Pocket 3D: Import/Export - Points to a text file

Exporting points to a text file from Pocket 3D

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Pocket 3D: Import/Export - Points to a text file

Point information is commonly given to contractors and end users in text format.  The most common file formats are TXT and CSV.  Both are referred to a Comma Separated Value files that arrage the information in a specific order.

For example, a common text file will look like this:

CP-1,5396.120,10001.60,376.965,,
CP-2,5000.000,5000.000,385.850,,
Pole 1,4995.150,10017.770,385.240,,
Pole 2,4996.050,10011.940,384.280,,
Pole 3,4998.380,10005.960,383.060,,
Pole 4,4880.970,9960.110,403.730,,

This file is ordered by control point name, northing, easting, elevation and description (if there is one).  These values can be seen by opening the text file on your PC using Notepad or Wordpad.

  • To export the text file, go to Data > Points > Import/Export > Points only > To text file...
  • Before a text file can be exported, a Format must be created.
  • To do this, hit the Format button at the bottom of the screen, then the New... button to create a new format.
  • Multiple formats can be made to support a variety of file extensions.
  • First, define the name of the format.  For this example, it will be named Comma Text, but it can be named anything.
  • Next, define the extension of the file.  To look for a TXT file, this field should be TXT.  For a CSV file, this field should be CSV.
  • Finally, you will need to define how the data is organized by creating Line items.  Hit the Add button to create a new line item.
  • Most text files are arranged in the following format:
    • Point name
    • Point northing
    • Point easting
    • Point elevation
    • Point description
  • When adding each line item, make sure they are appended with a Trailing comma.
  • Hit the OK button when finished.

*NOTE* In some instances, the order of the northing and easting are flipped.  If the Format does not reflect this, the point information will be read incorrectly, resulting is huge horizontal errors.

When exporting, you will have the option to pick all points, only points that are selected on the screen or points by layer.

By default, Pocket3D will save the file to the Topcon\3DMC\ folder on the collector.  This can be changed by hitting the three dot box next to Target text file.

Set the target file location to the USB drive.  Depending on the style of data collector you are using, this can be shown as the D:\ drive or USBHardDisk

Chose the format the file will be saved in.

If the Append to target file checkbox is checked, the points can be appended to an existing text file.

Hit the OK button to export the points.