AutoCAD Civil 3D Surveying Topics: Creating a New Description Key Set

In today’s AutoCAD Civil 3D Surveying Topics, I’d like to discuss how to create a Description Key Set. This is the second in a series of Premium Posts about description keys. In this post I’ll show you how to create Description Keys Sets and where to find your Description Key Sets for land surveying using AutoCAD Civil 3D.

If you used Description Keys in versions of AutoCAD prior to Civil 3D, then you will mostly find using Description Keys in AutoCAD Civil 3D fairly familiar. In general, these are a few changes you’ll notice:

• Instead of one global file, now there’s a Description Key Set (or more) in each drawing, provided you setup one or copy one into each drawing.
• There are new ways to control blocks for point nodes (Markers via Point Styles) and how the points can be labeled (Point Label Styles).
• You can now reorganize, filter and override the Description Keys to update which points show in your drawing, the Marker they use, and how they are labeled, using Point Groups. While point Groups aren’t Description Keys, you’ll find they work togehter so you can get more work done.

Creating a New Description Key Set

So, the first thing you need to do is to actually create a Description Key Set. There may already be one in your drawing or template file that you can just edit, but if not, here’s how to create a new Description Key Set:

1. In the drawing Toolspace click on the Settings tab and then expand expand the Point collection.
2. Then right-click the Description Key Sets collection, which is the fifth item down, and click New.
3. This opens the Description Key Set dialog box. Enter a name and description for your description key set. It helps to make it something meaningful and recognizable within your organization.
4. Your Description Key Set is then created by clicking OK.
5. To edit and create Description Keys you then right-click on the new Description Key Set and click Edit Keys. A starting Description Key of “New DescKey” is automatically added to new Description Key Sets.
6. Using the Description Key Editor you can then edit this default starting description key to match your own.
7. Then add additional Description Keys to your Description Key Set to match all of your field codes and codes for  points created in your DWG.

This Professional Land Surveyor AutoCAD Civil 3D Surveying Topics has been brought to you by Eric Colburn, PLS, Professional Land Surveyor Revivalist & Adviser.