Triton eXtended Format files

eXtended Triton Format (XTF) is a file format developed by Triton Imaging, Inc for recording hydrographic survey data. XTF is the most commonly used format for this type of information in the hydrographic survey industry.

XTF supports sources including side scan sonar, shallow seismic, single beam, and multi beam bathymetry, as well as associated position, time, and altitude information. An XTF file consists of multiple data structures placed sequentially in the file. This allows the file format to be easily extended with new functionality.

At this moment Hydromagic can read and convert the following data structures from an XTF file:

• XTFFILEHEADER;
• CHANINFO;
• XTFPINGHEADER;
• XTFBATHYHEADER;
• XTFATTITUDEDATA;
• XTFNOTESHEADER;
• XTFPINGCHANHEADER.

You can now use the raw data import wizard to use the data in Hydromagic Survey, or use the data in Hydromagic Dredging (after processing the raw data and generating a matrix file from the soundings). To import side scan sonar data from a XTF file, use the side scan sonar import wizard instead.

Starting the raw data import wizard

All file formats which Hydromagic is able to convert to proprietary raw data files, can be imported through the "Import Data Wizard". To start the wizard, right-click the 'Raw Data' folder in the "Project Explorer" and select the 'Import Data Wizard...' option:

The "Import Data Wizard" can be launched from the "Project Explorer".

Select file format

The first page of the wizard allows you to set the format of the file(s) we wish to import. Since this tutorial is about importing XTF data, we select the 'Triton eXtended Format Files (*.xtf)' option from the drop-down list.

Select the "Triton eXtended Format Files" format from the dropdown list.

Select file(s) to import

On the second page of the wizard, you can select which files to import. Click the 'Browse...' button to select the folder on your computer where the files are stored. After changing the folder, the file list is reloaded, and you can use the checkboxes to select one or more files to import at a time. After changing the folder, the file list is reloaded, and you can use the checkboxes to select one or more files to import at a time.

After changing the folder the file list is reloaded, and you can use the check boxes to select one or more file(s) to import.

Select the file(s) to import. You can import multiple files at a time.

Import options

When the vessel's X and Y positions in the XTF file are projected coordinates rather than WGS84 geographic coordinates, this page allows you to set the coordinate reference system used in the XTF file.

Click the "Select..." button to select a projection when the file is other than WGS84.

Starting the import

When the format and files have been selected, you can start the import process by clicking the 'Finish' button on the last page of the wizard.

The file currently being processed is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the screen, and the wizard shows a message box stating 'File(s) successfully imported as raw data file(s)' as soon as the process is complete. Click 'OK' to close the dialog, and the imported files will be centered in the map view (only if they contain position data). After importing raw data files, you can download a background map of the covered survey area using the built-in map downloading tool.

After clicking the "Finish" button, the import process will start.

Checking the imported raw data file(s)

When the import is complete, you can right-click the generated raw data files and select "Analyze Data..." to inspect the imported values and timestamps. If the import did not complete successfully, refer to the "Processing" tab of the activity view for more details on the error shown.