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Importing survey points

Get a points file in, map the columns, and know exactly what was accepted.

5 min read

The points import screen: the file's columns mapped to point number, northing, easting, elevation and description before anything is written

What Backsight reads

Delimited text: CSV, TXT, comma, tab, space or semicolon separated. The usual survey orders, PNEZD, PENZD and anything else, are handled by mapping the columns yourself rather than guessing at a convention.

Importing

  1. Import (top bar, any mode) → Survey points, or Points mode → Import points.
  2. Choose the file. Backsight shows the first rows exactly as they read.
  3. Map each column: point number, northing, easting, elevation, description. Anything you leave unmapped is kept with the point rather than thrown away.
  4. Check the preview, coordinates, count, and anything that could not be read.
  5. Import. You get a point group named after the file.

Keep the original

The rows as delivered are preserved with the dataset. If a mapping turns out to be wrong you re-map rather than re-import from an email attachment you have to go and find.

What gets refused, and why

  • A row whose coordinates will not parse is reported by line number rather than silently dropped.
  • A duplicate point number is reported so you can decide, rather than overwritten.
  • A file whose columns do not match what you mapped is refused before anything is written.

After the import

  • Points appear in Points mode on the map and in the points table.
  • Description keys style them automatically from their field codes.
  • Field-to-finish can draw linework from the codes.
  • They are available to build surfaces from, and to draw against in Draw mode.

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