Our company has decided to purchase a pair of R10's before the end of the year, which means we will have to change software programs from SurveyPro to Access.. And guess who's going to have to figure out how to use it? Yep...
I'm pretty excited but a little nervous at the same time. We don't use any super complicated functions on our controllers, just the vanilla stuff you need for boundary work and mortgage plats.
The guy selling us the package tells me it's pretty easy to pick up on, and very customizable, but he's also working on commission... Just wondering what kind of learning curve I'm up against. Thanks in advance!
Oh, one more thing. Does Access have drivers for older total stations? I have a Sokkia SET330r3 prismless total station and a Nikon Top Gun (can't remember the specs but it's relatively new, maybe an NPL___?), and it would be great if the TSC3 could run those too.
Thanks again,
Arthur
I find Access pretty friendly and easy to use.
Yes it can drive the older style guns.
Just make sure you have a way of getting the data from the TSC3 into whatever calc software you use before signing the check
I find Access very easy to use and very powerful. If you have any questions about it feel free to contact me.
It is a fairly simple program to use. The COGO functions are terrible, at best, when comparing to survey pro or Carlson . Rotating points takes more calculations on your end. Inversions a point to a line...first you have to calculate the line, then go to calculate points and type in the line name and point name. It's not that it's difficult to do, but it could also be easier and faster.
You can export rw5 files, csv files and plenty more. I'm sure that you'll get along great with it.
Jason Graves, post: 349963, member: 9531 wrote: It is a fairly simple program to use. The COGO functions are terrible, at best, when comparing to survey pro or Carlson . Rotating points takes more calculations on your end. Inversions a point to a line...first you have to calculate the line, then go to calculate points and type in the line name and point name. It's not that it's difficult to do, but it could also be easier and faster.
You can export rw5 files, csv files and plenty more. I'm sure that you'll get along great with it.
You can easily inverse a point to a line in the calculator - I'm not sure why they bury it so deep. Go to the calculator (in COGO) and hit either the button that says Azimuth or Distance at the bottom (why there are two separate commands is also anyone's guess); Choose Between Point and Line as your method. You also don't (ever in Access) need to pre-calculate the line - just hit the arrow next to the Line Name filed and change it to Two Points.
The good thing about those commands being in the calculator is that the values they produce go straight to the stack in case you need to perform further calculations. Most of the COGO in Access is pretty good once you figure out how to do it and what all of your options are, they're just nowhere near as intuitive as in SurveyPro or Carlson.
jim.cox, post: 349914, member: 93 wrote: I find Access pretty friendly and easy to use.
Yes it can drive the older style guns.
Just make sure you have a way of getting the data from the TSC3 into whatever calc software you use before signing the check
I was assuming you can import/export ASCII files on the TSC3, and transfer them to a PC (using ActiveSync or whatever they're calling it these days) in order to get points in and out of my drafting program (AutoCAD 2004). Is this correct or do I need a special Trimble data transfer program?
Thanks for the help, guys!
You can export in a variety of formats. Ascii(csv) is easy to do. You can plug in a usb memory stick and just copy and paste. I would reccomend looking at TBC. With it you can set up automated line work. Also be aware trimble treats coordinates as a hiearchy. Ascii files are treated as the gosple. You can always disable the points. I think you will find access is not to bad to use.
It should be noted that in addition to all the standard formats that come preloaded in the collector, Trimble has numerous custom export formats available on the Trimble Access support page of their web site.
When inverse point to line I use the "Key In' then "Points". When Point name comes up I hit the tab at the bottom that says "Options". Next screen shows coordinate view. I hit the the small down arrow to list other options and pick "Station and offset". Under "Type" I change it to "Line". I will put in the point number to start and end point. Hit Accept and if it is a point that is already stored it will show the station and out. If you want to create the point just put in the station you want to go and the out and it will calc it. If you want to see the coordinate value go back to the options tab and change the coordinate value to "Grid". I don't know if that is easier or not but that's what works for me.
Actually I'm just learning Access as well because we just purchased an R10. I'm not finding the software too difficult to grasp. Once I get everything setup I think it will get easier. One issue I am having though is how to perform a simple bearing-distance offset to an inaccessible object like the center of a utility pole. Is this not available without going into COGO and creating a second point? How are some of you who dealing with this, or is it available and I just can't find it?
Bill68, post: 350121, member: 10680 wrote: Actually I'm just learning Access as well because we just purchased an R10. I'm not finding the software too difficult to grasp. Once I get everything setup I think it will get easier. One issue I am having though is how to perform a simple bearing-distance offset to an inaccessible object like the center of a utility pole. Is this not available without going into COGO and creating a second point? How are some of you who dealing with this, or is it available and I just can't find it?
In a "conventional survey" (total station) there are a lot of offsetting methods built into "measure topo".
You are right, a GNSS survey doesn't have much. There are options for using a (connected) distance laser meter to offset the stored point but not manual input. That is an omission and you will need to store temp points and use COGO.
Lee D, post: 349967, member: 7971 wrote: You can easily inverse a point to a line in the calculator - I'm not sure why they bury it so deep. Go to the calculator (in COGO) and hit either the button that says Azimuth or Distance at the bottom (why there are two separate commands is also anyone's guess); Choose Between Point and Line as your method. You also don't (ever in Access) need to pre-calculate the line - just hit the arrow next to the Line Name filed and change it to Two Points.
The good thing about those commands being in the calculator is that the values they produce go straight to the stack in case you need to perform further calculations. Most of the COGO in Access is pretty good once you figure out how to do it and what all of your options are, they're just nowhere near as intuitive as in SurveyPro or Carlson.
In an update this year, that function is now in COGO (possibly still in the calculator as well?).
It can project a point to a named line or just to 2 points.
Mojavegreen's method will also give you the vertical difference, point to line.
squowse, post: 350152, member: 7109 wrote: That is an omission and you will need to store temp points and use COGO.
Thanks squowse. That's really a big omission in my opinion. I don't understand how they could overlook such a common situation as this. Even my old ProXL from the 90's would allow me to manually enter a bearing-distance offset.
