The numerical data template does not label the expected values (element configuration and limitations)

Summary

The numerical data file (extension .GTR) is the template that defines which values are labelled underneath the long section: stations, elevations, partial distances and so on. When those files are healthy but the result is not what you expect, the origin is usually the configuration of the template: one that is badly defined or asks for more data than the drawing holds (invalid-subscript error), elements deleted from the definition, or not knowing how to combine elements so that terrain and grade line are labelled together. This article gathers those cases, along with some product limitations and their workarounds: saving a reusable custom template, showing the node name next to the station in a network template, or representing the roadbed layers in the long section.

Applies to

• MDT — applies to MDT 9, MDT 25 and MDT 26 (MDT 9 and MDT 25 are the versions documented in the support cases). The Standard version does not include the grade line module, which affects the case of the profile with terrain and grade line.

• CAD: AutoCAD, BricsCAD and ZWCAD (the documented invalid-subscript cases occur in AutoCAD 2026 and BricsCAD).

Symptoms

• Drawing the long section or the grade line reports an invalid-subscript error («error: subíndice inválido» in the Spanish interface). The profile may still be drawn despite the warning, the partial distances may not be generated, or the resulting profile may later be rejected when generating a grade line.

• With the «MDT» template, unexpected vertical lines appear in the drawing.

• Drawing a long section with two terrains from two surfaces reports an error.

• The terrain and grade line profile is drawn, but the elevations are not labelled in the numerical data band.

• Questions about how to save a custom numerical data configuration, how to show the node name next to the station in a network template, or how to represent the roadbed layers in the long section.

Cause

The selected template is badly configured or asks for data that does not exist in the drawing (for example, a full project template used with a grade line alone), elements of the template definition have been lost, or a segment with the necessary components has not been defined so that several profiles can be labelled.

Solution

Case: invalid-subscript error when drawing the profile or the grade line

This error appears when the template in use is badly configured or requires more information than is available: the «MDT» template, for instance, analyses project data (roads, segments), so supplying only the grade line is not enough.

1. Try drawing the profile with another template: if the error goes away, the cause lies in the definition of the original one.

2. Create a basic template — with the Station and Elevation elements, for example — through MDT > Profiles > Drawing > Definition of Numerical Data, or copy one of those installed by the program (they are in Config\Guitarras, inside the installation folder) and edit it afterwards. If the profile is drawn with that template, the problem is in the definition of the original one.

3. If the «MDT» template also produces unexpected vertical lines, edit it and switch off the road intersection element: it analyses the segments in the working folder and computes the intersection elevation, and when the elevations differ greatly it draws those lines.

4. If the error persists even after correcting or replacing the templates, contact support through the Support Chat (https://private.aplitop.com/support) so they can set up a remote connection and check it.

Case: the profile with two terrains reports an error (template elements lost)

If drawing a long section with two terrains from two surfaces reports an error, the elements of the template may have been lost or deleted. In the template dialog, use the Modify button to add back the elements you need.

Case: elevations are not labelled when drawing terrain + grade line

For the template to label the elevations of both profiles, drawing them separately is not enough:

1. Create a segment with Roads/Segments > Create/Edit and include in it, at least, the alignment, long section and grade line components.

2. Run Profiles > Draw Compound Profile and select the segment you created: the resulting drawing labels both the terrain and the grade line data.

Case: saving a reusable custom numerical data template (.GTR)

You can define your own templates and reuse them. The recommended route is to start from one of those installed by the program: copy the .GTR file closest to what you need —Mdt.gtr for the compound profile, Simple.gtr for the simple one, Doster.gtr for two terrains or Dosras.gtr for two grade lines, all of them in Config\Guitarras inside the installation folder—, rename it and edit it afterwards with Definition of Numerical Data. The templates you define appear in the Numerical data drop-down of the profile drawing dialog, where the program lists those defined by the user.

Case: showing the node name next to the station in a network template

This kind of element cannot be represented directly. As a workaround, add another column to the template to represent the node and then copy the stations next to it manually, selecting both together.

Case: showing the different roadbed layers in the long section template

This is not possible directly. As a workaround, obtain a grade line for each layer and show it in the long section as a terrain, editing the template to display the elevations.

If the problem persists

• Prepare the data of your case for support: the DWG, the alignment (.EJE) file and the long section (.LON) file (if there are several, put them in a ZIP).

• Run MDT > About Tcp-MDT, press the Export button and attach the resulting file as well: it lets support check the state of your installation.

• Contact Aplitop technical support; through the Support Chat (https://private.aplitop.com/support) they can set up a remote connection to your computer to check it.

Category: Long sections · Level: Intermediate