Editing Raw Data Files (rw5's) made with SurvCE

Sounds like it's time to get on whoever sold you the software and/or the data colloector and get them to answer your questions.
Carlson Survey software costs a bunch more, BUT when you need help, you can get it and the process is much more streamlined.

I'd get weith the folks at Traverse PC or yoiur local reseller and bug the crap out of them until I had an answer that I understood and one that worked. "Sales" without "support" is rapidly becomming the norm, but that does not mean that you have to put up with it.

The XAR's are expecting people to get answers froim sites loke this insted of doing their job of supporting the products that they sell. They get thge big bucks, you get a CD. Something there does not sound right.

cptdent, post: 325011, member: 527 wrote: Sounds like it's time to get on whoever sold you the software and/or the data colloector and get them to answer your questions.
Carlson Survey software costs a bunch more, BUT when you need help, you can get it and the process is much more streamlined.

I'd get weith the folks at Traverse PC or yoiur local reseller and bug the crap out of them until I had an answer that I understood and one that worked. "Sales" without "support" is rapidly becomming the norm, but that does not mean that you have to put up with it.

The XAR's are expecting people to get answers froim sites loke this insted of doing their job of supporting the products that they sell. They get thge big bucks, you get a CD. Something there does not sound right.

Thanks for the insight, but my situation does not fall into that category. I'm not a professional, but a student. I bought the DC used, from a member of this forum. The version of SurvCE is ancient (I think it's 2.4).

That said, the folks at Traverse PC have been extremely helpful to the extent they can be. They definitely have met their responsibilities of "service after the sale", in my opinion. The adage: "Garbage In, Garbage Out" applies here.

In this case, it's a SurveCE issue...or I should say, it's a SurvCE (grasshopper) Operator issue. I doubt this kind of thing happens "in the real world" much, and, if it did, the field guy who screwed up the data gathering probably wouldn't have a job any more.

I've thought of "changing horses"...trying Survey Pro, or Magnet Field instead, but I doubt they'd solve the "big" problem: a tendency to move too quickly, not take copious field notes, not plan the day's work carefully enough, all combined with pretty much ZERO in the field mentoring experience that comes with getting a job working side by side with people who know what they're doing. I don't (and don't think I have) expect a lot of hand holding; The guidance I've gathered here has been immeasurably valuable in my journey.

First of all copy and rename the file so that the original file will still exist. Then when you edit you won't lose your file!

Actual editing of the file is easy in Carlson, but in your case, not using Carlson, the notepad is a reasonable tool.

I frequently will use notepad to make edits in a copied file.

foggyidea, post: 325019, member: 155 wrote: First of all copy and rename the file so that the original file will still exist. Then when you edit you won't lose your file!

Actual editing of the file is easy in Carlson, but in your case, not using Carlson, the notepad is a reasonable tool.

I frequently will use notepad to make edits in a copied file.

Agreed. I keep an "unmolested" copy of all raw data and the "molested" version is in the data directory with the drawing.

rfc, post: 324993, member: 8882 wrote: ... Now, it's more like 10' through the blackberry pricker bushes. Nice for eating but not so much for using a total station.:-(

That's what the machete is for. The best eating blackberries are in the middle of the thicket.

Carlson X-Port is a utility that is available for SurvCE owners and is very helpful in managing and processing all your Carlson files from data collector to cad and back plus many other useful tools.
:beer:

Another option is to process the bad file and now you know the place of error correct those points after the error.
That can be done with shift, rotate options.
You'd need to be sure of what you're doing.

I would prefer the easier option of correcting it in the raw data.
If I change a raw data entry I leave the original line untouched but made into a comment with next line the corrected data.
But repeat others comments. Keep an original untouched copy intact.
Bit strange Traverse PC won't allow this sort of editing.
I'd put in a suggestion. along those lines tor future development.

Norman Oklahoma, post: 325023, member: 9981 wrote: That's what the machete is for. The best eating blackberries are in the middle of the thicket.

I actually started to try and make some headway, in case I couldn't solve it on paper (or in the 'puter). I got so torn up, I had to wait a day for the Kevlar sleeves from Amazon to show up. They might do the trick, but it is DENSE stuff, that's for sure. Thanks for the encouragement.:-)

rfc, post: 325016, member: 8882 wrote: but I doubt they'd solve the "big" problem: a tendency to move too quickly, not take copious field notes, not plan the day's work carefully enough, all combined with pretty much ZERO in the field mentoring experience that comes with getting a job working side by side with people who know what they're doing. I don't (and don't think I have) expect a lot of hand holding; The guidance I've gathered here has been immeasurably valuable in my journey.

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When you setup and take a backsight you do need to check the message regarding the difference between your observed backsight components and what the DC is expecting.
That's really imperative and any misbooked setup can be corrected then.
Also you need to occasionally on long setup times recheck your backsight and I do it always before reading something critical, like next foresight.
It can be handy to have RO's to distant objects, if available and read bearing only to them
Tanks on hills, prominent chimney, church spire, transmission tower, anything visible.
Beside being useful for BS if returning they can also be a help in times when you do stuff up and need to recheck.
I make a field book record of my setups and foresights along with measured height..
I find it's helpful without being dependant on finding your way through the DC for stations.

A Harris, post: 325034, member: 81 wrote: Carlson X-Port is a utility that is available for SurvCE owners and is very helpful in managing and processing all your Carlson files from data collector to cad and back plus many other useful tools.
:beer:

I downloaded that some time ago, but never looked at it (I had trouble registering the serial number). I didn't realize it could be useful with the raw files. I'll call Carlson tomorrow, get the serial number sorted out, and take a look. Thanks.

Richard, post: 325045, member: 833 wrote:

I would prefer the easier option of correcting it in the raw data.
If I change a raw data entry I leave the original line untouched but made into a comment with next line the corrected data.
But repeat others comments. Keep an original untouched copy intact.
Bit strange Traverse PC won't allow this sort of editing.
I'd put in a suggestion. along those lines tor future development.

Thanks for the idea of commenting out the data rather than deleting it. With regard to whether TPC can do this, I think it can; I just haven't become conversant enough to do it. It's on my list of questions for them.

I've noted there is a way to "edit raw data" on the DC in SurvCE itself. I've never used it, but might try. In one case I knew I screwed up the moment I shot the first back sight of a set when the instrument was still in reverse face. It'd be nice in such cases to wipe out the bad data immediately rather than suffering through trying to remember what you screwed up later.

When you do something like that at station setup, just perform another setup.
If you realise and haven't collected any data then no damage done and raw data won't have anything to worry about.

As for editing on the DC, I find that too painful on small screens and am worried I'll screw up big time.
I just make a note and move on, correcting later.

Sometimes in topo work, after a new setup I'll take a shot to another previously surveyed point from last setup.
It gives a good vertical check and if you've messed up horizontally will soon show.
I don't worry about Staking a point, just any known previous shot and the DC will show the "duplicate" point and a comparison is easy.
Even 5 minutes extra on each setup will pay for itself when just one misplaced piece of data/ wrong point used causes a return trip and probably much searching to discover what went wrong where.

If you're working along a road, then read to some reflective guideposts back and forth and they make excellent checks, even used them for backsights.

Sorry, bit off topic, perhaps