Topo converter v2.0 is out

[Paul De Bie]

Dear all,

I would like to present version 2 of my survey converter. It is the first time that it is available
in English language. 

You can download it here (costs nothing):
http://www.scavalon.be/avalonuk/software/convert.htm

Please read the manual before using the tool, otherwise you might be disappointed... converting
survey files from one format into another is something that needs some explanation and preparation.
And remember input = output. You put a bad survey in, you'll get a bad survey out. 

It is based around a special but simple plain text format that I have been using for many years now,
to manage surveys of quite big and complex cave systems. I called it the "Avalon Text Format". You
are not obliged to use this format (though I recommend it; see the manual for my arguments) but the
converter will use it as an intermediate format anyhow. E,g. to go from Visual Topo "TRO" files to
Compass "DAT" files you first do a TRO->TXT conversion, then TXT->DAT. 

New in this version is the possibility to read Toporobot TAB files. It is one of the few converters
that can handle such files, and possibly the first "bridge" to go from Toporobot to Compass. It
might open new worlds for some people who have such files. 
I had to work with some Toporobot files I received from friends of mine. The file format was poorly
documented which meant some guessing and trial-and-error work. I hope I got everything covered...but
I have to admit that I'm not even sure if it will convert everything. Has the fileformat changed
recently? Latest Toporobot version is 9.1.7 and I don't even know if the files I've got are version
8 or 9. Well give me some feedback, if it doesn't work! Example given: I just found out about
"Topofil" lengths, I haven't covered this yet so it won't work.

What conversions are supported now: 

Compass DAT -> Avalon TXT
Toporobot TAB -> Avalon TXT
Visual Topo TRO -> Avalon TXT
Avalon TXT -> Compass DAT
Compass DAT -> Onstation CDI (Old stuff, I know, but still fun to play with)

Once you have your data in Compass DAT, you can easily go to other formats because a lot of other
cave surveying programs can read/import native DAT files. 

If you come across bugs or errors, please let me know.

I'm leaving on a 10 day caving expedition tomorrow, so I won't be able to follow up rapidly on
whatever you might suggest or find. 

Happy surveying.



Paul De Bie
http://www.scavalon.be
http://scavalon.blogspot.com
http://pollekepik.blogspot.com