Exporting Trimble points

[effimero89]

At the moment we manually place Trimble point onto fabrication parts then use their field point tool to generate the .csv for the machines.

Placing these points manually is a big time sink. What's the better option?

[craigjonnson]

We first created a dynamo script, then had someone in Asia make an app on the cheap. Works a charm. That said, you can still maj export out your fabrication hangers and use the "TRIME" command within CADmep to get your XYZ or NE coordinates.

[effimero89]

how complex is the script? Ive used dynamo in the past and not a huge fan but if it isnt a big a may do that.

[cadbyken]

Had a guy at my last employer use dynamo to do this as well.  Never saw the script to see how big complicated it was.  I would think it wouldn't be that difficult given that there are only several items (service types) that you would want to pull from. 

It is something that I want to look into for my curiosity.

[craigjonnson]

I've built a quick script for you to look at. It's metric, so just adjust the conversion settings. You will need to set it to you generic point family name. I've listed how it works including the packages used, etc.

[craigjonnson]

At the moment we manually place Trimble point onto fabrication parts then use their field point tool to generate the .csv for the machines.

Placing these points manually is a big time sink. What's the better option?

If you add what you are adding points to. I will try to assist. The script i have added only adds to hangers.

[epond83]

If the script is getting the point location of the hangers why not write that to a csv instead of placing an object on top of it to then get the point location for a csv?

[bitterfitter]

Not sure if this will help or not but what I am doing here is pulling the data from the hangers themselves.  I pull the coordinates (x,y,z), rod diameters, description, item number and service.  I also in the same script create a unique number and place it as a prefix in front of the item number to eliminate duplicate numbers for items like trapeze rod points from the same hanger.  I then place it all into a specific order and export into a .csv file in Excel.  Just for ease of reading, I created a macro in Excel to format the data. 
I do also place exportable families in some cases and do the same sort of thing with another script.  These are for non-hanger items I want to locate in a Trimble file.  Floor drains, control points, centers of pipe/fittings when laying out underground and such.  So for hangers, I wouldn't see the need to place items to export, but for other cases I can see the need.  But I am always open to suggestions for a better workflow...

[craigjonnson]

If the script is getting the point location of the hangers why not write that to a csv instead of placing an object on top of it to then get the point location for a csv?

Why! I have several trimble points for Rod, Grilles, Buildersworks, plinths, etc. Adding in a point to the family allows me to control what site see. They know these are hangers, 10mm rod or Grilles, etc. The xyz is easy, its the additional information i like to control.

[mdomer]

Can I revive this thread and ask the group for an update on what they use?

Not seeing much on Google besides Trimble software.

[DotNet]

If the script is getting the point location of the hangers why not write that to a csv instead of placing an object on top of it to then get the point location for a csv?

Why! I have several trimble points for Rod, Grilles, Buildersworks, plinths, etc. Adding in a point to the family allows me to control what site see. They know these are hangers, 10mm rod or Grilles, etc. The xyz is easy, its the additional information i like to control.

Can I revive this thread and ask the group for an update on what they use?

Not seeing much on Google besides Trimble software.

The point coordinates, transformations, and any additional information are all just functions or parameters. The points already exist. You can push any data you can imagine along with the XYZ location. Physical "loose" or "detached" points are not required. That said, both workflows have value, and both workflows have limitations. Logical/Embedded points are more resilient to project changes and usually don't require additional rework. VM enables you to push any point (along with any other relevant data) on any Fabrication Part or MEP Family (C1-C4, Top, Bottom, Center, Flow Lines, Hanger Points, Point Loads...). VM will also automatically place any custom point family at any of these locations if that is the desired workflow. You can of course also place any point family manually on any element, like housekeeping pads for example.

The OG GTP (Stratus) Point Layout software is also a very strong option.

[Tye Austin]

Our hangers have the points embedded in them but for all the families we use that need a point like drains or seismic braces, I go in and nest the trimble layout point into the family.  it works awesome and with nested points, our trimble point manager bundles up the nested points by their family catagory so it makes it really easy to renumber them.  for things like Riser points, I have a dynamo that will go and place a point at all riser locations.  you can do it for hangers too but you should have the point nested in the hanger...