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Exporting Files - Control File

It is also possible to export a Control File from T3RRA Design Plus. This is how you get your design into a tractor or bulldozer with T3RRA Cutta (.tci), or produce a Trimble FMX/TMX compatible file (.gps). You can either create a control file with an individual layer or by combining many layers, such as surfaces, guides, regions and boundaries, etc. 


To export a control file, simply select the below icon on the menu bar at the top:


Once selected, a box will pop up. You will then be able to select from a drop down menu, which file type you are wanting to export. The options are:

  • T3RRA Cutta (*.tci)
  • Field Level II for FMX/TMX (*.gps)
  • SBG SmartProfiler Shapes (*.shp)
  • Comma Separated Values (*.csv)
  • Ezigrade (*.ezigrade)
  • DXF 3D Faces (*.dxf)
  • Field Level XML (*.xml)


After the export file type has been selected, you need to drag layers from the ‘Layer Type Selection Panel’. 

From the Surface Tab, these will (could) include: 

  • Design surface
  • Base surface (optional)
  • Difference surface (optional)

You can also drag in several other layers, like from the Guides Tab, including Drains, Linework, and Labels (e.g. a Master Bench). To remove layers, select them and click ‘Remove Selected’. You can also remove all layers as well. 


NOTE: The ‘Export’ button will remain inactive until you have included the minimum layers needed for that export file type


Exporting a T3RRA Cutta (*.tci) Control File

This is our preferred control file format. It works very well with T3RRA Cutta, funnily enough.

  1. Open the Control File Export window as described above.
  2. Select T3RRA Cutta (*.tci) from the Export type drop down list.
  3. Drag and drop required design surface layer.
  4. Drag in any drains, linework and markers. When you drag in drains and linework, you can choose whether T3RRA Cutta treats them as just linework or as drains. Treating them as drains will enable profile views for them in T3RRA Cutta.
  5. Select Export.





Exporting a DXF Control File

The DXF file type is a common interchange format used by civil designers. We support exporting a DXF file of a surface. It may be exported as 3D faces or a grid of points. A 3D faces file contains a collection of triangles that define the surface. To export this type of file:

  1. Open the Control File Export window as described above.
  2. Select DXF 3D faces (*.dxf) from the Export type drop down list.
  3. Drag and drop required design surface layer.
  4. Select Export.
  5. Then a few more options will appear. Choose your export type, file size, and coordinate system. A lower file size is achieved by intelligently simplifying the triangles that are output.
  6. Ensure you record which coordinate system and give this information to whoever will be using the DXF file.
  7. When you have specified each option, click OK.













Exporting a Field Level II for FMX/TMX (*gps) display

The .gps file is used in Trimble displays. We support exporting files for these systems with a design surface, a base surface, linework, and markers. To export this type of file:

  1. Open the Control File Export window as described above.
  2. Select Field Level II for FMX/TMX (*.gps) from the Export type drop down list
  3. Drop and drag the design surface, the cut/fill or elevation surface, and other layers. Ensure you include a marker with the name MB that has your master benchmark elevation set.
  4. When you have finished selecting layers, click OK.

NOTE: The older FMX displays require files to be exactly 1010 KB, so you may be prompted to resize the surface.


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