Geocomp Systems
Support
Thin Black line
Products
News
Support Current page marker
Training
Contact
Free Software
Purchase  
FAQ
Links
Home

Communication between Terramodel and Trimble Control Unit (CU or ACU).

Last revised 16 May 2008.

These are general instructions are intended to cover Trimble Control Unit (CU), Trimble Active Control Unit (ACU) and Trimble TSCe. However, some of the information only applies to specific verions of instruments, control units or Terramodel, Geomatics Office or Data Transfer Utility. As you update either Terramodel or your CU, you may also need to update the other, and your Trimble Survey Controller Software.

If you have Site Controller Software, such as SCS900, you can also transfer Terramodel project files.

Contents

List available devices

View or edit DC file

Prepare for communication

Transfer points from CU to Terramodel

Transfer points from Terramodel to CU

Transfer strings from CU to Terramodel

Transfer strings from Terramodel to CU

Transfer digital terrain model from CU to Terramodel

Transfer digital terrain model from Terramodel to CU

Transfer feature attribute library to CU

List

List available devices using Remote Device Manager

  • In Terramodel
    • File
    • Download/Import
    • Import Script Manager
    • Edit the Survey Controller script
    • Observe the list of available devices
    • To add a new device, or change the properties, such as baud rate, of an existing device, select Edit.
  • If there are no ACU devices, install the latest version of Remote Device Manager Update or Data Transfer Utility. These may be supplied with your Trimble instrument or other Trimble software. You can also download the Data Transfer Utility or install it from the current Terramodel CD with Geocomp Update.

View or edit a DC file

Start Trimble DC File Editor via Windows Start menu

  • In Windows
    • Start
    • Programs
    • Trimble Office
    • Utilities
    • DC File Editor

Start Trimble DC File Editor via Terramodel

  • In Terramodel
    • Type DCEDIT at the command line
    • Press Enter to start Trimble DC File Editor
    • This only works if DCEDIT is aliased to the DC File Editor.
    • To configure the alias
      • Type ALIAS at the command line
      • Press Enter
      • In the Alias field, enter DCEDIT
      • In the Command field, enter EXEC
      • In the arguments field, enter "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Trimble\DCEditor\DCEditor.exe" (including the " characters).
      • Add
      • OK

Prepare CU for communication

Via serial port

  • Connect to the computer with the appropriate cable
  • On the CU
    • Windows desktop
    • Select Survey Controller
    • Files
    • Import/Export
    • Trimble PC communications

Via ActiveSync

  • Connect to the computer via serial cable, USB, Infrared, or similar.)
  • On the CU
    • Select Convert to Desktop
  • On the computer, when prompted by ActiveSync
    • Select No to Partnership (or set up a Partnership)
  • In Terramodel
    • Import Script Manager
      • Survey Controller
        • Edit Devices
        • If Survey Controller on ActiveSync is not an Active Device
          • New
          • Create Survey Controller (Active Sync) device
          • Specify a name and select CU
          • Finish
        • Select Survey Controller (CU) on ActiveSync as an available device
        • OK
      • Close

Via Survey Data Card

  • In Terramodel
    • File
    • Download/Import
      • Import script manager
        • Edit Survey Data Card
          • Instrument/Data Collector
            • Edit Devices
              • New
              • Survey Data Card
              • Browse to specify the exact path of the .job file without file name
              • Enter a device name (e.g. GPS Job on E:)
              • Finish
            • Close
            • Highlight the newly defined device
          • Source Files
            • Always browse files
          • Destination folder
            • Browse to select a folder for temp files (with plenty of space)
          • Raw source files
            • Select template C:\Program Files\Trimble\Shared\Formats\Trimble (DC).lgr
          • Raw data settings
            • Specify a points layer, import all coordinates and all bearings and, optionally, display raw data editor.
          • View File contents, Default units settings, Coordinate shift, Point descriptor expansion, Import summary
            • Set according to your preference
          • For all tabs
            • Untick Show this page at runtime
          • OK
        • Close

Transfer points from CU to Terramodel

Download points as DC via script

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • Create a download (or download and import) script in Terramodel
    • Import Script Manager
    • New
    • Create a script
    • At Instrument/Data Collector, select Survey Controller
    • Complete the script.
  • Run the script

Download points as DC via Data Transfer Utility

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • In Trimble Data Transfer Utility
    • Move the DC file from the Trimble Data Folder on the CU to the computer

Download points as DC via Windows Explorer

  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Move the DC file from the Trimble Data Folder on the CU to the computer

Import points as DC via script

  • In Terramodel
    • File...
    • Download/Import
    • Trimble Raw survey data (dc)

Download and import DC points via script

  • In Terramodel
    • Check that you can download using a script as described above
    • Note the settings in the script
    • Check that you can import using a script as described above
    • Note the settings in the script
    • Create a new Download and Import script using the noted settings
    • Run the script

Import points as Survey Controller Journal job via Survey Data Card

  • Transfer job file to computer via card, floppy, USB drive or by downloading DC points via script
  • In Terramodel
    • File
      • Download/Import
        • Prepare Survey Data Card script (see above)
        • Survey Data Card
          • Open job file(s)
          • Next
          • Next
          • Close Raw data Editor
          • Finish
    • If you get the message "Database version wrong", update Remote Device Manager, for example by installing the latest Trimble Data Transfer Utility.
    • If you get the RDE message "grid coordinates could not be converted to cartesian coordinates", check the assumed coordinates under RDE computation settings.

Transfer points from Terramodel to CU

Export points as DC via script

  • In Terramodel
    • Export Script Manager
      • New
      • Create a new script to export to disk only
      • At Instrument/Data Collector, Add/Edit devices
      • Pick Survey Controller
      • Next
      • The output format is DC Points (dc)
    • Run the export script

Export points as CSV via script

  • In Terramodel
    • Export Script Manager
      • New
      • Create a new script to both export to disk and upload
      • Next
      • The output format is ASCII Points
      • Next
      • In Export to file, specify the location and a file extension of *.CSV
      • For the output format, select P,E,N,Z,D
    • Run the export script

Upload points via script

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • Create an upload script in Terramodel
    • Export Script Manager
    • New
    • Create a script
    • At Instrument/Data Collector, select Survey Controller
    • Complete the script.
  • Run the script

Upload points via Data Transfer Utility

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • In Trimble Data Transfer Utility
    • Move the DC or CSV file to the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU

Upload points via Windows Explorer

  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Move the DC or CSV file to the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU

Export and upload points via script

  • In Terramodel
    • Check that you can export using a script as described above
    • Note the settings in the script
    • Check that you can upload using a script as described above
    • Note the settings in the script
    • Create a new Export and Upload script using the noted settings
    • Run the script

Transfer strings from CU to Terramodel

Download a roadway via Data Transfer Utility

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • In Trimble Data Transfer Utility
    • Move the DC file from the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU to the computer

Download a roadway via Windows Explorer

  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Move the DC file from the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU to the computer

Download a roadway via Geomatics Office

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • In Trimble Geomatics Office
    • New file
    • Metric
    • Start RoadLink
    • Pick job
    • Import from Survey Controller
    • Export as a survey controller (DC) file

Import a roadway via script

  • In Terramodel
    • Download/Import
    • Trimble Roading 3D (DC)

Import a roadway via RoadXML

  • From Trimble Survey Controller CD under Additional Utilities
    • Install ASCII File Generator
  • From www.trimble.com
  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Transfer the RXL file from the CU to the computer using ActiveSync
  • In ASCII file generator (from Start/Programs/Trimble Data Transfer)
    • Browse for Source JobXML or Job File to select the RXL file
    • Select the "RoadXML to DC File" option in the "Output format" field
    • Click OK to create a DC file
  • In Terramodel
    • Import the DC file via Trimble Roading 3D (DC) script

    Transfer strings from Terramodel to CU

    Export design templates via a script

    • In Terramodel
      • Define a roadway with design templates
      • File
      • Export/Upload
      • Trimble Roading 3D (DC)
      • Run the export script

    Export cross sections at intersecting sets

    • In Terramodel
      • Create XLines at the required cross sections
      • Using GCDCOUT command
        • Select HAL/VAL or Roadjob
        • Select the 3D sets
        • Set JobName, chainage range, sideslope grades and output filename.
        • Create the DC file

    Export sets as DC

    • In Terramodel
      • Using GCMULTDC command
        • Select 3D sets to be uploaded
        • Select output DC file
        • Export DC file

    Upload roadway or sets as DC via Data Transfer Utility

    • Prepare for communications (see above)
    • In Trimble Data Transfer Utility
      • Move the DC Roading file to the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU

    Upload roadway or sets as DC via Windows Explorer

    • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
    • In Windows Explorer
      • Move the DC Roading file to the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU

    Export and upload plines, sets and text as DXF

    • In Terramodel
      • Export Script Manager
        • New
        • Create a new script to both export and upload
        • Next
        • Select Survey Controller on ActiveSync
        • Next
        • Select AutoCAD file format
        • Next
        • Specify R11 format
        • Complete the script definition
    • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
    • In Terramodel
      • Run the export script
    • On the Control Unit, specify Foreground Map if you want to select the objects in the field or Background Map if you don't.

    Transfer digital terrain model from ACU to Terramodel

    Download TTM via Data Transfer Utility

    • Prepare for communications (see above)
    • In Trimble Data Transfer Utility
      • Move the .TTM file from the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU

    Download TTM via Windows Explorer

    • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
    • In Windows Explorer
      • Move the .TTM file from the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU

    Import digital terrain model as TTM

    • In Terramodel
      • File
      • Download/Import
      • Trimble DTM (ttm)
      • Run the import script

Transfer digital terrain model from Terramodel to ACU

Export digital terrain model as TTM

  • In Terramodel
    • Create a DTM layer
    • Check the DTM with 3D Visualizer, contours, and so on
    • File
    • Export/Upload
    • Trimble DTM (ttm)
    • Run the export script

Export gridded digital terrain model as DTX

  • In Terramodel
    • Create a DTM layer
    • Check the DTM with 3D Visualizer, contours, and so on
    • Use TRMBGRID to create a DTX file

Upload digital terrain model as TTM via Data Transfer Utility

  • Prepare for communications (see above)
  • In Trimble Data Transfer Utility
    • Move the .TTM file to the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU
  • On ACU
    • Use Stakeout/DTM

Upload digital terrain model as TTM via Windows Explorer

  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Move the .TTM file to the Trimble Data Folder on the ACU
  • On ACU
    • Use Stakeout/DTM

Export and upload digital terrain model as TTM

  • In Terramodel
    • Export Script Manager
      • New
      • Create a new script to both export and upload
      • Next
      • Select Survey Controller on ActiveSync
      • Next
      • Select Trimble DTM - TTM format
      • Next
      • Complete the script definition
    • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
    • In Terramodel
      • Create a DTM layer
      • Check the DTM with 3D Visualizer, contours, and so on
      • Run the export script

    Transfer feature attribute library to ACU

    Export a feature attribute library as FCL

    • In Terramodel
      • Using AUTODRAFT command
        • Create or edit an AutoDraft Configuration (ADC) file
        • Add Root field codes to the feature descriptions, where required
        • File
        • Export
        • Export FCL
        • Specify FCL file name and location

    Export and Upload a feature attribute library

    • In Terramodel
      • Export Script Manager
        • New
        • Create a new script to both export and upload
        • Next
        • Select Survey Controller on ActiveSync
        • Next
        • Select Feature codes (fcx) format
        • Next
        • Complete the script definition
      • AUTODRAFT command
        • Create or edit an AutoDraft Configuration (ADC) file
    • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
    • In Terramodel
      • Run the script
      • Browse to select the AutoDraft Configuration (ADC) file
      • Nominate an export file name and location
      • Complete the script to create a Feature Attribute Library (FAL) on the CU with the same name as the ADC file.
    • brown bar