Export SOSI Files (.sos)

Use the SOSI Vector Data exporter to write files that contain points and linestrings. These files are primarily used in Norway and other parts of Scandinavia.

Datatypes Exported

The SOSI exporter includes lines and area defined by the "Linestring" entity type. Linestrings can be defined by different geometry types, such as breaklines and polygons. To export an area (.FLATE), the geometry type of the linestring must be defined as a polygon. The polygon must be closed, i.e. the ending point must be the same as the starting point. All the other geometry types of a linestring is exported as a line (.KURVE).

Note: CAD lines are not included.

Attributed of an Entity

The FXL format defines attributes to the features. The SOSI exporter also supports attributes.

Associating Required Feature Codes

Any points or linestrings (both breaklines and polygons) that you export using this exporter must include feature codes that match those defined in an imported Feature Definition file (.fxl). This also can be done in the field using SPS900 (or other sources), where the SOSI encoding system has been used. The typical workflow is:

  1. Create an FXL file describing all codes with corresponding object names.
  2. Distribute the FXL file to all users that want to export data to SOSI.
  3. When collecting data, tag objects with feature codes that correspond to those in the FXL file.

When the data is in Trimble Business Center, it can then be exported to the SOSI file format. If a point/linestring/polygon that is selected to export to SOSI does not have a feature code or corresponding feature code in the .fxl file, it will not export (rejected points/linestrings/polygons are recorded an .sos.txt file alongside the .sos file). Whether or not an export is successful, the report file .sos.txt is created for every export to notify the status of the export to SOSI format. If nothing is exported, the message will be written on the .txt file.

All entities that are selected in the input data selection and are rejected from the export file, will be listed in a report file .txt (with equal name as the .sos file). This is to provide feedback on the status of the data to be exported with information about what is missing or not defined correctly to match the exporter.

Warning: Any selected points that do not have a feature code and an associated feature definition are not exported.

To export a SOSI file:

Note: For general instructions on exporting data files, see Export Data.

  1. Select File > Export. The Export command pane displays.
  2. Click the Construction tab.
  3. Select SOSI Vector Data exporter in the File Format list.
  4. Click in the Data box, and pick feature-coded points that you want to include in the export in a graphic view, the Project Explorer or Selection Explorer. Alternately, you can click Options and choose a selection option in the list.
  5. Type a path and file name for the exported file in the File Name box, or click the Browse button to browse for a location and specify a file name.

    Note: By default, the exported file is given the name of your project.

  6. If you want to export another file after this one, uncheck the Close command after export box.
  7. Click Export. The selected data is exported to the file you specified.

Related topics

Import Data

Run an Import Summary Report