Enter, Edit, and Delete Feature Codes and Attributes

A feature code string is a sequence of alphanumeric characters that specify the feature type and, optionally, other useful information about a feature. Surveyors assign feature codes to points in the field by selecting from a library of predefined codes imported from a Feature Definition (.fxl) file. The codes can then be imported into Trimble Business Center and processed using feature definitions imported from the same Feature Definition (.fxl) file.

If a feature code is assigned to a point, it is displayed in the Feature code field in the Properties pane for the point. In addition, if the feature code has been processed, the feature and its attributes are displayed in the Feature section.

Note the following when working with feature codes that have already been processed:

If the Allow editing of processed feature codes option is selected in the Process Feature Codes command pane, you can edit a feature code that has already been processed by entering the edit directly in the Feature code field or by clicking the Browse button in the Feature code field to display the Feature Code Editor dialog. Feature code changes are automatically reprocessed when you press F4 to compute the project. Note that in this case, a Feature Code Processing Report is not generated.
If the Allow editing of processed feature codes option is not selected in the Process Feature Codes command pane, you cannot edit a feature code that has already been processed. The Feature code field in the Properties pane is read-only, as is the Feature Code Editor dialog. Instead, you must do one of the following:
- Clear the feature code processing results by selecting the Remove Processing button in the Process Feature Codes pane. Then edit the code either directly in the Feature code field in the Properties pane or in the Feature Code Editor dialog. Reprocess feature codes using the Process Feature Codes command pane. In this case, a Feature Code Processing Report is generated.
- Select the appropriate feature (of the same feature type) in the Feature drop-down list in the Feature section of the Properties pane and press F4 to compute the project. The code is automatically updated in the Feature code field and default attributes are applied. In this case, a Feature Code Processing Report is not generated. If you need to change the default attributes, you must first remove processing and then use the Feature Code Editor dialog to make the changes.
You can make minor manual edits to most types of processed feature-coded geometry (for example, change point coordinates, add/delete linestring segments, or change line properties) and your changes will be retained (the feature will be locked) even if you reprocess the feature codes or, optionally, remove processing altogether. However, if your changes include removing points used to create the linework or changing feature codes and/or feature control codes, or you reprocess features using a different FXL file, your changes will not be retained.
If you make minor manual edits to a processed feature-coded object, the Locked field in the Properties pane for the feature is set to Yes, indicating the feature will not be reprocessed. If you want to allow reprocessing of the feature, you can change this setting to No.

Note: If a feature code is entered for which there is no corresponding code in the project's Feature Definition Library, the feature code string will display in the Feature code field, but it will be ignored during feature code processing. Feature codes that could not be processed are reported in the Feature Code Processing Report.

To enter or edit a feature code string:

If you have not done so already, import the appropriate feature definitions into the Feature Definition Library in your project as described in Import Feature Definition (.fxl) Files.
To ensure feature codes are processed correctly, you should import feature definitions from the same Feature Definition (.fxl) file that was used in the field to record the data.
Right-click the point with which you want to work, and select Properties.
The Properties pane displays. If a feature code string has been assigned to the point you selected, it is displayed in the Feature Code field. Feature codes are also visible and editable in the Point Spreadsheet.
If you select multiple points before selecting Properties, the value in the Feature Code field may be *Varies*, indicating that different codes are assigned to the selected points. Any changes you make to the code affect all of the selected points.
Click the Browse button in the Feature code field to display the Feature Code Editor dialog.
Optionally, you can directly edit the feature code string in the Feature code field without opening the Feature Code Editor dialog. However, to avoid errors it is recommended that you use the Feature Code Editor dialog.
Note: When you type to manually enter a feature code, the auto-fill feature displays the "next" suggested character based on the feature codes imported from the Feature Definition (.fxl) file.
The list in the right side of the Feature Code Editor dialog includes all of the feature codes that were imported into the project's Feature Definition Library. Note that you can sort the list based on any of the column headings. In addition, you can select one of the built-in Category filters (click ) to show only the codes in a specific category.
When you select a code in the list and click the Add Code button, the code is added to the Feature code field. Any attributes assigned to the feature code are displayed beneath the Feature code field.
To delete a feature code string already assigned to the selected point, delete it from the Feature code field.
If necessary, be sure to also delete any characters appended to the code, such as descriptions, line instance identifiers, and line control codes (see below).
To assign or edit a feature code string for the selected point, do the following:
1. In the Codes list, select a feature code (for example, "fence") and click Add Code.
  The feature code is displayed in the Feature code field. If there are other codes already in the field, the new code is added to the right of the other code(s).
  Note: If more than one feature code is assigned to a point, after processing, only the point feature represented by the first code displayed in the Feature code field is displayed in the Properties pane for the point. This is referred to as the "primary feature" for the point. Processing causes each additional feature code to create a point feature that does not display with the associated point's properties, but instead displays in its own Properties pane when its symbol is selected in a graphic view. This is referred to as a "secondary feature" for the point. For more information, see View and Edit Point Feature Properties.
2. If the feature code represents a line feature, optionally type an alphanumeric instance identifier for the line feature immediately before or after the code (no spaces) in the Feature code field (for example, "fence1").
  An alphanumeric instance identifier can be assigned to each point that makes up a single line (for example, "fence1" might define one fence; "fence2" might define a different fence).
3. If a line feature requires a control code (for example, "start"), select it in the Codes list and click Add Code. The control code is displayed in the Feature code field adjacent to the line feature code.
4. If necessary, enter a brief description of the feature in the Feature code field at the end of the string (for example, "barbwire").
  When you change focus from the Feature code field, the feature code string is reformatted as follows:
  -The feature code is underlined.
  - The instance for a line feature, if entered, appears in regular text with no space between it and the feature code.
  - The control code for a line feature, if entered, appears in regular text with a space before it.
  - The description, if entered, appears in italics with a space before it.
  For example, if the feature code is for the line feature "fence", the instance is "1", the control code is "start", and the description is "barbwire", the string would appear as:
  fence1 start barbwire
5. If the feature code supports attribute values, ensure the code is selected in the Details drop-down list, then enter or edit attribute values in the Attribute list.
  If the attribute includes a value that specifies a file path (for example, a photo attribute specifies a path to the photo file), you can click at the top of the Feature Code Editor dialog to view the file. You can specify a different file, but if it is not located in the project folder, you must include the entire file path. Typically, when a photo is imported as a feature attribute, it is located in the project folder.
  If you replace a feature code in the Feature Code Editor dialog, attributes associated with the original feature code and the new feature code are merged per specific rules. For more information, see Rules for Merging Feature Attributes.
To add more feature codes to the point, repeats step 5 as necessary.
Click OK.
You are now ready to process (or reprocess) the feature codes in your project as described in Process Feature Codes.