Maryland Society of Surveyors 2013 Fall Conference · TCG_OverviewOfFieldToFinish_Handout.docx 9/14/2013 ... unwanted Field Codes by selecting them and ... 4 Field to Finish Processing

Maryland Society of Surveyors

2013 Fall Conference

Using Field to Finish with

Carlson Survey & SurvCE

Presented by

Who Is That CAD Girl?

Jennifer DiBona is a long‐time CAD consultant and trainer doing business as That CAD Girl. She is based in

Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jennifer has a degree in Surveying Technology and has worked for surveying and civil engineering consulting

offices in North Carolina and Illinois. She also worked for an Autodesk reseller for several years and built their

technical services division from the ground up.

Today, That CAD Girl provides sales, support and training for Carlson, AutoCAD and IntelliCAD software and

Carlson hardware and data collection. We specialize in Field to Finish, Surface Modeling, CAD standardization

and Carlson Software implementation.

Jennifer is one of the charter members of Carlson College which is the certified program for authorized

Carlson Software trainers.

Jennifer also writes the "CAD Picks and Clicks" column for Professional Surveyor Magazine and has been (or

will be) a featured presenter at:

Autodesk University 2004 and 2007

World of Concrete/Technology for Construction 2004 and 2005

AEC Science & Technology 2005

NC Society of Surveyors Institute 2009

Carlson Software User Conference 2009, 2010, 2013

New Jersey SurvCon 2013

Annual conference of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association 2013

Jennifer is a member of the Steering Committee for Version 6 of the National CAD Standard®, serves as Chair

of the Survey/Civil Task Team and co‐Chair of the CAD Layer Guidelines Task Team. The purpose of the

Survey/Civil Task Team is to explore and propose changes that incorporate more civil and survey‐related

content into the National CAD Standard.

You can reach me at [email protected] or (919) 417‐8351.

Overview of Field to Finishwith Carlson Software

TCG_OverviewOfFieldToFinish_Handout.docx 9/14/2013

© 2013 Jennifer L. DiBona [email protected]

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1 Creating a Field Code Table (.fld) File

To process points using Field to Finish, the first step is to load or create a new Field Code Table (.fld) file.

If you are starting from scratch, you can use an existing Coordinate (.crd) file to create a new FLD file. For best results, work with as “clean” a CRD file as possible. In other words: consolidate and simplify descriptions, correct misspellings and, generally, use as few descriptions as necessary.

In Carlson Survey, go to Survey > Draw Field to Finish

(1‐1) When prompted, associate the drawing with any Coordinate (.crd) file.

(1‐2) Pick the Edit Codes/Points button.

(1‐3) Pick the Code Table by CRD button.

(1‐4) When prompted, pick the button to create a New FLD file. Specify a filename and save location.

(1‐5) Now, in the Field to Finish editor, delete any unwanted Field Codes by selecting them and then using the Cut button.

(1‐6) Where possible, make changes to multiple Field Codes at one time by using Shift+<Select> or CTRL+<Select> and then picking the Edit button.

(1‐7) Make changes to a single Field Code by picking the Edit button next to the Field Code.

(1‐8) Pick the Save button then the Exit button when finished.

Overview of Field to Finish with Carlson Software

Page 2 of 13 [email protected]

(919) 417‐8351


© 2013 Jennifer L. DiBona

2 Examples of Field Codes

An example of a typical 3D and 2D Polyline Entity Type Field Code is shown below.

An example of a typical Points Only Entity Type (with special symbol) Field Code is shown below.




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An example of a typical 2D Polyline Entity Type Field Code is shown below.

An example of a typical Points Only Entity Type (with generic symbol) Field Code is shown below.



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An example of a typical 3D Polyline Entity Type Field Code is shown below.




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3 Field Coding for Field to Finish

(3‐1) Back in the Field to Finish editor, pick the Code Table Settings button.

(3‐2) Pick the Export SurvCE Codes button to create a Feature Code List (.fcl) file that can be loaded into a SurvCE data collector.

(3‐3) Pick the Special Codes button to review and customize linework instructional codes.

The most commonly used Special Codes are:

BEG Begin Linework

END End Linework

PC Start a curve

PT End a curve

CLO Close back to first point

RECT Create a rectangle (requires 3 points)

JPN Join to Point Number

OH Offset Horizontal

OV Offset Vertical

OFB Offset to both left and right

/ Append character description

\ Prefix character description

// Append Field Code description

\\ Prefix Field Code description



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Field Coding Sample 1

1,5143.46246,4936.68669,100.00000,BC BEG 2,5143.46246,5358.02430,101.00000,BC PC 3,5132.94394,5388.70348,101.20000,BC 4,5093.46246,5408.02430,101.50000,BC 5,4953.71796,5408.02430,103.00000,BC END 6,5329.11509,4936.68669,99.00000,BC BEG 7,5329.11509,5358.02430,100.00000,BC PC 8,5339.14392,5388.06269,100.30000,BC 9,5379.11509,5408.02430,100.50000,BC 10,5518.85959,5408.02430,103.00000,BC END

By using the Special Codes “BEG” and “END”, you can repeatedly use the BC Field Code and the program will recognize the points delineate separate sections of linework. However, using BC for more than one section of linework requires you to collect the points for one section of linework before starting on the next.

You could also code the points this way to get the same result:

1,5143.46246,4936.68669,100.00000,BC1 2,5143.46246,5358.02430,101.00000,BC1 PC 3,5132.94394,5388.70348,101.20000,BC1 4,5093.46246,5408.02430,101.50000,BC1 5,4953.71796,5408.02430,103.00000,BC1 6,5329.11509,4936.68669,99.00000,BC2 7,5329.11509,5358.02430,100.00000,BC2 PC 8,5339.14392,5388.06269,100.30000,BC2 9,5379.11509,5408.02430,100.50000,BC2 10,5518.85959,5408.02430,103.00000,BC2

Coding the points with BC1 and BC2 instead of simply BC makes each section of linework unique. (The Field Code is still BC even if used with a suffix like BC1 and BC2)

Also note that ONLY the PC of the curves have been coded – not the PT.

If there is a PC code but not a PT, the program will assume the PC and the following two points are a 3‐point curve.




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Field Coding Sample 2 – Create BC and EP linework at the same time

1,5143.46246,4936.68669,100.00000,BC BEG OH-2.5 OV-.5 2,5143.46246,5358.02430,101.00000,BC PC OH-2.5 OV-.5 3,5132.94394,5388.70348,101.20000,BC OH-2.5 OV-.5 4,5093.46246,5408.02430,101.50000,BC OH-2.5 OV-.5 5,4953.71796,5408.02430,103.00000,BC END OH-2.5 OV-.5

You could also code the points this way to get the same result:

1,5143.46246,4936.68669,100.00000,BC1 OH-2.5 OV-.5 2,5143.46246,5358.02430,101.00000,BC1 PC OH-2.5 OV-.5 3,5132.94394,5388.70348,101.20000,BC1 OH-2.5 OV-.5 4,5093.46246,5408.02430,101.50000,BC1 OH-2.5 OV-.5 5,4953.71796,5408.02430,103.00000,BC1 OH-2.5 OV-.5

Field Coding Sample 3 – Take shots in a Zorro (cross‐section) pattern

11,4771.323821,4910.623329,96.660438,EP1 12,4788.019987,4912.148210,97.522193,EP2 13,4786.528891,4930.173353,97.357566,EP2 14,4769.587555,4928.586164,96.551606,EP1 15,4767.956410,4946.558505,96.581399,EP1 16,4784.861543,4948.134159,97.191924,EP2 17,4782.470560,4975.032728,96.945314,EP2 18,4765.894616,4973.347562,96.418313,EP1

Field Coding Sample 4 – Create a rectangle from 3 points

19,4809.585825,4983.316335,99.771570,CONC 20,4806.021760,4982.999847,99.818423,CONC 21,4806.335931,4979.730882,99.854944,CONC RECT



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Field Coding Sample 5 – Fit a curve

22,832736.24303,1758673.28365,0.00000,CLRD 23,832745.62286,1758690.89476,0.00000,CLRD PC 24,832757.47084,1758705.32569,0.00000,CLRD 25,832782.51873,1758715.87887,0.00000,CLRD 26,832804.05564,1758715.37798,0.00000,CLRD 27,832827.01914,1758707.11048,0.00000,CLRD 28,832854.92657,1758685.91771,0.00000,CLRD PT 29,832869.40310,1758670.28887,0.00000,CLRD

Specifying the PC and the PT points on a curve will fit a curve using all points between with the same description.

You can specify whether the curve should be Bezier, Sequential Arcs or Best Fit through the Additional Draw Options dialog box.

Field Coding Sample 6 – Join to another point

1,5143.46246,4936.68669,100.00000,BC1 2,5143.46246,5358.02430,101.00000,BC1 PC 3,5132.94394,5388.70348,101.20000,BC1 4,5093.46246,5408.02430,101.50000,BC1 5,4953.71796,5408.02430,103.00000,BC1 6,5329.11509,4936.68669,99.00000,BC2 JPN1 7,5329.11509,5358.02430,100.00000,BC2 PC 8,5339.14392,5388.06269,100.30000,BC2 9,5379.11509,5408.02430,100.50000,BC2 10,5518.85959,5408.02430,103.00000,BC2




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4 Field to Finish Processing from a Text/ASCII File

(4‐1) Start a new drawing using any Drawing Template (.dwt) file.

(4‐2) Work through Carlson’s Startup Drawing Wizard to create a new Coordinate (.crd) file and select the option to Import Points From... Text/ASCII File.

(4‐3) After specifying the Text/ASCII File to import, select the option to draw points with Field to Finish.



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5 Field to Finish Processing from a Coordinate (.crd) File

(5‐1) In the Draw Field to Finish dialog box, pick the Set button to specify the Field Code Table (.fld) file.

(5‐2) Specify the Range of Points to be processed.

(5‐3) Pick the Additional Draw Options button to view or make changes to settings.

(5‐4) Back in the Draw Field to Finish box, pick the OK button to Draw Field to Finish.




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6 Misc Field to Finish Tips

(6‐1) When entering a point description, you can put a space between two descriptions and, if Field Code definitions exist for both descriptions, Field to Finish can process the point twice – once for each Code.

For instance, a point located along both a sidewalk and back of curb can have a description of BC SW.

If Multiple Codes are found, the program will, by default, prompt you for confirmation before processing the point as a Multiple Code. You can change this setting to Split All Multiple Codes or Split No Multiple Codes in Code Table Settings.

(6‐2) To have a point’s Raw Description displayed as the Drawing Description, set the Use Raw Description setting to Both in the Field Code definition dialog box.

(6‐3) To have the Field Code Description displayed as the point’s Drawing Description, set the Use Raw Description setting to Off and provide a new Description in the Field Code definition dialog box.

(6‐4) To enter additional descriptive information about a point and have it displayed as a prefix in the Drawing Description, enter a back‐slash after the point description and then enter the descriptive information. You must also have the Use Raw Description setting in the Field Code definition turned Off and supply a Field Code Description.

Using this method, a description entered in the field as OAK\12” could be displayed as 12” Oak Tree in the Drawing Description.



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(6‐5) To enter additional descriptive information about a point and have it displayed as a suffix in the Drawing Description, enter a forward‐slash after the point description and then enter the descriptive information. You must also have the Use Raw Description setting in the Field Code definition turned Off and supply a Field Code Description.

Using this method, a description entered in the field as IP/Disturbed could be displayed as Iron Pipe Disturbed in the Drawing Description.

You can create a set of Field Codes for the purpose of labeling sizes of pipes, trees, property corners, etc.

(6‐6) Create a new Field Code named 18. Set the Use Raw Description setting to Off and enter a Field Code Description of 18” (make sure to add a space after the “ ). Other settings in the Field Code definition dialog box will not be used.

(6‐7) To use the size Field Code Description as a prefix, enter a double back‐slash after the point description and then enter the size Field Code.

Using this method, a description entered in the field as RCP\\18 could be displayed as 18” RCP Pipe in the Drawing Description.

(6‐8) To use the size Field Code Description as a suffix, enter a double forward‐slash after the point description and then enter the size Field Code.

Create additional size Field Codes such as 12 for 12”, 01 for 1” and 1‐4 for ¼”.




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(6‐9) Use the Separate Attribute Layers settings in the Field Code definition dialog box to define unique layers for Point Symbol, Point Number, Point Elevation or Point Description for points with that description.

The example shown to the right is for a point with a tree symbol. The Point Number and Elevation for these points can be frozen and thawed by the PNTNO and PNTELEV layers (along with most other points in the drawing).

However, the Description and Symbol can be frozen and thawed independently of Descriptions and Symbols for other points.

(6‐10) From the Code Table Settings window, you can populate a table of Substitution Codes.

This can be helpful if you typically use a particular list of Field Codes but then have a client that requires you to use a different set of codes and Code Table.

For instance, if your standard Code list is based on alpha characters such as TREE and FENCE but the corresponding codes for a DOT you are working for are 12186 and 20010, you could set up substitution codes that allow you to enter TREE or FENCE in the field but process 12186 and 20010 in the office.





Presented by


























Using Esri ArcMap to Extract GIS‐Attributed CAD Files

TCG_EsriArcMapToCADFile_Handout.docx 9/14/2013


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This exercise uses a personal geodatabase (.mdb) file provided by a client to export data to a GIS attributed CAD file.

(1‐1) Open Esri ArcMap.

(1‐2) Click the Add Data button.



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If this is the first time that you’ve tried to load data, you will need to set up a Folder Connection so that you are able to browse to your data.

(1‐3) Click the Connect to Folder button.

(1‐4) In the Connect to Folder box, select the folder where your data is stored.




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After adding the Folder Connection, it will be available in your list of folders to “Look in”.

(1‐5) Click to select the geodatabase file (on left below) and then click to select one or more tables (on right below) to load into the map.



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Change the display properties of features on the map

The left‐hand panel shows the tables (called Layers) that have been loaded and the resulting map is on the right.

(1‐6) To change the display order of the Layers on the left, click on a layer and then drag‐and‐drop it in another position in the list. For instance, if the Parcels layer is “above” the Manholes in the list, the Manholes may not be visible.

(1‐7) Click the “symbol”, the “linetype” or the “shading” icon to change the display properties.




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Query the attributes of a feature

(1‐8) Click the Information button .

(1‐9) Then click on any symbol, piece of linework or shaded area to display the specific attributes for the feature.



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Export GIS features and attributes to CAD

(1‐10) Open the ArcToolbox

(1‐11) In the ArcToolbox, click the Plus (+) sign next to Conversion Tools.

(1‐12) Under To CAD, double‐click on Export to CAD.




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(1‐13) From the list of layers, click and drag one or more layers into the Export to CAD dialog box.

(1‐14) Click on the folder icon to set the Output File at the bottom.

(1‐15) Click OK to complete the export routine.

After exporting the file, it can be opened in AutoCAD or IntelliCAD and will be positioned correctly.

You can also open the drawing file in Carlson SurvCE or SurvPC to populate your Feature Code List with the Esri‐defined GIS attributes.





Presented by


























Importing GIS‐Attributed CAD Files to Carlson Survey, SurvCE and SurvPC

TCG_EsriArcMapToCarlson_Handout.docx 9/14/2013


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1 Importing GIS‐Attributed CAD Files to Carlson Survey

This document picks up from another handout, Using Esri ArcMap to Extract GIS‐Attributed CAD Files and requires that you start with a GIS‐attributed Drawing (.dwg) file that has been exported from Esri GIS software.

(1‐1) Open the project drawing in Carlson Survey.

Although it’s hard to see in the image shown below, there are very small point node entities in addition to the polyline entities. The point nodes represent the point data exported from Esri and the polylines are polyline data.

(1‐2) Click the down‐arrow to see the list of layers in the drawing.

You can see that the CAD layer names correspond to the features/Layers exported from Esri.



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Convert the point nodes to Carlson point block entities and save the point data to the Coordinate (.crd) file.

(1‐3) On the Cogo menu, click Create Points from Entities.

(1‐4) In the Create Points From Entities box, click the radio button to change the Description Settings to Use Entity Layer for Description.

(1‐5) Click OK to continue.

(1‐6) In the Entities To Points box, click the Points check box and make sure all other check boxes under Entities to Process are unchecked.

(1‐7) Select other options or settings as needed.

(1‐8) Click OK to continue.




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Set the Coordinate (.crd) file into which the points will be added.

(1‐9) To create a new .crd file, click the New tab, set the Folder and type a new File Name or, to append to an existing file, click the Existing tab to browse to and select an existing file.

(1‐10) Click the Open button to continue.



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When the Open button is clicked, the Command: line prompt reads:

Select arcs, circles, faces, points, text, lines and polylines.

FILter/<Select entities>:

(1‐11) Pick two opposite corners of a window to select the entities.




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After processing and zooming in, you can see the generic point nodes have been replaced by Carlson point block entities.

Next, create a new Field Code (.fld) file that will insert typical fire hydrant and manhole symbols and assign the points and symbols to standard layers.

(1‐12) On the Survey menu, click Draw Field to Finish.

(1‐13) In the Draw Field to Finish box, click the Edit Codes button.



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(1‐14) In the Field to Finish box, click the Code Table by CRD button.

(1‐15) When the CRD To Field Code Definitions box is displayed, click the Append button to have the new Codes added to the current .fld file or click the New button to add the Codes to a new .fld file.




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(1‐16) In the Specify Field Code Definition File box, set the Folder and type a File Name for the new .fld file.

(1‐17) Click the Save button to continue.

(1‐18) In the Field to Finish box, click the Edit button next to the Code you wish to edit.



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(1‐19) In the General tab of the Edit Field Code Definition box, change settings as needed. In this example, only the Description, Main Layer, Distinct Point Layer and Attribute Layout ID have been changed.

(1‐20) Click the Symbol tab.

(1‐21) In the Symbol tab, click the Set Symbol button.




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(1‐22) Click the symbol to be inserted for this Field Code.

(1‐23) Click the OK button to return to the Field to Finish box.



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(1‐24) To make similar changes to other Codes, click the Edit button next to the Code and repeat the steps above.

(1‐25) After making all necessary changes, click the Save button in the Field to Finish box.

(1‐26) Click the Exit button to return to the Draw Field to Finish box.




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(1‐27) Click the OK button to continue.

After drawing Field to Finish, the results of the changes to the Field Codes can be seen in the drawing.



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Because the drawing is geo‐referenced from the Esri export, you can use the Esri ArcGIS Services Retrieve Map or Place Google Earth Image commands to insert an image.




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2 Importing GIS‐Attributed CAD Files to Carlson SurvCE or SurvPC

Note that the steps shown here do NOT require that you follow the steps in Part 1 of this document. Part 2 starts fresh with the original GIS‐attributed Drawing (.dwg) file exported directly from Esri GIS software.

This exercise and screen captures use Carlson SurvPC but will also work for SurvCE.

For more information about exporting files from Esri, see the handout Using Esri ArcMap to Extract GIS‐Attributed CAD Files.

First, in SurvPC, set the Job/CRD file.

(2‐1) Depending on whether you need to continue the last job or start a new one, click the Continue Last Job or Select New/Existing Job button. This exercise will start with a New Job.

(2‐2) Set the Folder and type a Name for the new Coordinate (.crd) file.




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After clicking OK, the Job Settings box is displayed.

(2‐4) Click the Options tab.

(2‐5) Click the check box next to Allow Import .dxf/.dwg (Esri) Options.

(2‐6) Click the OK button to return to the Main menu.

(2‐7) If it’s not already active, click the File tab.

(2‐8) Click the Feature Code List button.

The name of the currently loaded Feature Code List (.fcl) file is shown at the top of the screen. The current Code List may or may not have Codes defined.

(2‐9) If the new GIS Feature Codes are to be added to the current list, there are no changes to be made in this box so

click the back button to return to the Main menu.

(2‐10) To create a new .fcl file in which to save the GIS Feature Codes, click the Load button. This exercise will create a new .fcl file.




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(2‐11) In the Feature Code List box, set the Folder and type a Name for the new .fcl file.


If the File doesn’t exist, a Warning box will be displayed.

(2‐13) Click the Yes button to create the new file.

After creating the new .fcl file, the empty Code List box is displayed.

(2‐14) Click the back button to return to the Main menu.



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(2‐15) Back in the Main menu, click the Equip tab.

(2‐16) Click the Configure button.

(2‐17) For purposes of this exercise, click the check box next to Prompt for Height and Description.

In a normal working environment, you may or may not want this option selected.


(2‐19) Back in the Main menu, click the

globe icon to switch to the Map View screen.




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(2‐20) In the Map View screen, on the File menu, click .dxf/.dwg/.dgn and then click Import .dwg.

(2‐21) Browse to the correct folder and click the .dwg file exported from Esri.


(2‐23) In the Import .dwg Options screen, click the check box next to Import Esri GIS Data.

(2‐24) Select other options as needed.




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(2‐26) In the Import Esri Features screen, choose which Features are to be imported to the SurvPC Feature Code List by clicking a Feature and then clicking the Yes/No check box.


(2‐28) Once the Map View screen is populated, click the Zoom buttons on the left to zoom in to a point.

(2‐29) Double left‐click on a point to view the Point Details.




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(2‐30) In the Point Details screen, click the Edit button.

(2‐31) In the Edit Point screen, click the Input/Edit Attributes button.

In the Edit GIS Data screen, you can see all of the GIS Attribute data attached to the point.

(2‐32) Click the Next button to see additional attributes.



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(2‐33) Click the Next or Previous buttons to view all defined attributes for the point.

(2‐34) Click the back button to return to the Edit Point screen.

(2‐35) Click the OK button to return to Point Details.

(2‐36) Click the back button to return to the Map View screen.




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(2‐37) Click the Close button to return to the Main menu.

(2‐38) On the Main menu, click the Survey tab.

(2‐39) Click the Store Points button.

(2‐40) In the Store PTS screen, click the

Store button to set a new point.



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(2‐41) In the Store Point screen, click the Feature Code/Description to use for the point.


(2‐43) In the first Add GIS Data screen, type values for the attribute prompts.

(2‐44) Click the Next button to enter additional attributes.

(2‐45) Click the Next or Previous buttons to view and/or enter the remaining attributes for the point.

(2‐46) Click the Store button to finish.




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After clicking the Store button you can see the new point has been set.

(2‐47) Click the Close button to return to the Main menu.

(2‐48) Click the globe icon to switch to the Map View screen.

(2‐49) In the Map View screen, on the File menu, click .dxf/.dwg/.dgn and then click Export .dwg.



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(2‐50) Set the Folder and type a new Name for the .dwg file to send back to Esri.


(2‐52) In the Export .dwg Options screen, click the check box next to Export Esri GIS Data.

(2‐53) Select other options and settings as needed.

(2‐54) Click the OK button to finish.

Documents

Maryland Society of Surveyors 2013 Fall Conference · TCG_OverviewOfFieldToFinish_Handout.docx 9/14/2013 ... unwanted Field Codes by selecting them and ... 4 Field to Finish Processing