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Survey data transfer between Trimble Terramodel and a Trimble Control Unit.

Last revised 1 February 2011.

This page explains how to transfer survey data between recent versions of Trimble Terramodel for Windows and a Trimble Control Unit (ACU, CU, TSCe or TSC2) running Trimble Survey Controller, Trimble Site Controller or Trimble Access software.

Contents

List available devices

View or edit DC file

Prepare for communication

Transfer points from Control Unit to Terramodel

Transfer points from Terramodel to Control Unit

Transfer strings from Control Unit to Terramodel

Transfer strings from Terramodel to Control Unit

Transfer digital terrain model from Control Unit to Terramodel

Transfer digital terrain model from Terramodel to Control Unit

Transfer feature code library to Control Unit

List

List available devices using Terramodel

Devices describe survey file formats and communication specifications used by Terramodel and Data Transfer Utility, are managed by the Trimble Remote Device Manager and can be installed with Data Transfer Utility or Terramodel.

  • 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.

View or edit a DC file

Open Trimble DC File Editor via Windows Start menu

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

Open DC File Editor via Terramodel

  • In Terramodel
    • Type DCEDIT at the command line and press Enter
  • In DC File Editor
    • File
    • Open

If Terramodel reports "Command not available", alias the command like this:

  • In Terramodel
    • Type ALIAS at the command line and 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" for 32-bit Windows or "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Trimble\DCEditor\DCEditor.exe" for 64-bit Windows (including the " characters).
      • Add
      • OK

Prepare for communication

Prepare for communication from Survey Controller via Serial Port

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

Prepare for communication from Survey Controller via ActiveSync

  • Connect to the computer via serial cable, USB, Infrared, or similar.
  • On the Control Unit
    • 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 Control Unit
        • Finish
      • Select Survey Controller (CU) on ActiveSync as an available device
      • OK
    • Close

Prepare for communication from Survey Controller via Survey Data Card

  • In a web browser
  • 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 source .job file, but not the file name
          • Enter a device name (e.g. GPS Job on E:)
          • Close
        • Close
        • Highlight the newly defined device
      • Source Files
        • Always browse files
      • Destination folder
        • Browse to select a folder for temp files (on hard drive with 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

Prepare for communication from Access via General Survey Data Card

  • In a web browser
  • In Terramodel
    • File
    • Download/Import
    • Import script manager
      • Create a new General Survey Data Card script and device
        • Click New
        • Enter script name "General Survey Data Card"
        • Select action "Download from instrument/data collector to disk"
        • Next
        • At Instrument/data collector, Add/Edit devices
        • In Devices
          • Click New
          • Select General Survey Data Card
          • Click OK
          • Browse to specify the exact path of the .job file without file name
          • Next
          • Enter a device name (e.g. GPS Job on E:)
          • Close
        • Close
        • Highlight the newly defined device
        • Next
        • Source Files
          • Tick Always browse files
        • Next
        • Download folder
          • Browse to select a folder for temp files (on hard drive with with plenty of space)
        • Finish
      • Edit General Survey Data Card script
        • For all tabs, untick Show this page at runtime
        • OK
        • Close
      • Create new Trimble Access DC _i script
        • Click New
        • Enter Script name "Trimble Access DC _i"
        • Select action "Download from disk"
        • Next
        • Select File format "Raw survey data"
        • Next
        • Browse to select template "Geocomp Trimble JOB.lgr"
        • Next, Next, Next, Next, Next
        • At Raw data settings, select points layer POINTS and Import All coordinates and All bearings
        • Next
        • Finish
      • Edit "Trimble Access DC _i" script
        • For all tabs, untick Show this page at runtime
        • OK
        • Close

Transfer points from Control Unit to Terramodel

Download points as DC via Survey Controller 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 Control Unit to the computer

Download points as DC from Survey Controller via Windows Explorer

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

Download points as DC from Access via Windows Explorer

  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync or similar (see above)
  • In Trimble Access on TSC2
    • From JOBS, select Import/Export then Export mixed format files
    • Select Trimble DC v10.7 file format
    • Give the export file a name then ACCEPT.
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Move the DC file from the Trimble Data Folder on the Control Unit to the computer

Import points as DC via script

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

Download and import points as DC 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 from Survey Controller Journal job via Survey Data Card script

Import points from Access by via Data Transfer Utility and General Survey Data Card script

  • Prepare for communication from Access via General Survey Data Card
  • In Data Transfer Utility,
    • Select a General Survey Data Card device (if reading .job file from disk), or a General Survey device (if reading directly from Access on a TSC2)
    • Click Add...
    • Select all required surveys from the list of job files
    • Files of Type Survey Controller Files
    • File format DC File v10.7
    • Browse to select the destination folder for extracted DC files
    • Open
    • Transfer All
  • In Terramodel
    • File...
    • Download/Import
    • Trimble Access DC _i
    • Browse to select DC file from the destination folder selected above
    • Continue to import the DC file following the prompts

Import points, strings and DTM from SCS900 via TXT

  • Transfer TXT file from control unit with Site Controller software to computer
  • In Terramodel
    • Run SCS900IN command
    • Browse to select the TXT file
    • Specify the import layer
    • Run AutoDraft command, if the data is suitably coded.

Import points, strings and DTM from Site Controller via DXF

  • Transfer DXF file from control unit with Site Controller to computer
  • In Terramodel
    • File...
    • Download/Import
    • AutoCAD import for SCS900

Transfer points from Terramodel to Control Unit

Export points as DC via setout script

  • In Terramodel
    • File
    • Import/Export...
    • Run the Trimble setout (dc) Script

Export points as CSV via ASCII points script

  • In Terramodel
    • File...
    • 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 Survey Controller 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 Control Unit

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 Control Unit

Upload points as DC into Access

  • In Terramodel
    • Export points via setout (dc) script (see above)
  • Prepare for communications from Access via General Survey data card (see above)
  • Transfer the DC file to Trimble data directory on TSC2 (see above)
  • In Access software on TSC2
    • Import the DC file from \Jobs\Import-Export\Import fixed format files\DC V10

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 Control Unit 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 Control Unit 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 control unit 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

  • In a web browser
  • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
  • In Windows Explorer
    • Transfer the RXL file from the Control Unit to the computer using ActiveSync
  • In ASCII file generator (at 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 Control Unit

Export design templates as DC via roading 3D 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 as DC

  • 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 control unit

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 control unit

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 Control unit 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 Control Unit

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 Control Unit

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 Control Unit

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 Control Unit
  • On Control Unit
    • 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 Control Unit
  • On the Control Unit
    • 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 TTM export script you created above

Transfer feature attribute library to Control Unit

Export a feature attribute library as FCL

  • In Terramodel
    • Draft
    • Automatic drafting from points (AutoDraft)
    • 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

Convert feature code library FCL to feature definition library FXL

  • In Trimble Feature Definition Manager (supplied with Trimble Business Center)
    • From File menu, select Convert

Export and Upload a feature attribute library (on older Survey controllers only)

  • If you haven't already got the Terramodel export script "Trimble Feature codes (fal)", create one like this
    • File
    • Export/Upload
    • Export Script Manager
      • New
      • Create a new "Trimble Feature codes (fal)" script to both export and upload
      • Next
      • Select Survey Controller on ActiveSync
      • Next
      • Select Feature codes (fcx) format
      • Next
      • Complete the script definition
    • In Terramodel,
      • Draft
      • Automatic drafting from points (AutoDraft)
        • Create or edit an AutoDraft Configuration (ADC) file
    • Prepare for communications using ActiveSync (see above)
    • In Terramodel
      • Run the "Trimble Feature codes (fal)" 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) with the same name as the ADC file, on the Control Unit.
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