Spectra Precision FAST Survey Reference Manual - Manual (Page 240)

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Conversion:
Clicking Existing File in the upper right (in the Land XML section) will load the file, and clicking Select
New
under the CL File section will save the centerline file in the correct format for use in FAST Survey. To convert in
the opposite direction, select Existing File under the CL section to recall a FAST Survey centerline file, and then click
New File
in the upper left (under LandXML file) to save it back to a LandXML file, for use in other software.
For file types in which both Import and Export options are available, the conversion procedure forms a “criss-cross”:
You bring the files into FAST Survey by going upper right (“Existing”) to lower left (“Select New”). You send the files
back to the “non-FAST Survey” format by going lower right (“Select Existing”) to upper left “New”.
When the files have been selected, the appropriate action is highlighted below, "Import to CL" or "Export to ".
When the process is completed, the program announces “Process Done,” and you are free to move on to the next
command. Most formats only convert to FAST Survey and not back again, and therefore only have “one-way” dialogs.
These include ASCII-Inroads, ASCII-LDD, Geopak, Moss, TDS and Terramodel/Geodimeter.
Importing TDS RD5 Files
Importing TDS RD5 Files: If TDS is selected, centerlines can be converted one-way to FAST Survey centerlines
(centerline files CANNOT be converted back to TDS files). It is important to note that the TDS RD5 file is a dual
centerline and profile file. Because the TDS RD5 file does not display the starting station, an extra dialog will appear
requesting starting coordinates (which can be recalled from a point) and a starting station.
Verify the Conversion
It is recommended that after converting centerlines, profiles or cross section files to FAST Survey format, you go to the
Editor and Draw options for these file types and review the data to verify that the correct file was converted and that the
conversion was successful. So, for example, after converting a centerline from Inroads format to FAST Survey “.cl”
format, go directly to Centerline Editor in the Roads menu and verify the data.
Recognizing File Formats
For reference, portions of four of the file types are shown below, as they might display in a Text Editor. The LandXML,
FAST Survey and SDR examples all reference the file DOT1.CL. These displays may help you recognize these file
types in the future. The new LandXML format, endorsed by many Departments of Transportation in the United States,
may soon become the standard in the future for internet transfer of roading and other types of design files.