior view.
In this exercise, you view the Panorama
Window, and the Properties and Tool
Palettes in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
The Panorama Window and the Properties
Palette both enable you to view and edit
specific data for various objects. The
Panorama Window is a general use window
that uses different names depending on its
use.
No visible changes are made to the drawing
during this exercise.
For this exercise, continue from the
previous exercise or open
…\I_Civil3DInterface-EX3.dwg.
The Panorama Window
1. On the Prospector tab in Toolspace,
expand the components of the active
drawing. 6. Try panning to a particular point.
2. Right-click Points. Click Edit Points. 7. Click the green check mark to close the
Panorama window.
The Panorama window opens the Point
Editor, which shows all of the points in the Examine the Properties Palette
drawing.
8. On the Palettes panel, click Properties.

9. In the drawing, click a contour line that

is part of a surface called EG.
The Properties box displays data about the
selected object(s) in the drawing.

3. Highlight a point row and click in the

Northing cell.
Note that you can edit the values directly in
this window.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪20

Contextual tabs appear on the Ribbon when
an object is selected in the drawing. These
tabs show pertinent commands that you
can use on the object.
The Tool Palettes are used primarily to
display subassemblies, or components of a
cross section that can be used to model
corridors.
10. Press ESC to deselect the surface.
15. Click through the various tabs and use
11. Click a point in the drawing and view the the slider bar on the left to view the
properties of the point in the Properties various assemblies and subassemblies
palette. used for modeling roads and highways.
Notice how a different contextual tab for a 16. Click the bottom right of the tab names
point appears on the ribbon and the values in order to see a full list of the available
in the Properties Palette change. tabs.
12. Click in the Northing cell of the
Geometry group of properties.
You can edit the value in the Properties
Palette also.
13. Close the Properties Palette without
making changes.
Examine the Tool Palettes
14. On the Home tab, Palettes panel, click
Tool Palettes.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪21

 18. Close the Tool Palettes.

17. Right-click the sidebar of the palette to 19. Close the drawing and do not save the
display the many types of palettes that changes.
are available.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪22

Exercise 4: Work with 4. To return to the Civil 3D workspace,
click Workspace Switching.
Workspaces 5. Select Civil 3D from the list.
In this exercise, you explore the workspaces The user interface changes to show the Civil
available in Civil 3D and modify some 3D commands.
workspace settings. You then create a
custom workspace by adding toolbars and 6. Click Workspace Switching. Select
removing menus. Workspace Settings from the list.
No visible changes are made to the drawing 7. In the Workspace Settings dialog box,
during this exercise. select Automatically Save Workspace
Settings to enable the option. Click OK.
For this exercise, either continue from the
previous exercise, or start AutoCAD Civil 3D This setting ensures that changes you make
and a new drawing, drawing1.dwg, is to a workspace are automatically saved.
opened. Next, you create and customize a
First, you review the existing workspaces. workspace using the Customize User
Interface (CUI) command.
1. To switch to the 2D Drafting and
Annotation workspace, select 2D 8. Click Workspace Switching.
Drafting and Annotation from the 9. Select Save Current As from the list.
Workspace Switching button in the
status bar. 10. In the Save Workspace dialog box, for
Name, enter My Civil 3D Workspace.
Click Save.
11. Click Workspace Switching. Select
Customize from the list.
12. In the Customize User Interface dialog
box, under the Workspace collection,
select the My Civil 3D Workspace
(current) workspace.
Note that the contents of the workspace
are displayed in the Workspace Contents
pane to the right.
13. In the Workspace Contents pane, notice
The user interface changes to show that the workspace does not display any
commands applicable to drafting and toolbars.
annotation tasks.
2. To switch to the 3D Modeling
workspace, click Workspace Switching.
3. Select 3D Modeling.
The user interface changes to show the
commands applicable to 3D modeling tasks.

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14. In the Workspace Contents pane, click with the inclusion of the ribbon. However, it
Customize Workspace to enter is still possible to display the menus.
Workspace Editing mode. 22. On the command line, enter menubar.
15. To add toolbars to the workspace, click Press ENTER.
in the Customizations in All Files pane 23. Enter 1 for Enter New Value for
on the left side. MENUBAR. Press ENTER.
16. Select the Toolbars check box. The menu bar is displayed at the top of the
The toolbars are added to the My Civil 3D screen. Notice that the Annotation and
Workspace (current) workspace on the right Inquiry menus are no longer visible. Also
side. notice that the Lines/Curves menu is to the
left of the General menu.
Collapse Partial Customization Files.
Finally, you confirm the effect of selecting
17. To remove and move menus, in the
the Automatically Save Workspace Settings
Customizations in All Files pane:
option.
 Click to expand Menus.
24. Click Workspace Switching. From the
 At the bottom of the list, clear the menu, select Civil 3D. Notice that the
Annotation and Inquiry check boxes. menu bar is no longer visible.
18. In the Workspace Contents pane, click 25. Switch back to the My Civil 3D
to expand the Menus tree. Workspace. Notice that the menu bar is
Notice that the Annotation and Inquiry visible. The visibility of the menu bar is
menus have been removed from the My controlled and saved with a workspace.
Civil 3D Workspace (current) workspace. To turn off the menu bar in the My Civil 3D
19. In the right pane, click and drag workspace:
Lines/Curves. Relocate it above General. 26. On the command line, enter menubar.
20. Click Done to exit editing mode. Press ENTER.

21. Click OK to close the Customize User 27. For New Value for MENUBAR, enter 0.
Interface dialog box. Notice the display Press ENTER.
of the toolbars. 28. Close the drawing. Do not save the
Next, you change how the menu bar is changes.
displayed. The use of menus is discouraged

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪24

Exercise 5: Create Reports
In this exercise, you create reports for
design objects.

4. Close the web browser.

Next, you create a report that shows the
station and offset to points from an
alignment.
5. In the Toolbox, right-click Station Offset
to Points. Click Execute.
6. In the Create Reports - Station Offset to
For this exercise, open …\I_Civil3DInterface- Points Report dialog box:
EX5.dwg.  Review the point list and review the
1. On the Home tab, click the Palettes alignments.
panel. Click Toolbox.  Under Report Settings, select
Orchard Road.

2. In the Toolbox:
 Click Create Report.
 Click to expand Reports Manager.
 Click to expand Points. 7. The report is displayed in a web
 Right-click Points_List. Click Execute. browser.

3. In the Export to XML Report dialog box,

click OK.
The report is displayed in a web browser.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪25

8. Close the web browser.  Click to expand Client.
In the Create Reports - Station Offset to  Click to expand Company.
Points  For Name, enter Town of
Blacksburg.
9. Report dialog box, click Done.  Click to collapse the Client tree.
Next, you create a parcel report. 15. Click to expand Owner and Preparer:
10. In the Toolbox:  For Name, enter ABC Engineering.
 Click to collapse Points.  Click to expand the other trees and
 Click to expand Parcel. Notice the review the options.
different reporting options for  Click OK.
parcels. Next, you create an Alignment Report.
 Right-click Inverse_Report. Click
Execute. 16. In the Toolbox:

11. In the Export to XML Report dialog box:  Click to collapse Parcels.
 Click to expand Alignment.
 Scroll down to see the parcels.
 Right-click Alignment_Curve. Click
 Click OK. Execute.
The report is displayed in a web browser.
Notice the generic headers at the top of the 17. In the Export to XML Report dialog box,
report. You can change how this click Pick from Drawing.
information is displayed by changing the
report settings.

18. In the drawing area, select 8th Avenue,

the north-south running alignment on
12. Close the web browser. the west side of the site. Press ENTER.
13. In the Toolbox, click Report Settings.

14. In the Edit Report Settings dialog box:

19. Click OK.
Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪26
The report is displayed in the web browser. 20. Close the browser.
Notice the updated information for Client 21. Close the drawing. Do not save the
and Prepared By. changes.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪27

Assessment
Challenge Exercise
Instructors provide a challenge exercise for students to do based on this lesson.
Questions
1. Name the four tabs of Toolspace. Which are always present and which must be
activated to use?
2. Where would you modify a point label style?
3. What types of commands are present in the Application Menu?
4. What is a contextual ribbon?
5. Creating a report about a parcel is best performed using which interface object?
6. Panorama windows and the Properties palette can both display and permit edits to data.
Is this correct?
7. What are the three major workspaces in Civil 3D?
Answers
1. The four tabs of Toolspace are Prospector, Settings, Survey, and Toolbox. The first two
are always present and the last two need activation to be used.
2. The Settings tab of Toolspace holds settings of all types, including label styles.
3. The Application Menu provides drawing-related commands, such as New, Open, Save,
and Export to AutoCAD.
4. A contextual ribbon appears as a tab when an object is selected in the drawing area.
Applicable commands for the selected object appear on the ribbon.
5. Reports are created using the Toolbox tab of Toolspace.
6. Yes, both Panorama windows and the Properties palette permit display and editing of
object data.
7. The major workspaces include Civil 3D, 2D Drafting & Annotation, and 3D Modeling.

Lesson Summary
This lesson focused on describing the basic aspects of the user interface of Civil 3D. In the
exercises, you learned how to navigate, use Toolspace, work with workspaces, and create
reports.

Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪28

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Unit 1 – Lesson 2: Civil 3D Interface Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪29