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Visual Traverse Help Index

Reference Information

Overview

Commands

Terms

How To...


Overview
Visual Traverse

Visual Traverse is the intuitive answer to your forestry traverse needs.

It features easy and fast data entry, editing, closure correction, plotting and printing.

by Ken Penner, August, 1994

Order more customized copies from:

Sensible Software

Box 171

South Hazelton, BC

Phone: (604)842-5776

You may not copy or give away registered copies of Visual Traverse, but you may freely copy and give away Demo Versions. These copies can be used for a 30-day trial period. If you plan to continue using Visual Traverse after the 30 days, you must buy a copy registered to you from Sensible Software.

Registered users can receive free technical support and product upgrades at one quarter of normal retail price. Suggestions for new features are welcomed from registered users.


Commands

File Menu

Traverse  Menu

Leg Menu

Map Menu

Preferences Menu

Help Menu


Terms

Adjustment

Azimuth

Coordinates

Distance

Map

Measurement

Misclosure

Reference File

Slope

Station

Tie Point

Traverse Hub

Traverse Leg

Traverse Sheet

Traverse


Instructions
How to:

Enter traverse measurements

Cancel data entry errors

Change the map viewing area


Job Name

The contents of the Job: box will appear as the title of the plotted map.


Survey Date

The contents of the Date: box will appear as the date on the plotted map.


Crew
Entering Crew names

The contents of the Crew: box is not actually used by Visual Traverse.

You may put any relevant information about the traverse here, and it will be saved with the traverse file.


Cancelling a Measurement
Canceling a Measurement

Press Esc or click Cancel when you have typed a number in wrong, before you press Enter.

The measurement will then not be entered on the traverse sheet.


Adding a Measurement
Adding a Measurement to the Traverse Sheet

Press Enter or Click Ok to enter the measurement from the Enter Measurement: box into the traverse sheet.

If the measurement is a distance, the map will be redrawn, and the traverse sheet recalculated.

A new blank line will be added to the top of the traverse sheet if the distance is entered on the top line.


How to Enter a Measurement

Simply type in the compass, clino, and chain measurements that were made in the field, and press Enter after each one:

1) First, type in the Azimuth (in degrees clockwise from North) of the traverse leg, and press Enter,

2) Then type in the Slope (in percent) of that traverse leg (and press Enter).

3) Finally, type in the distance (in metres) of that traverse leg (and press Enter).

The new traverse leg will appear on the map to the right.

You are then ready to enter the next leg of the traverse, starting with step 1) again. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until all the measurements have been entered.


Changing the Viewing Area

To Zoom out from the map, click once on the map.

The map will zoom out by a factor of two.

The place you clicked will be centered when the map zooms out.

To Zoom in on the map, place a box around the area you'd like to see in more detail:

1) place the mouse pointer where you'd like one corner of the area you'd like to zoom in on, and hold the mouse button down. (The normal mouse arrow will disappear temporarily.)

2) while holding the mouse button down, move the mouse pointer to where you'd like the opposite corner of the area you'd like to zoom in on, and release the mouse button.

Note: If you try to zoom in too far, the map will zoom out instead.

If you get lost by zooming in on an area that shows nothing, choose Fit  from the Map  menu.

See also:

Preferences

Fitting the Traverse on the Screen

Centering the Screen Map

Changing the Screen Map Scale


The Traverse Sheet

The Traverse Sheet  is where the traverse measurements are recorded. It is the heart of the Visual Traverse program.

See also the instruction in How to Enter Measurements

You can move around in the traverse sheet by clicking once on the sheet, then using the arrow keys. Note that the traverse leg  you click on is highlighted on the screen map  to help you identify where that leg is in the traverse .

Once you've moved to the right spot on the sheet, you can type a number in and press Enter. The number will then appear on the sheet.

Note: Column width and row height can be adjusted by dragging the column and row dividers in the grey areas of the sheet.


File Menu

The Options on the File Menu are:

New

Open...

Save

Save As...

Reference

Print

Plot

Plot Preview

Printer Setup

Exit

recently used files


Starting a New Traverse

Choose New from the File menu  to clear the Traverse Sheet  so you can start entering measurement for a new traverse.

The preferences that were last saved will take effect when you start a new traverse. See Preferences...  and Saving Preferences .

To continue entering measurements on another traverse that has been saved to disk, see the Open...  command.


Opening an Existing Traverse

Choose Open... from the File menu  to continue entering measurements on another traverse that has been saved to disk.

If the traverse was closed  when it was saved last, the closing computations will be made again, and you will be given an opportunity to plot the traverse immediately.

To start entering measurement for a new traverse, see the New  command.


Saving the Traverse

Choose Save from the File menu  to record the traverse measurements  onto disk.

The currently active Preferences  will be saved along with the measurements and Job data.

To continue entering measurements on a traverse that has been saved to disk, see the Open...  command.


Saving the Traverse Under a Different File Name

Choose Save As... from the File menu  to save the traverse under a different filename than the original.

Use this command to make more than one copy of the traverse, or when you want to make changes without affecting the original traverse file.

To save the traverse quickly without changing the filename, see the Save  command.


Reference Files

Choose Reference... from the File menu  to open the Reference Files  dialog box.

Reference files are traverses that are plotted along with the currently active traverse, as a background layer.

Only the legs of the reference file traverse will be plotted. Reference file station numbers and hubs are not plotted.

One use for reference files is to show how a road goes through a cut block. To accomplish this,

1) Enter the two traverses into separate files;

2) Open the traverse that you would like to have the station numbers and hubs.

3) Choose Add  from the Reference File dialog box.

4) Select the file containing the other traverse.

To re-position a reference file, specify a tie point  by clicking the Tie Point...  button in the Reference  dialog box.

You may find it helpful to turn the Coordinate display on, with the Show Coordinates  setting in the Preferences...  dialog box.


Printing the Traverse Sheet

Choose Print from the File menu  to make a hard copy of the traverse sheet  on the default printer.

The Job, Survey Date, and Crew will be printed;

then the measurements in the traverse sheet;

finally, you will be asked if you want the misclosure  information printed at the end.

To change which printer is currently active (default), see the Print Setup  command.

To plot a traverse map much like the map on the screen, see the Plot  command.


Plotting the Traverse Map

Choose Plot from the File menu  to make a hard copy of the map  on the default printer.

A North arrow will be plotted in the top left corner,

the Job name will be printed at the top as the title,

the map scale and survey Date will be printed at the bottom,

if the traverse is open, you have the option of printing the misclosure information at the bottom;

if the traverse is closed, the area will be printed at the bottom.

finally, the traverse and reference files will be plotted, much like the screen map,

To get a close approximation of what the plot will look like, see the Plot Preview  command.

To change which printer is currently active (default), see the Print Setup  command.

To print the traverse measurements in a table, see the Print  command.


Previewing the Plotted Output
Previewing the Expected Plotted Output

Choose Plot Preview from the File menu  to get an idea of what the Plot  command would produce on the default printer.

A North arrow will be drawn in the top left corner,

the Job name will be shown at the top as the title,

the map scale and survey Date will be shown at the bottom,

if the traverse is open, you have the option of showing the misclosure information at the bottom;

if the traverse is closed, the area will be shown at the bottom.

finally, the traverse and reference files will be drawn, much like the screen map,

To make a hard copy of the map in the default printer, see the Plot  command.

To change which printer is currently active (default), see the Print Setup  command.


Selecting a Printer or Plotter
Choosing and Setting up a Printer

Choose Print Setup... from the File menu  to change which printer or plotter is currently active.

Output from the Print  command and the Plot  command will be sent to the printer you select.

The Windows Control Panel will be shown.

Double-Click the Printers icon,

Double-Click the printer or plotter you would like to use.

Click Close.

To print the traverse measurements in a table, see the Print  command.

To plot a traverse map much like the map on the screen, see the Plot  command.


Exiting Visual Traverse
Exiting the Visual Traverse Program

Choose Exit from the File menu  to leave the Visual Traverse program

.If you have unsaved data in the current file, you will be asked if you'd like to save the changes.

Click Yes to Save   the traverse file before exiting.

Click No to lose the changes since the last time the file was saved.

Click Cancel to continue using the Visual Traverse program..

To quit the current traverse and start a new one, see the New  command.


Opening a Recently Used Traverse File

Choose one of the files listed at the bottom of the File menu  to quickly open  that traverse.

If the traverse was closed  when it was saved last, the closing computations will be made again, and you will be given an opportunity to plot the traverse immediately.

To use a traverse that is on disk, but is not listed in the File menu, see the Open...  command.


Traverse Menu

The Options on the Traverse Menu are:

Recalc

Closure


Recalculating the Traverse

Choose Recalc from the Traverse menu  to update the coordinates  and screen map , based on the measurements .

If the traverse was previously adjusted  , the adjustment will be lost.

The traverse will have to be adjusted again using the Closure  command.

To update only the screen map, see the Redraw  command.

To correct a traverse's misclosure, see the Closure  command.


Closing and Adjusting the Traverse

Choose Closure from the Traverse menu  to determine a traverse's misclosure  and optionally eliminate (correct) the misclosure by adjustment  .

After adjusting a traverse, Visual Traverse will show the area give you the option to plot  the traverse immediately.

A traverse's misclosure must be less than 1% before the remaining misclosure can be eliminated by adjustment.

A traverse must be adjusted before its area can be calculated.

To plot a traverse map without adjusting it, see the Plot  command.

To use the measurements  to update the coordinates  and screen map , see the Recalc  command.


Leg Menu

The Options on the Leg Menu are:

Insert

Delete

Cut

Copy

Paste


Inserting a Traverse Leg

Choose Insert from the Leg menu  to make some new blanks in the traverse sheet  to put measurements  in.

The number of  Traverse Legs   added will be the number of Traverse legs currently highlighted on the Traverse Sheet.

Traverse Legs are automatically added as needed when adding measurements to the end of a traverse.

To remove traverse legs, see the Delete  command.

To transfer the contents of the clipboard into the traverse sheet, see the Paste  command.


Deleting Traverse Legs

Choose Delete from the Leg menu  to eliminate highlighted entries in the traverse sheet .

You will be given a chance to confirm this operation.

If you choose Yes the measurements in those traverse legs  will be lost

To add traverse legs, see the Insert  command.

To move the highlighted traverse legs to the clipboard, see the Cut  command.


Cutting Traverse Legs
Cutting Traverse Legs onto the Clipboard

Choose Cut from the Leg menu  to move highlighted measurements  in the traverse sheet . onto the clipboard.

To transfer the contents of the clipboard into the traverse sheet, see the Paste  command.

To remove traverse legs along with the measurements in them, see the Delete  command.


Copying Traverse Legs
Copying Traverse Legs to the Clipboard

Choose Copy from the Leg menu  to copy highlighted measurements  in the traverse sheet . to the clipboard.

To transfer the contents of the clipboard into the traverse sheet, see the Paste  command.

To move the highlighted traverse legs to the clipboard, see the Cut  command.


Pasting Traverse Legs
Pasting Traverse Legs from the Clipboard

Choose Paste from the Leg menu  to copy the contents of the clipboard into the highlighted Traverse Legs  in the traverse sheet ..

You will be given a chance to confirm this operation.

If you choose Yes the current measurements in those traverse legs  will be lost

You can take these measurements from other programs besides Visual Traverse, as long as each leg is on its own line, and measurements are separated from each other by a Tab.

To copy the highlighted measurements to the clipboard, see the Copy  command.

To add traverse legs, see the Insert  command.


Map Menu

The Options on the Map Menu are:

Copy

Redraw

Fit


Copying the Map
Copying the Map to the Clipboard

Choose Copy from the Map menu  to copy the screen map . to the clipboard.

The map will be stored in the clipboard as a Bitmap (BMP).

It can be pasted into most Windows word processors or graphics programs.

The bitmap resolution will be only as good as your screen resolution.

To copy the highlighted measurements on the Traverse Sheet  to the clipboard, see the Copy  command in the Leg menu .


Redrawing the Map

Choose Redraw from the Map menu  to update the screen map . on the basis of the coordinates  in the Traverse Sheet .

To update the coordinates  and screen map, see the Recalc  command.

To fit the map within the screen map area, see the Fit  command.


Fitting the Traverse into the Map Area
Fitting the Traverse into the Screen Map Area

Choose Fit from the Map menu  to automatically center the screen map . and show it at its optimum scale.

To update the screen map without centering it, see the Redraw  command.

To centre the map over a different point, see the Screen Centre  settings.

To change the scale for the map, see the Screen Scale  setting.


Preferences Menu

The Preferences... Menu loads the Preferences  dialog box:

Choose Preferences... to change settings that affect the way the current traverse is displayed.

See the Preferences  dialog box for details.


Help Menu

The Options on the Help Menu are:

Index

Shows the main index of Visual Traverse help (same as clicking Index above)

About

Shows information about this version of the program, and how to contact the distributor.


Getting a Filename

The File Name dialog box appears when the program needs you to supply it with the name of a file.

You can either enter the drive, directory, and file name directly in the File Name  box, or choose them from the drives , directories  , and files  lists.


Changing Drives

To select a different drive for the file, choose the drive letter here.

Click the down arrow, or tab to the drive list and press Alt+Down to see a list of the available drives.


Changing Directories

To select a different directory for the file, choose the directory name here.

Double-Click on the directory name, or tab to the directory list, select and press space to choose that directory.


Choosing a File

To select a different file name, you can choose it from this list.

Click on the file name, or tab to the directory list, select and press Enter to choose that file.


Entering a Filename

To select a different file name, you can type it in here.

A file name must have no more than 8 letters, with no punctuation marks or spaces. The extension (.TRV) will be added if necessary.

Example: If you enter ST107-3, it will be changed to ST107-3.TRV before accessing the disk.


Cancelling File Operations
Canceling File Operations

If you change your mind about selecting a file, just click Cancel, and you'll get back to where you were before.


Accepting a Filename

Once the file name shown in the File Name box is right, and the right drive and directories are shown or specified, Click OK or press Enter.


Preferences Dialog Box

The settings in the Preferences dialog box are:

Plot Scale

Label Frequency

Screen Centre

Show Coordinates

Distance Measurements

Slope Stationing

Data Directory


Centering the Screen Map

The Screen Centre numbers in the Preferences  dialog box are the coordinates of the centre of the map on the right of your screen.

Changing these numbers will show a different part of the traverse on the map. Try it and then choose Redraw  from the Map menu to see what effect the changes make.

If you've entered coordinates that don't show any part of the traverse, choose Fit from the Map menu to show the whole traverse again.


Changing the Screen Scale
Changing the Screen Map Scale Factor

The Screen Scale number in the Map  on the right of your screen is the scale that map was drawn at.

Changing this numbers will show the traverse at a different size on the map. Try it to see what effect the change makes.

If you've entered a scale that makes the plot useless, choose Fit from the Map menu to show the whole traverse again at its best round scale.

To change the scale for the plotted hardcopy output, see the Plot Scale  setting in the in the Preferences  dialog box.


Showing Coordinates
Showing Traverse Hub Coordinates

The Show Coordinates check box in the Preferences dialog box determines whether or not the Northing and Easting of each hub will be shown on the Traverse Sheet.

Select this setting if you want to know the coordinates of a certain station, so that you can start a different traverse of the same area at the right coordinates and have it plot in the right location as a reference file .

To change the station number or coordinates of the starting point, see the Starting Station and Coordinates  settings.


Changing the Starting Coordinates
Changing the Traverse Starting Station and Coordinates

The Starting Station and Coordinates numbers below the traverse sheet  are the station  and coordinates for the first point of the Traverse (the bottom entry in the traverse sheet).

Change these numbers to have the traverse plot in a different location as a reference file .

To see the coordinates of each hub, see the ShowNE  setting in the in the Preferences  dialog box.


Saving the Preferences

Click Save in the Preferences dialog box to record the current file settings for the next time you start the program.

To accept the current settings for the current session only, see the Ok  button in the in the Preferences  dialog box.


Cancelling Preference Changes
Canceling Preference Changes

Click Cancel in the Preferences dialog box to close the dialog box without acting on any changes you may have made in it.

To accept the current settings, see the Ok  button in the in the Preferences  dialog box.


Accepting Preference Changes

Click Ok in the Preferences dialog box to close the dialog box and accept the currently displayed settings.

To cancel the changes to the settings, see the Cancel  button in the in the Preferences  dialog box.


Changing the Label Frequency

The Label Frequency number in the Preferences dialog box determines how often a Traverse Hub will be labeled with its station on the Map and on the Plot.

Setting it to 10 will label every tenth hub.

Setting it to 1 will label every hub.

Setting it to 0 will not label any hubs.

To change the stationing method (slope or horizontal), see the Slope Stationing  setting in the Preferences  dialog box.


Changing the Data Directory

The Data Directory setting in the Preferences dialog box determines which directory will be used by default to store traverse files in.

Setting it to .\ will use the current directory.


Changin the Stationing Method
Changing the Stationing Method

The Slope Stationing setting in the Preferences dialog box determines whether the station labels will be calculated based on the slope distances or on the horizontal distances.

Setting it on will use the slope distances.

Normally, this is set off.

To change whether the distance measurements you enter will be Horizontal or Slope distances, see the Distance Measurements  setting in the in the Preferences  dialog box.

To change how often a Traverse Hub will be labeled with its station on the Map and on the Plot, see the Label Frequency  setting in the in the Preferences  dialog box.


Changing the Kind of Distances Entered

The Distance Measurements selection in the Preferences dialog box determines whether the distance measurements you enter will be Horizontal or Slope distances.

This depends on whether you corrected for slope in the field before you recorded the measurements or not. If you did correct them in the field, select Horizontal.

Normally, this is set to Slope.

To change the stationing method (slope or horizontal), see the Slope Stationing  setting in the Preferences  dialog box.


Changing the Plot Scale
Changing the Plotted Map Scale Factor

The Plot Scale number in the Preferences  dialog box is the scale that will be used to produce the plotted hard copy of the traverse.

Changing this numbers will plot the traverse at a different size on the printer or plotter.

If you've entered a scale that does not fill the paper optimally, you will be given a chance to change the scale when it plots.

To change the scale of the map on the screen, see the Screen Scale  setting.


Previewing Plotted Output
Previewing Expected Plotted Map Output

Choose Plot Preview from the File menu  to get an idea of what the Plot  command would produce on the default printer.

A North arrow will be drawn in the top left corner,

the Job name will be shown at the top as the title,

the map scale and survey Date will be shown at the bottom,

if the traverse is open, you have the option of showing the misclosure information at the bottom;

if the traverse is closed, the area will be shown at the bottom.

finally, the traverse and reference files  will be drawn, much like the screen map,

To make a hard copy of the map in the default printer, see the Plot  command.

To change which printer is currently active (default), see the Print Setup  command.


Previewing a Different Area
Previewing a Different Area of the Plotted Output

Use the scroll bars to move the preview around on the screen when using the Plot Preview command.

Click on the map or press space to close the Preview window.


Preview Output

Choose Plot Preview from the File menu  to get an idea of what the Plot  command would produce on the default printer.

A North arrow will be drawn in the top left corner,

the Job name will be shown at the top as the title,

the map scale and survey Date will be shown at the bottom,

if the traverse is open, you have the option of showing the misclosure information at the bottom;

if the traverse is closed, the area will be shown at the bottom.

finally, the traverse and reference files  will be drawn, much like the screen map,

To make a hard copy of the map in the default printer, see the Plot  command.

To change which printer is currently active (default), see the Print Setup  command.

Use the scroll bars to move the preview around on the screen.


Reference Files dialog box
Reference Files

At times one wants to plot more than one traverse at a time, or show how one traverse is located relative to another one. Reference files fill this need.

Reference files are traverses that are plotted along with the currently active traverse, as a background layer.

Only the legs of the reference file traverse will be plotted. Reference file station numbers and hubs are not plotted.

One use for reference files is to show how a road goes through a cut block. To accomplish this,

1) Enter the two traverses into separate files;

2) Open the traverse that you would like to have the station numbers and hubs.

3) Choose Add  from the Reference File dialog box.

4) Select the file containing the other traverse.

You may find it helpful to turn the Coordinate display on, with the Show Coordinates  setting in the Preferences...  dialog box.

It can be displayed, but not changed or edited. Only the currently open file can be edited.

To re-position a reference file, see the Tie Point...  button in the Reference  dialog box.

To remove the currently highlighted reference file from the list, see the Remove  command.

To add another reference file to the list, see the Add  command.


Closing the Reference Dialog Box

Click Ok when you are done adding or removing reference files  .

The Reference Files dialog box will close.

To re-position a reference file, see the Tie Point...  button in the Reference  dialog box.

To remove the currently highlighted reference file from the list, see the Remove  command.

To add another reference file to the list, see the Add  command.


Identifying the Reference File

The map will show what the selected reference  traverse looks like.

Only the legs of the reference traverse will be plotted. Reference file station numbers and hubs are not plotted.

To remove the currently highlighted reference file  from the list, see the Remove  command.

To re-position a reference file, see the Tie Point...  button in the Reference  dialog box.


Setting a Tie Point

Choose Tie Point... from the Reference  dialog box to open the Tie Point  dialog box.


Selecting a Reference File
Selecting a Reference File from the List

Click on the filename of the file you'd like to view or remove.

That the job name and the traverse will be displayed in the map box.

To re-position a reference file, see the Tie Point...  button in the Reference  dialog box.

To remove the currently highlighted reference file  from the list, see the Remove  command.


Removing a Reference File

Click Remove to remove the currently highlighted reference file  from the list of reference files attached to this traverse file.

That reference file will be removed from the list of files to be plotted as references, but it will still be on the disk.

To add another reference file to the list, see the Add  command.


Adding a Reference File

Click Add to add another reference file  to the list of reference files attached to this traverse file.

The Open File dialog box will open for you to select a traverse to add.

To re-position a reference file once it has been added, specify a tie point  by clicking the Tie Point...  button in the Reference  dialog box.

To remove the currently highlighted reference file from the list, see the Remove  command.


Tie Point Dialog Box

The settings in the Tie Point dialog box are:

Station

Coordinates


Setting the Tie Point by its Station

The Station settings in the Tie Point  dialog box identify the Tie Point  between the current traverse  and the reference file  by its station .

Changing this numbers will move the selected reference file to a different position relative to the current traverse.

To choose a tie point by coordinates , see the Coordinates  settings.


Setting the Tie Point by its Coordinates

The Coordinates settings in the Tie Point  dialog box identify the Tie Point  between the current traverse  and the reference file  by its coordinates .

Changing this numbers will move the selected reference file to a different position relative to the current traverse.

To choose a tie point by its station , see the Station  settings.


Traverse Sheet
Traverse Sheet: The table on the left side of the screen, where measurements are recorded.

Each traverse leg takes up one line in the traverse sheet.

The measurements run in order from bottom to top, just like the standard method of recording field notes.


Measurements
Measurements: The numbers the field crew records in their notes.

There are three kinds of measurements: Azimuth, Slope, and Distance.

A set of these three measurements is a Traverse leg.


Azimuth
Azimuth: the direction measured by a compass, in degrees clockwise from North.

For example, an azimuth of:

0 	is North,

90 	is East

180 	is South

225 	is South-West

270 	is West

360 	is North, etc.

Azimuths should be between 0 and 360 degrees only.

Visual Traverse uses the Azimuth and Horizontal Distance to calculate the position of the traverse hubs.


Distance
Distance: measured with a tape or chain (in metres), along the slope (not necessarily horizontally).

A typical distance would be 45.6 metres.

Visual Traverse calculates the Horizontal Distance for each Traverse leg from the measured Distance and the measured Slope.


Slope
Slope: the amount the distance measurement is off horizontal, measured with an inclinometer ("clino" or "Suunto") in percent.

The number represents the vertical distance as a percentage of the horizontal distance.

For example, a slope of:

0%	is flat,

8%	is a steep hill on the highway,

100%	is a 45° slope.

A typical slope would be 10%.

Visual Traverse calculates the Horizontal Distance for each Traverse leg from the measured Distance and the measured Slope.


Traverse Leg
Traverse Leg: A set of measurements from one traverse hub to the next.

The measurements are an Azimuth, a Slope, and a Distance.


Traverse Hub
Traverse Hub: A point in the field where traverse measurements are taken from or to.

A Traverse Hub will be assigned a Station number as it is entered into the Traverse Sheet.


Station
Station: A identifier given to a Traverse hub.

This identifier shows how far the Traverse Hub is from the beginning of the traverse.

The first Traverse Hub is given the station number of 0+000.0

A hub 50 metres along the traverse has a station of 0+050.0

A hub 1000 metres along the traverse has a station of 1+000.0

The number before the + expresses how many thousands of metres from the beginning of the traverse, and the other digits indicate the rest of the distance from the beginning of the traverse.


Traverse
Traverse: A series of measured Azimuths, Slopes, and Distances that describe the path these measurements were taken along.

A traverse can be either:

closed, meaning it encloses an area (such as a cut-block), and ends back where it began, or

open, meaning it follows a linear object (such as a road).


Coordinates
Coordinates: a pair of numbers that specify the location of a point.

The two numbers are called the Northing and the Easting.

The Northing is the point's location in the North-South direction (the larger the number, the farther North the point is). Other names for Northing are Latitude and Y.

The Easting is the point's location in the East-West direction (the larger the number, the farther East the point is.) Other names for Easting are Departure and X.


Map
Map: The picture of the traverse, in the lower right section of the screen.


Misclosure
Misclosure: The distance from the ending point of the traverse to the starting point.

The misclosure can be expressed absolutely in metres, or relatively as a percentage of the total traverse length.

The misclosure on a traverse that is supposed to be closed should be less than 1%.

If it is less than 1%, the remaining misclosure can be corrected , and the area calculated.

The area cannot be calculated on a traverse with more than 1% misclosure.


Adjustment
Adjustment: The process of correcting traverse hub coordinates so that the misclosure is eliminated.

Visual Traverse uses the Compass Rule to move each traverse hub an amount proportional to its distance along the traverse.

A traverse's misclosure must be less than 1% before the remaining misclosure can be eliminated by adjustment.

A traverse must be adjusted before its area can be calculated.


Reference File
Reference File: A traverse that is plotted along with the currently active traverse, as a background layer.

At times one wants to plot more than one traverse at a time, or show how one traverse is located relative to another one. Reference files fill this need.

Only the legs of the reference file traverse will be plotted. Reference file station numbers and hubs are not plotted.

One use for reference files is to show how a road goes through a cut block. To accomplish this,

1) Enter the two traverses into separate files;

2) Open the traverse that you would like to have the station numbers and hubs.

3) Choose Add  from the Reference File dialog box.

4) Select the file containing the other traverse.

If the files are not positioned correctly relative to each other, you will need to make some adjustments with the Starting Station and Coordinates  settings in the Preferences...  dialog box.

You may find it helpful to turn the Coordinate display on, with the Show Coordinates  setting in the Preferences...  dialog box.


Tie Point
Tie Point: A point in common between two traverses .

Tie Points are used to position Reference Files  in the right location.

Example: a road traverse goes through a cut block .

The point they intersect at is the Tie Point.

That point might be 1+023 in the block traverse, and 2+456 in the road traverse.