File Menu: Import

3.08  ASCII File

 

FUNCTION:  The Import > ASCII File routine is used to incorporate an ASCII (text) formatted coordinate file into the current job file.  This is a common file format that may be used to read a file that has been created by another program or perhaps a data collector.

 

Activate the Import > ASCII File routine by picking from the File: Import menu; or by pressing [Alt][F], [I], [A].

 

CAUTION:  When importing into an existing job, it is strongly recommended that you save your existing data before importing new data.  Then, if something should go wrong during the import (e.g. wrong file, points accidentally overwritten, etc.) you should exit "Sight" Survey WITHOUT saving the job and drawing files.

 

List of files to be importedClick to select files to importClick to remove the selected file from the listClick to import a Non-ASCII fileSelect the Coordinate OrderSet the Wildcard Discription MatchSet the number of Header Lines to skipRenumber points by adding this valueRenumber alphanumeric points with Prefix of SuffixActivate Point Overwrite ProtectionSet Overlap TolerancesSeect Points to ReadAccept parameters and Import pointsCancel this routineHelp for this routineSelect to draw points directly after importingAssign points to layers during importing

 

Files to Import:  This is a listing of the ASCII files you have chosen to import.  You may specify multiple files for importing and they will be imported in the order selected.  To set or change the values in these fields, press [Alt][S] of click the [Select ASCII File] button.

 

HINT:  If you select multiple files to be imported, each file must have the same format.

 

[Select ASCII File]:  This button displays a dialog box allowing you to select an existing file for import.

 

Currently Selected FolderGo to Last Folder VisitedUp One LevelChange the ViewRecently Viewed ItemsShow all Desktop ItemsShow Documents FolderShow all Drives & Hardware for this ComputerFolders in the Current FolderFiles in the Current FolderEnter a File Name here or choose from the list aboveSelect the File Type hereReturn the File Name to the Main dialogCancel and return to the Main dialogCreate New Folder

 

Remove Selected File:  To remove a file from the Files to Import list, click on the file and then press [Alt][M] or click the [Remove Selected File] button.

 

 

Import Non-ASCII File:  Non-ASCII files are coordinate files such as: Simplicity (.zak); Carlson (.crd); and C&G (.cgc & .crd).  If you realize that you actually need to import a Non-ASCII (text) file, click this button to cancel the routine and begin the Import Coordinate File routine (see Section 3.09).

 

 

Coordinate Order:  Click [q] to use this drop-down option box to select one of the pre-programmed formats, or type the correct coordinate order into the field using the Coordinate Order Identifiers.  If you enter your own format, you can separate the fields by any character or number of spaces that you desire.  You may also use quote marks if necessary.  Simply use the proper Coordinate Order Identifiers for the values.  For example, an entry of P Y X "D" would give you point Northing Easting "Description".  The most common format is P,Y,X,Z,D which is a common delimited file containing the point, Northing, Easting, elevation, description.

 

 

Wildcard Description Match:  If you select Wildcard Description Match, you may enter a descriptive filter that, if matched, will cause the matching points to be imported.  If set to anything other than an asterisk ( * ), you will only import points with that match the filter.  You can use * to mean any number of characters, and just entering * (the default setting) is a universal match.  For example entering *corner would match building corner, driveway corner, property corner, etc.  Likewise enter Property* would match Property Corner, Property Line, etc.  Entering a question mark ( ? ) means any single character (e.g. Hub? would match Hub1, Hub2, Hub3, etc., but not Hub10, Hub11 and so on where Hub is followed by more than one character.)  Wildcard filters are not case sensitive (e.g. HUB = Hub = hub).

 

 

Value to Add to Point Numbers:  There may be times when you wish to renumber the imported points so they will not conflict with points which may be contained in the current file.  If that is the case, enter a value to add to the imported point numbers.  For example, suppose you have a file containing points 1-88 and you want to import a file containing points 1-45 but you don't want to overwrite any existing points.  Entering 100 into the Value to Add to Point Numbers field will cause the imported points to be numbered 101-145, thus preserving your original data.

 

HINT:  Prior to importing points, you should run the Blank Point Scan (BP - Section 6.13) to assist you in determining a safe starting point for renumbering.

 

 

Header Lines to Skip:   Some files may contain header lines that are not actually coordinate data, but rather they are informational items such as date, time, file name, user name, number of points in the file, etc.  "Sight" Survey cannot correctly parse this data, nor does it require it for any other purpose.  In fact, "Sight" Survey would return a file import error when trying to decipher such data.  To avoid such errors, "Sight" Survey lets you specify the number of header lines that it will skip when importing the data.

 

 

Prefix to Give Points and Suffix to Give Points.  Two additional fields are available when importing ASCII files.  Use these fields to essentially turn numeric points into alpha-numeric points by prepending and/or appending text to the point numbers.  (DO NOT use these fields if you are not working in an alpha-numeric format.)  You may use any characters as a prefix or suffix.  Note that you may also prepend or append numerals to the point numbers, similar to renumbering.  If you have chosen to renumber the points, all renumbering will be done prior to attaching a prefix or suffix.

 

HINT:  Do not use the Prefix and Suffix fields if you are not working in an alpha-numeric format.

 

 

Point Protection:  Check this option to use Point Overwrite Protection during import to protect against the overwriting of existing data.  See Point Overwrite Protection below for instructions on handling duplicate points.

 

 HOW "SIGHT" SURVEY SCREENS FOR DUPLICATE POINTS

  1. Checks to see if the point number exists in memory.  If not, the point is imported.

  2. If the point exists, checks the coordinates and elevations of the imported point.  If they are within the tolerances (see below) and the point descriptions are identical, the point being imported is the same as one in memory so it is ignored and not imported.

  3. If the coordinates and/or elevation and/or descriptions do not match, the point is identified as a duplicate and either: renumbered and added to the end of the points in memory; or you are prompted for instructions of how to handle the point.

 

 

X, Y Overlap Tolerance and Z Overlap Tolerance:  Enter values for Positional (X & Y) tolerance and Elevation (Z) tolerance.  These values are used to determine duplicate points.  For example, if the difference between the imported Northing and the existing Northing are less than the tolerance value, the Northings are considered to be the same.  If that same condition exists with the Eastings and elevations, the points would be duplicates.  As you bring data out to the field and back into the office via a data collector, you may end up with points where the Northings and Eastings match but the elevations are different as in the case of a ground shot vs. an as-built shot.  However, these points might also inadvertently share the same point number and you may want to keep them both.  The fact that the elevations do not match within the specified tolerance will insure that this point (when imported) is flagged as a duplicate and you will be able to assign a new number to it, thus preserving the data for both points.

 

 

Range of Points to Read:  You may import any or all of the points in the ASCII file.  Type ALL to import the entire file.  To import a partial file enter the subject point numbers using the Rules for Defined Figures and Point Strings as found in Section 6.20. 

 

 

Draw Points:  Select the Draw Points option to immediately draw the imported points after the file is loaded.  Points are drawn using the configuration settings under Point Configuration (PC - Section 5.08).

 

 

Assign Points to Layer:  When importing a file, you can assign a layer or level for the imported points.  Your choices are: Default (does not assign points to a layer); By Description (creates layers/levels from point descriptions and assigns the point to that layer/level); or Enter Layer.  If you select Enter Layer, press [q] to select a layer/level from the list provided or type in the name of a layer/level to be created.

 

NOTE:  If you assign layers during file import then later run Field-to-Finish, your point layers will be reset according to the field definition file used by Field-to-Finish.

 

 

[Import]:  Click this button to import the specified data file(s).

 

 

 

Point Overwrite Protection 

If you are using Point Protection and "Sight" Survey finds a duplicate point, you are presented with an option dialog screen.

 

Info area displays existing & imported point dataCheck to apply your choice to all remaining duplicatesSkip (do not import) the pointOverwrite existing point with new dataAutomatically renumber the point to the end of the fileManually assign a new point numberCancel the entire import from this point onHelp for this routinePrint the action taken to the Text Output windowProcess the duplicate point and continueHelp for this routine

 

You will be shown the old and new point data, and given options to:

  Auto Renumber:  Automatically assigns a new number to the imported point.

  Manual Renumber:  You must supply a new number to assign to the imported point.  You may enter a plus (+) to assign the point to the next available number.

  Overwrite:  Replace the old point with the imported point.

  Discard Duplicate:  Do not import the duplicate point.

 

Two additional checkbox options are shown on this screen:

Apply Action to All Duplicates Found:  If you check this box prior to selecting Discard, Overwrite, or Auto Renumber, your choice will be applied to all the remaining points as they import.

Report Action to Text Output Window:  All actions for renumbered, overwritten and skipped points are written into the Text Output window.  This is particularly useful if you are renumbering imported points.

 

You may also Cancel the import.  Any points imported up to the time of cancellation are retained in memory.