Simple steps to create an Instant Profile – no surface required. | Back to User Tips

To create an instant profile (quite useful for determining sight lines in vertical cases):

1.) First you need a series of 3D points in your drawing. These points may have come from a data collector such as our Evidence Recorder, or any other source.

2.) Join the points with a continuous 3D polyline. You can find this command in:
MapScenes or MapScenes Pro under the Draw Menu -> 3D -> 3D Polyline or you can simply type in the command POLY3D at the command prompt.
MapScenes 2006 under the Draw Menu -> 3D Polyline or you can simply type in the command 3DPOLY at the command prompt.

Be sure your object/entity snaps are sent to "point".

In MapScenes and MapScenes Pro, you can turn the object snaps on by going to the Settings Menu -> Settings. Then pick on POINT to turn it on.
In MapScenes 2006, you can turn the object snaps on by going to the Settings Menu -> Drawing Settings -> Coordinate Input tab -> Change settings for: Entity Snaps.

It will remain on for all picks until you return to this dialog and turn it off by picking it again to remove the check mark.

Pick on all of the 3D points in order, to draw the continuous 3D polyline (Example below)

3.) Create a new layer called "Profile" and make it current. This allows you to freeze the layer afterwards if you wish. (Optional but recommended)

4.) Type the command "FLATTEN" in the command line or go under the Surfaces Menu (MsSurfaces in MapScenes 2006) -> Cross Section / Profiles -> Profile Drape Line.

5.) It will prompt you to Select Object - pick on the 3D polyline you just drew (it will highlight in purple)

6.) It will go through a series of defaults (shown below). Just stick with the defaults if you wish, and enter for each one. Or set them as desired.
(Example below)

Vertical multiplier <1>: 5 <- Vertical Exaggeration
Base elevation for grid/Auto <Auto>: <- Lowest Value on the Vertical Grid
Draw a grid background <Yes>: <- Do you want the Grid drawn?
Vertical spacing <0.5>: 1 <- Spacing between horizontal Grid lines
Vertical labeling interval <2>: <- Label every so many Horizontal Grid lines
Horizontal spacing <10>: <- Spacing between Vertical Grid lines
Horizontal labeling interval <5>: 2 <- Label every so many Vertical Grid lines
Select origin point: <- Pick location on screen for Profile

7.) Insertion point is the last prompt, this determines where the profile and grid will be inserted (using the bottom left corner of the grid). The example below shows the completed profile using the values listed above.

Glen W. Cameron, C.E.T.
Technical Support Manager