Notes

These notes were written for users of the Trimble GeoExplorer GPS Unit, and describe how to implement the SCAR Feature Catalogue for spatial data collected in the field.

On your PC

Go to the search page of the Feature Catalogue.
Enter nothing in the first field and select the Start search buttom to receive a list of all Feature Types in the Feature Catalogue. Determine what information you are going to collect in the field.
Return to the search page of the Feature Catalogue.
Enter a Feature Type in the first field. Toggle on the option Add checkbox for constructing Geo import file. Select the Start search buttom.
Make sure the Feature Type you are interested in has a tick mark next to its name.
Select Create Geo report on selected Feature Types.
From the pull down menu File, select Save As.
Next to File name:, type a short name for your file and note where you have saved it.
Next to Save as type:, select Text File (*.txt).
Select Save.
Navigate to the saved text file in Windows Explorer and open the file in a text editor like NotePad.
Leave this file open and return to your browser.
Select the Back buttom twice in your browser to return to the Feature Catalogue search page.
Type in another Feature Type from your list of types you are interested in collecting data for.
Select the Start search buttom.
Make sure the Feature Type you are interested in has a tick mark next to its name.
Select Create Geo report on selected Feature Types.
Instead of saving this file, copy all the text excluding the first line "FC",Dictionary,"Feature Catalog"
Copy the selection to the bottom of your text file in your editor.
Repeat these steps until your text file lists all Feature Types you are interested in.
Save your text file. Make sure itremains a text file, e.g. not a Micrsoft Word file.

Open GPS Pathfinder Office software
In Select Project window, select ok
Under Utilities pull down menu, select Data Dictionary editor. A new window will appear.
Under the File menu select
Import ASCII file. A new window will appear. In this window navigate to your text file created from the Feature Catalogue, and select Open.
Check your data dictionary in the Data Dictionary Editor. If all ok, under the File pull down menu, select Save As. Give your data dictionary an appropriate name (probably best short with no spaces) and with the default extension ddf. Note where you have saved your file.

On your GeoExplorer

Connect your GeoExplorer to your PC. Preferably through the USB port.
Start the ActiveSync software on your PC. A Microsoft ActiveSync window will appear. If your PC is connected correctly to your GeoExplorer, the window will report Connected. If it is not connected properly, do the following:

- Select the pull down menu File and select Connection Settings. Check Allow USB connection with this desktop computer is ticked. If it is, toggle of the tick, close the window, open the window again, toggle it back on, and try connecting again by selecting the Get Connected... button in the same window.

- Check your cables. In particular, remove the USB port and reconnect it.

- Take the GeoExplorer out of the cradle and return it. Make sure the top of the GeoExplorer fits into the cradle first, and then push the bottom into place with a click.

Once connected, a window titled New Partnership will appear. Select No and then select Next.

On your PC

Open Windows Explorer on your PC.
View the contents of My Computer. The last icon in the top directory is called Mobile Device. Expand this.
Then expand the subdirectory My Computer and its subdirectory My Documents.
Place a copy of your Data Dictionary with the extension .DDF into this directory.
Your data dictionary is now on the GeoExplorer.

On your GeoExplorer

On the GeoExplorer, you have to move your data dictionary file into the correct directory for the TerraSync software to use it.
Close all applications.
Double click on the icon My Computer
Double click on the My Documents directory
Select your data dictionary by clicking on it once. Then under the pull down menu Edit select Copy.
Navigate to /disk/my Documents/terraSync. Under the pull down menu Edit, select Paste.
Close down Explorer
Open the TerraSync software. Under the top right pull down menu, select Data.
The window will ask for a File Name and Dictionary. If your data dictionary transferred successfully from your PC, your will be able to select it for your next Data File.