Editing the Hardscape Object Settings

The parameters can be edited for selected hardscape objects through the Hardscape Settings button on the Shape tab of the Object Info palette. To modify the default hardscape object settings, click the Preferences button on the Tool bar.

Many of the parameters are identical to those used to create the hardscape object (see Creating Hardscape Objects). However, certain parameters are accessible in the Object Info palette only.

Parameter	Description
Shape Tab
Hardscape Settings	Click to edit the selected hardscape object. If more than one hardscape object is selected for editing, the Hardscape Settings button appears dimmed; select a single hardscape object to access the Hardscape Object Settings dialog box for editing parameters.
Save Hardscape	Click to save the selected hardscape object as a symbol; for more information, see Saving the Hardscape Object Settings. If more than one hardscape object is selected for editing, the Save Hardscape button appears dimmed; select a single hardscape object to save it as a symbol.
Definition
Hardscape Name	Specifies the name assigned to the hardscape object
Draw Border	Includes a border pattern along the edges of the hardscape object
Border Width	Enter the width of the border
Path Width	Width of the pathway hardscape object
Path Offset	Sets the offset of the pathway centerline from the placement line
Joint Pattern Size X/Y	Specifies the size of the joint pattern units, for flagstone, pavers-grid, and pavers-running joint patterns
Joint Pattern Angle	Specifies the rotation angle of the joint pattern
Border Pattern Size	Sets the width of the spaced joints, when spaced joints are selected for the border
Border Pattern Angle	Enter the angle of the pattern inside the border
Main Unit Price	Sets the price per square unit for the main hardscape material, for use in worksheets
Main Price Code	Specifies the main hardscape price code
Border Unit Price	Sets the price per square unit for the border material, for use in worksheets
Border Price Code	Specifies the hardscape border price code
Tag
Tag Display	Select whether to display the hardscape tag to the right or left of the leader line, without a leader line (floating), or not at all
Tag Style	Select the ID tag display style. ● Select Name Only to display the name of the hardscape object only (as defined in the Name field) ● Select Name-Area(s) to display the hardscape object name, area and, if applicable, the area of the border ● Select Name-Area(s)-Perim to display the hardscape object name, perimeter length and, if applicable, the area of the border.
Tag Class	Select a class for the hardscape tags, to control the tag appearance (line and marker style) and visibility. The classes present in the drawing are listed; alternatively, create a new class by clicking New, or select the class named <Hardscape Class> which places the tag in the same class as the hardscape object.
Tag Approach Angle	Specifies the angle of the leader line, from 0 to 360°
Tag Shoulder Angle	When a tag shoulder line is enabled, sets the angle of the shoulder line, from 0 to 360°
Tag Text Alignment	Select whether the tag text is aligned on top of a continuation of the leader line, or centered vertically at the end of the leader line
Snap Tag to Hardscape Edge	Select this option to automatically align the endpoint of the tag with the edge or corner of the hardscape that is nearest to the shoulder point of the tag
Display Tag Line Marker	Displays a marker at the end of the leader line; specify the marker style by editing the hardscape tag class (see Setting Class Properties)
Draw 3D
3D Type	The hardscape object can act as a 3D slab object or as a pad or texture bed site modifier for a site model. Select the type of 3D modifier to create. Select Slab or Pad Modifier if the paving area is flat. Select Texture Bed Modifier if the paving area covers an area of the site with topographical changes. For more information, see Site Model Modification Overview. Select None to not display the hardscape object in 3D views.
3D Thickness	For a slab or pad, enter the thickness parameter
Information
Main Area	Displays the size of the main area
Border Area	Displays the size of the border area
Footprint Area	Displays the area of the entire footprint of the hardscape
Main Perimeter	Displays the perimeter measurement of the main area polyline
Border Perimeter	Displays the perimeter of the border only
Footprint Perimeter	Displays the perimeter measurement of the entire footprint polyline
Vertex parameters	Edits the vertices of the path object that the hardscape is based upon; see Editing Vertex-Based Objects
Render Tab
Texture	If a 3D Type was selected in the Hardscape Object Settings dialog box, the Texture drop-down list is enabled for the main area texture (border textures must be set in the Hardscape Object Settings dialog box)

To set individual border segments to invisible for boundary hardscapes or cut-out holes, select the hardscape object, and then click the Reshape tool. Select Hide or Show Edges mode. Click the midpoint of the hardscape border segments or the cut-out hole to hide. Repeat this process to set the border segments back to visible, if necessary.

To quickly determine the left and right side of a pathway hardscape object, select the hardscape object and click the middle button next to the Vertex field on the Shape tab of the Object Info palette; while the button is clicked, the first vertex of the hardscape object is highlighted with a red box.

When classing the subcomponents of the hardscape object, such as for the joints or tags, the class visibility of the specified class controls the visibility of the corresponding subcomponent. The class attributes are only applied to the corresponding subcomponent when the Use at Creation option is selected for the class. For example, if the Joint Class is set to the Hardscape - Component - Main Joint class, and that class specifies a hatch Fill Style, edit the class and select the Use at Creation option to apply the fill attribute. See Setting Class Attributes.

Reshaping the Hardscape Object

Double-click the hardscape object to activate the Reshape tool, or select the Reshape tool from the Basic palette. Select the object handles to reshape the hardscape object. For more information, see Reshaping Objects.

Converting the Hardscape Object to a Boundary or Pathway Configuration

After creation, a boundary hardscape object can be converted to a pathway hardscape object, and similarly, a pathway configuration can be converted to a boundary configuration. The conversion preserves the appearance, but the path of the object changes.

2. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the hardscape object and select Convert to Pathway from the context menu.

2. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the hardscape object and select Convert to Boundary from the context menu.

Alternatively, click Hardscape Settings from the Object Info palette of a selected hardscape object, and select the configuration.

Hardscape Tag Appearance

● When hardscape tags are required, their default appearance is normally specified in the hardscape object settings.

● Individual hardscape tags can then be changed for selected hardscape objects by adjusting the hardscape tag parameters in the Object Info palette.

● The hardscape tag class controls the appearance of the leader/shoulder lines, as well as the marker style.

● If an individual tag needs to be repositioned, hardscape tags also have two control points for adjusting the shoulder length, tag shoulder angle, and tag location; or the shoulder location, leader line length, and tag approach angle.

Saving the Hardscape Object Settings

Once the hardscape object is set to the desired appearance, the settings can be saved for future use or importing into other files, by saving the hardscape object. When you insert a hardscape from the Resource Browser, all its object settings are preset.

The hardscape object is saved in the “Hardscapes” symbol folder in the Resource Browser. Boundary and pathway hardscape objects are assigned unique thumbnail view icons for easy identification. For more information on the Resource Browser, see Using the Resource Browser.

5. To use a saved hardscape object, double-click on it in the Resource Browser. Alternatively, drag the saved hardscape onto an existing hardscape to apply the saved settings.