The Description Processing Handbook
Chapter 4

Updated June 4, 2003

WMRGDESC Program for Microsoft Windows

Merging Two D-FILEs into One D-FILE

Table of Contents

The WMRGDESC Program

1. WMRGDESC Overview

The function of the WMRGDESC program is to merge two D-FILEs (description files) into one D-FILE.

D-FILEs can come from a variety of sources. They can be converted from DSDATA files, horizontal description files, vertical description files, and unified description (.HA) files using the WDS2D, OLDH2NEW, OLDV2NEW, and OLDU2NEW programs. D-FILEs can also be created using the WDESC V06.00.18 program. The OLDH2NEW, OLDU2NEW, and OLDV2NEW programs are for in-house NGS personnel only. The WDS2D, WDESC, and WMRGDESC programs are part of the WDDPROC Software Suite.

When the WMRGDESC program is used to merge two D-FILEs (inputs), the resultant D-FILE (output) has a .dsc or .DSC extension and can be viewed or edited with the WDESC program. If either of the two files you are trying to merge are the output of the WDS2D program (i.e. you ran the WDS2D program on one or both of them first), then you must first run the WEXTRACT program on one or both of these D-FILEs before running the WMRGDESC program. WEXTRACT modifies a D-FILE so that it can be edited. If the D-FILEs you are trying to merge do not have the same edit options the merging process will be aborted. It is easy to recognize a D-FILE that is not editable in the WDDPROC Software Suite. When a non-editable D-FILE is opened in the WDESC program it is labeled view only.

2. The WMRGDESC Program for Microsoft Windows

The WMRGDESC program is a program which merges two D-FILEs into one (new) D-FILE. This program is for outside users and for internal NGS users who have Microsoft Windows PCs. This document covers the requirements to run the WMRGDESC 02.00.07 program on Microsoft Windows.

2.1 System Requirements

In order to run the WMRGDESC program, you must have a Pentium I compatible PC with 4MB of RAM running Microsoft Windows 95, 98, or NT. Users with Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP so far have been able to run this software. However, NGS can make no guarantees beyond it running on a 95/98/NT computer, as the 3rd party vendor NGS used for this software does not support the code that created this software beyond NT.

2.2 Installing the WMRGDESC Program on a Microsoft Windows PC

The WMRGDESC program is part of the WDDPROC Software Suite. To install it, you install the entire WDDPROC Software Suite. Below are the steps needed to install the WDDPROC software suite on a Microsoft Windows PC. If you have already installed the WDDPROC Software Suite onto your PC then you may skip this section.

STEP 1 Create a new directory on your hard disk drive called WDDPROC. If you already have a directory called WDDPROC then delete all files except for your data files (i.e. *.DSC, *.BAK, *.INX).
STEP 2 Download the self extracting zip file called WDDPROCALLZIP.EXE from the WDDPROC website at http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PC_PROD/DDPROC4.XX/ddproc.index.html and place it into the directory you created in step 1. The WDDPROCALLZIP.EXE file contains the entire range of programs of the WDDPROC Software Suite, of which WMRGDESC is one of the programs.
STEP 3 Double-click on the WDDPROCALLZIP.EXE icon. A PKZIP window will appear asking you where you want to extract the zip files to. Make sure that under the Extract To: label that you have the WDDPROCALLZIP.EXE file highlighted and that the directory tree structure C:\WDDPROC highlighted. Press the [Extract] button at the lower left corner of the window to extract the files from the ZIP file to the C:\WDDPROC directory. The following files are related to the WMRGDESC program and are installed in the C:\WDDPROC directory:

Filename Comments
contrib.dat The data file listing all the possible valid (contributing) agencies. Updated contrib.dat files can be obtained from http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/FGCS/BlueBook/annexc/annexc.index.html
country.dat The data file listing all the possible valid country, state, and county codes. Updated country.dat files can be obtained from http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/FGCS/BlueBook/annexa/annexa.index.html
monucat.dat The data file listing all the possible valid monumentation categories and their corresponding monumentation codes.
monument.dat The data file listing all the possible valid monumentation codes.
setting.dat The data file listing all the possible valid setting codes.
smonuset.dat The data file listing all the possible valid surface monumentation code/setting (class) code combinations.
umonuset.dat The data file listing all the possible valid underground monumentation code/setting (class) code combinations.
wmrgdesc.exe The WMRGDESC program executable.
wmrgdesc.documentation.html
wmrgdesc.documentation.rabbit.gif
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig1.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig2.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig3.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig4.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig5.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig6.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig7.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig8.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig9.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig10.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig11.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig12.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig13.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig14.jpg
wmrgdesc.documentation.fig15.gif 		The WMRGDESC program's documentation for Microsoft Windows (this documentation).
STEP 4 Set up a Microsoft Shortcut for the WDDPROC program by right mouse clicking on the WDDPROC.EXE icon and selecting Create Shortcut from the pop-up menu. You can then drag/move this shortcut to the desktop window for easier access to the program from the Microsoft Windows desktop.

2.3 Running the WMRGDESC Program

To run the program, you invoke it by selecting the menupath Programs, WMRGDESC from the WDDPROC main menu.

2.4 The WMRGDESC Main Menu

The WMRGDESC main menu, shown in figure 1, is the main menu for the WMRGDESC program. There are two menu options on the main menu: File, and Help. Each menu option is explained in detail in §2.4.1 to §2.4.2.


Figure 1 The WMRGDESC Main Menu

2.4.1 The File Menu Option

Use the File menu option off of the WMRGDESC main menu to Start the merging of two D-FILEs into a new D-FILE, or to exit the WMRGDESC program. The File submenu is displayed in figure 2. Each File menu option is explained in detail in §2.4.1.1 to §2.4.1.2.


Figure 2 The File Menu Option

2.4.1.1 The Start Menu Option

To merge two D-FILEs together, you must select the Start menu option off of the File menu. When Start is selected, the Select First D-File dialog box (figure 3) is displayed.


Figure 3 The Select First D-File dialog box

Choose the first D-FILE (*.dsc) file that you want to merge with a second D-FILE from the file list. Press the [Open] button once you have made your file selection. The Select Second D-File dialog box (figure 4) is displayed.


Figure 4 The Select Second D-File dialog box.

Press the [Open] button once you have made your file selection. The program will attempt to merge the two D-FILEs together. If you have overlapping SSNs between the D-FILEs, then the Duplicate Record Found dialog box (figure 5) is displayed.


Figure 5 The Duplicate Record Found dialog box

If you get this dialog box, then press the [OK] button, select File, Exit from the WMRGDESC main menu, and then invoke the WNUMDESC program to renumber one of the D-FILEs SSNs. If you stay in the WMRGDESC program after pressing [OK] on the Duplicate Record Found dialog box and you try to use either of the two currently open D-FILEs, then you will get yet another error message (figure 6).


Figure 6 The D-File Error dialog box

If there are no overlapping SSNs between the D-FILEs you selected as input, then the Proceed? dialog box (figure 7) is displayed.


Figure 7 The Proceed? dialog box

Press the [Yes] button to proceed with the merging of the two D-FILEs (or the [No] button if you change your mind and don't want to merge the two D-FILEs together).

If you press the [Yes] button then the Save Merged D-File As dialog box (figure 8) is displayed.


Figure 8 The Save Merged D-File As dialog box

In the File name: field, enter the name of the D-FILE that will hold the information from the other two D-FILEs. The normal file extension for any D-FILE is .dsc or .DSC. It is a required extension for the other associated programs that act on a D-FILE, namely: WCHKDESC, WDESC, WDS2D, WEXTRACT, WNUMDESC, and WPRTDESC. Make sure that you type in the .dsc extension for the new D-FILE or you may have trouble reading it in with the WDDPROC programs later. The Save in: field is where the D-FILE will be saved. Verify that you are saving to the directory you wish to and then press the [SAVE] button.

If the output D-FILE exists already, then the File already exists dialog box (figure 9) is displayed.


Figure 9 The File already exists dialog box

Press the [Yes] button to overwrite the existing output D-FILE, or press the [No] button or the [Cancel] button to abort the merge process.

Before merging actually begins, several checks are performed. An error message (dialog box) is displayed if:

  1. Either Input D-FILE does not exist or contains no data.
  2. The Input D-FILE 1, Input D-FILE 2, or the Output D-FILE have the same path and filename.
  3. The user did not run the WEXTRACT program on Input D-FILE 1, or Input D-FILE 2 before running the WMRGDESC program.
  4. A description's SSN in Input D-FILE 1 matches a description's SSN in Input D-FILE 2.
  5. A description in Input D-FILE 1 matches a description in Input D-FILE 2.

Descriptions in Input D-FILE 1 and Input D-FILE 2 are sorted in keyed-in order. Thus the new Output D-FILE's descriptions will be written in keyed-in order. The keyed-in order is assigned a value equal to the number of descriptions written to the Output D-FILE thus far. So if we are writing the third description from Input D-FILE 1 to the Output D-FILE, then the keyed-in order will be 0003. The keyed-in order field is part of the description header record.

Once all of the descriptions have been written to the output D-FILE, a few fields are calculated for the project header record of the D-FILE. The fields calculated are the minimum latitude, the maximum latitude, the minimum longitude, and the maximum longitude. These records are calculated automatically by the WMRGDESC program from the descriptions in the new D-FILE.

When the two D-FILEs are merged, the results are displayed in the 3rd list box field on the WMRGDESC main menu screen (figure 10).


Figure 10 The WMRGDESC main menu with updated list boxes

As each description was converted, several fields in the D-FILE's project header record were calculated. The calculated fields include the:

  1. minimum latitude
  2. maximum latitude
  3. minimum longitude
  4. maximum longitude

Since these fields do not exist on a DATASHEET, these fields must be calculated from the descriptions in the new D-FILE. The time it takes to perform these calculations is directly proportional to the number of descriptions in the D-FILE. When you go to edit your newly created D-FILE with the WDESC program, you will need to select Project from the WDESC main menu and add the following information:

  1. Reporting Agency (entry required)
  2. Job Code (entry required)
  3. Accession Code (entry required)
  4. Accession Prefix (entry required)
  5. Part Number (entry required)
  6. Project Title (entry required)
  7. Project Comments (entry optional)

These fields cannot be calculated from DATASHEETs within the WMRGDESC program. You will be required to enter the information into these fields (with the exception of the project comments field) using the WDESC program before you send in your D-FILE to NGS. If you are going to be merging several D-FILEs together with the WMRGDESC program immediately after running the WDS2D program, then fill-in these fields after you have completed the merging of the D-FILEs.

2.4.1.2 The Exit Menu Option

To leave the WMRGDESC program, you must select the menu path File, Exit off of the WMRGDESC main menu (figure 11).


Figure 11 The Exit Menu Option

2.4.2 The Help Menu Option

Select Help from the WMRGDESC main menu to access specific information regarding the WMRGDESC program (figure 12).


Figure 12 The Help Menu Option

On the help menu two options are available: About and Disclaimer. These two menu options are discussed in detail in §2.4.2.1 to §2.4.2.2.

2.4.2.1 The About Menu Option

To find out what version of the WMRGDESC program is being run, select the Help menu option from the WMRGDESC menu and then the About menu option. When About is selected, the About WMRGDESC dialog box (figure 13) is displayed.


Figure 13 The About WMRGDESC dialog box

To exit the About WMRGDESC dialog box, press the [OK] button.

2.4.2.2 The Disclaimer Menu Option

Select Disclaimer from the Help menu to view NGS's Disclaimer on the WMRGDESC program. A partial view of the Disclaimer dialog box (figure 14) can be seen below.


Figure 14 The NGS Disclaimer dialog box

2.5 The WMRGDESC Normal Workflow

Step 1

If you are starting out with D-FILEs (*.dsc), then go to Step 3. Convert the DSDATA files 1, 2, 3, ..., N, to separate D-FILEs using the WDS2D program, making sure that SSNs in all the D-FILEs do not overlap (i.e., you cannot have SSN 0001 in more than one D-FILE). The WMRGDESC program will not merge D-FILEs together if they have any overlapping SSNs between them.

As you are converting DSDATA files to D-FILEs, keep track of the ending SSN of the previously converted DSDATA file. As you are converting DSDATA files to D-FILEs in the WDS2D program, make the starting SSN equal to the previously converted DSDATA file's ending SSN plus 1 for all but the first DSDATA file (i.e. use the default SSN of 0001). For example, if the first DSDATA file you converted has three DATASHEETs in it and you did not edit the default starting SSN of 0001 to another number then the ending SSN is 0003. This means that you should enter a SSN of 0004 as the starting SSN in the WDS2D program when you convert the next DSDATA file's DATASHEETs to D-FILE descriptions.

When you are finished converting DSDATA files to D-FILEs with the WDS2D program, then exit the WDS2D program. Go to step 2.

Step 2

If the SSNs overlap between the D-FILEs, then use the WNUMDESC program to renumber the SSNs on D-FILE descriptions and begin again at step 1. Otherwise go to step 3.

Step 3

Extract those descriptions that you will be sending into NGS from D-FILEs 1, 2, 3, ... N, with the WEXTRACT program. You cannot run the WMRGDESC program on "former DSDATA files" without first running them through the WEXTRACT program. Exit the WEXTRACT program. Go to step 4.

Step 4

Merge the D-FILEs 1, and 2 together using the WMRGDESC program. Then merge the result of the merging of the first two D-FILEs with the next D-FILE, etc..., and exit the WMRGDESC program.

Appendix A. The Output D-FILE

Below in §A.1 through §A.13 is a snapshot of the changes that take place to each record and field in the Output D-FILE. The Output D-FILE is the result of running the WMRGDESC program against Input D-FILE 1, and Input D-FILE 2.

A.1 The Output D-FILE's Project Header Record
Field
No.		 Field Name Default/Comment
1 File Type Code "D"
2 File Sub-type Code The file sub-type code found on input D-FILE 1. This value is the same as the file sub-type code found in input D-FILE 2. D-FILEs not having the same file sub-type code cannot be merged together.
3 File Format Version Number "02.01.02"
4 Source Program Name "WMRGDESC"
5 Source Program Version Number "V02.00.07"
6 File Creation Date today's date
7 Accession Prefix (Project Type) ""
8 Accession Number (Project Number) ""
9 Part Number ""
10 Job Code ""
11 Submitting/Reporting Organization Category Code ""
12 Submitting/Reporting Organization Code ""
13 Submitting/Reporting Organization Fullname/Definition ""
Area Covered by Project
Maximum Latitude Record
14 Hemisphere Code Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
15 Degrees Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
16 Minutes Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
17 Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
18 Decimal Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
Minimum Latitude Record
19 Hemisphere Code Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
20 Degrees Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
21 Minutes Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
22 Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
23 Decimal Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
Maximum Longitude Record
24 Hemisphere Code Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
25 Degrees Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
26 Minutes Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
27 Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
28 Decimal Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
Minimum Longitude Record
29 Hemisphere Code Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
30 Degrees Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
31 Minutes Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
32 Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.
33 Decimal Seconds Is calculated after all descriptions have been placed into the Output D-FILE.

A.2 The Output D-FILE's Project Title Record

Although a project title record can exist in either input D-FILE, the "correct" project title record cannot be determined, and therefore, does not exist in a merged D-FILE. It must be entered later via the WDESC program.
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier none
2 Project Title none
3 Record Terminator none

A.3 The Output D-FILE's Project Comment Record

Although a project comment record can exist in either input D-FILE, the "correct" project comment record cannot be determined, and therefore, does not exist in a merged D-FILE. It may be entered later via the WDESC program.
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier none
2 Project Comments none
3 Record Terminator none

A.4 The Output D-FILE's Description Header Record
Field
No.		 Field Name Default/Comment
1 Description Header Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Station Serial Number (SSN) Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Permanent Identifier (PID) Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
4 Condition Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
5 Designation Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
6 Alias Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
7 Stamping Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
8 USGS Quadrangle Name Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
9 Special Application Codes Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
10 Satellite Usage Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
11 Country Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
12 State Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
13 County FIPS Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
14 County Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
15 Monumentation (Marker) Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
16 Monumentation (Marker) Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
17 Setting Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
18 Specific Setting Text Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
19 Vertical Stability Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
20 Magnetic Property Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
21 Flush/Projecting/Recessed (FPR) Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
22 Projecting/Recessed (PR) Distance Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
23 Projecting/Recessed (PR) Distance Units Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
24 Rod/Pipe Depth Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
25 Rod/Pipe Depth Units Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
26 Sleeve Depth Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
27 Sleeve Depth Units Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
28 Organization Logo Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
29 Organization Logo Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
30 Organization Logo Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
31 Setting/Establishing Organization Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
32 Setting/Establishing Organization Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
33 Setting/Establishing Organization's Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
34 Setting Date Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
35 Recovery/Reporting Organization Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
36 Recovery/Reporting Organization Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
37 Recovery/Reporting Organization Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
38 Chief of Party (COP) Initials Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
39 Recovery/Report Date Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
40 Transportation Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
41 Pack Time Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
42 Report Type Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
43 Text Status Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
44 Description Source Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
45 Keyed-in Order Keyed-in Order is assigned. The keyed-in order starts at 0001. For each description written to the output D-FILE the keyed-in order is one more than the previous description's keyed-in order.

A.5 The Output D-FILE's Underground Mark Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Monumentation (Marker) Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Monumentation (Marker) Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
5 Setting (Class) Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
6 Setting Date Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
7 Magnetic Property Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
8 Vertical Stability Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
9 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.6 The Output D-FILE's Station Remonumentation Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Permanent Identifier (PID) Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Designation Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
4 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.7 The Output D-FILE's Reference Object Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Permanent Identifier (PID) Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Reference Object Type Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
4 Reference Object Distance Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
5 Reference Object Distance Units Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
Geodetic Azimuth
6 Degrees Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
7 Minutes Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
8 Seconds Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
9 Decimal Seconds Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
10 Error Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
11 Designation Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
12 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.8 The Output D-FILE's Recovery History Record
Field
No.		 Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Recovery/Report Date Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Recovery Condition Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
4 Recovery/Reporting Organization Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
5 Recovery/Reporting Organization Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
6 Recovery/Reporting Organization Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
7 Chief of Party Initials (COP) Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
8 Satellite Usage Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
9 Transportation Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
10 Pack Time Taken from the current descriptio in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
11 Historical Descriptive Text Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
12 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.9 The Output D-FILE's Position Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
Latitude Record
2 Hemisphere Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Degrees Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
4 Minutes Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
5 Seconds Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
6 Decimal Seconds Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
Longitude Record
7 Hemisphere Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
8 Degrees Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
9 Minutes Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
10 Seconds Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
11 Decimal Seconds Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
12 Position Source Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
13 Horizontal Datum Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
14 Adjusting Organization Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
15 Adjusting Organization Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
16 Adjusting Organization Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
17 Adjustment Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
18 Adjustment Date Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
19 Epoch Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
20 Position Order Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
21 Position Technique Code Take from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
22 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.10 The Output D-FILE's Height Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Orthometric Height Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Orthometric Height Units Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
4 Orthometric Height Source Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
5 Vertical Datum Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
6 Adjusting Organization Category Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
7 Adjusting Organization Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
8 Adjusting Organization Fullname/Definition Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
9 Adjustment Date Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
10 Epoch Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
11 Orthometric Height Order Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
12 Orthometric Height Class Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
13 Orthometric Height Technique Code Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
14 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.11 The Output D-FILE's Text Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Descriptive Text Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.12 The Output D-FILE's Vertical Mark Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Record Identifier Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
2 Vertical Mark Number Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.
3 Record Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

A.13 The Output D-FILE's Description Terminator Record
Field No. Field Name Default/Comment
1 Description Terminator Taken from the current description in D-FILE 1 or D-FILE 2; no change.

Appendix B. A Merge Example

A surveyor in New York needs to report to NGS on 2 monuments (markers). The surveyor had downloaded the DATASHEETs from the NGS website at http://www.ngs.noaa.gov as separate *.dat (DSDATA files) (see the WDS2D Documentation for more information on *.dat files). The surveyor named the files LX0321.dat and OF2471.dat.

Using the WDS2D program within WDDPROC, the surveyor then converts the first file, LX0321.dat, to a D-FILE called LX0321.dsc with a starting SSN of 0001. When the conversion is complete the surveyor takes note of the ending SSN number on the screen, 0001. He finds that the LX0321.dsc file contains 1 description. He then uses the WDS2D program again to convert the second file, OF2471.dat, to a D-FILE called OF2471.dsc with a starting SSN of 0002, one greater than the ending SSN of the first D-FILE. He finds that the OF2471.dsc file contains 1 description.

The surveyor then extracts the 1 description needed from the LX0321.dsc D-FILE with the WEXTRACT program and puts the descriptions into a D-FILE called LX0321e.dsc. He/she then extracts the 1 description needed from the OF2471.dsc D-FILE with the WEXTRACT program and puts the descriptions into a D-FILE called OF2471e.dsc.

The surveyor then invokes the WMRGDESC program from within WDDPROC and uses LX0321e.dsc as Input D-FILE 1, and uses OF2471e.dsc as Input D-FILE 2. He calls the Output D-FILE NY_LX0321_OF2471.dsc.

Input D-FILE 1, LX0321e.dsc is shown in §B.1, Input D-FILE 2, OF2471e.dsc is shown in §B.2, and Output D-FILE, NY_LX0321_OF2471.DSC is show in §B.3 below. Please note that because a D-FILE's descriptions can be quite lengthy, there will be some wrap-around of the D-FILEs in these sections as each description record is contained all on one line. The SSN of each description is highlighted in red and bolded for readability.

B.1 The Input D-FILE 1

The input D-FILE 1, LX0321e.dsc, contains 1 description. 

DN02.01.02WEXTRACT02.00.0720030318               AA                                                                                       N410154      N410154      W0721112      W0721112      A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
@0001LX0321GTHREE POINT RM 2                                                                                    NO 2 1933                                         GARDINERS ISLAND WEST (1956)             USNY   SUFFOLK                   DR07                                CN                    NONE                                                                                   CGS                                                                                   1933     USPSQD                                                                                   20020417P0000NCD0001K1933    S CGS                                                                                       P0000  K1956    G NGS                                                                                       P0000DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1956
6.3 MI NW FROM EAST HAMPTON.
5.35 MILES NORTH ALONG THREE MILE HARBOR ROAD FROM THE POST
OFFICE AT EAST HAMPTON, THENCE 0.95 MILE NORTHWEST ALONG ROAD
LEADING TO THREE MILE HARBOR FISHING STATION, ON THE WEST SIDE
OF THREE MILE HARBOR ENTRANCE, 80 FEET SOUTHWEST OF THE SEAWALL
ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF HARBOR, 34 FEET SOUTHEAST OF BENCH MARK
U.S.E. SET IN TOP OF A CONCRETE POST ON TOP OF A SAND BANK,
PROJECTING 2 INCHES.  NOTE-- TIDAL STATION II-47.
  K20020417G USPSQD                                                                                JK  P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY US POWER SQUADRON 2002 (JK)
RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION.
  LN410154      W0721112      S83               M   2.174  M A88    199106  20

B.2 The Input D-FILE 2

The input D-FILE 2, OF2471e.dsc, contain 1 description.

DN02.01.02WEXTRACT02.00.0720030318               AA                                                                                       N430043      N430043      W0775232      W0775232      A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
@0002OF2471G641 NYGS 1969                                                                                       641 1936                                          CHURCHVILLE (1978)                      YUSNY   MONROE                    DB07                                CNF    CM             NONE                                                                                   CGS+SS                                                                                1936     NYDT                                                                                     20010725P0000NCD0001K1936    S CGS+SS                                                                                LRH P0000DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1936 (LRH)
IN WHEATLAND, 0.45 MILE SOUTH OF NORTH ROAD, 29.5 FEET WEST OF
CENTER LINE OF RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD, AT NORTH END OF CURVE, OPPOSITE
THE H.H. LYTTLE ABANDONED GRAVEL PIT, 171 FEET NORTH OF PORTION
OF PROPERTY-LINE AND EAST-WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE, 72.3 FEET
SOUTH OF NEW YORK STATE HIGHWAY STATION 230+00 AND 3.1 FEET EAST
OF WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE.  STATION IS A U.S.C. AND G.S. AND
STATE SURVEY STANDARD DISK IN CONCRETE AND 0.1 FOOT BELOW
GROUND.
  K1969    G CGS                                                                                   GWM P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1969 (GWM)
OLD DESCRIPTION INADEQUATE, NEW DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS--

IN WHEATLAND, ALONG RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD.
0.45 MILE SOUTH OF NORTH ROAD.
0.4 MILE NORTH, NORTHEAST OF STATION RIGA.
29.5 FEET WEST OF CENTER LINE OF RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD.  AT NORTH
END OF CURVE.
72.3 FEET SOUTH OF CONCRETE POST NO. 230.
3.1 FEET EAST OF FENCE.
STATION IS A U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY AND STATE SURVEY
STANDARD DISK IN CONCRETE FLUSH WITH GROUND AND STAMPED 641, 1936.
  K1973    G NY-055                                                                                SJC P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK 1973 (SJC)
IN WHEATLAND, ON THE W. SIDE OF RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD (RT. 36) AND
0.1 MILE N. OF OATKA CREEK ROAD (RT. 245)
29.5 FT W OF C.L. RT. 36
75.7 FT N. OF UTILITY POLE NM 25, 321, RTC 38
3.0 FT E OF WIRE FENCE
1.0 FT E OF MONROE COUNTY WITNESS SIGN.
A U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY AND STATE SURVEY STANDARD
DISK IN CONCRETE AT GRADE.
  K1973    G NY-055                                                                                JEG P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK 1973 (JEG)
STATION WAS RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION.  DESCRIPTION ADEQUATE.
  K19951101G NYDT                                                                                  KDS P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY NY DEPT OF TRANSP 1995 (KDS)
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS FOLLOW.  THE STATION IS 2.33 KM (1.45
MI) NORTH OF THE JUNCTION OF NY ROUTES 36 AND 383 NORTH OF CALEDONIA,
AND 0.72 KM (0.45 MI) SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION OF ROUTE 36 AND NORTH ROAD
NEAR THE NORTH END OF A CURVE.  IT IS SET IN A LOW EARTH BANK
SEPARATING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY DRAINAGE DITCH FROM THE AGRICULTURAL LAND
BEYOND AND IS 8.8 M (28.87 FT) WEST OF THE CENTERLINE OF ROUTE 36.
THE OLD MONROE COUNTY WITNESS POST WAS LOCATED AND REINSTALLED IN
1995.
  K19980730G FA                                                                                    KR  P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY FISHER ASSOCIATES 1998 (KR)
GOOD.
  K20010725G NYDT                                                                                  EAM P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY NY DEPT OF TRANSP 2001 (EAM)
RECOVERED AS DESCRIBED. 
  LN430043      W0775232      S83            BG M 200.4    M  88

B.3 The Output D-FILE

The output D-FILE, NY_LX0321_OF2471.dsc contains 2 descriptions.

DN02.01.02WMRGDESC02.00.0720030318                                                                                                        N430043      N410154      W0775232      W0721112      A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
@0001LX0321GTHREE POINT RM 2                                                                                    NO 2 1933                                         GARDINERS ISLAND WEST (1956)             USNY   SUFFOLK                   DR07                                CN                    NONE                                                                                   CGS                                                                                   1933     USPSQD                                                                                   20020417P0000NCD0001K1933    S CGS                                                                                       P0000  K1956    G NGS                                                                                       P0000DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1956
6.3 MI NW FROM EAST HAMPTON.
5.35 MILES NORTH ALONG THREE MILE HARBOR ROAD FROM THE POST
OFFICE AT EAST HAMPTON, THENCE 0.95 MILE NORTHWEST ALONG ROAD
LEADING TO THREE MILE HARBOR FISHING STATION, ON THE WEST SIDE
OF THREE MILE HARBOR ENTRANCE, 80 FEET SOUTHWEST OF THE SEAWALL
ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF HARBOR, 34 FEET SOUTHEAST OF BENCH MARK
U.S.E. SET IN TOP OF A CONCRETE POST ON TOP OF A SAND BANK,
PROJECTING 2 INCHES.  NOTE-- TIDAL STATION II-47.
  K20020417G USPSQD                                                                                JK  P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY US POWER SQUADRON 2002 (JK)
RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION.
  LN410154      W0721112      S83               M   2.174  M A88    199106  20  
@0002OF2471G641 NYGS 1969                                                                                       641 1936                                          CHURCHVILLE (1978)                      YUSNY   MONROE                    DB07                                CNF    CM             NONE                                                                                   CGS+SS                                                                                1936     NYDT                                                                                     20010725P0000NCD0002K1936    S CGS+SS                                                                                LRH P0000DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1936 (LRH)
IN WHEATLAND, 0.45 MILE SOUTH OF NORTH ROAD, 29.5 FEET WEST OF
CENTER LINE OF RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD, AT NORTH END OF CURVE, OPPOSITE
THE H.H. LYTTLE ABANDONED GRAVEL PIT, 171 FEET NORTH OF PORTION
OF PROPERTY-LINE AND EAST-WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE, 72.3 FEET
SOUTH OF NEW YORK STATE HIGHWAY STATION 230+00 AND 3.1 FEET EAST
OF WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE.  STATION IS A U.S.C. AND G.S. AND
STATE SURVEY STANDARD DISK IN CONCRETE AND 0.1 FOOT BELOW
GROUND.
  K1969    G CGS                                                                                   GWM P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1969 (GWM)
OLD DESCRIPTION INADEQUATE, NEW DESCRIPTION FOLLOWS--

IN WHEATLAND, ALONG RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD.
0.45 MILE SOUTH OF NORTH ROAD.
0.4 MILE NORTH, NORTHEAST OF STATION RIGA.
29.5 FEET WEST OF CENTER LINE OF RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD.  AT NORTH
END OF CURVE.
72.3 FEET SOUTH OF CONCRETE POST NO. 230.
3.1 FEET EAST OF FENCE.
STATION IS A U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY AND STATE SURVEY
STANDARD DISK IN CONCRETE FLUSH WITH GROUND AND STAMPED 641, 1936.
  K1973    G NY-055                                                                                SJC P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK 1973 (SJC)
IN WHEATLAND, ON THE W. SIDE OF RIGA-MUMFORD ROAD (RT. 36) AND
0.1 MILE N. OF OATKA CREEK ROAD (RT. 245)
29.5 FT W OF C.L. RT. 36
75.7 FT N. OF UTILITY POLE NM 25, 321, RTC 38
3.0 FT E OF WIRE FENCE
1.0 FT E OF MONROE COUNTY WITNESS SIGN.
A U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY AND STATE SURVEY STANDARD
DISK IN CONCRETE AT GRADE.
  K1973    G NY-055                                                                                JEG P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK 1973 (JEG)
STATION WAS RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION.  DESCRIPTION ADEQUATE.
  K19951101G NYDT                                                                                  KDS P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY NY DEPT OF TRANSP 1995 (KDS)
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS FOLLOW.  THE STATION IS 2.33 KM (1.45
MI) NORTH OF THE JUNCTION OF NY ROUTES 36 AND 383 NORTH OF CALEDONIA,
AND 0.72 KM (0.45 MI) SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION OF ROUTE 36 AND NORTH ROAD
NEAR THE NORTH END OF A CURVE.  IT IS SET IN A LOW EARTH BANK
SEPARATING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY DRAINAGE DITCH FROM THE AGRICULTURAL LAND
BEYOND AND IS 8.8 M (28.87 FT) WEST OF THE CENTERLINE OF ROUTE 36.
THE OLD MONROE COUNTY WITNESS POST WAS LOCATED AND REINSTALLED IN
1995.
  K19980730G FA                                                                                    KR  P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY FISHER ASSOCIATES 1998 (KR)
GOOD.
  K20010725G NYDT                                                                                  EAM P0000RECOVERY NOTE BY NY DEPT OF TRANSP 2001 (EAM)
RECOVERED AS DESCRIBED. 
  LN430043      W0775232      S83            BG M 200.4    M  88

Appendix C. The WMRGDESC Program Flowchart

The flowchart below gives a graphical view of what the WMRGDESC program does. It takes D-FILEs as input and creates a new D-FILE as output.


Figure 15 The WMRGDESC Program Flowchart

Updated: June 4, 2003