This command, designed for total stations and manual entry. It is the principle data collection routine with total stations.  Sideshot/Traverse interacts with numerous settings, including the feature codes that will draw line work.  All settings in Configure Reading will impact Sideshot/Traverse, including the Number of Distance Readings, Average Direct & Reverse, Hgt/Desc Prompt on Save, Angle Only in Reverse Face and Function of Enter Key.

Foresights

The Foresight Screens are entered automatically after exiting the Take Backsight screen.  The Foresight Screen is also entered quickly, after selecting Sideshot/Traverse from the main menu, if you press Enter or OK in the Backsight Point screen. When you choose Sideshot/Traverse, you are always given the option to accept the default backsight orientation and go straight to your foresights. There are 2 major types of Foresight Screens:  (1) Standard Total Station, (2) Robotic Total Station.  The GPS screen is discussed under the Store Points chapter.  The total station screens are discussed next.

Standard Total Station Foresight Screen

Graphics or Text.  Sideshot/Traverse (standard sideshots and traverses) can be run in either full graphics mode or full text mode. Graphic “Backgrounds” can include linework that you create yourself using commands such as PL and 2DP and O2 (offset), or the graphics can include drawings that you “dxfin” using the command IDXF (“in” DXF) found in the Map view of SurvCE.  When you exit SurvCE, this linework can be configured to “save on exit” and stay associated with your point file.  Note that linewwork drawn by feature codes or “dxf’d in” is on layers which can be “frozen” (hidden) or “thawed” (shown) by the Layer command under View in the Map screen.

Unless the “rod hgt/description” prompt is clicked on, the Sideshot/Traverse screen is designed to “quick-store” points, with the user expected to enter, ahead of time, the correct description and rod heights in the edit boxes shown at the bottom of the dialog.

• Sokkia-Style: The SDR33 and earlier SDR data collectors had a convenient concept for “Store Last, Read Next”.  You get your descriptions set up and take a shot.  The reading is displayed at the bottom line of the screen.  You examine it, satisfy yourself it is correct, move to the next point, and take another shot.  This was done on the SDR collectors with the “Read” key, but with SurvCE, can be accomplished with Enter.
• Normal Foresight Style:  Most popular collectors are known for their Read & Store procedure, with an “after-shot” pop-up box for entering descriptions and rod height values for the point just measured. Enter Key for Read First, Store Later.  This is the “Read or Store” version.  Your first Enter is a Read only (like pressing R or entering Alt R).  Your second Enter is a Store, which can be followed by the Hgt/Desc Prompt on Save.  This is the “most cautious” designation of the use of the Enter key for taking shots.  Note below that after the Read, the point is displayed with a question mark, and the raw data is displayed.  It is saved only when Enter is pressed again (or S is pressed, or even Alt S—all of which store a previous Read). In the final Store Point dialog (with Rod Hgt/Desc prompt turned on), you are placed in the Point Description field, where Enter continues on.  All descriptions entered for this job will accumulate in the available Point Description List (here showing PC, PCC, PI, POB, etc.), allowing the user to select the text graphically, arrow key to the desired text, or highlight and select the correct text after entering the first character in the edit box.  An entry of “P” goes right to all text starting with the letter “P”.  Then you can pick the one you want.

Robotic Features

The “status” of the robot is displayed in the upper left-center, next to TEXT and above the Map.  Status modes include:

• Tracking: Locked onto the prism and following it.
• Standby: Stopped in the last position it was in and ready to resume Tracking.
• Searching: Looking for the prism.
• No Data: Brief mode between losing the prism and beginning an automatic Search.

The upper left buttons will display “SRCH” and "STDBY" (Leica will display a combo button "SRCH" or "STDBY" and "DIST") The search and standby buutons let you initiate a Search after a “Lost Lock” condition, or go to Standby if Tracking was active (to drive a hub and stop the gun from moving), or go back to Search, leading to Tracking, from Standby (after driving the hub).

For Leica The “DIST” button, takes the EDM signal on and off.  With the signal on, more power is used, but you gain a lot by seeing continuous, real-time distance readings and by seeing your position on the screen, in the form of a triangle.  Shots are nearly instantaneous, but respond to the “fast-tracking” mode of the EDM (typically 10mm).  If taken out of EDM Tracking, you lose your real-time movement on the screen, but measurements will respond to the accuracy of your Equipment Settings, which may call for standard or fine mode.

Note: The response to losing lock when taking foresights with robotic total stations is for the instrument to stop where it is. If you have set “Search when Lost Lock” on, the instrument will start searching immediately on loss of lock.  Alternately, when running remote, you can use the joystick-arrow controls to move the instrument towards you and obtain lock again.