Geometry Connector

Combines multi-element connect, multi-element regression tools and connection editor into one tool.

You can access this tool from the following:

Ribbon: Geometry > Horizontal > Complex Geometry.

Geometry Connector dialog

If launching Geometry Connector tool from OpenRail the Begin Element options are turnout or element.

Possible connection combinations are turnout to turnout, element to element or turnout to element.

If launching Geometry Connector tool from OpenRoads and OpenSite the Begin Element options are alignments.

Select Begin Element and End Element then provide the geometry between. Compute a connection between two fixed or free elements as specified with parameters.

Settings	Description
Begin Element	Free length Select Element Replace
Locks	Simple/Complex Elements - Toggles between creating simple or complex elements. Create Graphic Elements - Toggles between creating civil elements and graphic elements. Ruled-Un-Ruled geometry - Toggles between creating ruled and un-ruled civil elements.
Modify tools	Modify Item - move to new location. Insert Line - place or construct a line. Insert Arc - place or construct a circular arc. Insert Spiral - place a transitional spiral as a B-spline curve. Note: Spiral parameter is read-only. Insert Element - selects or deselects elements for modification or manipulation.
Other tools	Insert New Item Move Up Fit View Move Down Delete Delete All
Reset Computations	Resets the computation and resets the dialog to the entered values.
Report	Report Viewer displays to review new element created or alignment.
End Element	Free Length Select Element Replace
Compute	Computes the variable (non-fixed) parameters of each element to create a contiguous tangent alignment.
Apply	Commits the computed complex alignment to the DGN file.
Regression Analysis (Rail only)	Allows the connector to find best fit based on the regression line and minimize slew values.

Right-Click Menu

Right-clicking in the Geometry Connector dialog will bring up the following menu:

Using the Geometry Connector tool

Select begin element. The begin element assumes the direction of the selected begin element. If the direction is inappropriate return to geometry, transpose and relaunch the Geometry Connector tool.
Selecting the begin element populates the grid in a similar manner to the Geometry Builder tool.
Right click on the geometry type to view a menu list to specify the geometry parameters.
Add more geometry (line, arc, spiral), if desired.
Select end element which has the option to specify which end to connect. Use transpose to modify.
Add to properties on dialog. Fix or free elements.
Decorations indicate what is fixed or free.
Fix all or free all for large list of several elements. Fix individual parameters of all.
Same number of fix and free geometry is required to compute.

Messages of "Too many free" requires fixing more parameters or "Too many fix" requires freeing more parameters.
When grid is ready a "Ready to compute connection" message displays and the Compute button enables.
Apply button is enabled if successful. Apply button is grayed if a failure occurs.
Create graphic element or civil element. Civil elements have the option to be ruled or not.
Creating a graphic element takes elements and modified end element plus preceding element and creates new element.

Creates new geometry with no profile and simple rules.
Report reports only green area (what is computed) not the alignment. Entire alignment can also be reported.

Note: The following message box displays when creating civil rules: