Nothing is ever easy. I'm demo-ing MicrosurveyCAD for 30 days. It has an LSA component that I thought was similar too if not identical to Star*net. While the verdict is still out on that (I don't think it is so far), I'd like to bring in some of the multitudes of SurvCE .rw5 files and output DAT files to Starnet. There is an output to Star*net option that looks like that part will work if and when I can get a file to export.
Unfortunately, MicrosurveyCAD does not seem to include something similar to the Carlson Converter that comes with Star*net.
The import option for .rw5 files in MicrosurveyCAD is for "TDS 48/500/Recon Ranger" .rw5's. Not the same puppy.
Can anyone suggest the most straightforward way to convert an .rw5 created by SurvCE into any other file format that MicrosurveyCAD can handle? It is crucial that all the observations come in; not just the coordinates.
Thanks in advance.
Microsurvey does not play well with Carlson raw files , I think on purpose. I have on numerous occasion indicated the disconnect with the rw5 files from Carlson and specifically the doubled angles, All I get is the sound of crickets in the background.
Use Carlson survey
dsgroi, post: 368118, member: 11203 wrote: Microsurvey does not play well with Carlson raw files , I think on purpose. I have on numerous occasion indicated the disconnect with the rw5 files from Carlson and specifically the doubled angles, All I get is the sound of crickets in the background.
Use Carlson survey
Not an option right now. I tried Carlson's LSA component, during my 30 day trial of Carlson Survey. While it was more than I could do to assess it properly in that amount of time, I've decided I want to use Star*net. Now that MS owns Star*net, I suspect they'd be the best conduit for the conversion. They have a converters that come with Star*net, but they don't appear to be included with the CAD product.
rfc, post: 368121, member: 8882 wrote: Not an option right now. I tried Carlson's LSA component, during my 30 day trial of Carlson Survey. While it was more than I could do to assess it properly in that amount of time, I've decided I want to use Star*net. Now that MS owns Star*net, I suspect they'd be the best conduit for the conversion. They have a converters that come with Star*net, but they don't appear to be included with the CAD product.
I think the StarCarlson converter that you are talking about coming with Star*Net has to be purchased separately for $200.00.
Ed
ekillo, post: 368127, member: 773 wrote: I think the StarCarlson converter that you are talking about coming with Star*Net has to be purchased separately for $200.00.
Ed
That's correct. But wouldn't one think that if Microsurvey wanted to woo Carlson users (with hundreds if not thousands of Carlson raw data files), over to the Microsurvey ecosystem, they'd make it easy to do? There's got to be a way to do this. I just haven't figured it out yet.
ekillo, post: 368127, member: 773 wrote: I think the StarCarlson converter that you are talking about coming with Star*Net has to be purchased separately for $200.00.
Ed
By the way, Carlson doesn't make it easy either. You can bring an .rw5 in but to get a Star*net file out, you need to have created (or have) a .CGR file to do it.
rfc, post: 368114, member: 8882 wrote: Nothing is ever easy. I'm demo-ing MicrosurveyCAD for 30 days. It has an LSA component that I thought was similar too if not identical to Star*net. While the verdict is still out on that (I don't think it is so far), I'd like to bring in some of the multitudes of SurvCE .rw5 files and output DAT files to Starnet. There is an output to Star*net option that looks like that part will work if and when I can get a file to export.
Unfortunately, MicrosurveyCAD does not seem to include something similar to the Carlson Converter that comes with Star*net.
The import option for .rw5 files in MicrosurveyCAD is for "TDS 48/500/Recon Ranger" .rw5's. Not the same puppy.
Can anyone suggest the most straightforward way to convert an .rw5 created by SurvCE into any other file format that MicrosurveyCAD can handle? It is crucial that all the observations come in; not just the coordinates.
Thanks in advance.
Have you attempted to use Carlson X-Port to produce a different type of file? I have used it to produce a fieldbook file type for use with ACAD's LSA. There was some editing required. It also has an option to export TDS, and a few others. Interested in how it works.
We use the Carlson Converter (don't remember the cost). It works, mostly. There are still some edits that need to be done, and things pop up as Carlson changes their format or update the software. In theory, rw5 should be rw5, I think, but...and, BTW, I blame Carlson for this. I have used the Carlson Converter for quite a while, and the problems pop up as Carlson change its software, but there were no updates to the converter.
The information hasn't changed, but the formatting has...just enough.
The edits I often run into are with resections, and Carlson occasionally, and inexplicably, failing to write the setup information into the raw data.
dmyhill, post: 368212, member: 1137 wrote: Have you attempted to use Carlson X-Port to produce a different type of file? I have used it to produce a fieldbook file type for use with ACAD's LSA. There was some editing required. It also has an option to export TDS, and a few others. Interested in how it works.
We use the Carlson Converter (don't remember the cost). It works, mostly. There are still some edits that need to be done, and things pop up as Carlson changes their format or update the software. In theory, rw5 should be rw5, I think, but...and, BTW, I blame Carlson for this. I have used the Carlson Converter for quite a while, and the problems pop up as Carlson change its software, but there were no updates to the converter.
The information hasn't changed, but the formatting has...just enough.
Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately, I didn't think of that when I had the month trying the software. Also, it might not have mattered because I don't think you get X-port while demo-ing the Survey software.
When you're the "Big Gorilla" on the block, I guess you can do it your way and expect everyone else to work around it. Autodesk has been that way for years.
With no obvious way presenting itself (or being presented here), I decided to try MS Tech support. They're looking into it. We'll see what happens.
rfc, post: 368114, member: 8882 wrote: The import option for .rw5 files in MicrosurveyCAD is for "TDS 48/500/Recon Ranger" .rw5's. Not the same puppy.
au contraire mon chiot - almost the same mixed breed of rw5
the TDS.rw5 will import (total station data) survCE.rw5 files with some minor editing (have yet to see an rw5 file that didn't want an edit)
so instead of giving you a fish...
in this post https://surveyorconnect.com/threads/star-net-with-carlson-converter-help-needed.325637/
your rw5 file - SurvCE has already reduced the BDFR etc. records to commented (--SS) records (leave to you to confirm SurvCE does this correctly)
mscad being unable to comprehend these record types, even though starCarlson converter can...
so
search and replace all (--SS) with (SS)
import collector file into mscad traverse file and export a .dat file using the star net interface (will require you to manually enter coords for start pt that is already in the file!)
and you get .dat file dat's also going to need a few edits (have yet to see dat file dat didn't want an edit), (note the SS records and re-ordering of DV / M records, apparently caused by your use of those new age alphanumeric point number thingies, as if infinity wasn't enough for you), but at least that angle and distance stuff appears to be the same
# MicroSurvey -> Star Net Export File
.3D
.Units FeetUS
.Units DMS
.Order AtFromTo
# Starting Raw Data Setup:
C 800 427882.515000 1618086.714000 1086.810000 ! ! ! '
C 700 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 ! ! ! '
DV 800-700 ? 98-11-30.00 5.000/5.000
M 800-700-1000 194-38-52.00 300.3730 78-20-26.00 5.000/5.000 '
# New Setup:
DV 1000-800 300.3545 100-59-35.00 5.000/5.000
M 1000-800-1100 65-29-29.00 202.1350 97-50-54.00 5.000/5.000 '
# New Setup:
SS 1000-800-14A 137-07-30.00 223.4470 85-21-13.00 5.000/5.000 '
DV 1000-800 300.3455 100-59-38.00 5.000/5.000
# New Setup:
M 1100-1000-800 73-48-39.00 280.9270 96-03-21.00 5.000/5.000 '
DV 1100-1000 202.1415 82-12-47.00 5.000/5.000
# New Setup:
SS 1100-800-14A 227-48-11.00 252.3640 79-37-30.00 5.000/5.000 '
DV 1100-800 ? 96-02-47.00 5.000/5.000
# New Setup:
SS 1100-1000-14A 301-36-53.00 252.3640 79-37-40.00 5.000/5.000 '
DV 1100-1000 202.1405 82-12-38.00 5.000/5.000
# New Setup:
DV 1100-1000 202.1770 82-11-56.00 5.000/5.000
M 1100-1000-1200 110-04-21.00 114.3510 102-08-33.00 5.000/5.000 '
# New Setup:
DV 1100-800 280.9150 96-02-32.00 5.000/5.000
M 1100-800-1200 36-14-57.00 114.3515 102-08-45.00 5.000/5.000 '
# New Setup:
M 1200-1100-800 124-28-56.00 200.4745 91-39-01.00 5.000/5.000 '
DV 1200-1100 114.3720 77-46-12.00 5.000/5.000
not suggesting for a minute that this kludge is ideal, only dat it can be done, "process" being at the root of data processing
Royevrus, post: 368254, member: 9544 wrote: au contraire mon chiot - almost the same mixed breed of rw5
the TDS.rw5 will import (total station data) survCE.rw5 files with some minor editing (have yet to see an rw5 file that didn't want an edit)
so instead of giving you a fish...search and replace all (--SS) with (SS)
import collector file into mscad traverse file and export a .dat file using the star net interface (will require you to manually enter coords for start pt that is already in the file!)
and you get .dat file dat's also going to need a few edits (have yet to see dat file dat didn't want an edit), (note the SS records and re-ordering of DV / M records, apparently caused by your use of those new age alphanumeric point number thingies, as if infinity wasn't enough for you), but at least that angle and distance stuff appears to be the same......not suggesting for a minute that this kludge is ideal, only dat it can be done, "process" being at the root of data processing
Royevrus:
I posted that on February 19, 2016. It's felt more like a year than two months. I feel like I'm building a log house with a chisel rather than a chain saw. It may not get the house built quickly, but at at least I'll know how to use a chisel by the time I'm done. This is huge.:-)
What you've laid out would explain why I've been missing the bulk of observations when brought into some other software I'm using as well. They all had "--SS" at the beginning of the line.
While I'm in there mucking about the engine room, it'd be easy enough to find and replace "14A", with "141", "142", etc. too.
I'll get to work doing this until I hear back from Microsurvey.
Thank you, Sir.
rfc, post: 368230, member: 8882 wrote: Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately, I didn't think of that when I had the month trying the software. Also, it might not have mattered because I don't think you get X-port while demo-ing the Survey software.
All copies of SurvCE include a license to X-Port, but you do not need it for a one time use. Just download and install it, and close the registration box. There are certain features that will not work, but the export should.
oh, and sorry for diving into something old...it pops up when someone comments, and then I always forget to look at the OP date.
🙂
dmyhill, post: 368311, member: 1137 wrote: All copies of SurvCE include a license to X-Port, but you do not need it for a one time use. Just download and install it, and close the registration box. There are certain features that will not work, but the export should.
Not exactly correct. My copy of SurvCE is too old to include the license to X-Port. Haven't tried what you suggested for "one time use", but will. Thanks.
Royevrus, post: 368254, member: 9544 wrote: au contraire mon chiot - almost the same mixed breed of rw5
the TDS.rw5 will import (total station data) survCE.rw5 files with some minor editing (have yet to see an rw5 file that didn't want an edit)
so instead of giving you a fish...
in this post https://surveyorconnect.com/threads/star-net-with-carlson-converter-help-needed.325637/
your rw5 file - SurvCE has already reduced the BDFR etc. records to commented (--SS) records (leave to you to confirm SurvCE does this correctly)
mscad being unable to comprehend these record types, even though starCarlson converter can...
so
search and replace all (--SS) with (SS)
import collector file into mscad traverse file and export a .dat file using the star net interface (will require you to manually enter coords for start pt that is already in the file!)
and you get .dat file dat's also going to need a few edits (have yet to see dat file dat didn't want an edit), (note the SS records and re-ordering of DV / M records, apparently caused by your use of those new age alphanumeric point number thingies, as if infinity wasn't enough for you), but at least that angle and distance stuff appears to be the samenot suggesting for a minute that this kludge is ideal, only dat it can be done, "process" being at the root of data processing
Royevrus:
Microsurvey Technical Support surfaced with a suggestion very similar to yours...search and replace all the --SS records with SS. But they suggested one step further by COMMENTING out all the BD, FD, BR, FR records too. It then looks almost identical to a TDS rw5.
Probably the best hint though was to download Notepad++. With that program I selected all 20 or so rw5 files, and it did the edits on ALL the files in a single directory! Took only a few minutes. This will work for me (at least until my demo period of Microsurvey CAD runs out....sigh:-()
