The Import as GeoMarks tool allows you to import GeoMarks from TerraGo collaboration files (.twz and .twx) and from standard file formats such as .gpx, .kml, and shape files (.shp). The TerraGo collaboration file preserves the information in the GeoMark Editor, through which you can manage the data including links and attachments.

For instructions on how to access the GeoMark Toolbar, see Accessing the GeoMark Toolbar.

In this document:

Import notes

To successfully import GeoMarks, you must know the Coordinate Reference System (CRS) of the data to be imported. If the coordinate systems do not match, the features may appear to be off or outside the map.

It is important to note that due to the use of shape files for GeoMark Import, attribute field names are limited to ten alphanumeric characters and the underscore ('_'). The import process preserves the first seven characters of the field name, converting any space to an underscore and omitting any invalid character. Field names that exceed ten characters are manipulated to avoid naming conflicts. For example, the field name Line No. Fifteen would be imported as Line_No_1.

Merging GeoMarks

If the GeoMarks contained in the TerraGo collaboration .twz file already exist on your map, you have the choice to either merge or copy the new GeoMarks. When you choose to merge the new GeoMarks, the import process retrieves the new data from the new GeoMarks and applies that data to the existing GeoMarks. When you choose to copy the new GeoMarks, the import process layers the new GeoMarks on top of the existing GeoMarks. This feature is also available when you use the GeoPDF Automatic Launcher.

Importing GeoMarks

• From the GeoMark Toolbar, click the TerraGo Collaboration Tool, then Import as GeoMarks .

• From the Look in list box, navigate to the location where the .kml/.kmz, .shp, .twx/.twz or .gpx import file resides.

• Press Ctrl to select multiple files to import.

• Select the file to import and then click Open.

• Use the Features box to specify any of the features described below.

• Click OK to import the data.

Automatic Launcher

If the file that you want to import is a .twz file that contains a GeoPDF file, you can use the GeoPDF Automatic Launcher to begin the import process.

Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the location where the .twz file resides and then double-click the file. The Automatic Launcher opens the GeoPDF file and displays the Features dialog box. TerraGo allows you to track changes to the .twz file or save the map to stop tracking changes.

Saving a collaboration file

You can save the TerraGo collaboration .twz file to a location of your choice so that future changes to the file do not affect the original .twz file. When you save the .twz file, TerraGo saves changes to the map, GeoMarks and attached GeoForms. To save the .twz file, from File on the Adobe menu, click Save As > TerraGo Collaboration File. Navigate to the location where the .twz file should be saved. Name the file and then click Save.

You can also save the map in view as a PDF and thereby stop updating the .twz file. When you save the map, TerraGo removes the TWZ workflow from the TEMP directory. To save the map, from the File menu, click Save As > PDF. Navigate to the location where the .pdf file should be saved. Name the file and then click Save.

Notes

• If the .twz file you want to import does not contain a GeoDPF file, a message box appears instructing you to use the GeoPDF Collaboration Manager to import the file. Click OK to close the message box.

• If you have associated the .pdf file extension with an application other than Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat, the Automatic Launcher opens the specified application and that application governs how the data is displayed.

Features box

The Features dialog box displays the feature layers to be imported including the total number of features in each file and the number of features in each file that fall inside or outside the map frame or neatline, based on the selection in the Exclude list box.

Changing the coordinate system

The Features dialog box allows you to change the Coordinate System associated with each file. If no Coordinate System exists for the file to be imported, click Change and select your coordinates in one of the following ways:

Predefined coordinates

Selecting your coordinates:

• To display a predefined coordinate system, use the Smart Search box in the Predefined tab to find your desired coordinate system from the available predefined coordinate systems. You can filter your search to reduce the number of found records by selecting specific coordinate system and projection types.

• From the Coordinate System Type list box, choose either Geographic or Projected.

• From the Projection Types list box, choose Gauss Kruger, Polar, State Plane, UTM, or WGS 84 SCAR.

• Select the coordinate system in the left pane to view the details in the right pane.

Modifying pre-defined coordinates:

• To modify the details of the selected coordinate system, click Edit.

• In the Custom tab, make any modifications to create a custom coordinate system.

Saving your coordinate system:

• To save the selected coordinate system in a .wkt file, click Save to file.

• Type the .wkt file name in the File name box.

• Click Save and then OK.

Custom coordinates

Applying a custom coordinate system to a GeoPDF or geospatially-aware PDF file may produce an inaccurate or invalid GeoRegistration.

To ensure success when creating a custom coordinate system, refer to the information presented by the OGP Surveying and Positioning Committee at the EPSG (European Petroleum Survey Group). To understand the parameters required to identify coordinates such that those coordinates describe a position unambiguously as well as define transformations and conversions that allow coordinates to be changed from one CRS to another CRS, refer to the documentation on the EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset page. To review all of the geodetic awareness guidance notes, refer to Guidance Notes.

Defining a custom projected coordinate system:

• From the Coordinate System Selector window, click the Custom tab.

• From the Projection list box, click the projection on which your source image file should be based.

• Complete the projection details as needed.

• From the Parameter Units list box, click the unit of measurement the selected projection should be based on.

• In the Datum Smart Search text box, type the first few characters in the datum name and select the appropriate datum.

• From the WGS 84 Transformations list box, click the transformation shift to apply to your custom coordinate system or specify whether the shift is not a transformation but an ellipsoid shift.

• Modify the transformation details as needed.

• To save the custom coordinate system in a .wkt file, click Save to file. Type the .wkt file name in the File name box.

• Click Save and then OK.

Importing coordinates

• To import a coordinate system via a .prj or .wkt file, click the Import tab.

• Type the path and file name to the .prj or .wkt file, or click Browse to open the Select file dialog box through which you can navigate to the location of the file.

• Click OK.

Recently used coordinate systems

To apply one of the fifteen recently used coordinate systems, click the History tab. From the left pane, select the coordinate system to apply. Click OK.

Excluding map frames

• From the Exclude list box, choose one of the following options:

  • Outside Neatline – Any feature outside the neatline is not imported into the file.

  • Outside Page – Any feature falling outside the page is not imported into the file.

  • None – All features are imported into the file regardless of their location on the page.

• Click Select Map Frame to the choose the map frame into which the data should be imported. This button is enabled only if multiple map frames exist in the GeoPDF file.

• Choose the Bottom, Top, Largest or View to determine the map frame to which the data should be imported, or choose Selected and then in the box at the right, select the map frame name.

  • Bottom – Allows the file creator to control the base map, which is a 'stack' of map frames in the GeoPDF file. The bottom map frame is determined by the order of GeoRegistration.

  • Top – Allows the file creator to control the base map. The top map frame is determined by the order of GeoRegistration.

  • Largest – The map frame in the file that occupies the greatest area on the page.

  • View – The map frame that consumes the most real estate in the current page view.

  • Selected – The map frame selected in the box at the right in the Map frame Selector dialog box.

• Choose Use As Default check box to use the selection parameter for all data to be imported.

• Click OK to return to the Features dialog box.

Adding forms

• If you are importing a .twz file, in the Forms group box, click the Add forms to Attach Forms list check box to remove the check mark and thereby prevent the import process from automatically importing all of the GeoForms included in the file.

• This option is selected by default. The import process automatically imports into the TerraGo Collaboration Manager all of the forms that are included in the .twz file including those that are not referenced by GeoMark data.

• To prevent specific forms from being imported into your forms list in the TerraGo Collaboration Manager, click Advanced. In the Form Selector dialog box, de-select the forms that you do not want to import and then click OK to return to the Features dialog box.