The Origin workspace

This topic provides some tips on finding your way around the Origin workspace and interacting with the software.

Once you have opened a project and job, the Origin workspace is centered around the map. To start work, select an item from the menu or tap and hold in the map and select the required action. The actions shown in the map tap and hold menu depend on the number and type of items already selected in the map.

Selecting a menu item or action opens a new screen that appears over the map, or a form that appears alongside the map.

Softkeys at the bottom of the screen show actions and items relevant to the open screen or form.

Occasionally in landscape mode, and more commonly in portrait mode, the icon appears in the softkey row to indicate there are more softkeys available. To view more softkeys, tap or swipe right to left (or left to right) along the row of softkeys.

In most software screens you can tap to view the menu. From the menu, select:

  • Project to view the Projects screen.
  • Job to view the Jobs screen.

  • Favorites to view shortcuts to your favorite screens. From this screen you can also return to screens that are already open in the software, shown in the Return to list. In landscape mode, the menu always opens with the Favorites item selected, and the Favorites list is shown alongside the menu. For more information, see Favorite screens and functions.

    The Favorites menu item is available only when a job is open.

  • Job data to access the Job data menu and open the Review job, Point manager or other job data screens.

    The Job data menu item is available only when a job is open.

  • General Survey to switch to a different application if you have more than one Origin app installed.

    When a job is open, the items that appear below the application name provide access to the menus within that app.

  • Instrument to access the Instrument or Receiver menu.
  • Settings to configure settings and survey styles.
  • Help to view the installed help files.
  • About to view licensing information for Origin apps installed on the controller, as well as related subscription licenses.
  • Exit to exit the software.

Swipe up in the menu to view all items. To use the controller keypad to select a menu item, press the key corresponding to the first letter of the menu item, for example press H to open the help, or press I to view the Instrument menu. You can use the keypad to navigate any menu in this way.

The Origin UI operates in a similar way to the smartphone and tablet applications you already use. Use gestures to zoom and pan on the map. To scroll through a menu or list, simply swipe up. Where you might be viewing a large amount of data, for example in the Review job or Point manager screens, there software provides more traditional scroll bars which you can tap and drag to move up and down the screen.

When copying text from one field to another in Origin, you can cut, copy, or paste text using the Text tap and hold menu:

  • To select text, tap and hold on the word to select, or tap and drag across the field to select more text. The Text menu appears.
  • To select all of the text in the field, double-tap in the field, or tap and hold on a word and then tap Select All in the Text menu.
  • To cut or copy the selected text, tap Cut or Copy in the Text menu.

  • To paste text into an empty field, or to paste at the end of a field, tap and hold in the field and tap Paste.

    To paste text within existing text in the field, tap the insertion point in the text and tap Paste.

On Windows controllers you can also use Ctrl key combination shortcuts to select all Ctrl + A, cut Ctrl + X, copy Ctrl + C, and paste Ctrl + V text.

Tap items on the status bar to quickly navigate to the Instrument functions or Receiver functions screen and change settings or enable/disable functions. For more information, see Status bar.

The FOCUS always operates in Landscape mode.

If the controller is a Windows device, Origin is designed to be used in Landscape mode but will rotate to Portrait mode if the controller is rotated and does not have a keypad.

In landscape mode, when a form is open alongside the map:

  • To view more of the form, tap and swipe left. The form will resize to the closest preset position.
  • To make any from full-screen, tap and swipe across to the very left of the screen.
  • To decrease the size of a form and view more of the map, tap and swipe right.

To lock the device orientation, do one of the following:

  • From the Windows desktop, swipe in from the right to access the Action center. Tap Rotation lock to enable it. The Rotation lock tile changes to blue.
  • Press the Windows  + O keys on the controller keypad.

On the MobileMapper 60 handheld, Origin is designed to be used in Portrait mode or in Landscape mode.

In portrait mode:

  • When a form is open alongside the map, tap and swipe down to view more of the form, or tapand swipe up to view more of the map.
  • To view more softkeys, tap or swipe right to left (or left to right) along the row of softkeys.
  • There is no Esc softkey when Origin is running in portrait mode. To exit a screen without saving any changes, press the Back key on the device.

To lock the device orientation, do one of the following:

  • From the Android Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Settings. Select Display / Advanced / Device rotation and then select Stay in Portrait view.
  • Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to view the Android status bar and then tap the Auto-rotate icon.

Depending on the controller you are using, the Origin software always runs in full screen mode, that is without showing the Windows title bar or task bar.

If the controller has a physical keypad, or if you have connected an external keyboard, you can use the appropriate key-press combination to quickly access a different software program or to configure Windows system settings when you are in the Origin software:

  • Press the Windows key on the keypad to view the Windows Start menu and taskbar.
  • Press the Windows key + D keys on the keypad to view the Windows desktop.
  • Press Ctrl + Q to exit Origin.

For other useful shortcuts, see Keypad shortcuts.

When using Origin on a Spectra Geospatial controller running Windows:

  • The controller can connect to all supported GNSS receivers and most conventional instruments using Bluetooth.

  • The controller can connect to all supported Trimble conventional instruments using a cable.

When using Origin on a Spectra Geospatial controller running Android:

  • Spectra Geospatial Installation Manager for Android must remain installed on the controller for the Origin software to run.
  • You can use a USB cable to transfer files between the controller and a Windows computer. SeeTransferring files to and from the controller.
  • The controller can connect to all supported GNSS receivers and most conventional instruments using Bluetooth.

  • The Ranger 5 controller can connect to all supported Trimble conventional instruments using a cable.

    To perform a robotic survey when using Origin on theMobileMapper 60 handheld, you will need to connect the handheld to the SPDL Radio Bridge or EDB10 Data Bridge.