Understanding Projects

Source file: projects.htm

Primary projects

Secondary projects

In-use projects

Locked projects

Data persistence

Overview

A project file stores data and results of analyses that can be opened in a project session. The project file is a database file with the extension .maptekdb, which can't be accessed by other programs.

Project sessions display data sorted into containers with a tree structure. Each project has a set of standard containers into which data objects are automatically placed.

PointStudio cannot be run without opening or creating a project file, as the data and analyses must be automatically saved to this file throughout the project session. Projects are automatically backed up every minute so data loss is limited to the last minute's activity.

Projects can operate seamlessly over a network to allow easy data sharing. However, when opened, the project file is locked to a single user to prevent conflicting simultaneous editing.

Primary projects

The primary project is the working file for data and analyses. When you start PointStudio, the Open Project start-up dialog appears, from which you must open a project as the primary project. The most recently opened primary project files are displayed in the Recent projects tab of the Open Project dialog. You can either create a new project or open an existing project, as described below.

Starting a new project

To start a new project, start PointStudio then do the following:

  1. Click New on the Open Project dialog.

  2. Browse to the location the project will be stored.

  3. Enter a name for the project. The name should be meaningful so you can identify it later.

  4. Click Save to finish.

PointStudio will open with the new project, with the project explorer displaying all the default standard containers, empty and ready for use.

Opening an existing project

To open an existing project, do one of the following:

  • If it is in the Recent projects list, click on it.

    Or

  • If it is not in the Recent projects list, click Browse, navigate to its location, then double-click on it or select it and click on Select Folder.

PointStudio will open with the existing project in its last opened state.

Alternative methods to opening an existing project

There several different methods for opening existing project files, as described below. Click to learn about each.

  1. Locate the project in a Windows explorer window.

  2. Drag the .maptekdb project folder from Windows Explorer onto the PointStudio software desktop shortcut or onto the Open project screen.

    The project will open.

  1. Locate the project in a Windows explorer window.

  2. Double click the .maptekdb project folder in Explorer to view its contents.

  3. Double click the index.maptekdb file to open the project.

  1. Open Workbench

  2. Either

    1. Click the Browse for data folder....

    2. Browse to the folder containing the project files and click on Select Folder.

    Or

    1. Select the required folder from the Recent Folders list.

    2. Click Explore selected data folder.

  3. In the Workbench Data Explorer expand the Maptek Databases to view all the .maptekdb database projects.

  4. Right-click on the .maptekdb database project of interest and choose Open with PointStudio.

    The project will open in PointStudio.

Note:  PointStudio is backwards-compatible and will open older projects and database file formats. To open them, use the same procedures, as above.

Secondary projects

Secondary projects are other .maptekdb files that can be used to provide supplementary data to the primary project. These can be opened from within PointStudio using the Project tool on the Home ribbon.

In-use projects

When trying to open a project that the current user already has open (in-use), the panel below will be displayed. Click the buttons according to requirements, as follows:

  • Share project to start a simultaneous session with the project.

  • Terminate other to attempt to close the in-use session and start with a new session.

  • Bring to front to display the in-use session. See Locked projects for instances where projects are being accessed by other users.

  • Cancel to return to the in-use session.

Locked projects

When trying to open a locked project, the dialog below will be displayed. 

This can occur if the project is being accessed by another user, or can appear if the program was shut down incorrectly, such as if the previous session crashed before the project file could close properly. Click Yes only if you are sure the file is not currently in use elsewhere.

Data persistence

PointStudio does not include a file save function. Instead, project files are automatically saved every minute to limit data loss to the last minute's activity. Project files are also saved and when closing a session.

However, data can be lost from a project in exceptional circumstances, such as if the computer's power is suddenly cut, or if the computer resets, terminates the project session.

Important

Ensure your session is always shut down correctly by clicking the button to avoid any data loss.

Persistence extends to placement of panels (windows) in the workspace. The next time the program is opened, panels will appear as they were at the end of the previous session. This might cause a problem if, for example, two monitors were used and a panel was placed on the second monitor. Panel positions can be reset through preferences.

  1. From the top right corner of the interface click and from the list of application preferences choose PointStudio Preferences.

  2. In the Preferences dialog go to Manage Preference and expand the User interface check box list.

  3. Select Dialog location and remembered values.

  4. Click Reset selected to default.