Topocad 23

Data Exchange

Data Exchange - Import/Export

Communication covers all types of communication that are possible in Topocad, including files as well as communication with field computers and all stations.

Import files

A wide variety of different file types can be imported into Topocad. The first step is to decide what type of data you want to import and then select the appropriate document.

How to import co-ordinate files:

1. First open the document (drawing) you want to import to. This can be an existing drawing or a new one. If you want the objects from the imported file to appear in a special layer, select/create this layer and set it as a current layer.
2. Select Import|File. The Open dialogue box is displayed. Select the appropriate file format (extension) you want to import from. If the file is not located in the selected project directory, you must navigate to the appropriate directory. Then click on the file.
3. To  select multiple  files, use the Shift and/or the Ctrl key.
4. Click OK.

Export files

The procedure is as follows:

1. Open the drawing document you want to export from.
2. Select the object(s) you want to export. You can select them one by one or by opening a window and selecting several (all) objects. Note that moving across the window from right to left will select all objects and moving across the window or rectangle from left to right will only select objects that are totally within the rectangle.
3. Export|File. Select the type of format you want to export to.
4. Enter a file name. Click OK.

See also

What do the files contain?

File format

The following file formats are supported in Topocad:

Generic import

Topocad has a generic import function that enables any text-based file in ASCII (DOS environment) or ANSI (Windows environment) format to be imported to Topocad. It also requires every point to be separated by a carriage return (new line).

The procedure is as follows:

1. Open a drawing document .TOPX.

2. Go to File - Import and select File.

3. Select Generic Import/Export as the file format (extension).

4. Click on the file you want to import. Click OK.

The file will now be read for generic import. You now have to describe the format of the file. First of all do you need to specify whether the file contains the co-ordinates etc... in straight columns or separated by separators such as a comma or semicolon. Topocad attempts to identify the file format but may need some help to do so.

The format description can be saved and then reloaded. If you have previously saved a file of this kind, you can load the file and proceed directly with the import.

5. Select the row from which you want to start the import. Some files have initial rows containing additional information about the file that cannot be imported. You must also select the decimal separator used in the file (. point) or (, comma). Finally, specify whether it is a Windows ANSI or a DOS ASCII file format. Click the Next button.

Description for even columns/tabs/fields

The next step is to describe where the field limitations are located. Topocad will try to locate them but may miss them, e.g. if they use a longer point ID further down the file. You can drag the limitation field to change the width of any column, click at any point to create a new limitation or double click to remove a limitation. Click the Next button.

Description of delimitation characters

Select the type of delimitation characters. The pre-defined selections are tab (marked with a rectangle), semicolon, comma and space. It is also possible to select any other kind of separator. If several separators are used one after the other (as will probably be the case with spaces), they can be ignored by checking this box. Text can be marked with several different types of characters, e.g. ”r;”r;, ’r;’, (), [], // or **. To skip them, check this box. Click the Next button.

General

The next step is to define what each column contains. If the file has four numeric fields, Topocad assumes that the first column is the point ID, the second is the X co-ordinate, the third is the Y co-ordinate and the fourth is the Z co-ordinate. If there are only three columns, Topocad assumes that they are the X, Y and Z co-ordinates in that order. This may not be correct, and you can select any other order here. Note that it is also possible to import attributes and any other type of co-ordinate data. Click the Next button.

Register file format

Registering the file format enables you to open the same type of file from the Import file dialogue box in the future.

Generic export

The procedure is as follows:

1. Make sure you are currently in a Topocad drawing.

2. Go to Export and select File.

3. Select General Import/Export as the file format (extension).

Select the objects you want to export. Press Done. (You can start selecting objects before executing the command.

Enter the file name and extension you want to give the file. Click OK.

The Expert export dialogue box now opens - it contains three tabs. The second tab depends on the type of separation used in the file. The template describing the export file format can be saved and, if previously saved, can be loaded at this point.

6. Select whether you want to use comma, semicolon, tab or any other characters as separators in the file and whether the file is to be separated using aligned columns.

 7. Enter any text you want to appear in the file header. Select the decimal separator you want to use -  (. point)  or (,  comma). Also select whether it is a Windows ANSI file or a DOS ASCII file. Click the Next button.

Description for files with aligned columns/fields:

8. The next step is to describe where the columns are to be positioned and how wide they will be. Select a column and enter its width in characters. Also select whether it will be left or right aligned. You specify the order by selecting from the list of active fields. You can also choose to add, insert or delete fields from the file. Click the Next button.

Description for delimitation fields:

8. First select which fields (observations) you want to be included in the file and the order in which they will appear. Select the separator type. The pre-defined options are tab (indicated by a square), semicolon, comma and space. You can also enter any other kind of character. Every field (column) can then be defined using the number of decimal places, the column width, right or left alignment, whether the field will have a prefix and/or suffix and finally whether text is to be wrapped using different kinds of characters. The pre-defined options are ”r;”r;, ’r;’, (), [] and **. Note that it is possible to export attributes. Click the Next button.

General:

Line connection.
Select the type of line connection you want for this kind of file. The following options are available:

None
No line connection.

Line code
You can specify a code for the line, i.e. 1 signifies the start of the line and -1 the end of the line. It is also possible to select a code for individual points.

Line number
You can also number your lines (polylines). Select the first line number. Every line in the export file is then numbered in increments of the last number +1.

Now enter whether or not you want to save the template for this export file format. If so, click Save and enter a name for the template. Now click Finish to create the file in the specified export format.

Register file format

Registering the file format enables you to open the same type of file from the Export file dialogue box in the future.

What do the files contain?