Entering Point Labels and Descriptions

Using Alpha/Numeric Point Labels

With TPC you can number your points or use any combination of letters and numbers. In TPC, point numbers are just labels, so it doesn’t make any difference whether you use 120 or C1 for a point label.

Note: Any point label that is four characters or less takes the same amount of memory to store. The only memory advantage to using numbers is that large numbers (more than four digits) can be stored with only four bytes of memory, while long alpha point labels take a byte for each character.

Automatic Numbering

TPC automatically labels points that are added to the Traverse View by incrementing the point labels. Here are some examples:

If you enter 1, the next points will be 2, 3, 4, etc.
If you enter C1, the next points will be C2, C3, C4, etc.
If you enter C1-R, the next points will be C2-R, C3-R, C4-R, etc.
If you enter A, the next points will be A1, A2, A3, A4, etc.

Changing the Automatic Labeling Sequence

Enter the new label for the last point in the traverse. Any new points appended to the traverse will increment the new label.

Recalling an Existing Point

Move to the Point column where you want to recall the point.
Type the point label you want to recall and press [Enter].
Choose [X] Recall the existing point and its coordinates.
Choose OK.

Using Ranges of Point Numbers

You may want to use ranges of point numbers for different kinds of points. The most common system is to use point numbers below 100 for control points and point numbers above 100 for topo or side shots.

To get the next available control point, type 1 and press [Enter] then choose [X] Use next available unused point number and choose OK. This will find the next available point number greater than 1.
To get the next available side shot, type 101 and press [Enter] then choose [X] Use next available unused point number and choose OK to find the next available point number greater than 101.

Entering a Single Description

Make sure the Description field is included in the display sequence. If not, choose View | Format View (or press [F9]), add the letter “D” to the Display Sequence and choose OK.
Highlight the Description field.
Type in the description and press [Enter].

Copying Point Descriptions to Appended Points

Often times when collecting data, you will pick up points in groups. You’ll pick up several top of curb shots before switching to a shot on a manhole. In these situations, it is nice to copy the description of the last traverse point to new traverse points as they are created. This reduces the amount of typing you have to do.

As TPC appends points to a traverse, the description of the last traverse point is automatically copied to the appended point if Copy Descriptions is selected in the Traverse View Format.

If you don’t want the new point to have the copied description, just type over the old description with the new one.

Disabling Automatic Copy

Choose View | Format View.
Turn off [ ] Copy Descriptions.
Choose OK.

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