TerraScan Key-in Commands

Most of the tools in TerraScan can be started by entering a key-in command in the MicroStation Key-in line. The Browse Key-in option of the Key-in line can be used to find out the syntax of a key-in command. To bring up the key-in dialog press enter in an active MicroStation view window.

If you select TSCAN in the list at the lower right corner of the Browse Key-in dialog, the selection of commands is limited to TerraScan commands only. There are four list fields that show available commands. Select the first word of a command in the left list. This adds the word to the command line and displays matching second words in the second-left list field. Select the second word of a command. This adds the word to the command line and displays any matching third words in the next list field. Continue until a command is complete.

If you know approximately, how a command looks like, you may start typing the command in the Key-in line. The software automatically completes words of the command, so you just type the first letter(s) and then, confirm the suggested word with <Space>.

Press <Enter> in order to execute a key-in command. This starts the corresponding tool or performs another action called by the command.

Key-in commands are handy because you can assign them to function keys in MicroStation. This can speed up some manual tasks significantly as you can call tools by pressing a key instead of mouse clicks. Especially tools with optional parameters in their key-in commands are well suited for speeding up manual work with function keys.

This lists key-in commands and their optional parameters that you may consider assigning to function keys.

Add Point To Ground

Add Point To Ground key-in command adds a point to the ground class and re-iterates its closest environment. You identify the laser point to add after starting the command with a data click.

Syntax:

add point to ground

Corresponding menu command: Add point to ground

Assign Point Class

Assign Point Class key-in command assigns a point class to a single laser point or to all points belonging to the same group. You identify the laser point with a data click after starting the command.

Syntax:

assign point class from=2/to=6/classify=single/select=highest/ within=2.0

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from=n	Source class. Use from=999 or from=any to use any visible points.
to=n	Target class.
classify=x	Points to classify: single or group.
select=x	Point to classify within the search radius: closest to mouse pointer, highest, or lowest.
within=n	Search radius for selecting the highest or lowest point.

Corresponding tool: Assign Point Class

Classify Above Line

Classify Above Line key-in command classifies points above a given line in a section view. You specify the line with two data clicks after starting the command.

Syntax:

classify above line [From] To

For example:

“Classify above line 6 9” will setup the tool to classify above line from class 6 to class 9.

“Classify above line 9” will setup the tool to classify above line from any class to class 9.

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from	Source class(es). Use 999 or no value at all to classify any visible points. Separate several source classes by a comma or minus, for example class=1,3-5.
to	Target class.

Corresponding tool: Classify Above Line

Classify Below Line

Classify Below Line key-in command classifies points below a given line in a section view. You specify the line with two data clicks after starting the command.

Syntax:

classify below line [from] to

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from	Source class(es). Use 999 or no value at all to classify any visible points. Separate several source classes by a comma or minus, for example class=1,3-5.
to	Target class.

Corresponding tool: Classify Below Line

Classify Close To Line

Classify Close To Line key-in command classifies points above, below or close to a given line in a section view. You define the line with two data clicks inside a section view.

Syntax:

classify close to line abovefrom=any/aboveto=3/abovetol=0.1

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
abovefrom=n	Source class above line. Use 999 or any to classify any visible points.
aboveto=n	Target class above line.
abovetol=x	Tolerance above line.
closeform=n	Source class close to line. Use 999 or any to classify any visible points.
closeto=n	Target class close to line.
belowfrom=n	Source class below line. Use 999 or any to classify any visible points.
belowto=n	Target class below line.
belowtol=x	Tolerance below line.

Corresponding tool: Classify Close To Line

Classify Fence

Classify Fence key-in command classifies points inside an existing fence. It also starts the Place Fence tool so that you can immediately place a new or the next fence.

Syntax:

classify fence [from] to

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from	Source class(es). Use 999 or no value at all to classify any visible points. Separate several source classes by a comma or minus, for example class=1,3-5.
to	Target class.

Corresponding tool: Classify Fence

Classify Inside Shapes

Classify Inside Shapes key-in command classifies points inside selected shapes. Source class, destination class and expand distance may be set as parameters if the key-in command.

The command requires that at least one shape element is selected in the design file. It classifies the points inside selected shapes immediately, no manual action is required.

Syntax:

classify inside shapes from=5/to=6/expand=1.0

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from=n	Source class(es). Use from=999 or from=any to classify from any class.
to=n	Target class.
expand=n	Distance by which to expand the shapes. Positive values expand and negative values shrink the shapes.

Corresponding macro action: Inside shapes

Classify Using Brush

Classify Using Brush key-in command classifies points inside a circular or rectangular brush. You define the points to classify placing a data click and moving the brush over the points in a top or section view. Stop the tool by placing another data click.

Syntax:

classify using brush from=2/to=6/size=15/shape=circle

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from=n	Source class(es). Use from=999 or from=any to classify any visible points. Separate several source classes by a comma or minus, for example class=1,3-5.
to=n	Target class.
size=n	Brush size. Given in pixels on screen.
shape=n	Shape of the brush: circle or rectangle.

Classify View

Classify View key-in command classifies points which are visible inside a view. You select the view with a data click after starting the command.

Syntax:

classify view [From] To

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
from	Source class(es). Use 999 or no value at all to classify any visible points.
to	Target class.

There is no corresponding tool, menu command, or macro action.

Create Editable Model

Create Editable Model key-in command creates a TerraModeler editable surface model. The command starts TerraModeler if it is not yet running. It creates the editable surface model, keeps the model in the memory and stores the model file on the hard disk. The storage location and name of the model file on the hard disk are the same as of the design file.

Syntax:

  create editable model class name

Parameters:

Parameters:	Effect:
class	Point class from which the editable surface model is created.
name	Name of the editable surface model.

Corresponding menu command: Create Editable Model

Development Assign Echo

Development Assign Echo key-in command is used for re-assigning return number and number of returns by sorting points by time and assigning echo.

Syntax:

development assign echo

There is no corresponding tool, menu command, or macro action.

Development Normals

Development Normals key-in command is used for drawing the normal vectors into the CAD file.

Syntax:

development normals [length]

Parameters:

Parameters:	Effect:
length	An optional parameter specifying the length of line to draw.

There is no corresponding tool, menu command, or macro action.

Development Replace Angle

Development Replace Angle key-in command is used for populating scan angle field with estimated scan angle values.

Syntax:

development replace angle

There is no corresponding tool, menu command, or macro action.

Development Scale Color

Development Scale Color key-in command is used for scaling color values.

Syntax:

development scale color

There is no corresponding tool, menu command, or macro action.

Fix Elevation

Fix Elevation key-in command changes the elevations of laser points inside given polygons. Each laser point inside one polygon is fixed to the same elevation value. The polygons used for this action can be defined by a fence, selection, or a specific MicroStation level.

The command manipulates the points inside polygons immediately, no manual action is required.

Syntax:

fix elevation class=2,8/percentile=5/level=10/color=7

Possible parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
class=n	Classes to modify. Use class=999 or class=all to modify all points. Separate several classes by a comma or minus, for example class=1,3-5.
polygon=n	Type of polygons: fence, selected, or level.
percentile=n	If given, elevation values are computed from the points inside the polygon and n specifies the percentile (0=minimum, 50=median, 100=maximum) of points.
elevation=n	If given, elevation values of all points are set to the fixed value, for example elevation=0.0.
level=n	Design file level to search for polygons. If given, it forces polygon=level.
color=n	If given, filters polygons by color in addition to level. Uses MicroStation color numbers.
weight=n	If given, filters polygons by line weight in addition to level. Uses MicroStation line weight numbers.
style=n	If given, filters polygons by line style in addition to level. Uses MicroStation line style numbers.

Corresponding tool: Fix elevation

Mouse Point Adjustment

Mouse Point Adjustment key-in command can be used for turning mouse point adjustment on/off and setting the appropriate parameters. Mouse Point Adjustment adjusts vector data to the location and/or the elevation of laser points. You can use this tool with any MicroStation element placement tool. Mouse Point Adjustment simply fixes the coordinates of data clicks, which means the vertices of vector elements to laser data coordinates. It might be considered as a “snap to laser points” tool.

Syntax:

Mouse Point Adjustment AdjZ=1/AdjXy=0/Point=Closest/Class=2/Within=0.5

Possible parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
AdjZ=n	If given, the elevation of data clicks (vertices of elements) is adjusted. n defines a constant value that is added to the point cloud elevation when vertices are placed. If n=0, the parameter is deactivated.
AdjXy=n	If n=1, the parameter is activated and the xy location of data clicks (vertices) is adjusted. If n=0, the parameter is deactivated.
Point=n	Points or surface model from which element vertex coordinates are derived: Closest – point closest to the data click. Highest – highest point within a search area. Average – average xy and/or z of all points within a search area. Percentile – average xy and/or z of a given percentile of points within a search area. Lowest – lowest point within search area. TIN model – elevation of a triangulated surface model and xy from the closest point.
Class=n	If given, n defines the point class number to adjust to.
Within=n	n defines the radius of the search area around the mouse pointer location.

Corresponding tool: Mouse Point Adjustment

Move Backward

Move Backward key-in command moves a section view backward. The key-in command must include a view number (1-8). The section is moved backward by the full depth or half of the depth of the section view, depending on the active setting in the Move Section tool dialog.

Syntax:

move backward [stayactive] ViewNumber

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
stayactive	Would move the specified view backward and stay active waiting for mouse click to move.
ViewNumber	View in which the action is applied. View numbers can range from 1-8.

Corresponding tool: Move Section

Move Forward

Move Forward key-in command moves a section view forward. The key-in command must include a view number (1-8). The section is moved forward by the full depth or half of the depth of the section view, depending on the active setting in the Move Section tool dialog.

Syntax:

move forward [stayactive] ViewNumber

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
stayactive	Would move the specified view forward and stay active waiting for mouse click to move.
ViewNumber	View in which the action is applied.

Corresponding tool: Move Section

Open Block

Open Block key-in command opens a project block for viewing or modification.

Syntax:

  open block [BlockFile [options]]

Parameters:

Parameters:	Effect:
BlockFile	Block binary file to open. Can be specified by the file name or the unique block number.
Options
neighbours=n	Distance to load points from neighbouring blocks.
fit=n	View(s) to fit where n is between -1 and 8 (-1=all, 0=none, 1-8=view).
lock=n	If n is 0, opens block for viewing only. If n is not zero, opens block for modification.

Corresponding menu command: Open block

Scan Action

Scan Action key-in command starts action with name xxxxx. Actions are linked to dialog push button iteams or dialog pulldown menus. Action can be started only when dialog is open. This is used with the scripting interface.

Syntax:

Scan Action xxxxx

Scan Action HideDialog

Scan Action HideDialog key-in command instructs the application to keep the next modal dialog hidden and close it with OK. This is used with the scripting interface.

Syntax:

Scan Action HideDialog

Scan Close Dialog

Scan Close Dialog key-in command for closing a modeless dialog where name is the name of the dialog to be closed. This is used with the scripting interface.

Syntax:

Scan Close Dialog name

Parameters:

Parameters:	Effect:
name	Name of the modeless dialog to be closed.

Scan Create Surface

Scan Create Surface key-in command creates a TerraModeler surface model. The command starts TerraModeler if it is not yet running. It creates the surface model, keeps the model in the memory and stores the model file on the hard disk. The storage location and name of the model file on the hard disk are the same as of the design file.

Syntax:

  scan create surface class name

Parameters:

Parameters:	Effect:
class	Point class from which the surface model is created.
name	Name of the surface model.

Corresponding menu command: Create surface model

Scan Delete Inside Fence

Scan Delete Inside Fence key-in command deletes points inside a fence or selected polygon. You accept the action with a data click inside the view where the fence is drawn or the polygon is selected.

The command requires that a fence is drawn or a polygon is selected before it is started.

Syntax:

scan delete inside fence

Corresponding menu command: Delete / Inside fence

Scan Delete Outside Fence

Scan Delete Outside Fence key-in command deletes points outside fence or selected polygon. You accept the action with a data click inside the view where the fence is drawn or the polygon is selected.

The command requires that a fence is drawn or a polygon is selected before it is started.

Syntax:

scan delete outside fence

Corresponding menu command: Delete / Outside fence

Scan Display

Scan Display key-in command changes the view display mode for laser points. The key-in “Scan Display” on its own, without any parameters, simply opens the dialog.

Syntax:

scan display
scan display off=all/on=2/color=class
scan display close

Parameters:

Parameter:	Effect:
view=n	View to which the display settings are applied. View numbers can range from 1-8, for example view=3. If this parameter is given, it must be the first one and causes an immediate display change to the specified view. If not given, you select a view with a data click.
on=n	Class(es) to switch on. Examples: on=2 or on=1,5-8 or on=all.
off=n	Class(es) to switch off. Examples: off=7 or off=3-11 or off=all.
color=n	Coloring mode, n can be class, classint, color, colorint, dimension, distance, echo, echolen, elevation, group, groupint, image, intensity, line, lineint, scanner, shading, or slope. Example: color=class.
weight=n	Weight (point size) where n is line weight value 0-7 or -1 for class-based weight. Examples: weight=1 or weight=-1.
lineon=n	Flightlines to switch on. Examples: lineon=1-3 or lineon=all.
lineoff=n	Flightlines to switch off. Examples: lineoff=1-3 or lineoff=all.
sparse=n	Sparse display mode. Examples: sparse=on or sparse=off.
depth=	Depth display mode. Examples: depth=on or depth=off.
close	Closes the open Display Mode dialog

Corresponding menu command: Display mode

Scan Fit View

Scan Fit View key-in command fits a view to display the area covered by laser points. You can specify the view to fit as an optional parameter or by selecting it with a data click.

Syntax:

Scan Fit View [View]

Parameter:	Effect:
View	View to which the action is applied. View numbers can range from 1-8.

Corresponding menu command: Fit view

Scan Log Dialogs

Scan Log Dialogs key-in command begins the process of creating and writing a log file with action and variable names. User will utilize the tool and select the desired settings. When the tool is closed, this action will write variable names and selected values to the designated logfile location – xxxxx. This is used with the scripting interface.

Syntax:

Scan Log Dialogs xxxxx

Scan Move Sun

Scan Move Sun key-in command moves the sun direction (azimuth) in shaded views.

Syntax:

Scan Move Sun Degree

Parameter:	Effect:
Degree	Value to add to the current sun direction, angle by which the sun direction is moved.

Corresponding dialog setting: Display mode dialog, Azimuth setting for Color by Shading.

Scan Open Main Toolbox

Open Main Toolbox key-in command opens the TerraScan Main Toolbox in CONNECT if it has been closed. The Main Toolbox can also be opened from the TerraScan Main Window -> Tools -> Toolboxes -> Main tool box

Syntax:

  scan app main

Parameters:

None

Corresponding menu command: In v8/v8i only: Applications -> TerraScan -> Main tool box. In CE: TerraScan Main Window -> Tools -> Main Tool box.

Scan Open Main Window

Open Main Window key-in command opens the TerraScan Main Window in CONNECT after it has been accidentally closed. Note: As of TerraScan v019.026 CE one may no longer close the TerraScan Main Window.

Syntax:

  scan open main window

Parameters:

None

Corresponding menu command: In v8/v8i only: Applications -> TerraScan -> Main Window

Scan Run Macro

Scan Run Macro key-in command executes a macro.

Syntax is:

Scan Run Macro Macrofile

Parameter:	Effect:
Macrofile	File name of the macro to execute. If the file name does not include a directory path, the value of TSCAN_MACRODIR environment variable is used as the directory to search from. See Configuration Variables for more information.

Corresponding menu command: Run macro

Scan Set

Scan Set key-in command assigns value xxxx to variable with name nnnn. If there is no matching variable in an open dialog, the application stores this assignment in a buffer. When the next dialog is created, the application will apply assignments in the buffer and clear the buffer. This is used with the scripting interface.

Syntax:

Scan Set nnnn=xxxx

Scan Undo Display

Scan Undo Display key-in command makes an undo for the last display mode change.

Syntax:

scan undo display

There is a corresponding Undo display button in the Display mode dialog.

Travel Step Backward

Travel Step Backward key-in command moves Travel Path windows by one section backward.

This works only, if the Travel Path tool has been used to set up the Travel Player of TerraScan.

Syntax:

travel step backward [Count]

Parameter:	Effect:
Count	Number of steps to move.

There is a corresponding button in the TerraScan Travel Player which is opened by the Travel Path tool.

Travel Step Forward

Travel Step Forward key-in command moves Travel Path windows by one section forward. This works only, if the Travel Path tool has been used to set up the Travel Player of TerraScan.

Syntax:

travel step forward [Count]

Parameter:	Effect:
Count	Number of steps to move.

There is a corresponding button in the TerraScan Travel Player which is opened by the Travel Path tool.

View Tower Key-ins

View Tower key-in commands can be used with the View Tower Spans tool to open the tool, move to the previous or next tower in the list.

Syntax:

view tower spans

view tower previous

view tower next

Parameter:	Effect:
Spans	Invokes the View Tower Spans tool
Previous	Move to previous tower in View Tower Spans list
Next	Move to next tower in View Tower Spans list

Corresponding tool: View Tower Spans tool (spans), or clicking on a particular tower number within the View Tower Spans tool list (next, previous).

Additional Key-in Commands:

Scan Settings
Scan Define Coordinate Setup
Define Classes
Design Block Boundaries
Define Project
Manage Trajectories
Load Airborne Points
Load Ground Points
About TerraScan
Help On TerraScan

Draw Vertical Section
Draw Horizontal Section
Move Section
Rotate Section
Cut Section
Travel Path
Synchronize Views
Measure Point Density
Update Distance Coloring

Place Collection Shape
Fit Linear Element
Drape Linear Element
Find Breakline Along Element
Find Curb Along Element
Set Polygon Elevation
Cut Linear Element
Construct Planar Building

Find Automatic Breaklines
Find Road Breaklines
Import Road Breaklines
Draw Slope Arrows
Draw Sight Distances
Fit Geometry Components

Add Synthetic Point
Remove Vegetation
Rebuild Editable Model

Place Tower String
Detect Wires
Place Catenary String *Deprecated
Place Wire String
Check Wire Attachments
Check Catenary Attachments *Deprecated
Assign Wire Attributes
Check Wire Attachments

Place Tower
Edit Tower Information
Move Tower
Rotate Tower
Add Cross Arm
Modify Cross Arm
Rotate Cross Arm
Extend Cross Arm
Set Cross Arm Elevation
Delete Cross Arm
Create Attachments
Add Attachment
Move Attachment
Delete Attachment

Activate Powerline
Find Danger Objects
Label Towers
Label Catenary Height
Create Span Tiles
Output Catenary
Export Powerline

Place Railroad String
Fit Railroad String
Find Rails
Activate Rail String
Move Rail Vertex
Recompute Rail Interval
Find Wires
Check Wire Ends

Scan Undo Display
Scan Save
Open Inside Fence
Open Scan Project

Find Detail Planes
Add Building Plane
Mirror Building Plane
Merge Building Planes
Delete Building Plane
Create Direction Group
Add Plane To Group
Assign Plane Block
Assign Plane Symmetry
Adjust Building Plane

Set Boundary Type
Auto Align Boundaries
Place Boundary Shape
Modify Boundary Shape
Align Boundary Segment
Cut Boundary Corner
Cut Boundary Segment
Delete Boundary Vertex

Show Plane Location

Vectorize Buildings
Construct Roof Polygons
Create Buildings from Polygons
Check Building Models

Extrude Building
Set All Edges

Apply Straight Line
Apply Intersection Line
Modify Edge
Move Edge Vertex
Align Edge Segment
Build Step Corner
Cut Edge Corner
Cut Edge Segment
Delete Edge Vertex
Insert Edge Vertex
Split Building
Split Patch
Merge Patches
Remove Patch
Remove Details
Draw Building Section

View Waveform
Extract Echoes

Draw Polygons
Draw Slope Arrows

Development Memory

Scan Undo Classification
Place Target Object
Translate Measurement
Rotate Measurement
Classify Above Curve
Classify Below Curve
Split Trajectory
Add Wire Point
Approve Wire End