“Set coordinate transformation” dialog box (import only)

You can define how to transform data in the UTM coordinate system into data of a Gauss-Krüger coordinate system. You can see the current assignment. The log file lists the source system, destination system, and NTv2 grid file.

The UTM system is a global coordinate system that divides the surface of Earth between 80°S and 84°N latitude into 60 zones, each 6° of longitude in width. These individual zones are covered with a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.

UTM is a worldwide standard that is used for surveying, GPS navigation, conventional maps, Google Earth, and Google Maps. The UTM coordinate system has already replaced various national coordinate systems like the Gauss-Krüger system in Germany or the Swissgrid in Switzerland.

Allplan handles UTM, Gauss-Krüger, and Swissgrid in the same way, that is as offset coordinates. It is usually not necessary to convert UTM coordinates to other coordinate systems such as Gauss-Krüger or Swissgrid. Consequently, the same coordinate system is used for import and export.

Note: When you Import AutoCAD data, you can use the Coordinate transformation area in the Settings to define how to transform data in the UTM coordinate system into data of a Gauss-Krüger coordinate system.

Click to open the Set coordinate transformation dialog box for selecting the coordinate systems:

Standard selection

Select NTv2 files

Country

Select the country and region or federal state.

NTv2 file

Select the required grid file.

Select coordinate systems

Note: The terms From (source system) and To (destination system) apply to the NTv2 file selected. NTv2 files are available for one direction (usually from Gauss-Krüger to UTM). To change the transformation direction, click the arrow.

From

Select the source system (usually Gauss-Krüger) for the selected NTv2 file.

To

Select the destination system (usually UTM) for the selected NTv2 file.

There are two types of UTM files:

• 8-digit, with a zone; the number of the zone is at the beginning of the coordinates.
• 6-digit, without a zone

Allplan can process both types.

Transformation direction

NTv2 files are available for one direction (usually from Gauss-Krüger to UTM). Click the arrow to change the transformation direction.

Note: If a transformation is selected, only 2D data will be transferred. Transformation supports only elements that can be found in cadastral plans. XRefs cannot be transferred; therefore, the XRef to smart symbol option is not available.

Advanced selection

You can select any NTv2 files and define the source system and destination system for coordinate transformation. Thus, you can use coordinate transformation for countries other than the ones that are available in the Standard selection (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

Note: The Extended selection option should be used only by users with in-depth knowledge of geodesy or surveying.

Note: An NTv2 file (GSB) defines only the ellipsoid transformation based on latitude and longitude (Lat/Lon). To work with the standard coordinate systems, you must define zones and projection for the source system and the destination system. The ellipsoid parameters will be taken from the NTv2 file.

Note: Make sure that both the selected coordinate transformation and the loaded Ntv2 file match the data. Otherwise, Allplan cannot transform the coordinates.

Select NTv2 file

Select and open any NTv2 grid file.

Set transformation

Define the source system and destination system, direction (by clicking the arrow), zone, and projection. Allplan takes the relevant ellipsoid parameters from the Ntv2 file and displays these parameters.

Info

Shows further information, such as the country, region, Ntv2 file. This also includes sources of supply for grid files, which Allplan is not allowed to provide.

Note: Allplan setup neither includes nor installs these grid files. You can download some free NTv2 files from Allplan Connect. There, you also find information about how to install the NTv2 files.
If files are not available, the download package contains the folder structures and information about the sources of supply. When you select these countries and regions in the transformation settings, you will see a corresponding message.

Buttons

Reset

Restore the default setting for coordinate transformation.

OK

Confirm the current settings for coordinate transformation.

Cancel

Close the dialog box without saving any changes.

Note: Pay attention to the transformation direction. You must define the systems yourself. When you get geographical data, always ask the supplier for the system in which the data was saved. You must also define the destination system yourself. We recommend that you use the system in which the data was supplied before the switch to UTM. This makes the new data compatible with older data.