Working with media files

Media files refers to image files added to the job in the following ways:

  • Images uploaded as a file
  • Images captured using the controller's internal camera
  • Snapshots created using the using Snapshot or Snapshot on measure functions when connected to an instrument that has Trimble VISION technology
  • Screen captures created by tapping in the Map screen

Media files can be linked to a job or to a point in the job. See Media files.

If you are using a feature library that uses media file attributes, you can capture an image and link it to the appropriate attribute. See To link an image to an attribute.

If required, you can:

  • Add geographical identification metadata to images (known as geotagging).

    Metadata includes position coordinates that is written to the EXIF header of the image (EXIF = EXchangeable Image File format). The geotagged image can be used in office software such as Trimble Business Center. This requires the job to have a coordinate system.

  • Add linework, polygons or text to images by drawing on them. See To draw on an image.
  • Add an information panel and a crosshair for the measured position to images captured from the video screen using Snapshot or Snapshot on measure. See Instrument video.

By default, images captured using the controller's integrated camera or a Trimble instrument are stored in the <job name> Files folder. Storing images in the current <job name> Files folder facilitates automatic upload to the cloud with the job, and makes linking the images to a job, a point, or an attribute of a point possible. When you capture an image using the controller's integrated camera from within the Trimble Access software, the image file name is automatically entered into the File name attribute field when the image is saved to the <job name> Files folder.

If the controller is an Android device, you must open the controller camera application from within the Trimble Access software for Trimble Access to be able to detect when an image is saved to the Pictures folder. If you have already opened the camera application, close it and open it from within Trimble Access.

  1. You can change the image file linked to an attribute in the Review job or Point manager screen:
    • In the Review job screen, select the point you want to edit and tap Edit.
    • In the Point manager screen, select the point you want to edit and tap Details.
  2. In the Point manager screen, select the point you want to edit and tap Details.
  3. If the image is linked to an attribute, tap Attrib. If the image is linked to the point, tap Media files. (In portrait mode, swipe right to left along the row of softkeys to view the Media files softkey.)

  4. In the photo file name field, tap and tap Select file. Browse to the location of the file you want to link and select it.

    The name of the image appears in the photo file name field.

    To facilitate automatic upload of images to the cloud with the job, the image should be located in the current <job name> Files folder.

  5. Tap Store.