Importing Data

HydroCAD^® Stormwater Modeling - Since 1986

Importing data into HydroCAD

Although the interactive screens are the best way to enter most data into HydroCAD, there are also a number of capabilities for importing data directly into HydroCAD.

(1) Importing older HydroCAD files

To use a project file created by HydroCAD-5 or earlier, select Project|Import|HydroCAD-5 from the main menu. After selecting the desired project, the data is converted and stored in the current .HCP file format.

2) Importing TR-20 data

A TR-20 data file can be converted into a HydroCAD project file by using Project|Import|TR-20 on the main menu. For details read about TR-20 Data Import. This capability can also be useful for importing rating tables, rainfall distributions, or any other data that may already be available in TR-20 format. This is a new feature added in HydroCAD 8.5.

3) Importing data from AutoCAD Land Desktop

A third-party program is available that can extract various data from a site plan and export it to a HydroCAD project file. The resulting file can be opened directly in HydroCAD, where the remaining data can be readily entered by hand. In the event of subsequent changes to the imported data, you can use the Project|Merge function to import a new data file while preserving other manual entries. Details here.

4) Importing data from other H&H programs

Most H&H programs use proprietary file formats, making it impractical to import the data directy into HydroCAD. However, if you are able to export the data to an intermediate TR-20 file, then you can use Project|Import|TR-20 to load this data into HydroCAD.

5) Importing hydrograph data from another HydroCAD project

If a watershed is divided into two or more HydroCAD project files, a link can be used to import the final outflow(s) from the upper section of the watershed into the lower section. Details here.

6) Importing hydrograph data from other programs

A link can be used to import data from a basic text file (.TXT), or from spreadsheet data that has been saved as comma-separated values (.CSV). Details here.

7) Importing other data

Most HydroCAD data that is entered in tabular format (such as stage-storage tables), can be loaded from a .CSV file using the "Load from File" command on the right-click menu. For further information, select "Save to File" on an existing table to create a sample .CSV file.

8) Write your own conversion program!

HydroCAD project files are stored in an easy-to-read plain-text format, making it relatively easy to generate a usable file with any programming language. If you currently have programmatic access to your current data (via a scripting language, Basic, etc.) then you can export the desired data to a HydroCAD project file. Details here.