Using data collected with your Outback 360 in Farm Site or Site Pro

The Outback 360 comes with software called “Field Notes”. You can take your data card out of the Outback 360 box and load it into the “Field Notes” software and save the data out as a shape file. This Shape File can be imported into Mapping (formerly Farm Site or Site Pro) as a new layer.

To Import an ArcView Shape File:

1. In the Import box select ArcView Shape File for the File Type.
2. Next, select the file that is being imported from the Input File drop-down list. You can use the Browse button to change the drive and/or folder(directory) from which you are reading your data.
3. If you wish to display the layer on the screen immediately after you have imported it, select Activate layer.
4. If you want to define a view for this data, select Create a Zoom View.
5. Select the Import button to begin importing the file.
   If you selected Create a Zoom View, you will be asked for a name for your defined view. Enter a name that describes the field(s) being imported such as Smith#1.
6. In the Import ArcView Shape File box select the Location to which you want the data loaded. The information can not be loaded onto an existing layer, it can only be loaded onto a new layer which will be created for you. As such, you will need to select the Client (with Mapping (Site Pro) and/or Category where you want the new layer. You will then be able to enter a Layer Name for the new layer where the data will be loaded.
7. Select the Coordinate System, Datum and Zone (for UTM & State Plane) for the data that is being imported. If you are unsure of this information, check with the person who gave you the data and they should be able to tell you what format was used.
8. Select the Import button and the data will be loaded into Mapping (Farm Site or Site Pro). When the data is loaded, you will be returned to the Import box where you can import another map, if desired. Select the Done button if you are finished.

Using data collected with an Outback S lightbar with Site Mate and an iPAQ

To use the Outback S lightbar with an iPAQ and Site Mate, you will need the following:

1. An Outback-S COM Port Connectivity Kit. You can order from outbackguidance.com

   http://www.outbackguidance.com/Portals/3/Documentation/DIP-OB001-D.pdf

2. A Farm Works GPS to iPAQ cable. Cost is $75 from Martens Farms. Call 620.585.6761 to order.

Importing MrSID Files into Farm Works

Starting with the 11.3 version of Farm Works software, users have the ability to import files in MrSID format. MrSID files are high-quality, high-resolution, geo-referenced images that are available from many government agencies. MrSID is an acronym for Multi-resolution Seamless Image Database. The file format is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Mr. Sid since that’s how the acronym is pronounced (good to know if you are looking up additional info online).

Once you have the files saved onto your computer (you will need the sid and sidw file formats), complete the following steps to display the image as a background within your Farm Works project. These steps will convert the sid & sidw file formats into a .jpg & .ini file formats that Farm Works can use.

Step 1: Convert and calibrate the file

1. In Farm Works, select the Backdrop Tools
2. Click on the Calibrate button
3. Click File – Open
4. Change the “Files of Type” to All Files
5. Browse to folder containing the .sid file
6. Select the file and click open
7. Calibrate will automatically begin to convert the file
8. After it is converted, select the correct coordinate system and zone (if necessary)
9. Click File – Save As
10. Choose the location, select file type of .jpg , enter a file name, and then click Save
11. Close the Calibrate program.

Step 2: Load the converted image

12. Select the Load button from backdrop tools.
13. Locate the file, select it, and click Open.

Tip: Reduce the file size

If your images cover a large area (such as an entire county), you can use the following steps to select part of the image to save.  By doing this, you will cut down the size of the image considerably:

1. Load the image into Calibrate following the above steps.
2. Click on the “Select” button.
3. Position your cursor above and to the left of the part of the map where your farm is located.
4. Left-click and drag and make a box that surrounds the part of the map that you want to keep (the part where your farm is located).
5. Click on the “Save Selected As” button.
6. Enter a name for the file.

You can then load this file into Farm Trac or Site or Site Pro using the “Load” button in the “Backdrop Tools”.

Warning: These files can become very large. 
Note: If you do not change the file type to .jpg from .tif, the file could be 100 + mb. See the example below.

Import Arc View Shape files

Arc View Shape Files act as a common file format for mapping software programs within the agriculture industry. This file format enables users to share information within software packages, between different software programs. For example, if you are using Site Mate (or Mobile) out in the field, Arc View Shape is one of the file output options. Prescription maps can also be saved in this format so variable rate control software can use the map.

Distinct pieces of information are combined in Arc View Shape Files including characteristics about the GPS information as well as GPS coordinates. Three individual files with the following extensions connect these pieces of information together:

• .dbf: this file contains the attributes and is a database file
• .shp: this file contains all of the GPS information
• .shx: this file contains all of the header information.

All three files are automatically created when you save as an Arc View Shape file. However, as you move these files between drives and directories, you must make sure all three files remain together in the same directory and have the same filename before importing into any Arc View Shape file compatible program.

When you load an Arc View Shape file into a program such as Farm Site or  Site Mate (or Mobile), it will only be necessary to import, or load, the file with the .shp extension. As long as the other files (the .dbf and .shx) have the same file name, the program will know how to look at these files for the necessary information.

How to Import Soil Type maps from the USDA NRCS Soil Survey Database

Go to the Natural Resources Conservation Service website:  http://www.soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/ssurgo/

On the left find Soil Data Mart (or in middle of page you will also see same link) and click there.

Now click the button:  Select State, choose your state then click on the button:  Select Survey area.

Find your county (if you have more than one choice for your county, choose the one that includes Tabular and Spatial under the Available Survey Area)

At the bottom of the page click the button:  Download Data.

The next pages verifies the file you are about to order.

Under the class of data you wish to download make sure the Tabular and Spatial Data is selected.  In the drop down box where it says “Please select a spatial format:  make sure you have ArcView Shapefile chosen.

Important:  in the drop down box for the coordinate system  take note and remember the coordinate system listed, such as:  UTM Zone 14, Northern Hemisphere (NAD 83) because you will need this number when importing the file later. Enter your email address because the files will be emailed to you when ready. Then click Submit Request and a window “Message from webpage” pops up to give you an idea of how long until your order will be processed.

After you’ve received your email:  click on the link provided, and a File Download window appears. Click on Save to save the file on your computer.  For example:  create a folder named NRCS Soil Types and save the file there.

Now unzip (right click and extract) the file into the same folder.  Open the spatial folder.  The soil type’s .shp file will be the largest, example:  soilmu_a_ks113.shp

Open your Farm Works Mapping software (or Site or Pro).  You must have a boundary drawn or imported for the field you want to import the soil types to so the program can “clip to boundaries”.

On the left side of the screen right click on your Field Name and choose Import Background.

Select the unzipped (extracted) file “soilmu_a_ks113.shp” file that you opened earlier.

Now enter the Zone that you noted and remembered, example:  UTM Zone 14, Northern Hemisphere (NAD 83).  Click OK and wait, it will take some time to clip soil types to your field.

Under Views you can open the “MUSYM” to see the soil types.

How to label these polygons for soil sampling:

Right click on the soil type layer under your field name.

Go to layer properties.

Add another row and name it (example:  Regions).

Type should be a text, 40 for size.

Click OK and the Regions now appear in your View box.

Click on the pencil tool and the top to get into edit mode for this layer.

Right click on one of the polygons and go to properties.