TPC can import shape files into the survey, creating survey points and traverses.
Import Traverse Names from GIS Shape DBF (3:20) - TPC now imports the traverse names it exports for polyline shapes and the point labels and descriptions it exports for point shapes.
Point Shapes
•From the Desktop, choose File | Import. You will see the Import dialog.
•Select ESRI Shape from the Type list.
•Enter a file name for the import file or choose Browse.
•Choose Settings, select the Import options you want and choose OK.
•From the Import dialog, choose Import.
TPC reads the shape file, creating a survey point for every Point shape in the file.
TPC creates a new traverse, using the import file name for the traverse name, and appends the imported shape points into that traverse. Tag that traverse to show the imported points in a drawing.
TPC labels the imported points using the starting point label you specify in the Shape Settings dialog, modifying them as needed to ensure they are unique to the survey. TPC also looks for point labels in the corresponding dbf file. See Database Files below.
Polyline and Polygon Shapes
When you import a Polyline shape file into a survey, TPC creates a traverse for each polyline shape record in the file.
•From the Desktop, choose File | Import. You will see the Import dialog.
•Select ESRI Shape from the Type list.
•Enter a file name for the import file or choose Browse and select the file. Beginning with TPC 2026, you can select either a .shp or .zip file.
•Choose Settings, select the Import options you want and choose OK.
•From the Import dialog, choose Import.
TPC reads the shape file, creating a traverse for every Polyline or Polygon shape in the file.
Traverse Threshold
If TPC determines that the shape file contains a large number of records, it suggests that you import the shapes into a drawing, but allows you to continue importing them into the survey if you choose. You can change the threshold number at which TPC issues this warning in the Shape file settings dialog.
Traverse Drawing Settings
When a traverse is created for an imported polyline or polygon, TPC sets it's Traverse Drawing Settings to draw just the lines and to draw them as a 0.00" width polyline. When importing shape files with lots of polylines, say 1000+ imported from a FEMA map, this greatly reduces the time it takes TPC to draw those traverses.
You are then free to change the Traverse Drawing Settings of any of those imported traverses to whatever you want.
Beginning with TPC Desktop 2026, TPC can import these shape types when importing shapes into a survey.
TPC reads the M value for each shape and appends it to the point or traverse description as M:[value].
Database Files
When importing shapes into a survey, TPC first reads the shape, then gathers what information it can from any database files associated with the shape file you import. Shape names import as traverse names because the correlation between shapes and traverses is so strong. See Importing Shape DBF Data
Projection (PRJ) Files
When TPC imports a shape file, it looks for a projection file (.prj) in the same folder. If found, TPC reads the information in the projection file to compute the imported shape points.
Information about the PRJ files is displayed in the Status box, so you know the name of the projection and other information like it's Datum and Units.
If your current survey does not have a CRS
If TPC is able to read the PRJ file and your current survey does not have a CRS, TPC will prompt you to use the PRJ file as the CRS for the survey. If you say No or if TPC is not able to use the PRJ file, you will be prompted to select a CRS for the survey. Pick one that matches the PRJ file.
