Lanc & Tully Soil Test Data Entry Procedure –
11/25/08
Ver. 2.4.2
General Overview
Soil tests are now to be recorded in our soil test database. A separate set of files will be created automatically when you start a new project in AutoCAD Land Desktop in the “Soiltest” subdirectory. Below is the normal sequence of events to be followed when using the Soiltest Database.
- Create points in the AutoCAD drawing corresponding to the field book data (in AutoCAD)
- This should be done first to verify that specific point numbers are available. The “8XXX” or “9XXX” should be recorded in the field book to maintain synchronicity between the Soiltest Database and the field book data.
- The points created during this stage will have little or no significant labeling. The proper labels will be created after the Soiltest Database has been populated and the points have been reinserted.
- Enter Field Book Data into Access Database (in MSAccess)
- This should be done in sequential order if at all possible to take advantage of the automatic data entry routines for certain fields.
- Setup Label Styles and Settings in AutoCAD (in AutoCAD)
- Create XDRefs
- Create Label Styles
- Set Current Label Style
- Choose Point Settings
- Insert all points into the AutoCAD drawing using the general Label Styles (in AutoCAD)
- Verify data and points are correct
- The “All Points” reports for each type of test is useful for checking data entry correctness.
- Finalize Database Information (in MSAccess)
- Designate tests as “A” or “B” and flag the tests to be shown in the Access database.
- Update lot number information.
- Check “show” for points to be used.
- Remove all test points from the AutoCAD drawing (in AutoCAD)
- Create point groups based on the show flag using filters. (in AutoCAD)
- Reinsert the test points by point group with the final label style (in AutoCAD)
- Rotate blocks to the horizontal position of the viewport (in AutoCAD)
- Generate reports to create ASCII.txt files for import into AutoCAD Mtext (in MSAccess)
1. Create Soiltest Points in An AutoCAD Drawing
You will be manually creating points in AutoCAD Land Desktop. It is important to set the point numbering correctly (based on the test type) and mark any point numbers used in the field book data sheets for future cross-referencing. Perc test point range will be 8001-8999. Deep test point range is 9001-9999.
2. How to Start the Lanc & Tully Soil Test Database Program
You need to start Microsoft Access first. Navigate to the proper subdirectory in the project directories (e.g. T:/Land Projects/XXXXXXXXX/Soiltest). You will find “soiltest.mdb”. See Appendix A for instructions on adding the soiltest files to an existing project. The first time you open the database it asks if you want to “Convert Database” or “Open Database”. Choose “Open Database”. The current release of Land Desktop requires a Microsoft Access 97 Table.
The
Soil Test Main Menu
Choose Perc Tests or Deep Tests to enter data
Choose the buttons below for a corresponding report.
Perc Tests in AutoCAD Drawings
List of fields (Perc Tests) – The current release of Land Desktop requires a Microsoft Access 97 Table with the “PNO” field as a required field. The following format is specific and maintains the cross-link to the Land Desktop Points database care should be taken before attempting to change these fields. The tables and reports have already been created and are provided in this section for reference only.
Enter Data
Data entry should be done using the data entry form below.
The upper portion of the form is for data pertaining to the perc test hole. The lower portion of the form is for the individual perc test runs. Comments pertaining to the individual runs belong in the lower portion while comments specific to the hole in general go in the upper portion. The “PASSED” check box and “PERC_RATE” are updated automatically when stability is checked.
***NOTE - If you want to override “PERC_RATE”, type “*” as the first character in that field to disable the automatic update feature. If “PERC_RATE” is left blank, it will not update with the stability check.
Enter START and END TIMES using 24 hour format (i.e. 01:00:00PM = 13:00:00) and the display will show AM & PM time format. The RATE column is calculated by subtracting the START TIME from the END TIME. The “SHOW” check box is used to choose which points to show in reports and for building point groups in AutoCAD. To get a new form for the next point, click “Add New Point” button. The next available test point number is automatically inserted. You may change the point number at this time but you cannot change it to an existing number. Once you leave this record, you can not change the point number from this form. To delete the current point information click “Delete Current Point”. These buttons Add or Delete the point information for whole form. To Add another test run, just click the mouse into the blank field under the Start Time column and type in the new Start Time. To delete a specific test run record, click into the small gray square to the left of the test run to be deleted. The whole range row should become highlighted. Pressing the delete key on your keyboard will allow you to delete the row.
Check Perc Test Stability – Click on the “CHECK STABILITY” button to test for stability. Good test results return a green “STABILIZED” indicator and Bad test results return a red “NOT STABILIZED” indicator. Decreasing Perc Rate of consecutive runs is also checked.
***NOTE - Test stability is determined in accordance with the Orange County Dept. of Health Sewage Disposal System Checklist Form OCHD CL-SDS 6/05.
Program Utilities
Data Cleanup routine – If you have trouble running the reports, try using the Data Cleanup utility to fix Perc and Deep Data before re-running any reports.
This routine deletes records from the deepdata table for blank depth_range or blank soil_desc. It also deletes records from the percdata table for blank start_time or blank end_time. All you need to do is click on the “pencil eraser” icon once and the repair occurs in the background (silently w/some rapidly flashing screens).
Renumber Soil Test Point – Utility for renumbering the points along with all associated data. If the number already exists, there is an overwrite option.
Deep Tests in AutoCAD Drawings
List of Fields (Deep Tests) - Create Microsoft Access 97 Table with Auxiliary information. The “PNO” field is the only required field. The format is specific and maintains the cross-link to the Land Desktop Points database. The tables and reports have already been created and are provided in this section for reference only.
Enter Data
Data entry should be done using the data entry form below.
The upper portion of the form is for data pertaining to the
Test Pit. The lower portion of the form is for information pertaining to the
individual ranges of soil characteristics. Click the “NO GW, NO BR” to add “NO
GW, NO BR” to the COMMENTS field. The “SHOW” check box is used to choose which
points to show in reports and for building point groups in AutoCAD. To get a
new form for the next point, click “Add New Point” button. The next available
test point number is automatically inserted. You may change the point number at
this time but you cannot change it to an existing number. Once you leave this
record, you can not change the point number from this form. To delete the
current point information click “Delete Current Point”. These buttons Add or Delete the point information for whole form. To Add another depth range, just click the mouse into the blank
field under the
The
Enter Soil Description Data using Description
Builder
Data entry should be done using the data entry form below. The Soil Test Description Builder dialog box opens automatically if you enter an empty Soil Description field in the Deep Test form. Choose the most descriptive terms from the drop down lists and make any modifications after the builder dialog box has updated the Deep Test form.
Setup Label Styles and Settings
in AutoCAD
3a. Define XDRefs
From the POINTS menu – Click POINT MANAGEMENT
Open XDRef Manager
Create XDRefs – the following XDRefs are used for both the Perc and Deep soil tests.
3b. Create Label Style for Points
This defines the “look” of the labels.
***Note - The System Administrator will normally create the label styles. This only needs to be done once and is mentioned here to outline the mechanics of the program. DO NOT CHANGE these settings.
Text height = Drawing scale X 0.1
Two styles need to be created. One for general use that would include more information and a final style, which is the label we want to see on our submitted plans.
Soil Test – Perc (General Use)
Soil Test – Perc (Final)
Soil Test – Deep (General Use)
Soil Test – Deep (Final)
3c. Set Current Label Style
From the “Labels” menu, click on “Settings”. On the General tab, uncheck both “Update Labels” boxes to prevent having to reposition text after inadvertent changes to the label styles. Make sure that the Style Files Path is set to the network directory where the standard label styles can be found.
Set the current label style depending on what type of test and whether you wish to see general test labels or final test labels. Section 3b shows the four choices for label names.
Set Label Rotation Angle = 360° - Dview
Twist Angle of the view.
3d. Edit Point Settings
From the POINTS menu – Click POINT SETTINGS
Under the “Create” tab, make sure “Insert To Drawing As Created” & “Sequential Numbering” are enabled and the next available point number is specified in the “Current number” box. You can set the Elevations and Descriptions to “None” so that you will not be prompted for that information as you insert your points in the drawing.
Under the “Insert” tab, set the elevation to 0.00 and insure that Point Labeling with Label Style is enabled. If the Search Path is not correct, AutoCAD will not be able to locate the correct block to insert. Wrong settings in this window are the number one cause of blocks not coming in when creating points.
Under the “Marker” tab, make sure blank custom marker is checked
Under the “Text” tab, make sure “visible” isn’t checked for each of the components
Although the above dialog box above appears to be the logical place to adjust the text rotation, it does not function as expected when using XDRefs. You must set the rotation angle in the POINT LABEL SETTINGS dialog box (see section 3c).
4. Insert Points with Blocks Manually
Insure
you are using the correct point number range for the type of soil test. The
range is 8001-8999 for perc tests and 9001-9999 for
deep tests. To set the next point number to use, choose POINT SETTINGS from the
POINTS menu. Be sure to insert them in MODEL SPACE within the layout. The
drawing scale in the project drawing setup will govern the block and text scale
sizes.
5. Soil Test Reports
Clicking
the Report icon on the “MainMenu” opens this window
for various Soil Test Reports. Before the Final report can be used, “A” or “B”
test designations and “show” must be assigned.
Septic Design Requirements – This report shows the Septic Design Requirements based on the Max Perc Rate of all the perc tests done on each lot. It only calculates and displays tests that are marked “SHOW”. Both conventional and Elgin Systems septic designs are displayed. If the design exceeds 500 LF, a caution note comes on to warn the user that a dosing chamber is required. A full report of all lots and their design criteria is available under Perc Reports as well as in this form. The basic design criteria comes from Table 5, Individual Residential Wastewater Treatment Systems Design Handbook, 1996, New York State Dept. of Health (The “RED Book”). There has been a change in this calculation based on a fax from the OCHD dated 10/4/07. This document specifies this calculation method has been in effect since 2/7/07.
6. Finalize Database Information.
Assign test designations “A” or “B”, Update the lot number, and choose “show” for each test to be used.
7. Remove all Soiltest
points from the drawing.
Remove all points in the range 8001-9999 from the AutoCAD drawing. When prompted to remove the Desckey symbol, choose “Yes”.
8. Creating Point Groups using filters (in AutoCAD)
Once test points have been designated and flagged to be shown, point groups should be created. Follow the procedure below to create PERC-FINAL and DEEP-FINAL point groups.
***NOTE***
Due to what appears to be a
bug in Point Group Manager in LandDesktop, point
numbers cannot be “included” at the same time XDRef
“Show” is specified. The temporary workaround is to “exclude” the other test
points from the group after all the “Show”s are applied.
Click
Apply
Click
OK
Click Apply
Click OK
9. Insert Points by Point Groups into the AutoCAD
Drawing
Insure the proper label styles and the correct text rotation angle are set (Refer to section 3c of this document). Be sure to insert them in MODEL SPACE within the layout.
10. Edit Rotation Angle of Blocks in Properties
This
is done to align the blocks horizontally in the drawing. All blocks named “tp” are selected and the properties are set globally. Use
“pt” for perc tests.
**Note – Rotation Angle=360°-Dview Twist Angle of the View
11. Generate ASCII Reports
After selecting a “Final” report, EXPORT to a text file (*.txt) in the project soiltest directory. This file will eventually be imported to an AutoCAD Mtext box. If necessary, the “extra” blank lines can be removed using the following procedure.
- Open reportname.txt file in Word
- Click “Edit” then “Replace” from the Menu
- Find “^p^p” and Replace with “^p” (Use Replace All)
- Repeat previous step until no more instances of “^p^p” are found.
Appendix
A
How to add the soil test files to an existing project
Using Windows Explorer (My Computer), copy the whole “Soiltest” subdirectory in the project directory.
“Copy S:\Drafting Standards\Soiltest\Soiltest.mdb” to T:\Land Projects\YourProjectNo\Soiltest\ Soiltest.mdb
Programming Specific Comments
This application was originally designed using AutoCAD Land Desktop R3 with Microsoft Access 2000 database files converted back to Access 97. There seem to be no compatibility issues when using this application in AutoCAD LDT2008. Autodesk still requires all Access files to be Access 97 Version.
* Special Note: This program must be edited and converted to Access 97 using MS2000 version of Access for compatibility issues.
Revision documentation is kept within the database using the revision control form.