TPC 2026 - What Shapes are Supported

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What Shapes Are Supported

TPC imports the following shapes

•Point, Polyline and Polygon

•PointZ, PolylineZ and PolygonZ

•PointM, PolylineM and PolygonM

TPC exports the following shapes

•Point and Polyline

•PointZ and PolylineZ

Elevations

A [shape type]Z shape file, like PointZ, contains elevation information whereas a Point shape does not. TPC assumes an elevation of zero when importing shapes without elevations.

Importing Shapes with Elevations

Imported shape files specify their shape type, so TPC knows when they contain elevations and imports them.

When importing point shapes without elevations into a survey, TPC looks for a corresponding Z or ELLIPSE_HT field for each record in the associated DBF file. If found, it applies that elevation to the corresponding survey point. For shape files with a Local or Projected coordinate system, TPC looks for a Z field. For Geographic coordinate systems TPC looks for an ELLIPSE_HT field.

Exporting Shapes with Elevations

You turn elevations and ellipse heights on or off in the Shape Export Settings dialog.

•If you turn them On, TPC exports the corresponding PointZ or PolylineZ shape file.

•If you turn them Off, TPC exports the corresponding Point or Polyline shape file.

See Exporting Shape Elevations.

Polygons and PolygonZs

TPC does not export Polygon shapes. Traverses and drawing objects other than points are exported as polylines.

When importing polygons, TPC treats them like an imported polyline.

What’s Not Supported

TPC does not support MultiPatch or MultiPoint shapes or Null shapes. When TPC encounters unsupported shapes in a shape file, it displays a warning message and cancels the operation.