DXF files and Shapefiles

For DXF files and Shapefiles that contain layers, a name is generated for every selectable feature in the file. A code can be generated for every selectable feature within the file. This is derived from the attributes stored in the file; often, it is the name, code, and attributes of features in the original file.

For Shapefiles, the name is the first five characters of the Shapefile name, followed by a file index number, then a space and then the line number in the Shapefile where this feature is defined.

For DXF files, the name is the first 8 characters of the layer name, followed by a space and then the line number of the feature in the DXF file. For DXF files from Trimble Business Center the item name, where present, is used.

You can review a selectable feature in the map to find the file and layer name.

To display DXF files and Shapefiles in the map, tap in the map toolbar to open the Layer manager and select the Map files tab. Tap the file once to make it visible (), and tap it again to make items in the file selectable (). To add files from a different location to the project folder, tap Add. For more information, see To manage map files.

These types of files typically contain layers. To make only some layers visible or selectable, in the Map files tab, tap the arrow next to the file name and then tap each layer once to hide it, or twice to make it visible but not selectable. Tap the layer again to make it visible and selectable.

For a complete list of displayable and selectable items in DXF files and Shapefiles, see Supported entities in DXF files and Shapefiles below.

Triangular 3D faces in a DXF file can be used as surfaces in Trimble Access. See Digital terrain models (DTMs).

The Trimble Access software provides settings for controlling the display of the data in DXF files and Shapefiles. To configure these settings, tap in the map toolbar, select Settings and configure the setting in the Map data controls group.

Line features that are coded as white in a DXF file are drawn in black in Trimble Access.

To explode polylines

To explode polylines contained in the file into individual line and arc segments, select the Explode polylines (DXF, Shape & LandXML) check box. Each segment in an exploded polyline is given a unique name, based on the polyline name and a segment number.

To create nodes

To create points at the ends of lines and arcs and at all points along a polyline, select the Create nodes (DXF, Shape & LandXML) check box. The created points can then be selected for stakeout or Cogo calculations.

This option also creates points at the center of circle and arc elements in DXF files, but creating a point at the center of a DXF arc element does not apply to arc elements that are part of a polyline.

Because Shapefiles do not support arcs, arcs are often represented as a series of short lines resulting in a large number of points. Performance may be impacted when Create nodes is selected.

To specify the null elevation

Some applications use a value such as ‑9999.999 to represent null. For the Trimble Access software to correctly treat this value as null, you must enter the value that represents null in the DXF file in the Null elevation (DXF only) field. Values are considered to be null if they are less than or equal to the null elevation value. For example, if the null elevation is ‑9999, then ‑9999.999 is also considered to be null.

Only grid coordinates are displayed. If you have not defined a projection, only points stored as grid coordinates appear. Grid (local) coordinates cannot be displayed if the input transformation was not defined. See Transformations.

If the Grid coords field in the Cogo settings screen is set to Increase South‑West or Increase South‑East, the map display is rotated by 180° such that increasing south coordinates are displayed up the screen.

To display labels

To show or hide names, codes, and elevations for items in DXF files and Shapefiles, tap the appropriate Display check box(es) in the Map data controls group.

The software shows these extra labels only when the file is set to selectable in the Layer manager. If the file is only set to visible, the extra labels are not shown. See To manage map files.

To display station values

Station values are displayed for any lines in DXF files that are selected in the map. To show or hide station values for all DXF files, select the Display station values check box.

To rotate the data in the map, tap and then tap the map and drag to rotate the view. The icon in the center of the map indicates the point of orbit.

To review attribute information for items in a DXF files and Shapefiles that have feature types associated with them, select the items in the map and then tap Review. If you selected more than one item, select it from the list and tap Details.

From the map, you can select items in the DXF files and Shapefiles and then use them in other software functions, for example to perform a Cogo calculation, create a surface, or stakeout. For more information, see Supported entities in DXF files and Shapefiles.

You can export data from the job as DXF files or Shapefiles. See To export data from the job.

You can select items (points, lines and arcs) in DXF files and Shapefiles and stake them out.

1. Tap in the map toolbar and select the Map files tab. Make sure the layers containing the items to stake are visible and selectable.
2. In the map, tap the item to select it. For lines, tap near the end of the line to select the start of the line.
3. Tap Stakeout or press Enter on the controller to start stakeout.
4. To save the DXF file or Shapefile attributes for the selected item with the as-staked point, tap Options in the Stake out screen and set the As-staked code to Design file attributes. See As‑staked point details.