The GROMA program allows work with various data file formats. Some file types can be directly read and directly written to, and some can be exported and imported using a freely definable text format.
When importing files, you can select more files of the same type in the dialog window. The program imports all the selected files one by one. The information on all the imported files consequently will be written in the file import report.
The coordinate list can be directly imported in the already open files using the command Coordinates->Attach file. The points from the imported file will be added to the original file.
The GROMA program allows direct reading and writing of the coordinate lists in text format. There are three filters available to export and import these files: Coordinates XYZ, Coordinates YXZ and Coordinates - User-defined format. For common files, one of the first two filters can be used; the user-defined format serves to import and export files in non-standard format. The user-defined format is described in detail in the connections; we will describe here the first two formats.
Since the text files can contain various data, it is necessary to respect certain rules so that the program can recognize what kind of data it is.
The first data on the line is always deemed a point number. Behind always follow to coordinates (according to the chosen order). Further data are not compulsory, their type is determined according to their specific appearance, where the program operates according to the rules below:
If the data contains a decimal point or coma, and otherwise consists only of digits, it is deemed the coordinate Z.
If the data has only one character, it is deemed a quality code.
Otherwise it is deemed a point code. In this case, the entire remainder of the input line is absorbed into the code, which allows the use of a code with spaces.
In case of number data, a decimal point or coma can be used as the separator.
The coordinate lists and the measured data lists can be exported in MS Excel format. A window displaying the exported file is opened after the export for control purposes.
The coordinate lists and the measured data lists can be exported and imported in the XML format (eXtensible Markup Language). It is a marking language type SGML, which allows easy file exchanging, formal control of the correctness of their structure and automatic conversions into other formats (html, txt, rtf).
The XML files have a fixed structure defined by the declaration of the document type (Document Style Definition, DTD). It is easy to verify their formal correctness by comparing them with this definition. The structure definitions for the files used in the GROMA system are part of the installation (they are stored in the dtd directory) you can also download them from http://www.groma.cz.
Also the transcription for transferring the XML files into HTML are part of the shipping along with the DTD files. If you have an internet browser supporting the XML format and transformations using XSL styles, you can directly display the files in XML format. The browser executes the transfer to HTML automatically (typically along with the control of the document structure in the HTML format with respect to the definition) and displays the final documents in the HTML format.
There is a vast amount of different tools (editors, conversion programs, valuators, etc.) available for the working with XML files. The majority of such software is available on the internet for free. The detailed description of the XML language with other links and online services is available at http://www.w3.org.
The GROMA program allows the storing of files in XML format in two variants:
Attributes
The information on the items is listed in the headers of the element using attributes. This format is a little bit cleaner for viewing the non-formatted XML files, and it is also more economical.
Elements bodies
The information on the items is listed in the element bodies. This format is worse for viewing and it is more extensive, but easier to process for some tools.
The GEUS files (coordinate files with the extension.DAT) can be read and written directly. The GROMA program uses its own coordinate file (.DAT), and it does not work with the index file (.IDX) When transferring the coordinate list in the GEUS format, it is necessary to index the file with the GEUS program first.
The coordinate files of the GEUS program contain similar information as the files of the GROMA program; therefore all the information is used during the import (including the point code). The GROMA program can import the data files of all versions of the GEUS system – including the files with description, longer than 3 characters. But during the export files are created as standard with the description length of 3 characters. If you want to create files with longer descriptions, you have to add the item GeusInfoSize=xin the configuration file GROMA.INI in the section [Formats] where x is a number in the range from 3 to 20. This item can not be changed directly from the GROMA system environment.
The GROMA program allows writing the coordinate list in the dBASE III file format. The structure of this file is fixed, and it can not be changed.
Table 12.1. Structure of the dBASE III coordinate file
Item | Type | Number of characters | Number of decimal places | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
PORCIS | NUMERIC | 3 | 0 | Point order number |
ZBP | NUMERIC | 1 | 0 | Basic point field |
ZPMZ | NUMERIC | 4 | 0 | Detailed adjustment measurement report |
NUMBER | NUMERIC | 4 | 0 | Point number |
Y | NUMERIC | 9 | 2 | Coordinate Y |
X | NUMERIC | 10 | 2 | Coordinate X |
Z | NUMERIC | 6 | 2 | Coordinate Z |
CLASS | NUMERIC | 1 | Accuracy class | |
CHDRAWING | CHARACTER | 4 | Not used | |
STAGE | NUMERIC | 1 | Not used | |
DATE | DATE | 8 | Not used | |
YMER | NUMERIC | 9 | 2 | 2nd coordinate Y |
XMER | NUMERIC | 10 | 2 | 2nd coordinate X |
The GROMA program only creates a data file. Some applications working with database files also require the index file. In such case, you have to index the data file (using dBASE III, dBASE IV, RUNTIME, etc.).
The coordinate file can be saved in the form of a text coordinate list for the KOKES graphic system .stx). The program will also automatically create the required header with the coordinate order, display accuracy, reductions, etc.
The range of the viewable area in the KOKES program is limited. If you overpass this range, the GROMA program will display a warning message.
If the number of decimal places is set to 3 or more in the GROMA system, the accuracy will be set to millimeters (typically it is set to centimeters) in the final file header.
Using this filter, you can create files in Area format for the transfer to the Geodimeter devices. The parameters of the final file can be set in Settings->Input/Output->Export to field books.
Using this filter, files can be created in GSI format for the transfer to Leica devices. You can choose form two formats - Leica/8 (older format with 8-character reports) and Leica/16 (new format with 16-character reports allowing working with non-reduced coordinates). If, during the export, it is necessary to cut some data because of the length of the report, the program displays a warning message. The parameters of the final file can be set in Settings->Input/Output->Export in field books.
Using this filter you can create files in SDR format for transfer to Sokkia devices. You can choose from the SDR20 and SDR33 formats. The parameters of the final file can be set in Settings->Input/Output->Export in field books.
Using this filter you can create files for the transfer to the Topcon devices. The parameters of the final file can be set in Settings->Input/Output->Export in filed books.