Merging and Renaming Multiple Recap Projects Into One Completely New Project

[eugene.szpynda]

Good Afternoon

We've reviewed multiple posts and videos regarding merging recap projects and combining using the "Save As" function however we'd like to know if it's possible to consolidate multiple project files into one completely renamed project containing all of the individual files also renamed. It seems that the "Save As" function still requires the original folders from which is sourced the data to remain in the "\import_output" folder. We'd like to remove these original folders as our "\import_output" folder is getting very cluttered.

Example Projects For Merging:

Files.RCP - (Files Support folder contains "Files 1.RCS") (one file for this project)

More Files.RCP - (More Files Support folder contains "More Files 1.RCS" / "More Files 2.RCS")(two files for this project)

Even More Files.RCP - (Even More Files Support folder contains "Even More Files 1.RCS" / "Even More Files 2.RCS" / "Even More Files 3.RCS" (three files for this project)

Example Project Output Desired:

Complete Project.RCP - (Complete Project Support folder would contain "Complete Project 1.RCS" / "Complete Project 2.RCS" / "Complete Project 3.RCS" / "Complete Project 4.RCS" / "Complete Project 5.RCS" / "Complete Project 6.RCS".

The above example is of a project scheme similar to what we are faced with (see sample register screen shot).

Here's a few reasons on how we go into this situation.

1. Obtaining more scans during subsequent trips and erasing the base project so you can't add to it. This is a bad situation even if you had the base project, as the BLK 360 which we have does not have hardware transfer capability and if you have to resync the entire project to keep a common project name, it takes a while thought WiFi.

2. Sometimes we would have 360 image dead zones (black areas). Again it's quicker to create a new Recap Mobile project syncing only a few of the required files into a new project to avoid syncing the complete project.

Appreciate any support or guidance.

Regards,

[jayson.sterba]

Hi @eugene.szpynda ,

You can merge multiple projects together. Using your example the workflow would be: 

• Register "files.RCP"
• Register "More files.rcp"
• Register "Even more files.rcp"
• Open ReCap -> New project from pointcloud
  • Import all 3 RCPs
  • Register one scan from Group 1 (files.RCP) to any scan from one of the other two .rcp files
  • Merge
  • After the file is opened and all scans are showing perform a SAVE-AS to a different location call it "complete project merged.rcp"

This should create a "complete project merged.rcp" file and a "complete project merged" support folder with all of the scan data from all 3 older RCPs. 

Note: Make sure you don't save-as this into a folder that houses the other projects, you'll want a fresh location. 

[jayson.sterba]

meant to also post a link to this AKN Article:

To merge multiple recap projects 

[jayson.sterba]

hi @eugene.szpynda ,

Just wanted to follow up on my previous post and see if you were able to follow those steps to properly register multiple ReCap projects together. 

Thanks!

[eugene.szpynda]

Good Evening

Success.

I believe the key point here is when performing a "Save-As" on a collection of Projects, you need to create an entirely new Project Name and not keep an existing Project Name. If you do keep the same Project Name then the system only links the Files, and does not copy them.

I opened up my existing Project which had multiple linked Projects (relied on their individual Support Folders / Files of these linked Projects). I clicked "Save-As", imputed a new Project Name and the system successfully created the new Project with a Support Folder consolidating all of the other individual Project Support Files (.rsc / .rc / .dif / etc.) into this new Folder. I renamed a few of those linked Project Support Folders, to test the linking of files within, and I did not run into an issue. The new Project File is accessing the Support Files from within the new Support Folder.

Subsequent Questions:

1. The Project Support Files from the other Projects retained their original File Names. Was the "Save-As" function supposed to rename them all with the new Project Name?

2. Since the temporary cache is empty what work path should be followed to auto generate the various temporary cache files within the system, for ease of future navigation? The 360 image load times were reduced, but not eliminated, once I allowed the system to enter the Registration Mode and let that process generate it's own temporary cache files.

Appreciate the support.

[bobvPDNKX]

I am trying to merge multiple rcp files.  I have seen the posts and this seems fairly straight forward:

To merge multiple ReCap Pro projects:

1. Prepare all individual ReCap (.RCP) projects (must be fully registered).
2. Create a separate new project.
3. At the import screen use the Add Files button to browse for the RCP files or drag in the files to merge. (Import all scans at once to avoid merging scans twice.)
4. Click Register Scans.
5. The first RCP will be treated as the base group, with the others as subsidiary groups on the right.
6. Use the panorama views to find a pair of scans with overlap, and click three point pairs to connect them.  
7. ReCap will use this estimate to find all overlapping data in the projects and merge them together.

I have created a new project, different name. Import the rcp files.  At this point, the files just merge into one. meaning it just places them on top of each other.  There is no point where I align and merge.

What could I possibly be doing wrong?