CMM to rw5

[Kurt]

does anyone have a handy tip to convert cmm files to .rw5?

[Jerry L. Wahl]

Ray built a series of TDS to CMM programs. I have some docs for
them. The original was TDSLSA.EXE, then he built a special program
for the HP-48 version of TDS and finally TDS.EXE which is the last
iteration around 1993.

Since a lot of Florida contractors using Rayware had the option of
using TDS, I think he kept up on it, and there may be later
versions. I have one version dated April of 1995 on this laptop,
maybe something else later, I would have to check. I would think
that would be in the cmm/wincmm installs, no?

- jlw

[Jerry L. Wahl]

PS there is the reverse process also CMM2TDS.EXE which is what you
actually asked about.

- jerry

[Kurt B. Wurm]

Yes, I include TDS.EXE in the wincmm install, it is meant for data Import
(TDS2CMM) converts tds .rw5 into cmm, the other program titled "CMM2TDS"
combines a .cor and .lev with a .des to get a .nez file (for going back to
tds, but no .rw5 file).

[Jerry L. Wahl]

Since the RW5 file is primarily for raw field data like the obs file
in CEFB one wouldn't normally create it from CMM or cogo. Presumably
the CMM2TDS creates the files necessary for TDS to upload and create
a coordinate file for stakeout. Recreating raw data wouldn't be the
normal work flow. What would you be converting from in CMM?

It might be possible with your own program. Angles and distances out
of LSA and creating simple observations records to correspond,
backsights foresights. Deduceing sideshots might take some
thought. I think the format is publicly available and not too hard
to figure out on the RW5 end, OC occupied, BS backsight, FS foresight
SS sideshot, angles right and distances are data comma delimited on each line.

That's about all the help I can give.

[Kurt B. Wurm]

You are exactly correct about the "output" file being sent back to tds for
stakeout AND you are also correct about this workflow.

I can create a .rw5 file in Carlson Survey (SurvNet adjustment), but I was
looking for an easy shortcut. The reason is purely academic, in one of my
classes students are expected to use two different adjustment software
products to complete the analysis/adjustment of some field data they
collected as a control survey. It's just too big to do in mathcad, so
Survnet is a logical choice for them ... (not Columbus, or starnet, or
ezadjust)

[Jerry L. Wahl]

If I had to create data collection files for students to use, and was
doing it often enough, I might just create a program to prompt for
each field situation and write out the .RW5 format. Another perhaps
more convoluted solution would be to write a conversion from the CEFB
.OBS file into a .RW5 file. CEFB running on the PC with manual input
allows you to key in the data to create the .OBS file, well possibly
one step removed the binary FF file which can is converted to the OBS file.

The basic concept in both is that you have a

setup at a point,

you backsight something, may or may not shoot a distance, HI's may or
may not be recorded and read the horizontal and vertical plates

you foresight something, may or may not shoot a distance, HI's may or
may not be recorded and read the horizontal and vertical plates

The post processing software has to decide what to do with the data
so all you have to do is create all those fields.

It might be possible to build a spreadsheet to do it, but there are
multiple lines of output per setup so I think it would be easier to program.

CEFB has similar data to TDS. What constitutes a new setup may be
more explicit in CEFB than TDS, but I have not walked it all through.

You're right though, it's something you might expect someone else to
have done at least as a conversion.

- jlw