Trimble Access : Survey Core Plugin API

Summary : Trimble Access and Plugins

Survey Core (SC) is the main executable that implements a number of Field "Applications" for Trimble Access, such as General Survey, Tunnels, Roads, Mines, etc.  All these applications run the same program (Survey.exe) but present their own main menus and associated workflows, individually tailored to suit the application.

The Trimble Access Survey Core Application Program Interface (SCAPI) provides the means for third-party developers to leverage the huge code base that is present in Survey Core, to extend and customize it for their own particular field applications.  The Trimble Access Software Development Kit (TASDK) is installed on a Windows computer to facilitate the development of add-on modules which can access this API. At Trimble we often refer to them simply as plugins.

Recent changes and important release notes

There is a separate page with a complete set of more detailed release notes, including upgrade steps where necessary. Here's a summary of the last few releases:

2026 June 10th :

• • Trimble Access version 2026.10 was released today with a significant number of changes:

  • The plugin deployment log-in process has been simplified. The new system relies on the user having a Trimble ID (i.e. a Trimble account). The upload is authenticated in Trimble Access itself by first logging in, then using the Deploy button in the Application Chooser form.
    More details here.

  • A breaking change is coming (don't panic, there is time!)
    Due to unavoidable changes in the base application and starting with the following release of Trimble Access, version 2026.20, all Scapi apps must be rebuilt using SDK version 26.10 (i.e. this release). The rebuilt app must be deployed before the 2026.20 release, expected in Q4 2026. No changes are required beyond rebuilding with the 26.10 SDK and deploying the app.
    A full explanation can be found on this page in the section for version 2026.10.

  • File attachments may now be added to a job's list of synchronized files, and a synchronized job's ID may be obtained.

  • The tsc_MeasureForm may now be configured to exit if the OnPreStore event handler returns false.

  • tsc_Line classes now support feature-coded linework.

  • tsc_ArcMethod adds the tsam_CenterPointAndRadius type.

  • tsc_EntitySource adds tses_TflxFile (Trimble FieldLink file).

  • tsc_GnssSurveyRtkType adds new GnssSurveyRtkType_CMRX4201.

  • tsc_GnssModes has AINS tilt support added.

  • tsc_Database - new tspm_GridlineSetup point method and new tsam_CenterPointAndRadius arc method.

  • tsc_JobMap.h, new map COGO line colour tsc_MapCogoLineBlueColour.

2025 December 3rd :

• Trimble Access version 2025.20 was released today.

• Several minor updates have been released since 2025.20 with no significant API differences,
  for stability, performance, and improvements, up to version 2025.24 in Feb 2026.

• New overridable event handlers have been added to tsc_Form for handling gesture events.

• Possibly breaking change: MSVC Toolset for Windows updated from 142 to 143, and language version from C++17 to C++20, and a number of related minor changes to code style. See details in breaking changes.

• The maximum number of softkeys allowed on a form is extended from four to 99, and the tsc_EscSoftkeyControl and tsc_EnterSoftkeyControl classes now override the actual Esc and Enter buttons correctly.

• The prism named tspt_PreciseActivePrism has been renamed to tspt_SingleActiveEccentricPrism, and a new prism added, tspt_SingleActivePrism.

A list of released versions

This online guide covers all Trimble Access versions from 21.10 onwards. Online documentation for older versions is not available, however this page contains .chm (Windows help) files for many of these versions, should you wish to look them up. Previous to v21.10, all installations of the SDK shipped with a .chm file containing the entire website.