Creating a form for an Earthmate PN-Series GPS

You can create a form for field data collection for your Earthmate® PN-Series GPS (PN-30, 40, or 60) GPS receiver. You will need an attribute field from one of your GIS layers to use for your form. You can use an existing field or create one. In this example, we created a constrained field. You can use more than one field if you want a form with multiple fields.  
This article demonstrates Creating an Enterprise Database ,  Creating a GIS Point Layer ,   Creating a Constrained Field ,  Creating a PN-Series GPS Form , Sending a Form, Using your Form on the PN-Series GPS and  Retrieving Form Data .

Creating an Enterprise Database 

Forms work only in a database created by XMap® GIS Enterprise. The default DeLormeSampleDB does not allow form creation. To create a new database, do the following:

1. Click the GIS tab.
2. Click DB Manager. The Database Manager opens in a new window.
3. Select Database  New.


4. Enter a name for your database, select XMap¹ 7 as your schema and click OK.


5. Make sure the database has a green triangle next to it indicating it is active. If you see two red hashes, right-click and select Activate.

Creating a GIS Point Layer

1. Click the GIS tab.
2. Click Layers  Create  Empty Layer. The Create Empty Layer dialog box will appear.
3. Under Type, select Point.
4. Under Shape, select Planar Geometry or Geocoded Points.
5. Type a name for your layer.
6. Select an enterprise database.
7. Click OK.

Creating a Constrained Field

1. Click the GIS tab.
2. Click Attributes.
3. Click Design View .
4. Select Options  Add Constrained Field.
5. Type a name for the field in the Field Name box.
6. Select the type of data from the Data type drop-down list.
7. Select Value Constraint from the Constraint type drop-down list.
8. Enter a value and click Add. Repeat this step as needed.
9. Click OK.

Creating a PN-Series GPS Form

1. Click the GIS tab
2. Select the layer in your Workspace to use for your form.


3. Select Tools  Forms  Create.


4. Ensure you have the correct layer selected.
5. Type a name in the Form Name text box.
6. Select PN-compatible form from the Form Type drop-down list.
7. Select an option under Form Operations.
8. Select the attributes in the layer to add to the form and click the button.


9. Click Create. You should see a message that your form has been added to your layer

Sending a Form

First, you must connect the PN-Series device to your computer and put it into SD card mode.

PN-60 Instructions

1. Go to the Settings page.


2. Select Connect to Computer.


3. Select the Use XMap¹ 7 Mode check box.


4. Under When Connected, select Open SD Card and press ENTER.

PN-30/-40 Instructions

1. Press MENU
2. Select Device Setup.


3. Select Connect to Computer.


4. Select the Use XMap¹ 7 Mode check box.


5. Under When Connected, select Open SD Card and press ENTER.

Now you can send the form from XMap¹ to your device.

1. Click the Send GIS Layer button  in the toolbar.
2. In the Export Points dialog box, verify that you have the correct layer selected.
3. Select All or Selected.
4. Make sure you select the SD drive letter (for example F:\, but it varies depending on how many drives you have). If that isn't selected, click Browse to select it.

Using Your Form on the PN-Series GPS

1. Select Waypoints and press ENTER.


2. Press MENU.
3. Select File and press ENTER.


4. Select Open and press ENTER.


5. Select the form layer and press ENTER.


6. Select any GIS point and press ENTER.


7. Press MENU.
8. Select Edit Waypoint and press ENTER


9. You can answer your form questions on this screen.

Retrieving Form Data

1. Connect your PN-Series device and put it in SD card mode (see above for instructions).
2. Select the Import GIS Points  button on the toolbar to open the Import from PN-Series Device dialog box.
If you don't see the (SD Drive Letter\GPX) folder listed in the Data Source box, click Browse and select it. 

You should see your GPX File on the left and it should have an associated GIS layer:


3. Decide whether you want to Delete the GPX files (form and form data on the device) after the merge.
4. Select Merge.
Any work you did with the form layer will appear in Attributes and Workspace.

¹XMap® Software has been discontinued but not XMap® data format