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 Is exporting a .Dat file from TBC possible?

Nicole Frank's profile image
Nicole Frank posted 01-26-2023 08:26
I have level data from the field that is in .DAT formal (collected with a Trimble DiNi Level). There are 2 projects that I needs to add this data to, but need to change the control point names. Instead of doing the name changes twice (once in each project), is there a way to either:
- Make the point name edits directly in the raw .DAT file and save it, then bring it into each TBC project, or
- Make the point name edits within Level Editor in TBC, then export it with all of the raw observations so I can bring it into the second project.

If this is possible, it would save a lot of time as we are working with a month's worth of data. Some runs are kilometers long, so it is not just a few point names to change. 

Thank you!
Dave Olander's profile image
Dave Olander posted 01-27-2023 11:36
I would take the .dat files into an ASCII file editor, like Notepad or Notepad++ (my favorite).

When you edit the file, switch to 'Insert' (upper-tight in the keyboard) and don't use the back button so that you don't screw up the column spacing. You are limited to the amount of characters that the format can support, so if your point names are too long in TBC you will have to merge them in each project. If you get an error on the import pay attention to the line number in the import report, which will tell you where you need to fix it.

If you find the need to change rod readings, distances or just about anything else, be prepared to do some math. TBC checks the files for mathematical consistency and will report errors. For file names alone you won't have this problem.

I used to convert differential level runs using trig with a total station to the M5.dat file that the DiNi uses and it was quite a bear.
Bob Epstein's profile image
Bob Epstein posted 01-28-2023 09:29
I totally agree that surveyors benefit greatly from having a good text editor, one that can edit vertically in a "column" mode. Notepad++ is a great free option. I personally use UltraEdit (a paid program) as it has some additional features.

Here is another approach to consider. I use this for many editing tasks.
  1. Sort the .DAT file based on Column 18. This will put all like point numbers sorted together.
  2. Switch to column mode, and edit the point numbers as needed.
  3. Sort by Column 8 to put it back to the original order.
  4. For other file types that don't happen to have a sequential line number already like the .DAT does, simply use the text editor to automatically insert a sequential number at Column 1. Then, after doing the above, use that to sort back to the original order, and delete the "temporary" line numbers.
This comes in handy for all sorts of things:
  1. Sorting static GPS data in a Star*Net .GPS file to fix point numbers.
  2. In AutoCAD, capturing a log at the command line to extract only certain data from an object listing
  3. Use your imagination! I've found it indispensable for so many data editing tasks over the years.