Dipper Field
| You want to | Files |
|---|---|
| Bring in records, or show a file under them | .gpkg, .zip (Shapefile), .geojson, .json, .kml, .kmz, .csv, .xlsx |
| Hand data to GIS or CAD | .gpkg, .zip, .geojson, .csv, .kml, .kmz, .gpx, .dxf in a ZIP |
| Use a map file offline | .pdf (GeoPDF), .tif and .tiff (GeoTIFF), .mbtiles |
| Back up, move or merge a project | .fwp |
| Share a project's setup | .fwt |
| Report on the work | .pdf, .xlsx, .csv in a ZIP |
Data you import
Use these to add records to a project, to start a new project from a file, or, for files that carry their own shapes, to show a reference layer.
| Format | Extension | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GeoPackage | .gpkg | One layer at a time. With several layers, you choose one. |
| Shapefile | .zip | One Shapefile per ZIP: its .shp, .shx and .dbf, and its .prj for the coordinate system. |
| GeoJSON | .geojson, .json | Normally longitude and latitude. |
| KML, KMZ | .kml, .kmz | A KMZ must hold one KML file. Read as longitude and latitude. |
| CSV | .csv | You choose the location columns: longitude and latitude (or X and Y in the coordinate system you pick), or one column of WKT shapes. |
| Excel | .xlsx | Each sheet with data can be chosen. The first row with text gives the column names. Then you choose location columns, as for CSV. |
What comes in:
- Shapes: points, lines or areas, matched to a record type of the same kind. A file that names its coordinate system is converted as it comes in. See coordinate systems for import and export.
- Values: each column you match fills a field. Values are checked against the field first, and rows that don't fit are skipped. Columns come in as text, whole numbers or decimals.
- Record IDs: a file exported from the project keeps each record's ID in an
fw_idcolumn, so importing it again updates those records instead of adding copies.
Older .xls workbooks, GPX and DXF files can't be imported. Save them as one of the formats above first. A reference layer needs a file with shapes: a GeoPackage, Shapefile ZIP, GeoJSON or KML/KMZ file. See import records from files and reference layers.
Data you export
Each export holds every record of one record type. See export to GIS formats.
| Format in the app | You get | What it keeps |
|---|---|---|
| GeoPackage | .gpkg | Locations, shapes and field names, with the best fidelity. Any coordinate system. |
| Shapefile (ZIP) | .zip | For older systems. Field names may be shortened and advanced value types simplified. Any coordinate system. |
| GeoJSON | .geojson | Locations, shapes and field names. Always longitude and latitude. |
| Spreadsheet (CSV) | .csv | One row per record, with each shape written as WKT in a location column. Any coordinate system. |
| KML | .kml, or .kmz with photos | For globe apps. Field structure and styling may be simplified. Always longitude and latitude. |
| GPX | .gpx | Points and lines only. Only common track and waypoint details are kept. Always longitude and latitude. |
| Survey points (PNEZD) | .csv | Points only: number, northing, easting, elevation and description, in a projected coordinate system. |
| CAD delivery (DXF) | .zip | A DXF drawing with attributes, inspection history, media and an offline viewer, or the drawing alone. See CAD delivery package and PNEZD. |
With Include photos on, GeoPackage, Shapefile, GeoJSON and CSV come as a ZIP with a photos folder, and KML as a KMZ. GPX and survey point files can't carry photos.
Map files
Imported once, then used offline as a map background on every project on the device. See import GeoPDF, GeoTIFF and MBTiles.
| Format | Extension | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GeoPDF | .pdf | A PDF with a location, such as a USGS US Topo or FSTopo sheet. Pages without a location are skipped. |
| GeoTIFF | .tif, .tiff | Including Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF. |
| MBTiles | .mbtiles | Map images (raster tiles) only, imported on its own. MBTiles of vector map data aren't supported. |
An ordinary PDF or image without a location, such as a scan, can't be placed on the map.
Project files
| File | Extension | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
| Project backup | .fwp | The whole project: its setup, every record, the photos and other media, and its reference layers. Not maps you added, areas saved for offline use, imported map files or your app settings. See back up and restore a project. |
| Hand-over | .fwp | Only one person's changes and new photos since their last hand-over, made with Hand over to lead. It can only be merged into the same project on another device. See share a project with a colleague. |
| Template | .fwt | A project's record types, fields and collection rules. Never records or media. See use and share templates. |
Reports
See make a PDF report.
| What you send | You get |
|---|---|
| The report | .pdf, on Letter or A4 |
| Excel | records.xlsx, with every question of the reported records |
| PDF + CSV + ZIP | A ZIP with the PDF, records.csv, records.xlsx, the records' photos, signatures and other attachments, and manifest.json |
Files the app makes for itself
- Photos are saved as JPEG, including ones added from the photo library.
- Videos are saved as MP4.
- Voice notes are saved as M4A (AAC audio).
- A report logo can be a PNG or JPEG image.
- Crash reports are plain text, sent as
dipper-field-crash-report.txt. See before you contact support.