Requests for 2009's Next Update

[Matthew Fore]

I'll just keep adding to this first post as I get to them.

1) COGO Command - Would like the command to remember my last bearing entered when asking for a new bearing.

2) Add Coordinate Table - Would like the ability to create a table based on an alternate datum as defined in the new updated active coordinate editor. ( I like this new feature for ACE a lot!) Edit - To be more specific It would be nice to choose the additional datum(s) to create the table. Right now I use the ACE table from selection but I then have to go back and delete the main datum which may not be needed.

3) When using the 2D Inverse command I would like to see the elimination of the dialog box where I can either pick on the screen or start typing point numbers and the program "intelligently" knows whether I'm doing it graphically or not.

4) For the 2D Inverse command I would either like to be able to inverse between graphic points in the drawing that do not have a pnt # or when picking pnts graphically the ESnap should not default to use endpoint or intersection snap and should only default to a pnt.

5) I have to turn off the new polar tracking to work. The nearest snap on the polar line messes me up when trying to work with pnts and objects which are close to the bearings associated with polar settings. What would be nicewould be the ability to show the same type of line when inputting a bearing with a COGO command to visually check that you are working in the right direction but have it disappear once the command is completed.

Field Genius 2008 - Wanted to add that I would like the ability to copy a pnt from one job to another just like we can in MSCad without having to export and import ascii files.

[surveyor6925]

Let's add to the list - Automatically change the scale to 1 when toggling into paper space. Would make the adding of text or blocks so much easier when going between paper and model space.

[Gord]

[mjtaylor]

[Gord]

[Glen Cameron]

[Gord]

[Glen Cameron]

[Gord]

[Chow]

[Richard Sands]

COGO: More integration between settings/toggles for scale factor, bearing additions (also in Traverse functions). They need to be at just a mouse click away and not buried down in the system and in different parts. (I've been told they are under investigation, but add it here)
BATCH COGO: Ability to add bearing additions and scale factors into the file.
This is one of my most used features of MSCAD as I do all my cadastral survey processing this way. (Typing in old surveys on various datums)
Often surveys are different from each other and to be able to run the original, compare with existing, then apply scale factor and bearing addition for many surveys is timeconsuming enough without manually editing the Batch Cogo file to add notes such as bearing diffs and scale factor used.
Maybe in COGO where we type a + at the bearing, a ++ would tell the program to add the additive to every bearing until we tell it (somehow) to stop use that additive. This could then be included in the Batch Cogo file.

I realise one can scale and rotate in MSCAD but that loses the originals if needed to be rerun again.

When new Batch Cogo file is created then by default MSCAD should turn the file 'ON'. I imagine the purpose to create a new BC file is to start using it. Its easy to delete stuff, but one can't add whats been typed but not recorded. Been there many times!!

MOUSE SNAPS. Some way to temporarily by key stroke to disable the snaps. Just until after the next onscreen mouse click. Hold down Spacebar?, Function Key? or just one of the keys from keyboard. TurboCad had (assume still does) some excellent features here.

Field Genius and MSCAD to work together better.
AutoMap in FG doesnt work same as in MSCAD. An entry with SPACE in Description in Mscad is treated as one for all similar descriptions up to the space. FG treats them all as individual. Makes on screen depictions of for eg Station points tedious if the type of mark is part of the description - STN Sp, STN SH, STN Pipe egs. Each must have its symbol set in FG.
Bring a FG job into Mscad that has 3D lines. Any shift of the points (rotate, scale, shift) doesn't affect 3D lines, only 2D ones. And yet if its done in FG then all is well. This needs to be a feature of Mscad so that all line work moves with the points.
Roadworks in FG - (mentioned elsewhere) Mscad to be similar in functionality.

FIELD GENIUS: Ability to calculate 3D positions from bearings to distant objects from different station setups to the same point.
Station setup to have a 'backup' to enable parameters to be changed. Currently mess up a point number or height and one has to completly exit the station setup routine and start again.
FG has some routines that uses points to do calculations with and create a new point. But it then discards those points just surveyed.
I have often recorded pipe positions where the location is known but the bend is not and needs recording by intersection. FG handles that easily but currently we have to survey the intersecting points then complete the routine and resurvey, or survey the points then calulate manually the intersecting point which takes longer and can be prone to input error.
Just a few thoughts for now
regards
Richard

[Gord]

How about fixing the inability to accurately offset a polyline? Why is it that when I try to offset a polyline, there are always multiple sections that are not correctly offset?
Would be nice to see that fixed.
Gord

[surveyor6925]

And another thing, How about a fence option for the erase command? Much easier to wipe out a particlar area of point data.

[Gord]

[surveyor6925]

[Gord]

[Matthew Fore]

Found two more.

The ability to set the MSModeling Configuration file settings as default. Right now it's set to save a file but instead of reloading said file I'd rather have them persistent.

When labeling negative contours the program does not cut enough out from the contour line so it looks like the negative symbol is just a continuation of a contour. Instead of -------- -2 ------- we see -------2-----.

[Glen Cameron]

There is a file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MicroSurvey\MSCAD\2009\qs\qs.qcf that contains all of the defaults loaded for the Modeling. It is simply a text file that you can edit with Wordpad. If you make the changes there, they will be loaded automatically each time the program is started.

I see what you are reporting for the negative contours - I will report this as a bug.

[Matthew Fore]

[knoxtech]

[Matthew Fore]

[Gord]

[Matthew Fore]

[Brian Sloman]

[Brian Sloman]