Autolayout: Create Multiple Lines

To use this autolayout action:

Edit Automated Design Rules screen >> Action >> Create Multiple Lines.

This autolayout action provides various ways to repeat the generation of line data along input strings.

Note: There is also a Create Line autolayout rule that is useful for creating a single string automatically.

For example, you may want to insert a vent raise every 50 meters along a drive, or indicate a cubby position at regular intervals and so on.

The Create Multiple Lines tool, like other automated design rules, will be applied to a nominated subset of your input design strings. The actual data used as a baseline for multiple line creation will be determined by the Input Filter in the Edit Automated Design Layout Rules panel (Input Filter) and these will be generated based on a predefined design definition.

Create Autolayout Rule

To add a "Create Multiple Lines" automated layout rule:

Display the Edit Automated Design Rules screen, define a rule with an Action of Create Multiple Lines.
Click inside the settings cell and browse to display the Create Multiple Lines screen.
Enter the Length of all generated strings.
Enter the Azimuth of the new string section. This can be set as a real-world azimuth or in relation to the existing design data (relative).
Define a string Gradient n either degrees, % or a ratio.
Choose a Start Position. This can either the Start or the End of qualifying design data.
Define a positive or negative Distance from Start Position to offset the start of the curve from the start or end of design data.
If you want the first string to be positioned at the either the specified interval from the start, or the calculated interval if a number of repetitions is specified, check Create at First Location. If unchecked, the first string is positioned at the string start point.
You can either repeat strings at fixed intervals, or by repeating a set number of times. Select a Repetition Method:
- Select Fixed Intervals and pick the distance between strings. The distance between all generated strings is the same in this case.
- Select Count to generate a fixed number of strings by the rule.
  - Set the number of times to repeat string generation.
- Select Variables Intervals to define custom distances between successive strings, using the

The Create Line Settings screen displays the following options:

Repeat at Intervals – Can be chosen instead of Repeat # Times. This value sets the distance between successive strings if no other instruction causes a different interval to be used, for example, if the Always Create At End option is used, the final interval may be shorter than specified.
Repeat # Times – Can be chosen instead of Repeat at Intervals. Choose a number of repetitions along the base string to generate new string data. This can either be Evenly Distributed along the base string(s) or as a set number of repetitions at a given interval.

For example, if you want to create 3 drive strings at right angles to a decline, each 40m apart from the start of the string, you could select the Repeat # Times option, set the Distance from Start Position to zero and enable the At Intervals option, using '10' as the associated interval value.
Always Create At End: select this option to always add a string at the end point of the base string(s), potentially violating other interval constraints. Disabled by default.