From the Ground Up

A European perspective on design and out of the box thinking with Civil 3D.

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posted 02/25/07 by chris berends Trimble TPS data import
This week I want to start a discussion about the best way to get your surveyed linework as automatically on your screen importing a Trimble TPS job file

feel free to ad a comment if you know a better/ easier way to do it...

as extra tool i've used TrimbleLinkforAutodeskCivil3D2007.exe (downloadable from or Autodesk/civil or Trimble website... the tool results in a pulldown menu directly in Civil3D

pulldown.JPG

Pull down menu Trimble import job
Because the current version of civil3d CAN’T work with alphanumeric point numbers you have to make a view small pointnumber changes if the surveyor used alphanumeric ones.

View image

in this sample you have to change the name A en B in 99999 and 88888
And change the rest of the alphanumeric numbers automatically by selecting the invalid numbers option

As result you don’t see any alphanumeric numbers

Create a new network using the Trimble UI or select a existing network from the pull down list

tja.jpg

While importing all alphanumeric point numbers are converted to numeric point numbers

View image

till now only pointdata is displayed.... what is the best way to draw the linework directly from the job file????

my proposal

All imported Trimble survey Job data can be exported to a .fbk file to ad figure/line work commands

export fieldbook.JPG

use your text editor to make additional changes like the ditto command as described in previous posts to begin and close a figure and delete all spot level points because you don't need them twice.
save the text file as a .fbk file

re-import the changed fieldbook file.

import fieldbook.JPG

as a result all surveyed linework is displayed

24.jpg

you can easily combine the inserted fieldbook together with the earlier used job file

View image

again, any better idea how to insert the linework directly from the used job file (points are surveyed with description keys, VEB for begin figure, VE for figure point and VEE for figure end)

more to come....Chris Berends


2 comments In From the Ground Up > Survey

User Comments

  • This comment is for the entire blog, not just this latest post. This information is extremely helpful. You definitely have the best blog east of the Atlantic and the second best in the world ;)

    Seriously, please keep up the great work.

    Mark Scacco
    www.civil3d.com
    www.eng-eff.com

    Posted 3/14/2007 10:05 PM by Mark Scacco

  • I actually have a program I wrote which creates linework in LDD and Civil 3d from any ascii file. I don't know of any collectors that you can't get PNEZD data from, so it operates independent of the data collection method. It builds the linework from embedded codes in the descriptions and is drawn on top of existing points in the drawing. It supports multiple coding of points (2 lines that intersect at the same point) and the ability to "bounce" around while you are collecting field information. Even while observiing curve shots. (No more having to shoot the remaining points in a curve after starting a curve.) It also allows you to start a line on a curve. Since it is embedded code in the description. No more notes (which disappear when you create an ascii file) for line codes. No more continue lines. If anyone is interrested in getting a stripped down copy to try out along with some support documentation, contact me at sinjasoulian@yahoo.com.

    Posted 6/1/2007 4:18 PM by Steven Injasoulian