Viewing GPS points/lines/polygons

After you send in the proper metadata form(s), you will receive an e-mail with your shapfile (plus other files).  In order to view your files, you'll need at least one of the following softwares: ArcGIS (ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo), OR Excel/Wordpad/Notepad.  The files will be e-mailed to you in a zipper folder.  Right click on the folder and choose Extract all. (If you don't have Winzip installed you have to install that first).

GeoXT
The zipped folder will contain four types of files:

1.)  .ssf files:  These are uncorrected Trimble field data files.  These cannot be viewed outside of the Trimble
       software Pathfinder Office.  Save these files, however, in case you need to recreate your shapefile.

2.) .cor files:  These are corrected Trimble field data files.  These cannot be viewed outside of the Trimble
      software Pathfinder Office.  Save these files, however, in case you need to recreate your shapefile.

3.)  At least one folder, containing your shapefile(s).  The shapefile is made up of three components (.shp, 
     .shx, .dbf).  You need to keep all of these components.

4.)  Data dictionary file:  This is the file that was created so that you could collect attributes.  It cannot be
      viewed outside of Trimble software Pathfinder Office.

Hiper Pro
The zipped folder will contain three sets of files:

1.)  text file:  This will be a text file with your last name first initial (smithx).  It contains all your points (as well 
      as all localization points), and gives them in ground coordinates (not lat/long).  Remember that these 
      coordinates and elevation are all relative to the starting point for the localization used.  These would be
      helpful if you are trying to get back to a localization using the conventional Total Station, which reads in
      ground control units.

2.) text file2:  This will be a text file with your last name first initial and the #2 (smithx2).  It contains all your
     points (as well as all localization points) in lat/long (decimal degrees), as well as elevation.  These are the 
     data that you would use if you wanted to navigate back to the location using the Hiper Pro, GeoXT, or other 
     GPS unit. Both of these text files can be viewed using Excel, Wordpad, or Notepad.

3.) A shapefile, which will consists of your last name, first initial, and a data (smithx08142006).
     There may be a second shapefile called GOTHIIC, which has the monument (localization) points.  Again, the
     shapefile is made up of three components (.shp, .shx, .dbf), and you need to keep all three. 

TO VIEW THE SHAPEFILE USING ARCGIS
     If you have access to GIS software, you can view your points in a map.  Most people want to view the points over an aerial photo, although you can view them on any base layer (topo, DEM, etc).  In Barclay, Open ArcMap > Hit the Add data button (+) > navigate to Database connection > Double-click GISdatasets.sde > The list of all of RMBL GIS datasets will become available > If you want to use an aerial photo, you have several choices.  You can use the USGS black and white photos (which cover all of Gunnison county) or you can use the color aerial photos (which cover most of the Gothic valley from Mt. Crested Butte to Schofield pass).  If you want the USGS photos, scroll so that you see files with the prefix RMBL.DBO.DOQ.  If you want the color photos, scroll so that you see files with the prefix RMBL.DBO.COLOR.  Highlight as many aerial photos (or whatever base layer you choose) as you need > Click Add.  Hit the Add data button again > navigate to where you save your shapefile > highlight the shapefile and Click Add.  Your feature will show up in the Layers box on the left hand side, along with any base layers.  Right click on your feature and choose Open Attribute table.  This will show you all the data available about your points/lines/polygons.  To view information about a single feature, choose the information tool (i) from the toolbar and click on any point/line/polygon.

TO VIEW YOUR COORDINATES USING EXCEL/WORDPAD/NOTEPAD
     If you don't have GIS software, you can view your data using Excel.  Although you won't have a map of the data, you can view the coordinates, and associated info.  This works differently for GeoXT versus Hiper Pro.

GeoXT:  Open the folder containing your shapefile.  Right click on the .dbf file, and choose to open it with Excel. This should display your coordinates, associated info (such as PDOP, vertical/horizontal accuracy), and all your attribute info (data dictionary).

Hiper Pro:   You can view your coordinates and elevation by right clicking on the second of your text files (smithx2), and choosing Excel/Wordpad/Notepad.  This will show you the pt name, lat, long, and elevation.