home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Libris Britannia 4
/
science library(b).zip
/
science library(b)
/
SCIENTIF
/
H558.ZIP
/
QDG206.ZIP
/
QDIGIT.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-02-07
|
13KB
|
262 lines
QDIGIT
Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, 1994 P.C. Jahans
All rights reserved.
OVERVIEW
QDigit is an easy-to-use digitizing program which works with many brands
of digitizer tablets at speeds of up to 9600 baud in either binary or
ASCII format. Point and linear data, including contours, outcrops, well
locations, etc., can be digitized from any map. Output is sent to text
files in the form of 2D coordinates and other associated data supplied by
the user. Options, calibration, and communication settings can be saved
to and retrieved from configuration files. Especially suited to
geological applications, QDigit can also be used for any kind of 2D
digitizing: topographic maps, cross-sections, drawings, graphs, etc. An
affine transform is used to produce accurate results even from distorted
maps (those which are no longer rectangular but more like irregular
quadrilaterals). Other features include context-sensitive online help,
full mouse support, file viewing and printing.
DOCUMENTATION
Except for the online help, this is it. The context-sensitive online
help is fairly extensive and covers everything you need to know to
configure and operate QDigit. Once the program has been configured to
your digitizer, you can use it right away. To get familiar with the
program's features, highlight the menu items in turn and press <F1> to
bring up the help window describing each item. Most people don't want to
read a manual anyway. If you want to skip most of this stuff, just scan
the configuration section (and of course the disclaimer) and crank up the
program. The interface is pretty standard.
INSTALLATION
Place QDIGIT.EXE and QDIGIT.HLP in a directory specified in the PATH
command or in a working directory from which you will be digitizing your
maps. A default configuration file will automatically be saved to and
retrieved from the same directory that the program resides in. You may
save and retrieve configurations using any other directory and file name
specified with the Setup|Save Setup and Setup|Load Setup menu commands.
Also, typing QDIGIT /c <filename> on the DOS command line causes QDigit
to read in the specified configuration file upon startup. Installation
is not complete until QDigit has been configured to your digitizer. The
following section explains how to do it; a brief version is available
online.
CONFIGURING TO THE DIGITIZER
Before using QDigit to digitize a map, the program must be configured to
your digitizing tablet. This is a two step process: 1) communications
settings, and 2) setting the digitizer data format. You must refer to
the documentation that came with your digitizer to determine what
parameters are required for these two steps. This is the only critical
part to the installation process.
Step 1. Start QDigit. Your digitizer must be connected to one of the
serial ports available on your computer. Note that most computers do not
have ports 3 or 4 built in; these are usually added later by purchasing a
separate comm card. Only standard IRQ configurations are currently
supported. Select Setup|Advanced Setup|Comm Settings from QDigit's menu
and choose the communication settings appropriate for your digitizer.
Most newer tablets will operate at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no
parity. Another common setting is 9600 baud, 7 data bits, 2 stop bits,
even parity.
Step 2. If your digitizer is set to binary mode output, select
Setup|Advanced Setup|Data Format from QDigit's menu and choose the
appropriate binary format. Low resolution and high resolution binary are
standard formats which can be output by most tablets such as Calcomp
(TM). Others, notably Summagraphics (TM), require either the MM or UIOF
binary format. Note that low resolution binary generally goes with a
comm setting of 7 data bits, even or odd parity, and that high resolution
usually coincides with 8 data bits, no parity.
If your digitizer is set to ASCII mode output, select Setup|Advanced
Setup|Data Format|ASCII from QDigit's menu. You must determine from your
digitizer's documentation and/or any supplied utility programs the
positions and lengths (number of characters) for the X and Y coordinates
and the button character. An example ASCII format is shown:
Output from digitizer: SBXXXXXXYYYYYYRL
where:
S status flag
B button character
X digit for the X coordinate
Y digit for the Y coordinate
R carriage return
L line feed
In this example, your ASCII settings should be:
Button Position -- 2
X Coordinate Starting Position -- 3, Length -- 6
Y Coordinate Starting Position -- 9, Length -- 6
If there is more than one button character, use the first one, last one,
or the one corresponding to the button you wish to be sensed by the
program. ASCII formats run at slower sampling rates and are more
difficult to configure. It is generally more efficient and easier to use
a binary format.
USING QDIGIT
Once QDigit has been configured to your digitizer it is ready to use. It
is a good idea to save the configuration at this point with the
Setup|Save Setup menu selection, and even to copy the configuration file
to a safe place. This avoids having to reconfigure to the digitizing
tablet in case the working configuration file is changed or deleted.
To digitize a map (or drawing, etc.) QDigit should be calibrated to the
coordinates used by the map. This will create output data in your
working coordinates instead of digitizer coordinates and, more
importantly, compensates for the likelihood that your map is not placed
exactly square to the axes of the digitizing tablet. Tape the map down
onto the tablet surface, then select Setup|Calibrate|Calibrate Map from
the menu. Choose X-Y coordinates or Lon-Lat coordinates, then follow the
instructions on the screen. QDigit will ask for four known calibration
points that you must digitize on your map and enter into a dialog box on
the screen. Points are digitized by pressing the main button of the
digitizer's cursor (or puck or mouse) -- a beep will be heard when the
point coordinate is received. Do this as carefully as possible -- the
accuracy of all subsequent digitizing depends on how well you do this
step. Once the four calibration points are obtained, you are ready to
digitize your map.
The menu items under Digitize indicate the type of digitizing you can do.
Points and lines are generic digitizing functions useful for any map,
drawing or graph, while contours, wells and outcrops are especially
suited to geologic and topographic mapping. Note that the Digitize|Well
Locations function can be used for any kind of point digitizing where
information must be saved with every 2D coordinate. If outcrops are to
be digitized, QDigit will request that you digitize the south and north
ends of any line parallel to north. This is required to obtain correct
azimuths for outcrops. Alternatively, you may use the Setup|Calibrate|
Calibrate North menu selection.
When any menu item under Digitize is selected, a file selector dialog box
appears, in which you should enter an output file name (or click on an
existing one to be appended to) to which data will be sent. The numeric
format of the 2D coordinates can be specified, if desired, using the
Setup|Set Precision menu selection. Digitizing commences when you press
the digitizer's main cursor button or press the digitizing pen to the
tablet. When doing lines or contours do not hold the button down while
the cursor is stationary as this will cause a stream of identical
coordinates to be saved to the output file. Output consists of 2D
coordinates (and possibly other related data) saved one per line to the
output file. If digitizing lines or contours, pressing the <Enter> or
<Return> key during a pause in digitizing will cause the word 'ENDLINE'
to be saved to the file. This is used as a marker for the end of a line
so that more than one line may be digitized and saved in the same file.
Digitizing can be terminated at any time by pressing <F3> or <Esc>; data
is always saved to the file as digitizing proceeds. Data is always
appended to output files; existing data is never erased by QDigit.
Upon exiting the program (using File|Exit or <Alt-X>) the current
configuration, calibration and other items are automatically saved. You
may stop during a long night of digitizing, go for a coffee and come back
later to pick up exactly where you left off as long as you didn't remove
you map from the digitizing tablet. Removing the map, of course, means
having to recalibrate it.
Operational note: If the digitizing tablet is turned off or is not
connected, user interaction with the menu system may be slowed down while
the coordinate display is activated. Toggling the coordinate display off
with <F9> eliminates the effect.
Digitizing hint: cover the map to be digitized with wax paper, onion
skin, cellophane or similar material. After digitizing each line or
point, mark the covering sheet with a felt pen or highlighter to keep
track of what has been just been digitized. A future update of QDigit
will provide a graphics screen showing lines as they are digitized so
that this step will not be necessary. But hey, this version is free!
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREWARE FEE
This program may be freely distributed and you are encouraged to do so.
Individuals, students and educational institutions may license one copy
free of charge (ie. the shareware payment is voluntary). If more than
one copy is required, or if the program is used in a professional or
commercial environment, a fee payment is required after a 30-day trial
period as follows:
Individuals, educational institutions:
Free for the first copy
$25 for extra copies
Industry: $50 for the first copy
$25 for additional copies
Payment may be made in US or Canadian dollars in the form of a cheque or
money order addressed to the author at the address below. Please do not
send cash.
Payment of the fee entitles the user to a registered copy and one free
upgrade to the next release of QDigit which will feature HPGL graphics
file output, redundant point elimination (line simplification), geo-
physical and dipmeter log digitizing, and graphical line representation
on-screen, OR a Windows version with the same new features when it is
released later in 1994.
Anyone wishing to charge a fee for distributing copies of this program is
authorized to do so provided:
1. A nominal fee is charged to cover only the copying, postage and
other such distribution costs.
2. The offering and sale of this program will be stopped at any time
the author so requests.
3. Problems or complaints will be reported to the author for
resolution.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS
PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. IN
NO EVENT WILL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES,
INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES
SUSTAINED BY YOU OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER
PROGRAMS.
BUGS
Should you find a bug in the program please report it, being as specific
as possible, with all relevant details as to its occurrence. As well,
suggestions for improvements and new features are encouraged. Please
contact the author by e-mail or regular mail at the address below.
CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
This program was written while the author was a graduate student at the
University of Alberta. The university itself is in no way associated
with the program, nor should it be contacted for any information, advice,
or complaints regarding it. All statements and opinions contained in the
program and its documentation are those of the author. Please submit all
correspondence to:
Peter C. Jahans
Dept. of Geology
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
CANADA
T6G 2E3
(internet: pcjahans@cepheus.ucs.ualberta.ca)