Entering Data

Data can be entered either manually or by using the Data Entry form.

To enter data manually, enter the call into the entry field and press the Add button.

The data should be entered as {N/S} {DD:MM:SS} {E/W} {Distance}. Example: N 44:30:25 E 100. You can also enter "due" north/south/east/west by entering just the direction and the distance. Example: N 100 would be due north 100 feet.

Line calls can also be entered in the following format: {N/S}{DD.MMSS}{E/W} {Distance}. Example: n33.3333e 100.

Distances entered manually are assumed to be feet. To have the software assume a unit of measurement other than feet choose Data Entry Mode from the Tools menu. This will activate a menu button that can be used to change the unit of measurement to that which is being entered. Values entered in this way will be converted to feet. This menu button can be seen below.

In most cases, a "v" or "m" can be added to the distance to indicate that the value being entered is either a vara or meter. Example: N 45 E 100v would indicate 100 varas. The full text of the unit type can also be used, such as N 45 E 100 Yards.

Additional Call Entries:

Data Entry Form

To enter data using the Data Entry form, press the Enter Data button. This will bring up the Data Entry form. You can also bring up this form by right-clicking in the main drawing area or the call list and choosing Enter Data from the popup menu.

Entering Line Data:

To add a line to the drawing, make sure that the Line tab is selected. Then, enter the call data and press the Add Line button.
If the Call Visible box is unchecked, then the call will not be drawn on the screen, nor will it be used in calculations such as area. An invisible call will be shaded in red in the call list. Calls can be made visible/invisible by right-clicking on the call in the main window.


To delete the last line of the drawing, press the Delete Last button.

You can edit any line by choosing it from the Edit Line menu button.

You can bring up a unit conversion calculator by pressing the popup menu arrow next to the distance unit popup menu.

If the call's angle is expressed as a decimal or compass direction, you can press the popup menu arrow next to the degree box to bring up one of the angle converters.

Entering Curve Data:

To enter a curve, select the Curve tab.

Choose which direction the curve is facing, either Left or Right.
Enter the Radius of the curve.
Choose the correct tab to enter the curve data in the format that you are using.



Arc Length (ft)


Central Angle


Chord Bearing


Radial Line


Press the Add Curve button to add the curve.

You can convert a Chord Length and Radius to Arc Length by pressing the popup menu arrow next to the Arc Length field. This the button will bring up the conversion form:

Enter the Radius and Chord Length. Pressing the Convert button will enter the Arc Length into the appropriate field on the main data entry form.

To enter non-tangent curves, enter the deflection as a line with a length of 0 feet, then enter the curve call.

To enter curve data manually:

On the main window, enter Right or Left, space, Radius, space, arc length in degree. For example, to enter a left facing curve, with a radius of 50 feet and an arc length of 30 degrees, 25 minutes enter "L 50 30:25". Then press the Add button.

Entering Corner Call Data

Entering a Corner Call simplifies the process of setting layers to use the same starting point. The Corner Call line is an invisible line from the drawing's origin to a section corner. For example, if your layer's description starts something like "Beginning at a point South 300.00 feet from the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 19", you could create an invisible call from the drawing's origin to the section corner as described. Then you would create another invisible line call for South 300 feet. This allows all of the layers to share the same origin, thus facilitating the automatic scaling and placement of each layer within a section.

If the drawing’s origin is not one of the corners, you will have to choose a corner to calculate the Corner Call from. Use this same corner for any additional layers.

This call should be the first call in the call list. If not, you can move it to the top of the call list using the Moving Calls feature outline below.

Bounded Line:

This tab allows you to enter a call that will be cropped at the boundary of another layer. Or it allows you to enter a bearing with an unknown length that will be cropped at the boundary of another layer. First choose the bounding layer, then enter either the call or bearing. If entering a bearing with an unknown length, use an * asterisks for the length.

Note: This option cannot be used if the drawing's origin is set to Auto-Center. It also requires that the drawing contain at least two layers - one for the bounding layer and the layer for which the call is being entered.

Entering Calls Via Text Editor

Calls can also be entered via a text editor interface by pressing the Text Entry button on the Data Entry form.

Any calls that can be entered in the call entry box on the main window can also be entered here.

Entering Missing, Incomplete or Vague Calls:

An incomplete or poorly written description may be missing part or all of a call. The software can help solve for these bad calls with several caveats.

To use this feature, enter a question mark (?) in place of the call. The question mark can only be entered using the manual entry field.

Moving Calls:
You can move calls up or down in the call list by right-clicking on the call and choosing Move Up or Move Down from the popup menu.

Return to Call:
You can return to the endpoint of a previous call by right-clicking on the call that you want to return to in the call list and choosing Return to Call. This will create an invisible call that returns to the endpoint of the chosen call. The recommended way to return to a call is to create a new layer using the Return to Call custom layer. Using this method of Return to Call can cause some functions to act unexpectedly, such the Split Layer function and area calculations. However, depending on how you intended to use the software, this option may be the easiest way to accomplish your goals.

Set Call Label:
You can set a custom label for an individual call by right-clicking on the call in the call list and choosing Set Call Label from the popup menu. This will bring a the Set Call Label form. Enter the call's label and press the Set Label button. The call label uses the same settings as the layer Show Call feature.

Convert Unit of Measurement:
You can convert the unit of measurement for a line call by right-clicking on the call and choosing Convert Unit of Measurement from the popup menu.

Entering Section Calls:
See Section Finder for information on entering section calls.


Drawing Calls:
See the Call Drawing Tool for information on drawing calls.