Learning Center

Design a tile line in Tile Design

Everything on the Tile Design screen: the BestFit, Guided and Freeform tabs, the four depth and grade cards, the depth window and its warnings, Reverse, Required Start Depth, a fixed outlet depth with a transition zone, and saving the design.

  • Full Automation Kit
  • Guidance Only Kit
  • Ditch Assist Lite

In the app Survey sidebar › Tile Design (opens by itself after a tile survey)

Tile Design turns your surveyed route into a tile line. It keeps the tile between a minimum and maximum depth below the ground, called the depth window. It never lets the tile fall flatter than your minimum grade toward the outlet. Standard Tiling and Contour Tiling use the same screen.

It opens by itself after you save a tile survey and confirm the water flow. You can also open it with the Tile Design button on the survey screen, the Edit button next to a saved design in the Load window, or Edit Design on the Grade screen.

Before you start

Time: a few minutes per line.

  • A tile survey is saved and Tile Design is open (Tiling: design the tile line).
  • You know your numbers: target depth, minimum and maximum depth, minimum grade.
  • You know which end is the outlet.

The screen at a glance

The chart across the top shows your route from START (where you began driving) to END. The dashed green line is the ground. The black line is the tile. Two more dashed lines mark Min Depth (green) and Max Depth (magenta). Under the chart are four cards with your numbers, then the DESIGN strip with what the line actually does.

Tile Design screen: tabs BestFit, Guided and Freeform at the top left; OUTLET DEPTH: OFF and Reverse at the top right; the chart with the ground, the tile line and the depth lines; four cards; the DESIGN strip with a blue Required Start Depth tag; Cancel and Apply Design
  1. Design tabs. BestFit (the app draws the line), Guided and Freeform.
  2. OUTLET DEPTH and Reverse. Fix the depth at the outlet; swap which end is the outlet.
  3. Required Start Depth. How deep the plow must be at the outlet.
The tile depth window Side view of a tile run, depth exaggerated. Below the ground, a dashed Min Depth line (24 inches by default) and a dashed Max Depth line (72 inches by default) bound the depth window. 1: the tile line stays inside the window and is never flatter than Min Grade (0.10 percent by default). 2: Required Start Depth, measured at the outlet from the ground down to the tile, is how deep the plow has to be when you start. 3: install from the outlet, the low end, working uphill. 4: with Fix outlet depth on, the tile starts at the outlet depth you set, and inside the outlet transition distance it may run outside the depth window; Min Grade still applies. The tile depth window Side view, depth exaggerated Outlet Min 24″ Max 72″ 1 2 3 With Fix outlet depth on 4

Min Depth (24″ by default) and Max Depth (72″) set the depth window below the ground. Tile Design keeps the tile line inside it.

  1. Tile line. Stays inside the depth window and never runs flatter than Min Grade (0.10 % by default).
  2. Required Start Depth. How deep the plow has to be at the outlet when you start.
  3. Install direction. Start at the outlet, the low end, and work uphill.
  4. Outlet transition. With Fix outlet depth on, the line starts at the depth you set and may leave the window this far from the outlet, to tie in. Min Grade still applies.

Change a number on a card

The four cards hold your numbers. The line redraws each time you change one. The app remembers your numbers for the next tile job, so check them every time.

Tap the number on a card

Tap the number in the middle of a card, for example the 36 on TARGET DEPTH ("). A small window opens to type a new value.

For small changes, tap the minus or plus button under the number instead. The line redraws straight away.

The Tile Design screen; the first card, TARGET DEPTH, shows 36 with a minus and a plus button under it
  1. TARGET DEPTH card. Tap the number to type, or use minus and plus.

Type the new value

The window shows the card's name and the allowed range, for example Enter a value (range: 24 to 72). Type the number with the keyboard at the bottom of the screen (typing and hiding the keyboard).

Small window TARGET DEPTH ("): Enter a value (range: 24 to 72), a box showing 36, and buttons Cancel and Set 1 2
  1. Value box. Type the new number here.
  2. Range. Target Depth must sit between your Min and Max Depth.

Tap Set

Tap the blue Set button in the bottom right corner of the window. The window closes and the line redraws.

The same small window; the blue Set button is bottom right, next to Cancel 1
  1. Set. Applies the value and redraws the line.
CardWhat it doesStarts at (range)
TARGET DEPTH (")Where you'd like the tile below the ground. BestFit aims for it wherever Min Depth and Min Grade allow.36″ (between Min and Max Depth)
MIN GRADE %The flattest the tile may run toward the outlet.0.10 % (0.01–2.00 %)
MIN DEPTH (")The shallowest the tile may be: minimum cover, frost.24″ (12–48″)
MAX DEPTH (")The deepest your plow or soil allows.72″ (36–120″)

In metric the cards show centimetres, and with Decimal Feet they show feet. The stored depths are the same.

BestFit, Guided and Freeform

The three tabs at the top left are three ways to draw the line. Switching to another tab clears your Guided pins and Freeform points.

BestFit

The tab it opens on. The app finds the smoothest line that stays inside the depth window, as close to Target Depth as it can, and no flatter than Min Grade. Use it unless you need the line through a particular point.

Guided: pin the line through points

Use it to pass under a crossing, or to tie into a known depth partway along the line. Between your pins, the line keeps to your Min Grade.

Tap Guided

Tap Guided, the second tab at the top left. A hint appears at the top right: Tap terrain points to add vertices.

The Tile Design screen; the three tabs BestFit, Guided and Freeform at the top left
  1. Guided. Second tab.

Tap a point on the ground line

Tap a dot on the dashed ground line where the tile must pass. It turns orange and the tile line bends there. Each stretch between pins shows its grade. Tap a pinned dot again to unpin it. Undo, at the top right, takes back your last change.

Tile Design, Guided tab: two orange pinned dots on the ground line, the tile line bending under them, grade labels such as -0.31 % on each stretch, and Undo at the top right
  1. Pinned point. Orange. The line passes under it, with a grade label on each stretch.
  2. Undo. Takes back your last change.

Freeform: draw the line yourself

Tap Freeform

Tap Freeform, the third tab. The hint reads Tap to add/remove, drag to move. Reverse is hidden on this tab.

The Tile Design screen; the Freeform tab is third at the top left
  1. Freeform. Third tab.

Tap or drag the line's points

Tap the chart to add a point to the line. Drag a point with your finger to move it. Tap a point in the middle of the line to remove it. The two ends stay put.

Freeform applies no grade or depth rules, so watch for shading and a red warning strip (next section).

Tile Design, Freeform tab: one point dragged far down so the line drops below the Max 72 line; that stretch is shaded red and a red strip under the cards reads Tile deeper than maximum depth near 187.9 ft
  1. A point. Drag to move it, tap to remove it. Here it's dragged too deep: the stretch is shaded red.
  2. Warning strip. Names the problem and where it is.

Depth window and warnings

A clean design shows no shading between the Min and Max lines. Where the tile comes shallower than Min Depth, the chart shades amber. Where it goes deeper than Max Depth, it shades red. A red warning strip then appears under the cards.

On BestFit the strip reads Could not fit within design parameters — proceed with caution. No line meets the depth window and Min Grade together, so the app shows the closest one it found. Here Min Grade is 1.00 % and Max Depth 40″, on a nearly flat run:

Tile Design, BestFit: the cards read Min Grade 1.00% and Max Depth 40; the tile line falls steadily below the magenta Max 40 line, that stretch shaded red; a red strip reads Could not fit within design parameters — proceed with caution
  1. Min Grade 1.00 %. A steep grade for a nearly flat run.
  2. Max Depth 40″. A shallow limit. Together they push the line below Max Depth: the red shading.
Red warning strip: Could not fit within design parameters — proceed with caution
The BestFit warning. The design still applies; check it before you install.

On Guided, Freeform and a fixed outlet depth, the strip names the first problem and how far along the run it is. The distance is measured from START, in feet (or metres):

Red warning strip: Tile shallower than minimum depth near 132.6 ft
132.6 ft from the START of the survey, the tile comes shallower than Min Depth.
WarningMeansTry
Tile shallower than minimum depth near …Not enough cover there.Raise Max Depth so the line can run deeper, or lower Min Grade. Check the outlet is at the right end.
Tile deeper than maximum depth near …Deeper than your plow or soil allows.Raise Max Depth if the plow can go deeper, lower Min Grade a little, or pin the line higher in Guided.
Grade below minimum near …A stretch flatter than Min Grade (Freeform).Move the vertex, or go back to BestFit.
Tile line runs uphill near …Water would have to flow uphill there (Freeform).Move the vertex. On a line that should fall, check the outlet with Reverse.

When the ground hasn't enough fall for the window and the grade, the line goes as close as it can and touches the limits. The design still draws and Apply Design still works: the warning tells you to check that stretch before you install, it doesn't block you.

The DESIGN strip

The thin strip under the cards tells you what the line actually does:

  • Grade: the overall grade of the line.
  • Max Depth: the deepest the design actually goes. This isn't your Max Depth setting.
  • Length of the line, and Inlet Depth: the depth at the upper end.
  • Required Start Depth, the blue tag on the right: how deep the plow must be at the outlet when you start. With a fixed outlet depth it reads Outlet Depth (fixed) instead.
The Tile Design screen; the DESIGN strip under the cards reads Grade 0.304%, Max Depth 54.1 inches, Length 796 ft, Inlet Depth 36.0 inches, and a blue tag Required Start Depth ((at outlet)): 54 inches
  1. Grade and Max Depth. 0.304 % overall; 54.1″ at the deepest point.
  2. Length and Inlet Depth. 796 ft long; 36.0″ deep at the upper end.
  3. Required Start Depth. 54″ at the outlet.

Reverse: which end is the outlet

The outlet comes from your answer to Water Flow Direction. If the design falls the wrong way, swap the ends. Reverse shows on BestFit and Guided.

Tap Reverse

Tap Reverse, the small button in the top right corner of the screen, with two arrows.

The Tile Design screen; the small Reverse button is in the top right corner, next to OUTLET DEPTH: OFF
  1. Reverse. Top right corner.

Check the outlet moved

You should see Reverse turn orange. The line, the start depth and any outlet transition move to the other end. Check the warning strip again: the design may fit differently the other way round.

Tile Design with Reverse on: the Reverse button is orange, the shaded outlet transition zone is now at the START end of the chart, and a strip reads Tile shallower than minimum depth near 342.6 ft
  1. Reverse, orange. The outlet is now the START end. The shaded transition zone moved there too.
  2. Warning strip. Here the line comes too shallow the other way round.

Fixed outlet depth (BestFit only)

Use it when the tile has to meet something at the outlet: an existing main, a riser, a ditch bank at a set depth. The button that turns it on is hidden in Guided and Freeform.

Tap OUTLET DEPTH: OFF

Tap OUTLET DEPTH: OFF, at the top right of the screen, left of Reverse. A window called Fixed outlet depth opens.

The Tile Design screen; the OUTLET DEPTH: OFF button is at the top right, next to Reverse
  1. OUTLET DEPTH: OFF. Opens the fixed outlet settings.

Tap the Fix outlet depth switch

Tap the switch at the right end of the Fix outlet depth row. It turns on, and the boxes below can be typed in.

Fixed outlet depth window with the switch off: Fix outlet depth, Outlet depth 0.0 and Outlet transition 0 greyed, a Suggest button, help text, Cancel and Apply 1
  1. Fix outlet depth. Tap the switch to turn it on.

Type the outlet depth

Tap the Outlet depth box and type how deep the tile must be below the ground at the outlet, in inches (or cm).

Fixed outlet depth window with the switch on: Outlet depth 42, Outlet transition 0 with a Suggest button, help text, Cancel and Apply 1
  1. Outlet depth. 42″ in this example.

Tap Suggest

A deep tie-in may break Min or Max Depth near the outlet. Outlet transition is how far from the outlet the line may stay outside the window: Depth limits are relaxed within this distance from the outlet. Minimum grade always applies. 0 = none.

Tap Suggest, right of the box, and the app fills in the shortest distance that works. Or type a distance yourself.

Suggest may answer No transition needed — the run already meets the depth limits. or No distance in this run clears the depth limits. Change the outlet depth or the limits.

Fixed outlet depth window after Suggest: Outlet depth 42, Outlet transition 144, Suggest button, Cancel and Apply 1 2
  1. Suggest. Fills in the shortest transition that works.
  2. Outlet transition. 144 ft here, measured from the outlet.

Tap Apply

Tap Apply, in the bottom right corner of the window. The line is redesigned to start at your outlet depth.

The same window; Apply is in the bottom right corner, next to Cancel 1
  1. Apply. Redesigns with the fixed depth.

Check the result

You should see the button turn blue and show the depth and transition. The transition zone is shaded at the outlet end, and the tag in the DESIGN strip reads Outlet Depth (fixed).

To go back to a free outlet, tap that button and turn the switch off.

Tile Design with a fixed outlet: a blue button OUTLET DEPTH: 42.0 · 144 ft at the top right, a shaded transition zone with a dashed edge at the END of the chart, and a tag Outlet Depth (fixed): 42 in the DESIGN strip
  1. OUTLET DEPTH button. The fixed depth and the transition.
  2. Outlet Depth (fixed). Replaces Required Start Depth.

Apply and save

Tap the blue Apply Design button in the bottom right corner. A window called Save Design asks for a name (Name this design before implementing:). The name starts as the workflow name with the date and time. Type a name, tap Save, and the Grade screen opens. Step by step with pictures: Tiling: design the tile line. Find the design again under Load Design.

Tile Design opened from Edit Design on the Grade screen: the button in the bottom right corner reads Save Revised Design
  1. Save Revised Design. What Apply Design becomes when you opened the designer from Edit Design.
  • Opened from Edit Design on the Grade screen, the button reads Save Revised Design, and you choose whether to keep your progress: Edit a design and resume.
  • Installing on another day, or after the base was moved or set up again? Calibrate to the field's benchmark when the design is loaded: Install the tile: load a saved design.
  • Cancel, bottom left, closes the designer without applying. Your survey stays loaded, and the Tile Design button on the survey screen opens it again.

If something goes wrong

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