NOTE: You will not see the single quote on the screen. It is simply a toggle code and is not part of the actual point number. Likewise, you cannot create a point name that contains an apostrophe.
Data Entry Basics
2.03 Selecting Points
"Sight" Survey has several methods of point selection and generation. Among these are:
Numeric Points: To enter a point number (numeric points only) into any point number field, simply type the number.
Alphanumeric Points: "Sight" Survey allows the use of numeric or alphanumeric point numbers up to 8 characters in length. To use an alphanumeric point number, press the apostrophe ( ' ) before typing any alphabetic characters. For example, to use point number 100A, type 100'A or '100A, and to use point number NECORNER, type 'NECORNER.
Because "Sight" Survey uses alphabetic characters for routine codes, you must press the apostrophe ( ' ) to notify the program that the characters you will type are not routine codes. If you have accidentally press the apostrophe key, simple press it again to disable alphabetic entries.
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NOTE: You will not see the single quote on the screen. It is simply a toggle code and is not part of the actual point number. Likewise, you cannot create a point name that contains an apostrophe. |
Semi-automatic Point Number Entry
Instead of entering an actual number into a point field, you may enter a plus ( + ) or minus ( - ) sign. If you enter a plus sign, the program will search for and use the next available point number in an ascending direction. If you enter a minus sign, the program will search for and use the next available point number in an descending direction. If "Sight" Survey reaches point 0 without finding an available point, the first available point number in an ascending direction will be assigned. If you are creating points, the first available point will be an unused point. If you are in a "measuring" routine (such as Inverse) and you are looking for the next or previous point, "Sight" Survey will find the first used point in whatever direction you have chosen. Measuring routines also allow you to use function keys [F8] and [F9] to go to the Previous and Next points respectively.
Semi-automatic point entry applies only to numeric point numbers, with one exception. In some routines (such as Radial Stake Out, Radial Inverse, Coordinate Transformation, etc) you may enter the letter A (for All Points) into the To Point field. When has been told to use All points, it does not matter if the points are numeric or alphanumeric. Numeric points are used first followed by alphanumeric points.
To speed data entry, you may instruct "Sight" Survey to use Automatic Point Numbering by checking the box in the COGO Configuration menu (KC - Section 5.04). You may also toggle Automatic Point Numbering on or off by entering the two-letter command AN at any data entry prompt. Automatic Point Numbering works only with numeric point numbers.
In "inverse" type coordinate geometry routines, (routines that measure between points, rather than routines that compute points), you may speed your data entry by entering a point range instead of a single point at a time. If care is taken when assigning point numbers, entering point ranges can save you a considerable amount of time. For example, say you have a meander line containing 200 points, consecutively numbered. Keying in each point number into the Inverse routine requires 696 key presses to inverse through 199 legs. Even streamlining point number entry by replacing each point number with a [+] key requires 404 key presses. However, by using a point range “Sight” Survey requires only 11 key presses: [S][T] [1][Enter] [I][N] [-][2][0][0][Enter] which is STart at 1 INverse to -200.
"Sight" Survey allows you to enter point strings and/or point ranges, using these rules:
1. Separate single points by a comma, for example: 1,3,5,7
2. Separate a consecutive range of numeric point numbers by a dash, for example: 1-7
3. Enter all alphanumeric point numbers individually and separate them by a comma, for example: PT1,PT3,PC8,NCorL1
4. Preface any radius points with an asterisk (*) or less than size (<) for acute curves or a greater than sign (>) for obtuse curves, and use only the *, <, or > to separate the PC and the radius point of a curve; for example 5*10,8 sets the acute curve from 5 through center point 10 to end point 8; and 5>10,8 sets the obtuse curve from 5 through center point 10 to end point 8. Don’t place a comma after the 5.
5. Curve points may be entered within point ranges, if desired. For example: 1-7*8,10*8,15*8-17,1 is the same as entering points 1-7*8-10*8,15*8,16*8,17,1.
6. DO NOT start your point string with a radius point (*, >, or <) designation.
7. Preface any referenced figures with an F: and do not add any points after the referenced figure.
8. Use care when entering your point string since the program will not attempt to screen your entry for illegal characters or unassigned points.
9. If you are want to a routine code at the end of the string, for example AR to calculate an area, you need to put a comma after the last point number, then press an apostrophe ( ' ) to signal alpha character mode, then type the routine code. For example if the From Point was 1 and you wanted to inverse through point 4, back to 1, then calculate an area, your key press sequence for the To Point field would be: -4,1,'AR. The apostrophe will not appear as part of the point string entry.
Defined Figures (Point Groups)
"Sight" Survey allows you to define figures or point groups using the Define Figure routine (DF or PG - Section 6.20). Figures (groups) may be created using the rules for point strings and ranges printed above. You can assign a name to each figure (group) and enter the figure by prefacing it with an F: such as F:Lot 1, when entering it into a To Point field. Figures may even call other figures. Please refer to the Define Figure routine instructions in Section 6.20 for a more detailed discussion.
Selecting Points using the Point Manager
"Sight" Survey's Point Manager (PM - Section 6.09) provides a spreadsheet style interface for point selection. In the Point Manager you can sort your data by Point Number, Northing, Easting, Elevation, Symbol, Description, etc. You may pick points individually or by ranges, or even select by various options as described below.
"Sight" Survey's Point Manager contains several ways to select points. These are:
Bounded: This option allows you to identify two points and have "Sight" Survey select all the points that lie in the region bounded by those points. Enter the point numbers as prompted and click [Select] or press [Enter] or [Alt][S].
Coordinates: This option allows you to identify the selection region by coordinate values and "Sight" Survey select all the points that lie in the rectangular region bounded by those points. This option has the added advantage of allowing you to select points by using a single coordinate parameter. In other words, you can select points lying in a Northing range, irrespective of the Eastings and vice-versa. Or you can ignore the Northings and Eastings altogether and select points lying within a range of elevations. Enter the coordinate values as prompted and click [Select] or press [Enter] or [Alt][S]. To ignore a particular field, simply leave the field blank.
Radius: This option allows you to select all points within a radius distance of a known point or coordinates. Enter the radius values and either a point number or coordinates as prompted and click [Select] or press [Enter] or [Alt][S]. Note: You cannot enter both a point number and coordinate values.
Description, Symbol, Layer, or Field Code: Use this option to define a selection set by any single parameter, or any combination of parameters. When searching for a description, you can use a wildcard character ( * ) to indicate partial matches. For example, an entry of "*sidewalk" would seek out all points where the description ended with the word "sidewalk." Similarly, "sidewalk*" would find points that begin with "sidewalk," and "*sidewalk*" would find all points having a description containing the word “sidewalk.” Descriptions may be case sensitive. When choosing a Symbol, Layer, or Field Code, you may pick from the drop down selection boxes or type in a value. After entering the values as prompted click [Select] or press [Enter] or [Alt][S].
Station: Enter a minimum and maximum station value and "Sight" Survey will find all stationed points within the specified range. You do not need to enter the + key when entering stations. For example, enter station 12+25.3 simply as 1225.3. After entering the stations as prompted click [Select] or press [Enter] or [Alt][S].
If you are using Sight Survey’s internal CAD engine, AutoCAD, MicroStation, IntelliCAD, or any other CAD with a supported API (applications programming interface), you may pick a point from the CAD window by right-clicking the [Pts] button located just to the right of the point field.
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NOTE: If you are using the non-CAD interface, this option is not available to you. |
When picking points from the CAD window, "Sight" Survey will attempt to identify any existing points lying within the specified distance (the tolerance) from the mouse click. "Sight" Survey will find matches to the points in the coordinate file, even if those points are not plotted on the drawing. The tolerance distance units are the units you have selected under the Local Configuration menu (LC - Section 5.05) as either feet or meters. If no existing point is found within the specified tolerance, "Sight" Survey reports:
At this point you can: accept the point as picked; cancel this particular selection; or increase the Tolerance and click [Update] to expand the search for possible existing points.
If you want to accept the point as picked, click the [Enter and Assign] button. If you are using Automatic Point Numbering the point number will automatically be assigned. If not, an Enter and Assign dialog will appear (see below.) If you have selected Prompt for Point Description you will then be asked for a point description (see below). Finally, the point number will be drawn in CAD (if desired) and the point and coordinates will be entered into the coordinate file and reported in the Text Output window.
If "Sight" Survey finds any existing points the program reports:
At this point you can: select one of the found points; accept the point location as picked; increase the Tolerance and click [Update] to expand the search for possible existing points; or cancel this particular selection by clicking [OK] or [Cancel].
If the picked point matches one of the points returned, simply click on the found point in the table and click [OK] or [Cancel] to close this dialog, then pick another point in the drawing.
If you do not see a matching point and want to accept the point as picked, click the [Enter and Assign] button. If you are using Automatic Point Numbering the point number will automatically be assigned. If not, an Enter and Assign dialog will appear (see below.) If you have selected Prompt for Point Description you will then be asked for a point description (see below). Finally, the point number will be drawn in CAD (if desired) and the point and coordinates will be entered into the coordinate file and reported in the Text Output window.
If you are manually entering a point number for an accepted point, the Enter and Assign dialog appears. The Northing (Y) and Easting (X) coordinate fields will be populated with the values of the picked point. Enter a Point number and an Elevation (optional) and click [Accept].
If you have selected Prompt for Point Names (PN) you will then be asked for a point description. Click [q] and select a description; type in a description and press [Enter]; or press [Alt][#] (where # is 1 - 6) to select a description offered.
