GSI ONLINE for Leica TPS and DNA 
June 2002 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of contents 
 
Introduction ..........................................................................................................4 
 
TPS Section 
 
GSI data format....................................................................................................5 
GSI word information............................................................................................6 
Online command structure ...................................................................................7 
 
TPS100 series .....................................................................................................8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SET ..........................................................................................................9 
CONF.....................................................................................................11 
PUT........................................................................................................13 
GET........................................................................................................14 
Remote Stake out...................................................................................15 
Warnings and Errors ..............................................................................16 
 
TPS300/700 series ............................................................................................17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SET ........................................................................................................18 
CONF.....................................................................................................21 
PUT........................................................................................................25 
GET........................................................................................................27 
Telescope positioning ............................................................................29 
Warnings and Errors ..............................................................................29 
 
TPS1000/1100 series ........................................................................................30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SET ........................................................................................................31 
CONF.....................................................................................................33 
PUT........................................................................................................35 
GET........................................................................................................36 
Telescope positioning ............................................................................38 
Warnings and Errors ..............................................................................39 
 
DNA Section 
 
GSI data format..................................................................................................40 
GSI word information..........................................................................................41 
Word list.............................................................................................................41 
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Block list.............................................................................................................42 
Differences between DNA and NA series ..........................................................47 
Sample GSI-8 data.............................................................................................48 
Conversion from new GSI format (DNA) to old GSI format (NA) ........................49 
Online command structure .................................................................................50 
SET and CONF..................................................................................................52 
PUT and GET ....................................................................................................54 
Warnings and Errors .........................................................................................54 
 
 
 
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Introduction 
 
 
A  large  set  of  interfacing  commands  support  the  Leica  TPS  Total  Stations  and  Digital Levels to allow direct 
access to computers and data loggers via RS232 serial interface. 
 
The Leica  Geo Serial Interface (GSI) is a general purpose, serial data interface for bi-directional communica-
tion  between  the  instrument  and  the  computer.  GSI  uses  a  simple  command  structure  to  read/write  values 
from/to the sensor. Global and instrument specific Word Indexes (WI) are used to specify various data types. 
GSI provides specific sets of commands adapted to the functionality of the various instrument series. 
 
In  addition  to  the  former  Online  Guide  "WILD  INSTRUMENTS  ONLINE",  this  User  Guide  focuses the Leica 
Series  of  Total  Stations  TPS100/300/700/1000/1100  and  of  the  Digital  Levels  DNA03/DNA10. The guide is 
designed as a simple command listing and therefore basic aspects of serial data communications will not be 
covered. For detailed information and advice on GSI communication, we strongly recommend to consult the 
"WILD INSTRUMENTS ONLINE" guide. 
 
The document is divided into a section for TPS and a section for DNA instruments. 
 
 
 
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TPS Section 
GSI data format 
 
GSI data is transmitted in blocks with each block ending with a terminator (CR or CR/LF). Every block consists 
of several data words (see the examples below). The data word begins with a two character  Word Index, the 
WI code, specifying the data type within this block. The GSI-8 block has in total 16 characters, consisting of 7 
information characters (e.g. WI, sign), followed by 8 data characters and by the blank character (ASCII code 
32)  at  the  end  of  the  data  word.  The  GSI-16 block is similar to the GSI-8 block but the block begins with "*" 
and  the  data  word  contains  16  characters  for  large  values  such  as  UTM  coordinates,  large  alphanumeric 
codes, attributes or point IDs.  
 
Example 1 shows a GSI-8 block sequence with the words for point ID (11), easting coordinate (81) and nor-
thing coordinate (82). Example 2 shows a GSI-16 block sequence with the words for point ID (11), horizontal 
(21) and vertical angle (22). 
 
 
Example 1: GSI-8 
 
     Word 1         Word 2         Word 3     
1234567890123456   (16 characters per word) 
110001+0000A110 81..00+00005387 82..00-00000992  
110002+0000A111 81..00+00007586 82..00-00003031  
110003+0000A112 81..00+00007536 82..00-00003080  
110004+0000A113 81..00+00003839 82..00-00003080  
110005+0000A114 81..00+00001241 82..00-00001344  
       
 
‹ 8 ch. fi
   
GSI-8 data word structure: 
e.g. "11" (WI for PtID) 
e.g. "0003" (block number in word 1) 
e.g. "+" or "–" 
e.g. "0000A113" (PtID) 
Word Index (WI) 
Information related to data 
Sign 
Data (8 digits) 
Blank (= separating character) 
 
Pos. 1-2: 
Pos. 3-6: 
Pos. 7: 
Pos. 8-15: 
Pos. 16: 
 
 
Example 2: GSI-16 
 
           Word 1                 Word 2                  Word 3        
 123456789012345678901234   (24 characters per word) 
*110001+000000000PNC0055 21.002+0000000013384650 22.002+0000000005371500  
*110002+000000000PNC0056 21.002+0000000012802530 22.002+0000000005255000  
*110003+000000000PNC0057 21.002+0000000011222360 22.002+0000000005433800  
*110004+000000000PNC0058 21.002+0000000010573550 22.002+0000000005817600  
*110005+000000000PNC0059 21.002+0000000009983610 22.002+0000000005171400  
              16 char.       
 
GSI-16 data word structure: 
 
Pos. 1-2: 
Pos. 3-6: 
Pos. 7: 
Pos. 8-23: 
Pos. 16/24: 
 
Word Index (WI) 
Information related to data 
Sign 
GSI-16 data (16 digits) 
Blank (= separating character) 
e.g. “11”; WI code 
e.g. “002” 
e.g. "+" or "-" 
e.g. “000000000PNC0058”; PtID 
 
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TPS Section 
GSI word information 
 
Position  Explanation 
 
No significance 
AUTOMATIC INDEX INFORMATION 
0: 
1: 
3: 
INPUT MODE 
0: 
Automatic index OFF 
Automatic index OPERATING 
Automatic index OPERATING 
Original measured values transferred from the 
instrument 
Manual input from keyboard 
Measured value, Hz-Correction ON 
Measured value, Hz-Correction OFF 
Result of special function 
Meter (last digit: 1mm) 
Feet (last digit: 1/1000ft) 
400 gon 
360° decimal 
360° sexagesimal 
6400 mil 
Meter (last digit: 1/10mm) 
Feet (last digit: 1/10‘000ft) 
Meter (last digit: 1/100mm) 
1:  
2: 
3: 
4: 
UNITS 
0: 
1: 
2: 
3: 
4: 
5: 
6: 
7: 
8: 
SIGN 
+: 
-: 
DATA 
Data  includes  a  sequence  of  8(16)  numerical  or  al-
phanumerical characters. 
 
 
Note  that  certain  data  blocks  are  allowed  to  carry 
more  than  1  value  (e.g.  PPM/MM).  Those  data  are 
automatically transferred with a sign before each sin-
gle value. 
 
SEPARATING CHARACTER 
_: 
Positive value 
Negative value 
Blank 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8-15 
(8-23) 
16 
(24) 
 
[Tab.1] 
 
 
Applicable for 
All words 
All  words  containing 
angle information 
Measured data 
Measured data 
Measured data 
Measured data 
All words 
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TPS Section 
SET 
PUT 
Online command structure 
 
GSI online commands represent a simple syntax structure consisting of four basic commands. To access a 
wide range of settings or values, commands can be enhanced with a limited sequence of word indexes (WI) 
and  parameters.  Following,  a  short  summary  explaining  the  meaning  of  the  basic  commands continued with 
some examples. 
 
• 
•  CONF 
• 
•  GET/I/… 
•  GET/M/… 
 
Examples: 
 
SET commands 
SYNTAX: 
EXAMPLE: 
RESPONSE: 
Set instrument parameters 
Read internal parameter settings 
Write/change values within the Total station 
Get instant values from the Total Station (last valid value) 
Release measurement and get measured values from the Total Station 
SET/
/ 
SET/30/0 
? 
Instrument BEEP: 
 
CONF commands 
SYNTAX: 
EXAMPLE: 
RESPONSE: 
SET/30/0 
SET/30/1 
OFF (disable) 
ON (enable) 
CONF/ 
CONF/30 
0030/000 
Above  CONF/30  reads  the 
BEEP setting 
0030/0000 
0030/0001 
Beep disabled 
Beep enabled 
 
PUT commands 
SYNTAX: 
EXAMPLE: 
RESPONSE: 
CONFIRMATION: 
PUT/ _ 
PUT/11….+00000012 
? 
 
PUT/11….+00000012  Ł PtNo “1234” 
Writes Pointnumber 
F Make sure you put a space (_), behind ! 
 
GET commands 
SYNTAX: 
EXAMPLE: 
RESPONSE: 
GET/n/WI 
GET/M/WI21 
21.102+12149400 
Read Hz-Angle value 
Read Hz-,and V-Angles 
GET/I/WI21 
GET/I/WI21/WI22; 
 
Ł 21.104+12149400  
Ł 21.104+12149400 
Ł 22.104+08832420 
 
 
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TPS100 
TPS100 Series 
 
The TPS100 Series were introduced in 1996/97. These Total Stations were the first series supporting an en-
hanced  set  of  GSI  interfacing  commands.  The  additional  functionality  conducted  to  increasing  operational 
benefit, compared to its predecessor TC500 which is described in the WILD INSTRUMENTS ONLINE, Appen-
dix E. 
 
 
Supported Instruments: 
•  TC403L, TC600, TC800 (Firmware Version 2.13 and higher) 
•  TC605/L, TC805/L TC905/L (collectively the “TCx05” series) 
 
 
The  following  command  listing  is  split  into  separate  sections  for  each  basic  command  (SET,  CONF,  PUT, 
GET).  Some  of  the  listed  features  may  require  specially  equipped  instruments  (e.g.  instruments with Laser 
Plummet  or  EGL).  For  detailed  description  of  single  functions,  we  recommend  to  consult  the  corresponding 
User Manual. 
 
 
Low Level commands 
SYNTAX: 
RESPONSE: 
 
CR/LF 
? 
:  
a 
b 
c 
Powers on the instrument 
Powers off the instrument 
Clears a distance measurement 
 
 
Restrictions: 
1) Applies to TCx05 instruments only 
2) Applies to TCx00/403 instruments only 
3) Applies to instruments equipped with EGL (Electronic Guide Light) only 
4) Applies to instruments equipped with Laser Plummet only 
 
 
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