I have a new MM Pro that I am attempting to use to collect rough data and use in my Carlson survey COGO program.

Has anyone figured how to transfer the data from MM office into Carlson and then back ?

I have tried Global Mapper but the ASCII file conversion seems to leave out the elevation and the description. I have tried many of the conversions in Global Mapper but they are not acceptable to Carlson.

Any suggestions?

I guess not knowing anything about GIS can become a problem when trying to use GIS tools.

T.Wilson
Modified By Thomas Wilson on 3/26/2006 at 11:32 AM

Carlson will import/export a shape file. That's how I usually go from SurvCE to MM CE and back.
Global Mapper will also work. I think there is a check box to include elevations. It's a little tricky getting the ascii thing set up right.

Post processed Mobile Mapper Pro points/lines you export from Mobile Mapper Office. They are going to be a .csv file.
In Carlson, under "import text/ascii file" you set up a "custom" file import type that is going to have a BUNCH of "skips" of the data which are denoted as "S". Use the preview dialog in the Carlson routine to count the stuff you don't want like the time of observation yada yada. So a basic coordinate file import will look something like "P,N,E,Z,S,S,S,S,S...etc.,D"; change the "file type to import" via the drop down list to a .csv format. I think you'll figure it out from there.

Dangerous Dave

Thanks folks.

J.T. - I have tried the shape files but haven't had any luck (yet) getting the coordinates from Carlson back into a shape file to send back to MM office.

Dave - That looks like a good solution to get the points into a coordinate file. MM office doesn't seem to accept any ASCII files, any thoughts on getting coordinates back into MM office ?

Thanks for the help.

Tom Wilson

Getting the coordinates back into MMO is a trick that JD could outline better than myself. The end result should have the points on the Mobile Mapper screen and when you do a "go to" you should be able to place the cursor over the points and a keystroke or two will show you the coordinates of that point.
Like I say, JD and Shawn are very fluent in this, I've done it occasionally.

Dangerous Dave

Thanks Dave.

Tom Wilson

Thanks Dave.

Tom Wilson

if we're back on line, I'll try to post a response....

We often put our "Carlson" points on the MM Pro, and now the PM3. The uses have been fantastic, but so as not to bore anyone with "success stories", I'll get to the point.

In Carlson Survey (we'll use "CS" for brievety) you need to build a point file (.crd) with Point Numbers, Northings, Eastings, Elevations (optional) and Descriptors. You can use the points only, if that's what you need, or you can use every layer in the dwg file you need. I've been thawing one layer at a time in CS, exporting a shape file of it to a MM job folder, or to a new temporary folder, and repeating for as many layers as I want to use in the GPS unit. The POINTS layer is no different. Have only the points, point symbols, elevations and descriptors thawed and window them all in when creating a shape file. When the points shape file is loaded onto the MM Pro or PM3, in a MM Job, they will display on screen with the default circle with a cross mark. When you place your cursor over a particular point you will note a description of sorts (we haven't spent enough time to make all the GIS features function properly), and when you hit the enter key a box will pop on screen with the point attributes available, and a choice as to whether you want to "goto" that point. The MM Pro doesn't have the screen width to adequately display all the data without horizontally scrolling, but the PM3 shows all we've needed.

We have been doing this since the first few weeks we had the MM Pro, and have taken it to the much better PM3 a few months ago.

As for going from MM Pro points to Carlson, I think Dave has already told you about as much as we do. Create a .csv file, then in Excell (or equal substitute) you can convert the .csv to an ascii file to import into CS.

jd

J.D. - A big thanks.

I have been fooling with the shape files since I bought the MM a few weeks ago and haven't had much success yet. You would think that an ASCII file transfer would be included in office but I guess GIS users don't require that. Now I can use your method.

I considered the MM CE but was told that the MM Pro was much eaiser to use so here I am.

The MM is a nice enough instrument but the software certainly isn't surveyor friendly. I guess it is time I learned somthing about GIS files.

Thanks again.

Tom Wilson
Modified By Tom Wilson on 3/27/2006 at 8:05 AM