Tabular data files are opened through the File Import Wizard. SHOALS files (.pts) and simple XYZ Files are examples of the types of file you would import using this tool. The Import Wizard consists of two steps.
When SMS imports data from a tabular file, it assumes that the data is in the same coordinate system as the data already in SMS. If this is not the case, the user should convert the data in SMS to the system of the data in the file before importing the file. After importing, all the data can be converted to any system.
In the first dialog that appears, the user tells SMS how to distinguish columns. The options include:
Delimited - One or more delimiters are selected. In the Other delimiter, a single character that is entered, such as a colon, will act as a delimiter. If the Treat consecutive delimiters as one option is turned on, delimiters next to each other on each row will be treated as one delimiter. The window at the bottom of the dialog shows a preview of the columns separated by a vertical line.
Fixed Width - The user sets the delimiters manually. The columns are separated by vertical lines. By default, column separators are placed where the numbers are separated by spaces. The user creates, moves, and deletes lines by following the instructions in the top half of the dialog.
The user also specifies whether SMS should use a header row to interpret column data and what row should be the starting row for data import. By default, SMS skips all rows with text data, and uses the last row of text as a header row. If you wish to use a heading row, the index of that row should be the value selected for Start import at row. If no heading row is to be used, enter the index of the first row of data and uncheck the Heading row toggle. The data can be previewed in the File preview section at the bottom of the dialog.
In this step, the user supplies information for SMS to properly interpret the data in the file. In the SMS data type section, the user specified what type of entity should be created. The options include:
Scatter Set - SMS will create a new scattered data set. The user specifies a name for the data set and maps columns to be X, Y, and elevation. Other columns can be mapped as additional function. The scatter set can be automatically triangulated, and some filtering can be performed.
Mesh - SMS will create a new finite element mesh by triangulating the points in the file. Functions can be mapped as with scatter sets. The user has the option of appending these data points to a mesh already in SMS.
Feature Points - Each row of the file will be used to create a single feature point in a new coverage.
Observation Data - Each row of the file will be used to create observation points for model sensitivity and calibration in a new observation coverage.
Wind, Wave & Water level data - Each row of the file will be added to a list of wave events to be processed in a wave analysis package.
Each column of data is mapped for input. If a column is not mapped, the data in that column will be ignored. Importing generally requires one column to be mapped as X, one column as Y, and one column as Z (elevation or depth). Other columns can be mapped according to the type of data that is being created. Mapping options include:
Coordinate- For all cases except Wind, Wave and Water level, one column must be mapped as X and one as Y . Mapping a column as Z is optional, but if turned off, node or scatter point elevations will be set to zero.
Scalar Functions - Data in a column may be mapped as a scalar data function. The name of the function should be entered in the Header line.
Vector Functions - Two columns can be imported as a vector data function. The components can be X and Y, or Magnitude and Direction. The same function name must be entered into the Header line for both components to create the vector function.
Pt Name - For scatter points and feature points, a column can be mapped a the name of the data points.
Layer, Measurement, Standard Deviation, Confidence, Interval - For observation data, columns can be mapped as observed data types. These values are used for calibration.