This section describes how to build custom portrayal files to display symbols, lines, areas, pattern fills and so on, and how to set colours.
Compose can display symbols but not create them. You must use the CARIS Symbol Editor to create symbols. Contact CARIS support for more information.
Portrayal Libraries
Portrayal libraries are lookup tables that define the symbolization, colours, and display priorities for features in a custom product. Portrayal libraries are organized by primitive type (areas, lines, and points). Area features must be in a separate portrayal file from point and line features.
For the example MIO, there are three area features in a separate portrayal file, called, for example, asymrefs_MIO.dic.
The first four fields of each row determine the symbolization properties of features:
Field
Description
1
The feature acronym.
In the example, the acronyms are crlref (coral reef) and mpaare (marine protected area).
There are two mpaare entries, one with an attribute and one without.
2
The attribute acronym and value.
In the example:
• The first two features do not contain acronym values; this field is empty ("").
• The third feature (mpaare) has an attribute acronym, levprtl (level of protection) with a value of 1 (no access). This mpaare feature is drawn differently from mpaare features without this attribute.
3
Symbolization instructions for the feature.
Feature one (crlref) contains the following symbolization instructions: LS(SOLD,2,RESGR). LS means that a line is drawn; its properties are defined by the information in parenthesis:
• SOLD: Solid line.
• 2: Line thickness in pixels.
• REGSR: The colour token.
The area is not filled.
Feature two (mpaare) contains the following symbolization instructions: "LS(DASH,2,RESBL)". LS means that a line is drawn; its properties are defined by the information in parenthesis.:
• DASH: Dashed line.
• 2: Line thickness in pixels.
• RESBL: The colour token.
Feature three (mpaare) contains the following symbolization instructions: "AC(CHRED,1);LS(DASH,2,CHRED)".
This is two sets of symbolization instructions separated by a semi-colon.
First set fills the area and sets the transparency:
• CHRED: The colour token for the fill.
• 1: The transparency level. 1 = 25%.
The second instruction defines the line around the area:
• DASH: Dashed line.
• 2: Line thickness in pixels.
• CHRED: The colour token.
4
Draw order. For all features this is five. This means that these features will be drawn over four other display levels.
Portrayal Control File
Use the Portrayal Control option in the Options dialog box to define the location of your custom portrayal control files.
This example shows the portrayal options for the example MIO product.
