Import layout data to Layout manager

You can use Layout manager to import layout data to your model to verify the as-built conditions.

You can copy the file that contains the layout data from a layout device, such as Trimble® LM80, to your computer and import the file later to Layout manager. You can also import the layout data from Trimble Connect to Layout manager. Alternatively, you can import a file directly to Layout manager. You can do this if you connect the layout device to your computer using a USB, or with a Bluetooth connection.

Import layout data

On the Manage tab, click Layout manager.
If needed, check from the Settings that the default import settings are as intended, and modify the settings if needed.
In Layout manager, click Import.

The import dialog has tabs for design points and measured points. Design points are layout points that have been created in the Tekla Structures model. Measured points are layout points that have been measured on the construction site.
Select the file type for the import.
- Import point file (.txt) to import layout points.
  
  Point files (.txt) are always imported to the Design Points tab, regardless of whether they have been measured on the site.
- Import CSV file (.csv) to import layout points.
  
  CSV files (.csv) are always imported to the Design Points tab, regardless of whether they have been measured on the site.
- Import job file (.cnx) to import all layout data in a Trimble® LM80 job file.
  
  Job files (.cnx) are imported to the Measured Points tab.
- Import Field Link file (.tfl) or Import Field Link file (.tflx) to import all layout data in a Trimble FieldLink file. The .tflx files are used for Trimble FieldLink from version 6.3 onwards.
- Import Trimble Connect (.tflx) to import all layout data from Trimble Connect in a Trimble FieldLink file.

Select the file to import.

Points imported from Trimble FieldLink files (.tflx) are shown in the Layout manager dialog using different colors and symbols, depending on the visual classification type of the point. In the model, the imported points are shown by the class color that most closely matches the color of the symbol.


Trimble FieldLink color	Tekla Structures color	Description
		Control point
		Tolerance status - low
		Tolerance status - in tolerance
		Tolerance status - high
		Design point
		April tag
		Plane level in tolerance
		Plane level high tolerance
		Plane level low tolerance
		Stake in tolerance
		Stake out tolerance

If a point file does not contain column headers, Layout manager opens the Text File Import - Column Headers Mapping dialog where you can define the columns.

Select the group to which the layout data is imported.

For .txt and .csv files, the group that you select in the list is used only for points that do not have a group specified in the imported file. If needed, click the New button to create a new group.

Job files (.cnx) and Trimble FieldLink files (.tfl, .tflx) may contain layout point groups. If there are groups in these files, the groups are shown in the list of groups that you can select in the Group list.
If you are importing to a new group, select the group coordinate system in Group local coordinate system.

By default, new groups use the coordinate system selected in Group local coordinate system for new groups.
Click Import.
The imported points are created in the model and displayed in the Layout manager dialog in the group that you selected in the import dialog box.

Some imported points may be located outside the tolerance values that you have defined for measured points in Layout manager Settings. These points are listed in the Out of tolerance group. The tolerance deviation is determined by comparing the imported measured points to the design points that have been created in the model. The deviation data can be used to adjust the design point locations to match the measured point locations on the site.

Measured points have the suffix _MP in their original name to distinguish them from design points both in the model and in drawings. The group a point belongs to is shown in parentheses after the point name.

When you select a point in the Out of tolerance group, the properties of the point are shown in Layout manager. Check that the deviation data accurately reflects the data in the import .tflx or .tfl file. The values that are outside the defined tolerance values are shown against a red background.

If the tolerance value is displayed as -999999999.0, it means that Layout manager could not calculate the deviation between the measured point and the design point. The reason can be that one or more of the measured points or corresponding design points are missing from the model, the measured points were not imported correctly, or that the correct import file format was not used. The out-of-tolerance values are only calculated for points that are imported from a .tflx or .tfl file.

If all points are in the model, try importing the file again, and then close and re-open Layout manager.

The Tekla Structures session history log (TeklaStructures-<process ID.log) may also contain information about why the deviation could not be calculated.

To visualize the measured points in the model, use the Layout tolerance options:
- Show only measured points temporarily hides all layout objects except the measured points.
- Show only out-of-tolerance points temporarily hides all layout objects except the measured points that are out of tolerance.
- Show all restores the visibility of all layout objects.

Define point file columns

You can import layout points to your model in a point file that lists the layout point names and the point coordinates. If the point file does not have a header, or if Layout manager does not recognize the header, the Text File Import - Column Headers Mapping dialog is displayed when you select the import file.

Example of a point file without a header:

In the Text File Import - Column Headers Mapping dialog, the content of the point file is shown at the bottom and the column headings are shown at the top.

Check that the point file content is shown under the correct column headings:
- Name Column shows the layout point name.
- X Column shows the x coordinates.
- Y Column shows the y coordinates.
- Z Column shows the z coordinates.
- Group column shows the group where the points are imported.
If needed, change the columns at the top of the dialog by selecting the correct column from the list.
Select a measuring unit.
Select in the Process first line setting whether the first line in the point file is a header row.
- Yes means that the first line has layout point data and that it is not a header line.
- No means that the first line is a header line.
Click OK.

Measured points in Layout manager

Measured points are points that are measured on the construction site using a layout device and imported to Tekla Structures. You can view the properties of measured points in Layout manager or in the Layout point tool dialog. In addition to the general point properties, such as name, diameter, and shape, the measured points have measured point properties that cannot be modified in Tekla Structures.

To view the measured point properties, select the point in Layout manager or double-click the point in the model.

The measured point properties are as follows:


Property	Description
Is Stakeout Point	You can label a measured point as staked in the Trimble® LM80 device if it deviates from the corresponding layout point created in the model. The property is shown in the Layout point tool dialog.
Is Field Point	A field point has been measured on the construction site and imported to Tekla Structures. Is Field Line is the corresponding property for layout lines. The property is shown in the Layout point tool dialog.
HR	Height of rod is the height of the prism on the pole. It is used to determine instrument height, and therefore the actual elevation of the measured point.
HA	Horizontal angle is the angle that was measured from the back sight, or 0 angle.
VA	Vertical angle is the difference in angle measurement from the horizontal position of the instrument scope.
SD	Slope distance is the actual distance regardless of elevation change. Horizontal angle is the distance along a horizontal plane.
PPM	Parts per million is a factor used to determine measurements that take into account the air conditions and how they affect the ability of light to travel through the air. This property is important in the measurement calculation and accuracy.
Benchmark offset	Benchmark offset is a measurement that defines a benchmark that elevation measurements are calculated from.