Integrating collected data

The Terra Office Field Data dockable window contains all functionality for downloading (TerraFlex Cloud) or checking-in (TerraFlex Local, TerraSync) data that was collected in the field. To toggle the visibility of the dockable window, click the Terra Office Field Data button on the toolbar. While the window can be docked anywhere, it was designed to be docked at the bottom of the ArcMap window.

For workflows that require further (post-)processing or quality assurance checking, see Processing collected data.

The Field Data dockable window has two primary modes or layouts that are used for the current project based on the project type and its source of accuracy:

  • Session Manager mode is used any time a project has been set for Best of Real-time Corrections + Manual Post-processing in Terra Office. This includes all TerraFlex Local and TerraSync projects and whichever TerraFlex Cloud projects are published with this setting. In this mode, Terra Office users are working with collected data sessions—with one or more features per session.

  • Form Manager mode is used forfor TerraFlex Cloud projects when configured for Real-time Corrections Only or Best of Real-time Corrections + Automatic Post-processing in the TerraFlex Cloud. In this mode, Terra Office users are working with collected data forms—with each form representing a single feature.

In the TerraFlex Cloud workflow, collected data is available for download shortly after it is synchronized from the field device to Trimble Connect. When the data is downloaded, it is immediately stored into the geodatabase with the accuracy it was collected with in the field. By default, the data is retained in the cloud but marked as downloaded. The workflow for downloading data depends on the Field Data dockable window mode.

In Session Manager mode, TerraFlex data is usually downloaded in sessions and can be further post-processed for improved accuracy.

To download data for the current project:

  1. Click Handle Sessions in the Field Data dockable window and select the Check for new TerraFlex sessions… context menu item.

  2. In the Select TerraFlex Sessions window that opens, accept the default date filter (last 10 days) or specify a different Collected on and after date. This will be used to search for collected sessions that have not yet been marked as downloaded.

  3. Click Get Sessions and review the list of sessions available for download. The Start time, Duration, and associated Task information are indicated in the list.

If TerraFlex forms were collected in the field without data for post-processing, they will be shown on the list as standalone forms and are also available for download.

In Form Manager mode, TerraFlex data is downloaded in forms and cannot be processed further.

To download data for the current project:

  1. In the Field Data dockable window, use the radio buttons to select one of the available Download filters; applies to all new and updated forms for all tasks:

    • All forms
    • Only forms collected in last [selected count] days
    • Only forms inside the current extents (of the map)
    • Only forms for the layer [selected project layer]

  2. Select the include forms previously marked as “downloaded” checkbox to include all previously downloaded forms; this can be used in combination with any of the other filters.

  3. If you do not want the downloaded forms marked as exported, clear the Mark forms as downloaded checkbox.

  4. Click Download Forms to download and store all forms that meet the filter criteria. In the box at right, the downloaded forms will be listed along with their layer, the OBJECTID used to store it, and whether it is a new feature or a (previously downloaded) existing feature.

  5. Use the buttons beneath the list to take specific action on one or more selected forms in the list. Clicking the entry for a downloaded form will also select the geodatabase feature that was created (or updated).

    • To zoom to the selected feature(s), click Zoom to.

    • To mark the selected form(s) as downloaded (if you did not do that by default when downloading them), click Mark as downloaded.

    • To delete the selected form(s) from the TerraFlex Cloud, click Delete from TerraFlex.

In the TerraFlex Local workflow, the field user will send, or transfer, one or more TerraFlex Forms files (.tfout) back to the office after collecting data in the field. Each of these files contains a set of forms collected in the field and will need to be “checked-in” to Terra Office. When the data is checked-in, it is immediately stored into the geodatabase with the accuracy it was collected with in the field. If data was collected for post-processing, then further processing will be possible.

To check-in data for the current project:

  1. Click Handle Sessions in the Field Data dockable window and select the Check-in from a TerraFlex Forms file context menu item.

  2. In the TerraFlex Local Check-In window that opens, select the file by clicking the … button at the right of the TerraFlex Forms file (.tfout) entry box. The text area immediately below the button will display any relevant information about the file selected.

  3. In the Collected TerraFlex data list, you will see a list of collected sessions with the User, Start time, and Status indicated.

  4. Select the desired sessions and click Check-In.

    All forms from these sessions (or outside them if measurements for post-processing are not available) will be stored in the geodatabase and sessions are available for further processing.

In the TerraSync workflow, the field user will send, or transfer, one or more “.ssf” files back to the office after collecting data in the field. Each of these files contains a set of features collected in the field and will need to be “checked-in” to Terra Office. When the data is checked-in, it is immediately stored into the geodatabase with the accuracy it was collected with in the field. If data was collected for post-processing, then further processing will be possible.

To check-in data for the current project:

  1. Click Check Out/In… in the Field Data dockable window and select the Check In SSF from TerraSync context menu item..

  2. In the Check in from SSF file browser that opens, select the desired “.ssf” file and click Open .

    All features from these sessions (or outside them if measurements for post-processing are not available) will be stored in the geodatabase and sessions are available for further processing.