Import ASCII

The Import ASCII routine permits data from external sources to be brought into the active job.

^†Note: Various options noted below are only available with the User Defined file type.

• Settings:^† The Settings (gears) button permits additional options for how data is interpreted.
  More Information

  

  • Skip First Character from the Imported DESC: When enabled, the first character of the description will be ignored (commonly used when description values are enclosed within "quotes").
  • Store imported points as Raw Data: When enabled, imported content will be saved into the Raw File as Stored Point records types.
  • Skip Empty Columns: When enabled, additional empty columns within the data will be ignored. Alternatively, the Skip designator can be utilized in the Format mask.
• File Type: Specify the data source/type that most closely matches the source data. Choices include:
  • User Defined: For importing most common ASCII-based file types (e.g. *.txt, *.csv, *.asc, *.xyz, etc).
  • Traverse PC: For importing Traverse PC *.trv files.
  • TDS: For importing TDS *.cr5 files.
  • Geodimeter: For importing Geodimeter *.obs or *.raw files.
  • Trimble POS: For importing Trimble *.pos files.
  • CRD/CRDB Files: For importing Carlson *.crd or *.crdb files.
  • SDR File: For importing Sokkia *.sdr or *.asc files.
  • MMH File *.360: For importing MMH *.360 files.
  • MOSS Files: For importing MOSS *.txt files.
  • SDMS Files: For importing AASHTO-based SDMS *.ctl files.
  • Caice Files: For importing CAICE files.
  • SEG Files: For importing *.seg files.
  • MML ETRS File *.mml: For importing MML ETRS *.mml files.
• Select File: Launches the standard File Selector dialog box where the designated File Type can be selected.
• Details:^† Once a file has been selected, Details can be used to get more information about the file contents.
• Enter/Select Format:^† Indicate the structure of the file content via one of two methods:
  1. Drop-down List: Select from one of several common format structures (comma- or space-delimited), or,
  2. Edit Control: Key-in desired to create your own file structure based on the following syntax:
     • P: Indicates the Point Name (number) field.
     • Y: Indicates the Northing (Y) coordinate.
     • X: Indicates the Easting (X) coordinate.
     • Z: Indicates the Elevation (Z) coordinate.
     • D: Indicates the Description field.
     • S: Indicates the field should be skipped.

  Note: If you are importing an ASCII file with a special form (e.g. A,Survey,1254552.123,498135.12,1109.23,iron pin,54), you will want a format that skips the first two columns (A and Survey) and specifies Easting (X), Northing (Y), Elevation (Z), Description (D) and Point ID (P). The resulting format structure would be: S,S,X,Y,Z,D,P.

  Note:If there is no point ID in the ASCII file, you simply omit the P in the entered format, and the program will prompt for a starting point number which will number each subsequent point sequentially.

• Preview:^† Shows you a preview of the content of the ASCII file. This is helpful in determining the correct coordinate order format.
• Header Lines:^† Specifies the number of header lines to skip in the ASCII file.
• Set:^† Select/highlight the last of the lines in the Preview that you want to skip, and then clicking this button sets that specific number of header lines to skip.

  Note: If all the display lines are valid coordinates, you would not use the Set option and would enter 0 for Header Lines.

• Add to Pt ID's: Specifies a value to be added to each point ID during the import process. If you added a value of 100, then point 1 would become 101, point 2 would become 102, etc.
• Pt's to Import: Indicate the point number(s) in the source file you wish to import into the current job. ALL is the default.

  Note: Ranges of points can be imported by using a dash between the point range and individual points can be imported through the use of a comma (e.g. 3-5,7,9 would import points 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9).

• Pt Protect: Specifies whether or not to check each point ID to see if it already exists in the current job file. If enabled and you attempt to import point ID's that already exist, you will then be prompted with choices on how to resolve the duplicated point(s).