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Data Format Edits

Data Format Edits

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New Data Fields DRAINED and OU_TYPE

VX import mapping files, template, validation files and Map validation files have been updated to consider these changes from WinCan VX v17.5.

In the Autumn of 2025, National Highways added 4 new columns (fields) to their shapefiles. These are:

  • Point

    • DRAINED

    • OU_TYPE

  • Continuous

    • DRAINED

  • Region

    • DRAINED

So, we have 2 new fields spread across the 3 shapefiles. These are defined as:

  • DRAINED - this is for ‘Drainage Area’, and has conditions:

    • Is not mandatory.

    • Can have field values:

      • PS - Pavement surface

      • PSB - Pavement subsurface

      • GA - Geotechnical Asset

      • CSS - Combined surface and subsurface

      • DP - Depots

      • OT - Other

    • A new GDMS validation rule be added to check that where the field is not empty, it must contain one of the above values.

    • Is the same for Point, Continuous and Region shapefiles.

  • OU_TYPE - this is for ‘Outfall Type’, and has conditions:

    • Is not mandatory.

    • Can have field values:

      • SWC - Outfall to surface watercourse

      • SWS - Outfall to surface water sewer

      • FS - Outfall to foul sewer

      • CS - Outfall to combined sewer

      • OSU - Outfall to sewer (type unknown)

    • New GDMS validation rules will be added check;

      • that where the field is not empty, it must contain one of the above values, and

      • return an error if this field is populated and ITEM_TY_CO is not ‘OU’.

There is likely to be some time of transition with these new fields were some data sets have them and some don’t, and WinCan VX may complain if older files are used for data import. From v17.5 onwards, VX will be expecting these files to exist, so read on to learn how to spot these issues and fix.

When you begin the import process and select some shapefiles to import, look out for these red texts here:

image-20250814-160737.png
Import Visual Validation.

This is telling you that the import mapping files cannot find a column or some columns in the import files that it is expecting to find.

STOP! DO NOT PROCEED. Close the Import Wizard!

The solution is to add these missing columns to the shapefiles. They do not need to contain any data, they only have to exist in the shapefiles to allow the import process to proceed as planned.

Follow these steps …

  1. Open the shapefiles in Map standalone.

  2. On the Continuous layer, select the ‘Restructure Layer’ option from the Layer drop down menu list:

image-20250814-161446.png
Step 2.

  1. In the panel that pops open:

    1. define a new field ‘DRAINED’ as a string with say 100 characters (the exact number doesn’t really matter).

    2. Click ‘Add Field’.

    3. See ‘Ok’ appears near the bottom left corner.

    4. Click the green tick.

image-20250814-162140.png
Step 3.

  1. Make a right-click on the layer and select the ‘Save Data’ option:

image-20250814-161757.png
Step 4.

  1. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 for the Region file.

  2. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 for the Point file, but when adding the new layer at step 3, now also add the new column OU_TYPE using the same parameters again so you have added 2 new columns to this layer.

That’s it, close Map and go back to the WinCan VX Import Wizard and try again. Now the red error text will not appear and you will be able to proceed with the import as normal.

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