This seems like an awful lot of extra work and workarounds for what should be a fairly straightforward process. I'm not sure why you would use Google drive, WorksManager, and TCC simultaneously, but I would mention that Google drive is notorious for not carrying over the date timestamps for files and folders, which can sometimes lead to corrupted files. Also, when you copy files to TCC or Google drive, are you copying the entire SCS900 folder, the project folder, or just the individual design folders? I would strongly advocate against copying over anything that includes an XML file (all sites, or site) into TCC, especially if it came from an emulator.
Before our organization switched over to only using Worksmanager, my previous workflow for TCC exports was as follows:
- Start a new job on data collector, import CSV control from USB, and calibrate site if needed.
- Export .DC file from collector into TBC where I have my designs created.
- Use the job site manager within TBC to create a site, create designs, assign controllers and machines, and export designs locally.
- Export local SCS900 job folder and machine control data folders into their respective folders within TCC explorer.
- Perform a TCC sync on controllers and machines to receive all files for the project.
This served us well for nearly a decade, and there was never any need for an additional third party file host.
I would definitely recommend giving Worksmanager another shot. Yes, it has it's quirks, but when set up properly it does a great job of exporting designs directly out of TBC and out into field. We still use TeamViewer on all of our collectors, and still use TCC explorer for some things. But, I've found WorksManager to be the easiest way to manage our fleet of nearly 150 devices, despite the issues it may have.
Hopefully they help you get it sorted out. Good luck!
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Brandon Tobias
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 14:53
From: Skyler Shearer
Subject: Corrupt files on TCC explorer
Over the past few months I keep running into an issue in which seemingly random .CSV(control), TaskLong.TXT, Site.XML and .TIF(background images) become corrupt on TCC/Worksmanager. It has caused on a few occasions us to lose or need to reshoot control points in the field. The other files are easily enough replaced but doing so often takes my focus from other more important tasks. I believe the issue started a few months ago maybe July.
My typical process for site setup is to create a site with either the Siteworks emulator on my PC or on my TSC7 data collector and load in the control points and designs using file explorer. I then go on site, calibrate, backup the data to TCC and the SCS900 folder on my PC and then copy/paste the job from either the SCS900 folder on my PC or TCC explorer itself to the Data collectors in the field using TCC explorer. This worked great for many years without losing any data but the last several months I have been receiving many calls about missing control points, sites failing to load correctly due to a corrupt SITE.XML file or background images displaying an error message when attempting to load. The files always have a modify date of 12-31-1979 at 4:00 PM and show as being modified by me although I am not actively doing anything to place them there in the case of the .TIF files the corresponding .TFW files are untouched. This seems to be triggered when syncing to TCC but I am not sure when the data becomes corrupt on TCC.
Here are a few things I believe I have ruled out. I don't think it is related to backing up my SCS900 files to google drive as I have a few units this happens to which aren't backed up to google drive. I also have checked the time setting on my BIOS to make sure it is not set to 1979. All the SCS900 files are in tact on my PC, Data collector and google drive until they are corrupted by a sync to TCC.
I have a couple theory's but don't seem to be able to recreate the corrupt files by doing so. I think it is related to Works manager and believe it may be creating 0 bit files as placeholders when data is not available. I use Works manager to push data to my earthworks machines. I have however had data corrupted that doesn't have a corresponding site that I have created in Works manager. It has been suggested that it may be due to transferring data using Verizon sim cards in the field or the use of google drive but I am skeptical of these suggestions as I have done both for several years without issue.
So.....assuming you have made it this far in the post my question is has anyone else had this happen to their units? If so what was your work around? If not do you have any suggestions for ways I could prevent this from happening or other things I could look at? I have opened a work ticket with Trimble on this issue but am not getting a solution to this problem. The responses generally proposes that the corrupt files are coming from my PC system although I do not have any corrupt files on my PC outside of those on TCC explorer and have no idea what I would be doing to create them as I have tried to recreate them without success.
I am happy with Works manager for managing Earthworks/Cat Grade. I have found managing the data collectors with Works manager to be a frustrating, cumbersome and slow experience. Even the portions I was initially excited about such as remote management seems to work intermittently and lag significantly compared to programs such as TeamViewer.
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Skyler Shearer
GPS manager
Ghilotti Construction Company
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