To simulate a controller

If you are running the Trimble Access software on a Windows desktop computer or laptop, you can use the Simulate controller function to simulate running the software on a supported controller. This feature allows you to demonstrate the software or capture screenshots of the software with your preferred controller layout for inclusion in training materials. It can be used in conjunction with the GNSS emulator function to simulate a connection to a GNSS receiver, removing the need to be outdoors and connected to a real GNSS receiver.

While a job does not need to be open to simulate a device, you must open a job before you can use the GNSS emulator.

The GNSS emulator function is not supported when Trimble Access is running on an Android device.

  1. Start Trimble Access.
  2. Tap and select About / Support / Simulate controller.

  3. In the Simulate device menu select the controller type. The software reconfigures itself to simulate how it appears when running on the selected device.

    To start simulating a device from anywhere in the software, use the keypad shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S and then select the controller type.

    You can select an Android controller such as the TDC600 as the controller type when running Trimble Access on a Windows computer, but note that where Trimble Access interacts with parts of the computer operating system, the simulator can only show the Windows operating system behavior, not Android.

  4. By default the Trimble Access window is shown at the size it appears on the device. To resize the window:
    1. Tap and select About / Support / Simulate controller.
    2. In the Simulate controller menu select DPI scaling.
    3. In the DPI scaling mode field, select Custom.

    4. Enter the new DPI scaling value. You can enter a different value for each device type.

      When simulating a portrait device on a landscape screen, enter 0.8 or similar to fit the entire window on the screen.

    5. Restart the Trimble Access software to view the simulator at the new size.

      When the software starts, a tooltip displays the device type of the simulated controller and the DPI scaling value used, if it is a custom value.

  5. To hide or display the Windows title bar, tap and select About / Support / Simulate controller / Show title bar. Restart the Trimble Access software to apply the change.

    To move the Trimble Access window when the Windows title bar is not shown, click inside the status line area and drag the window. You must have opened a job to see the status line area of the status bar.

  6. To hide or display the Android navigation bar, tap and select About / Support / Simulate controller / Show Android buttons. Restart the Trimble Access software to apply the change.

    When you simulate an Android device, you can use the Android Back button as an Esc softkey to leave the current Trimble Access software screen. Because the Android Menu button operates the Android operating system menu, tapping/clicking the Android Menu button has no effect when using the simulator.

When you simulate a device that does not have a physical keypad, the on-screen keyboard appears when editing text. Function keys and associated shortcut keys are not supported on devices that do not have a physical keypad. Tapping/clicking a Favorite star toggles the Favorite function on and off, instead of showing the Favorite menu.