Custom import & export formats

You can modify a predefined format to meet your specific requirements, or use it as a template to create a completely new custom import or export format.

You can use any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad, to make minor changes to the predefined formats.

Trimble recommends saving any modified XSLT files with a new name. If you keep the original name, predefined XSLT files are replaced when you upgrade the controller, so any custom changes are lost.

To create a completely new custom ASCII format, you need some basic programming knowledge to modify the XSLT file. XSLT style sheet definition files are XML format files. Style sheets must be created according to the XSLT standards as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). For details, go to www.w3.org.

You cannot easily modify or create a style sheet on the controller. To successfully develop new style sheet definitions, work on an office computer using a suitable XML file utility program.

Trimble Access version 2021.00 and later supports stylesheets that use the following EXSLT modules:

  • math: math functions typically defined to use the math: namespace
  • date: date and time functions typically defined to use the math: namespace (except for date:format-date, date:parse-date and date:sum)
  • sets: functions to provide set manipulation typically defined to use the set: namespace
  • strings: functions to provide string manipulation typically defined to use the set: namespace
  • functions: functions that allow users to define their own functions for use within XSLT (except for func:script)

For details on the use of these extension functions within style sheets, refer to the exslt.org web site which provides full details on the functions.

Style sheets using these EXSLT extensions can be used in Trimble Access, but will not operate successfully in the ASCII File Generator utility program, or in Trimble Sync Manager, as these systems are based on solely on the style sheet functionality available the Windows operating system.

Requirements

To develop your own XSLT style sheets, you need:

  • An office computer.
  • Basic programming skills.
  • An XML file utility program with good debugging facilities.
  • The JobXML file schema definition that provides the details of the JobXML format required to create a new XSLT style sheet. There is a link to the schema location at the top of every JobXML file.
  • A job or JobXML file that contains the source data.

The predefined XSLT style sheets and the ASCII File Generator utility are available for download. Go to www.trimble.com/support_trl.aspx?Nav=Collection-62098&pt=Trimble%20Access, select the Style Sheets section and download the appropriate style sheet links. The predefined style sheet definitions are provided in English. Modify these files as required to your own language.

Custom stylesheet creation process

The basic steps are:

  1. Source a Job file or JobXML file from your controller.
  2. Create the new format using a predefined XLST style sheet as a starting point and the JobXML schema as a guide.
  3. To create the new custom ASCII file on the office computer, use the ASCII File Generator utility to apply the XSLT style sheet to the Trimble Job or JobXML file. For information on using this utility, refer to the ASCII File Generator Help.
  4. To create the custom ASCII files on the controller, copy the file to the System Files folder on the controller.

For information on how to create your own custom import formats, refer to the Importing Custom Formats into Trimble Access PDF.