Re: Leica TC805 problem

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 10:41:40 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Steve)
wrote:

>On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 00:48:36 GMT, "Len Orrico" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>wrote:
>
>>We have just purchased a Leica TC805 and we are a little confused by the
>>"Free Station" program which is provided in the machine.  The "free" point
>>is stored as a coordinate but not as a station in the traverse file.  When
>>we download the coordinates of the measured points, all is lovely. When we
>>download the traverse file using the Leica software and attempt to work with
>>the traverse file in MicroSurvey, we find that the "free" point from which
>>the work was done has not been recorded.  When moving to the next set-up,
>>the instrument can not be oriented to the start (free) point because it is
>>not recorded, although pre-stored searches can be carried out using the
>>"stakeout" function.  Clearly the instrument knows where it is standing.  In
>>the office, we have to enter the "free" point manually as a traverse station
>>(in MSCad traverse editor) so that we can coordinate the job to either work
>>in MSCad or export it to StarNet.
>>
>>We plan on using the Free Station program to derive the coordinates of our
>>starting point and then to enter and record the point manually so that we
>>can have it show up as the first station in our downloaded traverse file.
>>It seems that we are missing something.  Why would the instrument produce an
>>incomplete file when using one of it's built-in routines?  Does anyone out
>>there have a better way?
>>
>
>I have fond memories of the TC805
>
>As I recall, you had to record the free station solution after it is
>computed if you wish  to recall it. 
>
>Without recording, the free station coords will be placed in the setup
>stn field and the horiz will be orientated, and some resection data
>will be recorded but not a restorable pt number e ,n h.
>
>
>Hope this helps
>
>Steve


Looks like I didn't recall it all too well. I just found the
t605/805/905 user manual in one of my bookcases and remembered this
post.  So after jogging my memory by browsing the manual, let me
consider your question again.

Firstly I'm not sure what MSCAD's traverse editor does,

I remember now that the 805's , in departure from earlier series
instruments, records ALL info and then allows the user to download
selected parts of it. Previously the user set his record mask. The
later 1100 series again uses record masks .

Anyway, when sending data the 805, you must use PC software. The TC's
came with TCTOOLS but these days the later Survey office has taken
over, During downloading, a mask is used to decide just what is
dowbloaded and in what format. The default send masks allow measuremnt
blocks to be downloaded ( ie info about points measured TO) The GSI
format also allows code blocks to be downloaded. SOme ealy coding
systems , took advantage of these code blocks to supply info about the
setup station and the backsite or check stations. Unfortunately these
masks did not allow downloading of any info regarding setup stations
or resections or other programs, even though the info is recorded by
the instrument.

To get the resection info and setup station info downloade, special
user formats were required. These formats ( of form *.FRT had to be
createdon the PC using TCFORMAT. This program did not come standard
with the TC 805 but would be supplied by the distrutor if requested.

TCFORMAT was a bit difficult to get a handle on, but once mastered,
could allow the user to create an amazing array of formats for the
downloaded data which, most importantly allowed downloading of the
results from FREESTATION , RESECTION  SETUP and STAKEOUT programs.

With a bit of patience,  the downladed file could be made into quite
beastifully presented field book with data in columns including column
borders!


After creating a *.FRT file it had to be uploaded with the TCTOOLD
software into the memory of the 805. Two FRT files colud be uploaded
to into the format 1 and format 2 locations. Format 3 location on the
instrument remainsed fixed as GSI output ( but it could be changed
between GSI 8 and GSI 16 but I wnt go into that now)

So,  turning again to your problem, you could use TCFORMAT to create a
download file which writes a setup station line whenever the internal
805 menory contains a setup record and also make a setup station
record whenever the memory contains a resection record. 

The downloaded setup station record could be in a format readablle by
your 3rd party software.

As well as this from each internally stored measurment block  the FRT
file could download whatever is used by the 3rd party software such as
Pt No Hz Vz SD Hi Ht. Remarks

If you cannot locate TCFORMAT drop us an email and I will send you a
copy. It is DOS software but will run on W2K ( probably XP too)

This TCFORMAT morphed into a much more user friendly tool supplied by
Leica called the format manager which is used with Leica GPS data as
well as TC data of various instruments to produce user defined
exported output text files. Unfortunately, these newer FRT files
cannot be read by TCFORMAT.

I hope this helps

My email is

[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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