Michael, It's that first sentence that gets me! (Although in that respect I am very much a "pot calling the kettle black") From a basic foundation it does seem that the conversion process is an iterative process. I guess I had best accept that, and get on with it. Thanks for your comments, Good luck with the new software! Hugh > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Ostertag, Michael [mailto:mostertag@xxxxxx] > > Sent: Tuesday, 20 December 2005 1:09 AM > > To: Hugh Dixon > > Subject: RE: [LandXML] Re: LandXML - Bentley/In Roads > > > > Hugh-- > > > > First of all, I got the vendors to give me which elements they > > supported and in which way they intended to use the > elements (I wish > > they would post this to their websites). > > Secondly, by using VBA and style sheets, we would read the XML File > > and write it the database in question. Third, we would reverse the > > process. > > > > This would totally by pass the internal parsers and give us full > > control of the LandXML elements. I guess that we looked at the > > elements and data in the XML file and determined the > intent, changed > > it in VBA as necessary and then wrote it to the database. It took > > some time, but we finally wade through it. Clincher is, we > have to do > > it again...we changed software. > > > > I hope this helps some. > > > > michael > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Hugh Dixon [mailto:hugh.dixon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] > > Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:12 PM > > To: Ostertag, Michael > > Subject: RE: [LandXML] Re: LandXML - Bentley/In Roads > > > > > > Thanks Michael, you are confirming what I feel. > > You say you have used VBA, and changed your operating > procedures, to > > "massage" the data. > > Can you tell us how you found out in what way the data needed > > "massaging"? > > i.e. I'm guessing you have 'decoded' the way the software you use > > interprets the LandXML file. > > It is how you got that information that interests me.... > > > > > > Hugh Dixon > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Ostertag, Michael [mailto:mostertag@xxxxxx] > > > Sent: Friday, 16 December 2005 2:23 AM > > > To: Hugh Dixon > > > Subject: RE: [LandXML] Re: LandXML - Bentley/In Roads > > > > > > I have not used LandXML too much to exchange data between > different > > > programs, but believe that it may be necessary to develop > your own > > > style sheets to "massage" the data to desired results. I > > believe this > > > is due not necessarily to the to LandXML or the programs > being used > > > but to the slight variations in procedures by the > > individuals and what > > > data they find necessary to them. > > > > > > I have been able to exchange raw and processed data between > > programs, > > > but without some customization, we will not be able to > > exchange point > > > attribute information (TDS Attribute file). > > > Some of what we have done is through VBA and some to > > modifications of > > > procedures. > > > > > > Even if LandXML Standards are excepted by both programs, there is > > > still interpolation of the exact meaning of each element. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Michael C Ostertag, CE IV > > > Montana Department of Transportation Missoula Construction PO Box > > > 7039 MISSOULA MT 59807-7039 > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: landxml-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > [mailto:landxml-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Hugh Dixon > > > Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 5:27 PM > > > To: landxml@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Subject: [LandXML] Re: LandXML - Bentley/In Roads > > > > > > > > > Thankyou all for your assistance with this. > > > The core problem however remains. We are trying to map > > objects from > > > out data structures into LandXML elements/attributes, and > then into > > > another product. > > > How we do our mapping, naturally, makes perfect sense to us > > > :) There seems to be some confusion (on our and our users > > > part) when the second mapping is applied with data either > > not being as > > > expected, or disappearing totally. > > > > > > I believe that LINZ, a major LandXML user, provides a document > > > detailing what parts of LandXML they support, and how they > > interpret > > > it. > > > Has there been any move to encourage software > > providers/developers to > > > supply this sort of information to the wider community? > > > We do have this information available, although I suspect > it may be > > > difficult to find, and may not be particularly clear. > > > Does anyone else see a need for this information to be readily > > > available, and has anyone thought about a suitable format? > > > > > > Comments appreciated.... > > > > > > -- > > > Hugh Dixon > > > www.liscad.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >