A Forgotten Entity: Networks

I like trolling through “Appendix A: CC3+ Command Reference” (and the associated spreadsheet) of the the Tome of Ultimate Mapping because I frequently find features of CC3+ that have been long forgotten but still work. One of these was a different type of entity called “Networks” that aren’t documented in the Tome itself (aside from the command table entries listed below) but do appear in the programs’s internal help system. The only post in the Profantasy Forums I found about the topic was this one which was a question that received no reply.
CommandDescriptionText EquivalentCommand Syntax
Network, AddAdds to a network, or create a new oneNETADDxyNetwork[New];xyCorner1;…;xyCornerN
Network, CenterSets the net insertion point to centerNETCENTER
Network, Change Node WidthChange the width of a network nodeNETWIDSxyNetworkSpan1;…;xyNetworkSpanN
Network, Change Span WidthChange the width of a network spanNETWIDExyNetworkSpan1;…;xyNetworkSpanN
Network, Change WidthChanges network width, and optionally draw additional segmentsNETWIDArWidth;xyNetwork;xyCorner1;…;xyCornerN
Network, CreateCreate a networkNETxyCorner1;…;xyCornerN
Network, CutCuts a section from a networkNETCUTxyNetwork;xyCorner1;xyCorner2
Network, LeftSets the net insertion point to leftNETLEFT
Network, Offset CopyCreates an offset copy of a networkNETOFSTxyNetwork;dOffset1;…;dOffsetN
Network, RectangleAdd rectangle to existing or new networkNETRECTxyNetwork;xyCorner1a;xyCorner1b;…;…;xyCornerNa;xyCornerNb
Network, Remove SpanRemove a span from a networkNETRMVxyNetworkSpan1;…;xyNetworkSpanN
Network, RightSets the net insertion point to rightNETRIGHT
Network, Set WidthSet network width and draw new network/spanNETWIDrWidth;xyNetwork[New];xyCorner1;…;xyCornerN
I was wondering if anyone has actually used this feature in their maps.

Comments

  • LoopysueLoopysue ProFantasy 🖼️ 39 images Cartographer
    Please can you define what is meant by a network?
  • DaltonSpenceDaltonSpence Mapmaker
    edited February 2020
    This is a direct quote from the CC3+ internal help page. Click the "Index" tab in the left-hand panel and type in "Ne" in the "Keyword" box to see a list of Network help pages.

    Networks are a type of CC3 entity. Each network span has an intelligent relationship with other spans. They can also intelligently interact with symbols that have been designed to work with networks.

    These abilities make the construction of architectural drawings extremely fast and easy. They are can be used for walls, roads and rivers.

    Understanding Networks

    A network in some ways is like a smart path. A path is a series of connected nodes, and so is a network. Additional segments can be added to a network in almost any direction or length, and attached at almost any point.

    The great advantage of networks is that intersections are automatically cleaned up. When you create corners, T-intersections, or four way intersections, no tedious and repetitive breaking or trimming is required. CC3’s brain does it all for you.

    Note too that networks, of course, have thickness. The width is assigned to each span at each of its two nodes. This allows different segments within the same network to have different thickness. Also, a segment can have a different thickness at each end of its span.

    Since each network is a single entity, it can be assigned only one line style and fill style. Other entity properties, such as color, layer, etc., follow suit.

    There is more of course but this should be enough to give you the idea. I suspect this may have been a feature of CC2 that was carried over.
  • LoopysueLoopysue ProFantasy 🖼️ 39 images Cartographer
    edited February 2020
    I wonder if that would make a river drawing tool where the tributaries got progressively thinner possible?

    EDIT: missed the last line - no, not possible.
  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 46 images Cartographer
    I didn't really find that many uses for networks in map-making, which is why I didn't devote space for them in the Tome either. They're better suited for more technical drawings. These commands belong to the FastCAD core of CC3+.
  • LoopysueLoopysue ProFantasy 🖼️ 39 images Cartographer
    If I'm grasping this right, then it could be kind of useful when making large cities and attempting to modify the road systems. That's if by moving one node at a junction you end up moving that entire junction, and the network distorts accordingly.
  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 46 images Cartographer
    No. You cannot move network nodes around. To move things, you'd have to delete the span, and add a new one.

    It is certain advantages to making a road network or dungeon corridor network with it, due to the way it automatically handles intersections and stuff, but it is also lacking in the available shapes. No smooth paths, or fractalized paths for example.
  • LoopysueLoopysue ProFantasy 🖼️ 39 images Cartographer
    That's a shame.

    I can see why you didn't bother developing it now.
  • Coming from a GIS background I wonder if you could add attributes like travel time to the network as done in 'real' geoinformation tools, thus being able to effectivly set up a routing algorithm. Google maps routing for your fantasy world, calculated in carriage hours ;-)
  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 46 images Cartographer
    No, networks don't have attributes. Neither CC3+ nor FastCAD is a GIS tool.
  • Posted By: MonsenNo, networks don't have attributes. Neither CC3+ nor FastCAD is a GIS tool.
    Too bad. I know it's not a GIS tool, but some CAD tools do have similar functions. So I thought maybe. But no big thing. If I want something like that, I can always resort to such tools.
  • DaltonSpenceDaltonSpence Mapmaker
    edited February 2020
    Posted By: LoopysueI wonder if that would make a river drawing tool where the tributaries got progressively thinner possible?
    I think it might be more useful in creating a street grid for a city. The tricky part comes in deconstructing the network into other entities: exploding one produces 2 lines per span (one each way) plus a line for each node (usually but not always zero length). In addition other non-network commands don't seem to recognize network nodes so tracing with drawing tools won't work. (This includes the TRACED command that I thought would work to create city blocks but has problems with upper horizontal edges.)

    EDIT: Gee you guy talk fast! While I was busy experimenting you had a whole conversation. ;)
  • jslaytonjslayton Moderator, ProFantasy Mapmaker
    Not all features currently present in the product are necessarily supported at this time. Unsupported features are unlikely to continue to work correctly in future versions and may be removed (hint, hint).

    The reason is that there are a number of features that originate with the FastCAD product that happen to be included in CC3+, but that generate entities that are unsupported by the custom software that makes up the heart of CC3+ (an example of such a custom feature is the TRACE command that doesn't work with net entities). Using such features as part of your regular workflow may cause drawings to mysteriously fail in future software versions.
Sign In or Register to comment.