Create Points/Arcs with VCL Designs

The Create Points/Arcs feature supports VCL design objects, allowing you to use points, lines, and alignments from a VCL design when creating new points and performing layout calculations.

Supported VCL Objects

Within the Create Points/Arcs feature, you can select:

• VCL Points
• VCL Lines
• VCL Alignments (for specific tools)

This provides similar functionality to working with DXF/DWG design data.

Using VCL Lines

VCL lines can be selected in Create Points/Arcs tools that require line-based geometry.

Supported line types include:

• Lines
• Polylines
• Linestrings

These can be used in workflows that create points from:

• Line intersections
• Line offsets
• Line geometry calculations
• Other line-based construction layout tools

Selection can typically be made directly from the map view or from the available design object lists.

Using VCL Points

VCL points can be selected in all Create Points/Arcs tools that require point-based inputs.

Examples include creating points from:

• Existing design points
• Point-to-point geometry
• Angular calculations
• Offset calculations

As with other VCL workflows, points must have a valid point name to be selectable.

Using VCL Alignments

VCL alignments have more limited support within the Create Points/Arcs feature.

Alignments can only be selected for the following tools:

Create Point at Offset from Corridor

Use the alignment to create a point at a specified:

• Station
• Offset

relative to the selected alignment.

Deflection from Corridor

Use the alignment as the basis for creating points using corridor deflection calculations.

Alignment Limitations

VCL alignments cannot be selected for general point-creation tools that require point or line geometry.

They are only available in workflows specifically designed to work with corridor-based positioning.

Best Practices

✅ Use named VCL points and linework to simplify object selection.
✅ Verify the correct alignment is selected before creating offset or deflection points.
✅ Use VCL alignments for corridor-based point creation workflows.
✅ Use VCL lines and points for general layout and geometry calculations.
✅ Maintain clear naming conventions in Trimble Business Center to make field selection easier.

Key Points

• The Create Points/Arcs feature supports VCL points, lines, and selected alignment workflows.
• VCL lines can be used in tools that require line geometry.
• VCL points can be used in tools that require point-based inputs.
• VCL alignments are only supported in:
  • Create Point at Offset from Corridor
  • Deflection from Corridor
• Functionality is similar to working with DXF/DWG design data.