DrawTools 3.0.7
With the release of MapInfo Pro v2023, we also have a new release of DrawTools.
MapInfo Pro v2023 allows you to access and update the M and Z values on the nodes on polylines and polygons. DrawTools has been extended with tools to help you assign values to the Z and M on your objects and their nodes.
Extract Nodes
Select the object for which you want to extract nodes. Now click the Extract Nodes control.
The nodes will now get extracted into a new table including a reference to the RowID of the object in the original table, the segment number, and the node number. These values can be used if you later want to use the Update ZM Values using Nodes feature.
The nodes are stored in a temporary table in the Temp folder. Remember to save a copy of this table if you want to keep it. The table will not be maintained in your workspace.
If the nodes table already exists, you will be asked if you want to overwrite it or add to it. This allows you to extract nodes multiple times during a session.
Set Node Coordinate
The Set Node Coordinate tool has been extended to show the M and Z values on the nodes, allowing you to assign values to the M and Z.
If the editable table supports M and Z values, the Z and M options and fields, will be enabled allowing you to assign values to these fields in the Set Node Coordinate dialog.
Update MZ Values
Select the objects you want to update. Make sure you select the features from the editable layer.
Now click on Update ZM Values in the Nodes dropdown on the Spatial tab.
In the Update ZM Values dialog, you can now control which values you want to update and how you want to update these values
.
First, check the Update Z Values and/or Update M Values option depending on which value you want to update. You can check one of them or both.
Now select if you want to update using a fixed value or using values in a column. If you check Value, make sure to enter the value to assign to the Z and/or M values on the nodes in the appropriate field. If you check Column, make sure you select the correct column holding the values to assign to the Z and/or M values on the nodes.
Finally, you can select if you want to set the Z and/or M values on the nodes to the specified value, if you want to add the specified value to the existing value on the nodes, or if you want to multiply the existing value on the nodes by the specified value.
Click OK to update the M and/or Z values on the nodes.
Update ZM Values using Nodes
For this to work, you will need an editable layer. There should also be a table with the postfix of “_Nodes” open. If your editable layer is called Buildings, the table Buildings_Nodes also needs to be open.
It is recommended to use Extract Nodes to create the Nodes table, but it’s not required. You can create this table in other ways too.
Click on Update ZM Value using Nodes in the Nodes dropdown on the Spatial tab.
In the dialog Update MZ Values using Nodes, you must now specify how to update the nodes in the editable layer.
Select Use M and Z Values from Point Objects to use the M and Z values on the spatial point objects in the Nodes table.
Alternatively, you can select Use M and Z Values from Column to read the values from columns in the Nodes table. Note that the second method also allows you to select if you want to update the Z value, the M value, or both. For each, you will have to pick the column to read the value from.
Click OK to update the nodes on the objects in the editable layer.
Note that it is the Nodes table that controls which records in the editable layer get updated.
The Nodes table must contain these columns:
- · OBJECT_ID: Refers to the RowID in the editable layer.
- · SEGMENT_ID: refers to the segment for the specific object.
- · NODE_ID: Refers to the node on the specific segment for the specific object.
The values in these columns control which object, which segment, and which node will get updated.
This feature can be used to update the Z values on your polylines and polygons with for example the elevation from a digital elevation model. First, you extract the nodes using the Extract Nodes feature of DrawTools. Now you can use Point Inspection in the Raster Processing gallery to update these node points with the elevation from your elevation model. Finally, you can use Update ZM Values using Nodes to assign the value from the elevation model back to the original polyline or polygon.
Offset in XYZ
First, select the objects(s) that you want to offset in X, Y and/or Z. Make sure you select the object(s) from the editable layer.
Now use the Offset XYZ tool to draw a line indicating the distance in X and Y that you want to move the objects. The dialog will afterward allow you to change these values if needed.
When you have drawn the line, the Offset XYZ dialog will appear.
The values in the X, m and Y, m fields have been calculated from the line, you drew.
Modify these and the value in the Z field if necessary.
Now, check if the calculation method is correct. Use Spherical for Lat/Long based coordinate system, and Cartesian in other cases.
Finally, you can check the option Create Copies of the Records if you want to create copies of the selected record(s).
If you check this option, you can also specify how many times. Each time the objects are copied they will be offset by the given values in X, Y, and Z. The first time it will use the values entered. The next time, the values will be multiplied by 2. The third time by 3, and so on.
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Peter Horsbøll Møller
Principal Presales Consultant | Distinguished Engineer
Precisely | Trust in Data
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