Chesapeake Times Vol 23 | November 2025
Magnetometers are indispensable tools in marine survey work, and magnetometer data often forms a crucial layer in the overall interpretation of a survey area. But as any data processor knows, magnetometer data formats can vary dramatically from one instrument to another. Field
names differ, time and position formats change, and delimiters vary across manufacturers — creating friction during import and sometimes requiring manual editing or custom templates from Chesapeake Technology support.
With the latest release of SonarWiz 8.5, Chesapeake Technology introduces an elegant solution to this long-standing challenge: the Magnetometer Template Editor. This enhancement empowers users to define, customize, and save their own magnetometer import
templates — no waiting for a pre-built parser, no file editing workarounds, and no disruption to project timelines.
SonarWiz has long supported magnetometer data import through its template-based importer. The software ships with a comprehensive library of manufacturer templates covering popular systems from Geometrics, Marine Magnetics, and others. Each template defines how SonarWiz interprets key fields — such as date, time, latitude, longitude, magnetic amplitude, and optional depth or altitude values — ensuring that raw text or CSV files are correctly parsed and georeferenced.
The limitation, however, was flexibility.
When a new or modified magnetometer format appeared, users had two choices:
- Edit their raw data to match an existing template’s format, or
- Contact Chesapeake Technology to request a new template.
While both options worked, they added steps that could delay data processing — particularly for research groups, universities, or survey firms working with prototype instruments or custom logging systems.
SonarWiz 8.5 changes that paradigm by putting the power of template creation directly in the hands of users.
The template editor operates very similarly to the CTI Sound Velocity profile and Tide editors. The main difference is that there is no graphical display of data and no actual data output other than the template created itself. The template is used by SonarWiz to parse text files that contain magnetometer data and create .cmf files that are then imported into SonarWiz. Execute the editor from SonarWiz either by right clicking on the Magnetometer branch in the Project explorer or from the Magnetometer drop down menu in the Post Processing toolbar.
To use a template created in the Magnetometer template editor, start the usual process to import magnetometer data. For example, right click on the Magnetometer Files branch in the Project Explorer and select Import. The Import all in one dialog opens with Magnetometer checked. Click the Options button and observe the “File Parsing Template” group. There are now two mutually exclusive options. To use templates from the existing ffTemplates_system.db3 database select Standard File Template and choose from the drop down list. This is exactly how this has always been done. To use a template created in the new Magnetometer Template Editor, select “User Defined File Template” and then the browse button (“…”) to the right of it.
Magnetometer data files that successfully are parsed using the selected template format will import into SonarWiz, creating .cmf files as usual in the project MAG subdirectory. Files that cannot be parsed using the selected template format will cause an error message to appear and the failed file names are listed in the Output message log.
The introduction of user-defined templates doesn’t replace the existing built-in templates — it complements them. Users still have access to the full Chesapeake library of manufacturer formats, but now have the option to expand beyond them instantly.
Key benefits include:
- Faster onboarding for new sensors: No need to wait for official template creation.
- Reduced data preparation: Skip the step of manually renaming headers or reformatting timestamps.
- Improved compatibility: Works with older or experimental magnetometers not in the official list.
- Greater independence: Surveyors can adapt their workflow on-site without external assistance.
- Reusable configuration: Once a template is tested and validated, it can be shared across teams and projects.
For teams processing historical magnetometer data – often stored in varied legacy formats – this feature is a major time-saver. Old datasets can now be imported seamlessly with a custom mapping defined once and reused indefinitely.
The Magnetometer Template Editor in SonarWiz 8.5 represents more than just a convenience feature — it’s a shift toward open, adaptable, and user-driven data management in marine survey software. By allowing surveyors to define their own magnetometer templates, SonarWiz bridges the gap between custom data formats and streamlined project integration. For survey teams, this means faster data turnaround, fewer import errors, and broader support for emerging sensor types. For organizations, it means standardization, reproducibility, and long-term efficiency across projects. In a field where every minute counts and every dataset is unique, SonarWiz 8.5’s new import tool delivers exactly what modern magnetometer processing needs: freedom, flexibility, and full control.