Support
Custom categories are not kept when exporting
Summary
When a point cloud is exported to LAS/LAZ format and imported into a new project, the categories created by the user may all look the same. They have not been lost: they are still there and can be checked in the cloud properties; what does not travel in the LAS/LAZ file is the configuration of those categories: the name you gave them and their display colour, as well as whether they are visible and whether they are triangulable. This article explains how to transfer it to the destination project with the Export and Import buttons of the category properties window.
Applies to
TCP PointCloud Editor. The documented cases do not state a specific version number.
Export of point clouds to LAS/LAZ and reuse in another project.
Symptoms
After exporting the cloud and importing it again into another project, the categories created by the user all look the same.
In LAZ the standard categories are kept, but not those created by the user, even if the corresponding tabs were enabled when exporting.
Cause
The information in the LAS/LAZ file does not include the category configuration: the name of each custom category and its associated display colour, as well as whether it is visible and whether it is triangulable. The categories still exist in the imported cloud (you can check this in the properties), but as their configuration is missing in the new project they are all displayed in the same way.
Solution
Case: custom categories are not kept when exporting to another project
When the cloud is exported to LAS/LAZ format and imported into a new project, the categories created by the user may all look the same, because the LAS/LAZ information does not include that configuration (although the categories are still there and can be checked in the properties).
In the source project, open the Editing ribbon and, in the categories group, choose the option that opens the category properties window.
Press Export to save the configuration of the categories (name, colour, visibility and whether they are triangulable).
Open the new project and go back to that same window.
Press Import and select what you exported: the categories recover their configuration.
If the problem persists
For cases that these steps do not solve, contact Aplitop technical support through the support chat so that a remote connection can be made and the project analysed.
Category: Point cloud display and editing · Level: Intermediate