Query Boundary
The Query Boundary option allows you to automatically create a query exactly on a selected boundary, or at a specified offset from the boundary. To use Query Boundary:
- Select Query Boundary
from the toolbar or the Query menu. - Use the mouse to select the desired boundary (i.e. excavation, material, stage, joint or external boundary). Note that you may select only ONE boundary. (Also, see note below about the definition of a "boundary" for selection purposes).
- After selecting a boundary, you will see a dialog. This dialog will allow you to either locate the query exactly on the selected boundary, or at a specified offset (distance) from the boundary. Note that the available offset options, will depend on the type of boundary, as well as its orientation, for example:
- an excavation boundary will allow an offset "inside" or "outside" the boundary
- a material or stage boundary will allow "left" or "right" offsets, or "above" or "below" offsets, depending on the orientation of the boundary.
- After making your selections in this dialog, select OK and the Query will be added to the model, at the specified location (i.e. either exactly on the boundary, or at the specified offset distance from the boundary).
Once queries are generated using Query Boundary, they are identical in all respects to queries created using Add Material Query, and are edited, deleted, graphed, etc in exactly the same manner.
Selecting a Boundary
It is important to note that the definition of a "boundary" which may be selected with the Query Boundary option, corresponds to a single boundary entity created during the modeling process. If a boundary actually consists of more than one modeling entity (for example, a material boundary which was added in two separate steps while creating the model), then only the clicked on boundary entity will be selected, even if two or more boundaries are continuous. If this situation occurs, and you wish to create a Query along a certain path of boundaries, you will have to use the Add Material Query option, which allows the user complete control over the creation of a Query.
Right Click Shortcut
The Query Boundary option is also available as a right-click shortcut. If you right-click on any boundary, a popup menu will appear, which makes available the Query Boundary option. You may find this a convenient shortcut for creating a Query on a boundary.