Working with Survey Files

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to save and open a survey file. We'll begin by explaining what a file is, then talk about how to use this section.

A file is a portion of a floppy disk or hard disk that stores some related information -- in this case, a survey. Each file is identified by a unique filename. We talk about files as being permanent, but they can be erased and overwritten, so we also talk about backing up a file (making a copy of a file using another unique filename). The file options that are built into TPC help you keep track of which file is which, so that you can keep a permanent record of all your work.

Files versus Memory

Files are separate from the computer's memory. As you enter data or modify the current survey in any way, those changes are taking place in the computer's memory -- not in a file. To store the changes you have made to a file you must save your work.

If you quit TPC or turn off your computer, the work you have done is gone -- unless you saved it to a file. As an example, if you recall a file into the computer's memory and them immediately append a second file to the computer's memory, the original files are unchanged. However, what is in the computer's memory is different from the original files.

TPC knows when the information in the computer's memory is different from what is in the original file. It also knows if a file has not yet been created to store the current work. In either case, TPC will warn you if you try to exit the program or recall another file, and will ask you if you want to save the current survey before continuing.

Sharing your Survey Files with Others

If you plan on sharing your survey files with others, choose File | Share Survey As.

This option includes information in the survey files which makes the files more portable. One of the major differences is that the definitions for point symbols and drawing objects are included in the DRV file. The person sharing your files can open your drawings with all of your point symbols and blocks available to them.

Starting a New Survey

Choose File | New Survey or choose New Survey in the Tasks Manager.

Saving a Survey

Choose File | Save Survey.

Once a survey file has been created, you can save your survey any time by choosing File | Save Survey. This takes a “snap shot” of the survey and saves it to the disk. If you want to try something new and are not sure how it will affect your survey, just save the survey before you try it. If you don’t get what you want, just go back and re-load the survey file you just saved but choose No when you are asked if you want to save the file.

Saving a Survey to a Different File

Sometimes you want to save a survey to a different file. You might want to save the survey to a floppy disk or rename the file and continue working on the copy.

Choose File | Save Survey As.
Type a new filename or select an existing file to overwrite.
Choose Save.

When you save a survey under a different file, the original file is not changed and no backup file is created for it. It is still available and can be used as a backup in case you misplace the new file.

If you enter the name of an existing file, TPC will ask if you want to replace the existing file with the new information. If you say yes, TPC will write over any information previously stored in that file.

Opening a Survey

When you load an existing survey, you are replacing whatever is in the computer's memory with a brand new survey. The current survey will be cleared from the computer's memory before loading the new one.

If you have not yet saved the current survey, you will be prompted to save it before continuing.

From the desktop, choose File | Open Existing Survey. (This function takes you to the last folder you were in. To open a survey in one of the default locations, choose My Surveys, Shared Surveys or Sample Surveys from the Tasks Manager.)
Highlight the filename you want in the list of files or type the complete path and file name in the File name field.
Choose Open.

Selecting a Recent File

TPC keeps the last 10 files and paths you have opened in a “recent file list”. You can load any of the recent files by picking it from the list. This can save time navigating through network drives trying to find where you put a file.

The recent files are listed near the bottom of the File menu in the main Desktop as well as at the top of the Tasks Manager. To open one, click on the File menu or go to the Tasks Manager and then click on the file name.

Appending a Survey/File

From the desktop, choose File | Append Existing Survey.
Select the file you want to append and choose Open.

When you append a file, the current survey is not erased. The file you select is added to the current survey. All the traverses of the file you select are added to the traverses of the current survey.

The survey name and documentation of the survey you select are not recalled.

If the file you select has a coordinate point with the same point label as a point in the current survey, but different coordinates, the appended point will be relabeled by adding a colon and a unique number. This maintains the integrity of your original survey data.

Changing the Survey Folders

The default data directory tells TPC where to look for your files each time you start the program. Of course, you can always change disk drives and directories, but this feature can save you some valuable time each time you start TPC.

Choose Tools | Program Settings | Survey Data.
Select a folder from the Survey Folder list or choose 'Use Windows default folder' to use Window's default location for your computer and operating system. This folder is accessed in the Tasks manager as 'My Surveys'.
You can also select a Shared Survey Folder. This is an alternate location you can use to store and access your surveys. If you are on a network with shared file storage, this is the place to specify that location. This folder is accessed in the Tasks manager as 'Shared Surveys'.

Backing up Your TRV Files

The backup option creates a backup file the first time a TRV file is saved. This way, you can load a file and check it out without overwriting the backup. Subsequent saves using Autosave will not overwrite the backup file.

Each TRV file can have its own backup file. TPC uses the extension "TRB" for the backup of the "TRV" file.

To turn the backup feature on/off, choose Tools | Program Settings | Survey Data and turn on [X] Backup TRV Files. The backup is turned on by default. We suggest you leave it on if possible.

Locking Files over a Network

If two or more people are sharing files over a network, you may want to lock the file you load.

To turn on file locking:

Choose Tools | Program Settings | Survey Data and turn on [X] TRV File Locking.

Locking the file prevents someone else from loading the file and writing to it while you are using it. If they try to load the file you have open, they will get a message indicating that the file is locked and will not be able to open it. Once you exit TPC, start a new survey, or load another survey file, the locked file will become unlocked.

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