Downloading from a SDR33 into a new scene | Back to User Tips

This Tech Note begins from the Start button on your Windows desktop. Scroll down to the appropriate sub-heading if you have already started your scene.

 Beginning with starting the MapScenes program:

1 - Examine Windows Desktop screen for the MapScenes icon and Double-click on the MapScenes icon with the left button on your mouse.

 2 - At the main startup dialog "About MapScenes", press <enter> on your keyboard or pick the OK button with your left mouse button to continue.

 Now tell MapScenes who is logging on and what default folders to work in:

3 - On the "User Identification" dialog, pick on your name with your left mouse button to highlight it. If your name is not in the list, you need to pick the "Add New User" button on the right hand side of the dialog to set yourself up as a user. Follow the instructions in the "User Information" dialog.

 4 - Pick the button near the bottom labeled "1" to log on.

 5 - Pick the button near the bottom labeled "2" to continue.

 Then create a new scene file:

6 - Pick the "New" button on the next dialog labeled "Start a new scene or open an existing scene".

 7 - At the next dialog, "Add & Edit Scene Information", fill in scene data as required, then press <enter> on your keyboard or pick the OK button to continue.

 8 - At the next dialog, "Enter New Scene Name, then press Save", fill in the new scene name at the bottom (do not change the folder) and pick the SAVE button to continue.

 9 - At the next dialog, "General Configurations Option", specify the "Drawing Scale factor" desired. Confirm you are working in Feet or Meters and specify Bearings or Azimuths notation for directions. The rest of the options can be left as they are in most cases. Pick the OK button to continue.

 Download your SDR33 and save data to a file:

10 - At the dialog labeled "What do you want to do", you are asked "Do you want to download a data collector/total station to the computer now?" Click the Yes button to continue.

11 - Read the instructions on the next dialog "DOWNLOADING - Confirm data collector/total station brand". You must first select the SDR33 from the pull down list under Step 1 then type in a name for the download file under step 2. (Maximum of 8 characters in length plus the dot and extension. Example: SCENE1.RAW) Pick the OK button to continue.

At this point the program will tell you the location where it will save the data collector file.

Example: C:\FORENSIC SCENES\MR. GLEN CAMERON\SAMPLE.PRJ\SCENE1.RAW

The program is also going to make a second copy of the file in a safe location on the hard drive for you.

12 - At the next dialog labeled "Ready to receive data", confirm that the communications parameters match the settings in the SDR33. If you need to change anything, you can click on the "Change Current Parameters" button to do so.

Note: This is the most common place for a mistake that will cause the download to fail so please be sure your settings are correct.

Pick the 'Download Now' button with your left mouse button to continue.

13 - Read the instructions on the next dialog, "Ready to receive data." to begin the download of data. Connect the SDR to the computer. The sequence on the SDR should be as follows:

a) Press the {clear} key to power up.

b) At the data/time screen, press the {F1} key and arrow down to "Communications"

c) Press {Enter}

d) Press {F4}

e) Press the right arrow once

f) Press {Ok}

14 - After starting the download in step 13 above, you will see a dialog labeled "Receive Datafile". If everything is functioning correctly, the counter "Data Bytes Received" should increment and show the volume of data read.

If the counter is remaining at zero, there is something wrong. Note the "Information about transfer" listed on the dialog for clues as to what is wrong. It should indicate: Port is available, Port initializes OK and Port parameters setup OK. Click the Cancel button and restart the download process from the MapScenes Assistant - Download scene data" This will take you to step 11 above.

Be sure to check the silly little things first: Cable plugged into computer and SDR? Correct file selected on SDR? If these items are in order, go back and try the process again using a different COM port. In some cases, you may need to consult your hardware service person to confirm which port is available.

The SDR will sound when finished. Press {Clear} key 3 times & power down the SDR.

15 - At this point you will see a "MapScenes" dialog telling you that the program is making the backup copy of the collector file. It will be placed in the default folder:

C:\Forensic Scenes\Downloads. It will have the date and time of the download appended to the original name of the file,

Example: SCENE1 2000_14_8_16_23_50.RAW

(Year = 2000, Day = 14, Month = 8, 24 Hour = 16, Minutes = 23, Seconds = 50)

Do not use this file unless you have to. It is your backup for emergencies.

Pick the OK button to continue.

Import and process your data into the current scene:

16 - Review the import toggle settings in the next dialog labeled "Import Toggle Check".

The most important items are:

-Point protection - If turned on, no point will be redefined without a warning that provides several options on how to handle the duplicate point number.

-CAD Drawing controls - specify the point items you would like drawn. The nodes are automatic.

-Draw AutoMAP symbols - select this if you are making use of the AutoMAP library.

More details on these settings can be found in the Help system. Look in the Help file table of contents under MapScenes -> Project Settings -> System Toggles.

Click the OK button to continue.

17 - If your SDR33 collector has been configured to run as a SDR20 series then the next dialog labeled "File Format Problem" will come up. MapScenes is detecting that the format of the downloaded file is not in SDR33 format but is in SDR20 format. This is very common so just pick the YES button to continue.

Note: There is another technical note on this web site that explains the differences between the SDR33 mode and the SDR20 mode and how to switch between them.

18 - At the next dialog labeled "Create a New Scene measurement file or use an existing one?" choose NEW.

19 - The next dialog is labeled "Enter the Scene Measurement File Name (Max 11 Characters)".

The default name of your scene is used here automatically. If you have more than one collector download for this scene, you will need to change this file name before reading the second download file in.

Pick the SAVE button with your left mouse button to continue.

20A - You may see a dialog labeled "MicroSurvey" containing the message "The backsight point ## does not exist in the points database." Read the dialog carefully and answer Yes or No to continue.

20B - You may also see a dialog labeled "MicroSurvey" containing a message telling you that some raw data or notes have been found in the collector file and asking you if you wish to re-coordinate the measurement file?

If you recorded only coordinates and no raw data in the field, you should already be able to see the points in the scene on screen behind this dialog box. If this is the case, you can pick NO and jump to Step #23 below.

If your data includes raw observations, pick the YES button to continue. 

21 - If you picked the YES button in Step 20B you will see the next dialog labeled "Recoordination Report (Log)". Choose a method for handling multiple shots and confirm the Point Protection setting as these settings may affect the results of coordinating your data. The BS and VA check routines are for a report that is written to the log file and do not affect the re-coordination process.

Pick the OK button to continue.

22 - Your data should now be coordinated on screen and the points will have been added to the database. You will be returned to the dialog labeled "MapScenes Assistant - Import DC File" so just pick the EXIT button to continue.

23 - At the next dialog labeled "Import ASCII file or DC file", pick the EXIT button to continue.

24 - At the "MapScenes Assistant", click the "Exit Assistant" button to continue.

At this point the points are all on screen. Now if you have used line coding, you may continue to process the coding to get the lines drawn on screen.

Process automated linework:

25 - From the MapScenes pull-down menu, go down and pick on the "AutoMAP System" option with your left mouse button. From the submenu pick the line coding method you used for coding in the field.

Example: "Connect Points using SDRMap Coding"

Now you should see the linework as well as the points on the screen!

Further Help:

We suggest you review the built-in Help system for further assistance. Look in the table of contents for the following headings:

-MapScenes Assistant-> User Identification.

-MapScenes Assistant-> New Scene.

-MapScenes Assistant-> Download Scene Data.

-MapScenes Menu-> Project Settings-> System Toggles.

-MapScenes Menu-> Calculation-> AutoMAP System.-> all topics listed.

-MapScenes Menu-> Calculating-> Scene Measurements-> all topics listed.

Mick Capman of M.J.C. & Associates, Muskegan, MI wrote the original template for this technical note.