# Grade control

**URL:** <https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702>\
**Category:** Project ideas - in progress\
**Created:** [14 April 2020 17:51 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702 "2020-04-14T17:51:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 21

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**Author:** ![kansasfarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/kansasfarmer/32/16265_2.png) [@kansasfarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/kansasfarmer)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2021 15:21 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/402 "2021-11-13T15:21:01Z")

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was this done in optisurface?

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2021 15:45 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/403 "2021-11-13T15:45:09Z")

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No, it was done with EFT, a free to use program, it is complicated to extract  
the .agd file but its use is quite intuitive.

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2021 15:49 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/404 "2021-11-13T15:49:56Z")

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[https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/ndcsmc/?cid=stelprdb1042198](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/ndcsmc/?cid=stelprdb1042198)

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**Author:** ![Steigerguy](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Steigerguy](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Steigerguy)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2021 21:27 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/405 "2021-11-13T21:27:16Z")

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I would use that alot too. I have used agps dirtpro and in there you would capture a contol point and then have a place for entering your north south slope and east west slope based off your control point. A positive number was for a rise to the north and east. My coding is very limited so not sure how hard that would be to do. Our land is really flat here so most of our ditches are done at one slope.

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**Author:** ![NorthernFarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@NorthernFarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/NorthernFarmer)\
**Post date:** [14 November 2021 16:46 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/406 "2021-11-14T16:46:53Z")

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> [@Stem](#):
>
> EFT

Looks like EFT is limited to US coordinates, cannot select European UTM zone. Wonder if there is any easy solution.

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [14 November 2021 19:33 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/407 "2021-11-14T19:33:09Z")

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I do the survey with OpenGrade and from the SurveyAutoSave  
with Excel or OpenOffice I remove latitude, longitude, code, fix, Quality and it remains, easting, northing, altitude  
I open EFT and continue as in the movie up to Print report, with the generated pdf file and the Opengrade files I generate the file  
.agd, the only solution is to number the data in order to copy and paste with excel without errors. It’s a job  
boring but I have not found any other way to extract “grade” files from EFT software.

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**Author:** ![Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Pat)\
**Post date:** [14 November 2021 23:19 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/408 "2021-11-14T23:19:47Z")

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@NorthernFarmer@Stem Can give more info of what input coordinates are needed exactly? It don’t work with latitude/longitude?

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 00:06 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/409 "2021-11-15T00:06:38Z")

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Exactly does not work with latitude and longitude but with easting and northing.  
Data found in the Survey AutoSave.txt file generated by OpenGrade3D during the survey phase.  
I use easting, northing, for EFT and latitude, longitude, for OpenGrade3D, for this reason  
you have to name each datum with an increasing number 1-2-3-4-etc at the beginning of the project to make the change  
at the end to generate the .Agd file consisting of Latitude, Longitude, Altitude, CutAltitude, FillAltitude, Comment  
where for CutAltitude, FillAltitude you have to insert the “grade” value by extrapolating it from the .pdf file generated by EFT.  
Important is the Comment value which must be 3GRD to be taken into consideration  
by OpenGrade3d.  
Lots of excel and Notepad.

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**Author:** ![Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Pat)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 00:22 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/410 "2021-11-15T00:22:11Z")

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Can you write or give an example how exactly the file must look like for EFT and how it look like coming out from EFT?  
It is easy to output the numbers differently (create a other file) from OG3D, I could give a shoot.

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 00:51 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/411 "2021-11-15T00:51:28Z")

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The file thus composed must be removed from the first row  
because during the selection of the format you can choose  
between various options. If OpenGrade3d generated a file composed in this case “PENDZ: Point Name, Easting, Northing, Elevation, Description”  
it would be great.  
EFT also generates an .xml file where I am sure it contains the “grade” data but I cannot extract it.[2.txt](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/short-url/wRKgdlo6aAB5A7Y2ew65m6yTEFG.txt) (4.0 KB)  
[reportOut6415745488661448283.pdf.txt](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/short-url/5tMEzceK7w3mcIL9x8V1T3QwoOB.txt) (764.4 KB)

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 01:01 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/412 "2021-11-15T01:01:09Z")

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Here is an example of an .xml file created by EFT.[prova2.xml.txt](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/short-url/fobxSTvrU1NWkEw9pVNnaiKxusS.txt) (50.8 KB)

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**Author:** ![Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Pat)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 02:42 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/413 "2021-11-15T02:42:51Z")

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Should easting/northing, altitude be in foot or meter?

I will give a try tomorrow.

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**Author:** ![Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Pat)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 03:27 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/414 "2021-11-15T03:27:15Z")

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here this exe build an metric and an imperial txt for EFT  
[OpenGrade3D.exe.txt](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/short-url/1Kge07cabydAW1yfxTEnLYME9D.txt) (1,3 Mo)

Just replace with your exe and give it a try.

It would be easiest if EFT output some text file to put back in OG3D.  
it only outup an .xml and a .pdf?

Edit:  
If you already made a survey with the last version of OG3D and have the SurveyAutoSave.txt your can build the file by reopening the field in simulator mode and adding some points to the existing survey.

To proceed:  
1 Save a copy of SurveyAutoSave.txt somewere else for backup, it will be lost if something goes wrong  
2 open OG3D in simulator mode  
3 Enter the lat/long from survey txt in the simulator box  
4 Open the field  
5 In survey mode click “survey” then “use autosaved survey”  
6 put 3-4 more pts then finish survey  
7 the file is created, just erase the few last pts.

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**Author:** ![Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Stem](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Stem)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 04:18 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/415 "2021-11-15T04:18:06Z")

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Thanks I tried the new exe and it works great, I used the  
metric file and I made the conversion to imperial to EFT and it matches perfectly.  
Yes, the best would be to ask the EFT staff to export a practical file for us.  
EFT also exports Survey Points but I can’t see the “grade” data in their place  
there are T. I’m certainly wrong, anyway thanks an important step forward.[ccc.txt](https://discourse.agopengps.com/uploads/short-url/ytz9Ac1F1oxsk0qjrDJZ0iaFYGI.txt) (2.0 KB)

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**Author:** ![NorthernFarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@NorthernFarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/NorthernFarmer)\
**Post date:** [15 November 2021 06:42 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/416 "2021-11-15T06:42:05Z")

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My mistake, just installed and tried with an existing file with latitude/longitude samples.  
Thanks Pat.

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**Author:** ![VirtualDGB](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/virtualdgb/32/7050_2.png) [@VirtualDGB](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/VirtualDGB)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 10:59 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/417 "2021-11-18T10:59:55Z")

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This looks like a great project, how is it going

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**Author:** ![kansasfarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/kansasfarmer/32/16265_2.png) [@kansasfarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/kansasfarmer)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 12:48 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/418 "2021-11-18T12:48:39Z")

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Oh that is all finished a year ago. And has turned out really well.

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**Author:** ![VirtualDGB](https://discourse.agopengps.com/user_avatar/discourse.agopengps.com/virtualdgb/32/7050_2.png) [@VirtualDGB](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/VirtualDGB)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 14:05 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/419 "2021-11-18T14:05:58Z")

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I’m trying to learn as much and fast as possible. When you say load valve, do you mean hydraulic pressure transducer. And when you say proportion valve do you mean flow control.  
This project as absolutely amazing. The multinational companies charge 20-60k here in Australia. So you can do X,Y,Z ?  
If so may I see a video of auto level mode including auto steering all happening at the same time please

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**Author:** ![NorthernFarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@NorthernFarmer](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/NorthernFarmer)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 14:38 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/420 "2021-11-18T14:38:51Z")

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Why wouldn’t grade control and auto-steer work at the same time? Or are you expecting both controlled by the same application? Why? Usually you would anyway have two antennas, one at the tractor for auto-steer an the other one at the blade for altitude monitoring.

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**Author:** ![Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@Pat](https://discourse.agopengps.com/u/Pat)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 14:59 UTC](https://discourse.agopengps.com/t/grade-control/1702/421 "2021-11-18T14:59:48Z")

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AutoSteer don’t work in OpenGrade/OpenGrade3D.  
But maybe you could run AOG at same time on same computer with a second antenna, I have never tried.

> [@VirtualDGB](#):
>
> So you can do X,Y,Z ?

What do you mean by x,y,z?

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