XDRefs in Land Desktop

Overview:

External Data References are used in Point Label Styles to label points in a drawing with data from an external Access database. XDRefs refer to a column in the Access database that contains a certain type of data. The database must contain a column of point numbers which correspond to those in your drawing.

This walk-through is not intended to be an exhaustive explanation. It is intended to briefly explain the steps involved in setting up XDRefs. For more information see the help in Land Desktop which is quite extensive.

Create an Access Database | Create the XDRefs in Land Desktop | Create a Point Label Style

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Create an Access Database
There is a sample access database in your Land Desktop project under ...\projectname\Cogo\UserDB\SamplUserDB.mdb. You can start with it and edit it as needed. In Access to get data from an external file (like an Excel Spreadsheet) click on *File\Get External Data\Import...* and follow the prompts. Note: If you are using Access2000 you will need to convert the database (with no database open click Tools\Database Utilities\Convert Database\To Current Access Database Version...). After you edit it you need to do the same again and click To Prior Access Version.
Here's an example of the format of the Access database:	There are a few requirements for the database that must be followed: The first column MUST be called PNO and it's index MUST be called PNOIDX. To change the index: In Design View (to get to design view click View\Design View) click *View\Indexes* and make sure the PNO index name is PNOIDX. Top

Create the XDRefs in Land Desktop
Once the database is setup correctly and saved in Access97 format you are ready to create the XDRefs in Land Desktop. You need to create one XDRef for each column of data you wish to use from the database. For instance in the example above you might want to create 2 XDRefs, one for the surface elevation and one for the surface description. You can then label the points in the drawing with the data in the database.
Click on Points\Point Management\XDRef Manager... then click the Create XDRef icon. You'll need to browse to your database location, select the table name (if your database has more than one), select the column name that contains the data for this particular XDRef and then enter a name for the XDRef. The name you use for the XDRef is what you will select when you create your label style.
Once you've created an XDRef for each column you want to reference you can edit your point label style to use the XDRefs. Top	Our example would look like this when you've added the three references:

Create a Point Label Style containing XDRefs
When you create your point label style you'll see that in the XDRef box the XDRefs you've created are listed. Select the ones you want and click the >>Text button to add them. I've added some extra text, you could also use a formula if you like just like with any other point label. Top
Once that's done just set the point label style current and insert the points. Top

XDRefs in Land Desktop

Create an Access Database

Create the XDRefs in Land Desktop

Create a Point Label Style containing XDRefs