Question:

How do I create a lane control sign (R3-8) in OpenRoads SignCAD?

Answer: 

Before creating a lane control sign, check the appropriate state or federal standard sign library (ex: Texas Standard Sign Library) in OpenRoads SignCAD to find out if the pre-made sign already exists (see Standard Signs - OpenRoads | OpenSite Wiki - OpenRoads | OpenSite - Bentley Communities).

Here are instructions for creating a 48"x30" R3-8 Left Only/Left Only/Right Only sign in the Texas Standard in OpenRoads SignCAD using the Lane Control Panel tool. This sign is created as three separate panels joined together to form a multi-panel.

 1) Use the Lane Control icon to make three separate panels (Left panel=17.25”x30", Middle panel=13.5”x30" & Right panel=17.25”x30") using the values shown in the screenshots below.

2) Add the 4”D ONLY text to each panel. In the Text dialog box, set a specified length=12.125. Press OK. Tip: Select the ONLY text and duplicate it twice (Edit>Duplicate).

 3) On the left panel, set the object spacing on ONLY to Top=1.5, Left=2.625, Right=0 and Bottom=3. Set the object alignment on ONLY to Left and Bottom.

4) On the middle panel, set the object spacing on ONLY to Top=1.5, Left=0.5, Right=0.5 and Bottom=3. Set the object alignment on ONLY to Center and Bottom.

5) On the right panel, set the object spacing on ONLY to Top=1.5, Left=0, Right=2.625 and Bottom=3. Set the object alignment on ONLY to Right and Bottom.

6) Use the Arrange tool to create three tabular arrangements with 2 columns and 1 row.

7) Select the EL arrow (available in the Texas standard under the Templates>R3-8 Arrows) for the left panel and place it into the right column of the first tabular arrangement. Right click on the tabular arrangement and pick Edit Data from the floating menu. In the Tabular Arrangement dialog box, set all of the values in the Minimum Space tab to 0. In the Minimum Size tab, set the Minimum column width not including space = -0.878 and press OK.

8) Select the LL arrow for the middle panel and place it into the right column of the second tabular arrangement. Right click on the tabular arrangement and pick Edit Data from the floating menu. In the Tabular Arrangement dialog box, set all of the values in the Minimum Space tab to 0. In the Minimum Size tab, set the Minimum column width not including space = -3.625 and press OK.

9) Select the ER arrow for the right panel and place it into the left column of the third tabular arrangement. Right click on the tabular arrangement and pick Edit Data from the floating menu. In the Tabular Arrangement dialog box, set all of the values in the Minimum Space tab to 0. In the Minimum Size tab, set the Minimum column width not including space = -0.878 and press OK.

10) Pick the Select tool and drag each tabular arrangement by its corner into the correct panel above ONLY as shown below.

11) From the Preferences menu, pick Allow Panel Selection. Join the panels together to form the multi-panel. Select and drag the middle panel over the left panel and release the mouse button when the vertical blinking line appears on the right edge of the left panel to join the panels together. Select and drag the right panel over the middle panel to join the panels together.

      

12) To lock the panel together so they do not come apart, right click on one of the panels and pick Edit Data. Under the General tab in the Rectangular Panel dialog box, press the Edit Multipanel button. In the Multipanel dialog box, check the Dimension as unit and Locked arrangement boxes. Enter a sign Identifier if desired and press OK to both the Multipanel and Rectangular Panel dialog boxes.

13) Save the file (File>Save As).