Process Feature Codes

You must process the feature codes in your project to display feature data correctly in the software and to export the data to CAD systems and geographic information system (GIS). To process the feature codes, you will use the feature definitions contained in your project's Feature Definition Library (see Import Feature Definition (.fxl) Files). Typically, these definitions are imported from the same Feature Definition (.fxl) file that was used to enter feature codes in the field

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.

Prerequisites:

License; See the Subscription Plans page. For a license matrix by command, see the License page in the TBC Community. Also see View and manage licensed features.
Feature codes

To process feature codes:

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.
Use the Project Settings dialog to (1) specify whether to create a new linestring or polygon each time an attribute changes and (2) specify whether or not feature codes can be edited after processing without first removing the processing results.
For instructions, see Feature Code Processing Settings.
Select Process Feature Codes in GIS > Feature Definition.
The Process Feature Codes pane displays listing the point sources from which you can select to process feature codes. A point source is either an imported file or a "Keyed in Block" (points manually added to the project). If you select multiple sources, they are each processed separately.
Note: You must use the same Feature Definition Library to process all feature codes in your project, regardless of the point source. If you have already imported feature definitions into your project and you select to import feature definitions from a different Feature Definition (.fxl) file, the new feature definitions will replace the feature definitions currently stored in your project's Feature Definition Library.
In the Select point source(s) to process list, check the field for each source containing points whose feature codes you want to process.
Optionally, click the Report Options icon to display the Report Options pane. This allows you to select report options for the Feature Code Processing Report before generating the report.
Optionally, select or deselect the Allow editing of processed feature codes option, which specifies whether or not feature codes can be edited after processing without first removing the processing results.
This option is also selectable in Project Settings > Feature Code Processing Settings.
In the Process Feature Codes pane, click the Process Source(s) button to process feature codes from the selected source(s).
If you have previously processed the features codes in the project, reprocessing will delete the previous results and replace them with new results. If you edited a linestring that was derived from imported line feature codes, reprocessing will cause the linestring to be recreated based on the line feature codes, resulting in your edits being lost.
After processing, optionally review the Feature Code Processing Report, which provides a summary of the process.
The report displays on the Feature Code Processing Report tab. Use the tool bar located above the report to navigate, print, or save the report.
After processing, all line features are displayed as editable linestrings and all polygon features are displayed as editable polygons. In addition, any labels assigned to features display in the graphic view. A Feature properties section is displayed for each point, linestring, and polygon showing the processed feature name and attribute values. Feature symbols are displayed in the Plan View and 3D View.If necessary, use the View Filter Manager to hide other data in the graphic views to better see the feature symbols.

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.