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Importing Attributes into TBC
Hey Everyone,
I am trying to figure out if there is a way to import attributes back into TBC.
I exported all the point attributes out as a .csv file and brought them into AutoCAD Civil 3D to draft. As I was drafting I made revision to my points and I would like to bring them back into TBC so it is up to date and the data will match.
I have my points in CAD, ESRI and a MDB database. Is there a way to import attributes into TBC from any of those sources?
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7 Replies
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Someone may know more about it, I do know you can re-import your points from CAD which will of course add the new attributes, but it will lose your vectors to the points because you either have to first delete the points with the changed attributes in TBC or override them.
We use a coding system and to avoid the problem you are discussing, we first change the code for the point in TBC then send it to CAD. There are always issues with points in CAD matching up with TBC, we use a point system that mimics DOT so 200-500 are calculated points, there is a constant battle between TBC and CAD to keep those organized. Delete a calculated point in CAD to clean up the drawing, be sure to delete it in TBC or it will come back to haunt you. Same with feature codes, change it in CAD, change it in TBC. But as far as keeping the same point with the same name and importing only the changed attribute,,,,,I don’t know how that is done, there is probably a way.
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I had the same question wheb test driving TBC, We still didn’t switch.
Would it be possible to export points with attributes in csv format from CAD and make a custom import to import them back in TBC, perhaps as Control points to add more weight to these observations
I know I tried a custom import with pointnrs and attributes only (no E,N,El) but these were not added to the points already present in TBC.
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We have tried a custom import and couldn’t get it to work. We will have to try them as control points. At this point we are going to try anything we can in hopes that something will work.
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Another option could be to import the new csv in a new project, that should work.
Then you could try to merge both projects to 1 TBC projects.
please keep us posted,
Christof.
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MightMoe do you mind me asking what kind of coding system you are using? On some projects we have done well to keep update attributes in TBC when we fix them in CAD but on some projects there are hundreds of points being updated and we don’t have time to fix them all in both programs. So whether we need to buy a add on to TBC or figure something else out we are just trying to get things so they match better so we aren’t send clients a TBC that is different from CAD.
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MightMoe do you mind me asking what kind of coding system you are using? On some projects we have done well to keep update attributes in TBC when we fix them in CAD but on some projects there are hundreds of points being updated and we don’t have time to fix them all in both programs. So whether we need to buy a add on to TBC or figure something else out we are just trying to get things so they match better so we aren’t send clients a TBC that is different from CAD.
The state DOT developed a code book. The first codes I did were number codes in the mid 80’s. Since the 90’s our field to finish codes have been DOT based cause many of our engineering clients are tied to them. I wouldn’t use them except we have been trained. If I do a ground topo for a pad or reservoir I will use B for break line, F for flowline, RT for Random topo, ect. very simple stuff.
For the real field to finish codes there is a large book and a small little plastic book to take to the field with hundreds of codes and qualifiers to make them work, BL: will begin a set of codes and EL: will end the string. BKLS is breakline, UFO is underground fiber optic, there is a code to cover most situations. But we still need to make up our own at times.
here are a few pages of the quick reference field book-page 6-7:
page 8-9:
We use them cause our clients use them, we can send a full topo with the codes properly collected and they can download our points and Micro-station or AutoCad will draw it.
Probably your local DOT has something similar, I would imagine they might help you out with a book or a set of codes and the rules to apply them.
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TBC will not allow attributes to be imported at this time. If you want the attributes in TBC to be consistent with the edits you made in CAD or elsewhere all you can do is go back to the same project you started with and make the same edits there.
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