Intro:
The Batch Command feature is one of the stellar abilities of SMS Advanced to automate routines that you have to do over and over. This ability to do the same thing to multiple fields at a time is also available in SMS Basic to a lesser extent. To view all of the batch functions in your level of program, select Batch Command then the help button to view the list. Functions limited to Advanced will show (ADVANCED) to indicate the limitation. Batch Exports is only available in Advanced.
If Basic users want to batch export either boundary or prescription shapefiles, utilize the Raven or Trimble export to achieve a multi field export. Files created can then be moved out of the auto-created folders into folders of your choice.
Instructions:
- Prepare your variable rate prescription maps. For reference see “SMS Map Skills: Creating Prescription Map by Matching Rate to Zone” as an example of map creation.
2. For boundaries, make sure your current year boundary has been set to the field name or only one boundary event is stored to the current year.
3. Select the Batch Command to find your target function. Select EXPORT.
4. Select the Growers(s) Farms, Fields, Years and Operation you intend to export.
5. A preview list of all of the datasets to be exported will be presented. If you review these, you might find a field or an event that you want removed from the export. Highlight and Delete to remove from list. This does not delete the dataset from your management tree, just the export job.
6. Finish will bring you to the “Export to Generic File Format” choice where we find the shapefile type.
7. From this Menu, select Shape and then choose Export Settings -Shape to select which of the data columns you want to export.
For instance If the destination of your batch export is another farm management information system, then you might want to ADD the Grower name and Farm name (Both Properties-not attributes) to the export file.
If you are batch exporting Rx maps then usually just Field, Product and Target Rate are needed.
8. Important: Once the file structure is affirmed then Look to the “Export Files into a Folder Hierarchy” and check on for SMS to create a structure with Folders for Each selected Grower with all files placed in an operation(year) folder with all of the layers exported to a filename that is Field_Product.
9. Remember that shapefiles out of SMS are a 4 file set and all of the files must “go together” to be zipped or transferred to another destination.
Karon Tracey Cowan, AgTech GIS
April 2021
AgTech GIS 