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LORAN LOCATOR SYSTEM USER'S GUIDE By Ronald D. Stange Fundamental Services 1546 Peaceful Lane N. Clearwater, FL 34616-170O CV1.1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION THEORY OF OPERATION ----------------- 1 FEATURES MULTIPLE FILE SUPPORT --------------- 2 SCRATCH PAD ------------------------- 2 SUBSIDIARY FILES -------------------- 2 DESIGN LIMITATIONS --------------------- 3 TRANSMITTAL DISKETTE ------------------- 3 INSTALLATION INITIAL --------------------------- 4 UPGRADES --------------------------- 4 START-UP --------------------------- 4 OPERATION MAIN FUNCTIONS -------------------- 5 UTILITIES -------------------- 7 APPENDIX A MAIN MENU SCREEN -------------------- A1 UTILITIES MENU SCREEN --------------- A1 ALTER/DISPLAY SCREEN ---------------- A2 DEFAULTS DISPLAY SCREEN ------------- A2 WAYPOINT DETAIL PAGE ---------------- A3 WAYPOINT REGISTER ------------------- A4 APPENDIX B FLAG DEFINITIONS -------------------- B1 TYPE CODES -------------------------- B1 The LORAN C Waypoint Organizer is a program designed to allow the user to store all known LORAN fixes and to use this data in an efficient manner. It is assumed that the user is familiar with the use of LORAN and its buzzwords. The output of this program is to be used as a guide ONLY. Your own common sense and proper navigational charts take precedence. Fundamental Services is not responsible for your actions on the water. THEORY OF OPERATION The LORAN LOCATOR SYSTEM accepts information about any waypoint by prompted keyboard input and stores a record containing this information in a random disk file. This data includes the name of the waypoint, its LORAN TDIs, and other pertinent data. If SCRATCH PAD was used with this waypoint then the record will contain a pointer to the scratch pad information in another file. (DETAIL.DAT) Once a waypoint is entered any data item in the LOCATION file can be displayed and or altered. You are asked to select the field to be altered and then enter the data to be inserted in that field. The record is not updated on disk until you specifically request it. The primary function of the program is to provide a relationship of any waypoint in the file with any other, or all other, way- points in the file. The output of this function is a single sheet of paper providing you with bearing and distance to all the other waypoints in the file. This output is sorted by distance with the closest being printed first. The print-out defaults to printing only the closest forty waypoints to keep the output on a single page. This can be overridden under control of flags in the data record. See Appendix A3 for a sample of this printed page. This is accomplished by retrieving the record of the selected waypoint and storing it in memory. The LOCATION file is then sequentially scanned and the heading and distance of each way- point is calculated and stored in the disk file RELATION.DAT. An index is built for RELATION.DAT and then it is sorted by the distance field. The records are read using the index and printed on the printer. FEATURES MULTIPLE FILES - The program allows for the use of more than one LOCATION file. LOCATION.DAT is the default default for the way- point file. That is to say, when the program is shipped to you the permanent default for the waypoint file is LOCATION.DAT. If you intend to only use a single waypoint file then you need do nothing and your data file will always be LOCATION.DAT. If you require more than one waypoint file, you can, through the utilities menu, change the suffix of the filename to any three characters that conform to the filename convention of the opera- ting system being used. This can be done in two different ways, permanently or temporarily. A permanent change will write the new default suffix to the DEFAULTS file and this new filename will be activated each time the program is initiated. A temporary change will be in effect only for the duration of the current execution of the program unless you change it again. You might ask when would you ever want more than one file. One case is when you have more than 500 waypoints to store. Another is when there will be no relationship between the two groups of waypoints. For instance, if you had some numbers here around the Tampa Bay area and also some numbers in the Keys, you might want to keep them separate to speed processing(sorts and searches) since you would never go from one to another by boat. SCRATCH PAD - The scratch pad function allows you to record notes concerning any waypoint in the file. You can show dates and conditions when fish were caught at that waypoint, or any other choice tidbits of information you desire. You are limited to four lines of 64 characters for each waypoint. This function is ac- cessed in ALTER/DISPLAY mode by selecting option "D". You will be prompted for your message. These notes will be printed on the waypoint detail page for your reference. SUBSIDIARY FILES - Subsidiary files may be used to sub-divide a LOCATION file that is getting large or contains waypoint informa- tion that relates to multiple points of access to the water. The third position of the flags field is used to identify the best access point for that particular waypoint. This function is accessed thru the UTILITIES MENU item #7. The data in the FLAGS field must be entered in the ALTER/DISPLAY function. DESIGN LIMITATIONS 1. The program allows for a maximum of 500 waypoints in any single LOCATION.xxx file. 2. You must have a wide (14") printer to print the expanded (50 mile) chart. DISK FILES The files supplied with the program are described below: PROGRAM FILES: LX.EXE Main program module LXCHART.EXE Chart print program DATA FILES: LOCATION.DAT Contains waypoint information. DETAIL.DAT Contains scratch pad notes. DEFAULTS Contains default constants. LOC-DAT.NDX Index of LOCATION.DAT REGISTER.DOC Registration Form READ.ME Last minute instructions BATCH FILES: INSTALL.BAT Commands to build new system. UPDATE.BAT Command to update system. You may see other files on your diskette as a result of running this program. They are: RELATION.DAT Intermediate storage of relative waypoint information. LOCATION.MAS Output of merge function. LOCATION.NEW Output of RE-ORG function. If you use multiple LOCATION files, there will be LOCATION.xxx and LOC-xxx.NDX files present on your diskette. INSTALLATION INITIAL: Take another new blank diskette, format it, and put the appro- priate operating system for your hardware on it. You should know how to do that so I won't tell you here. With the TRANSMITTAL DISKETTE in the "A" drive and your TARGET diskette in the "B" drive and the "A" prompt is displayed, enter the command "INSTALL". This will copy all required files from the transmittal diskette to your system diskette. WARNING: Do not use NEWSYS on a previously installed system with data in LOCATION.DAT. LOCATION.DAT is initialized and existing data will be DESTROYED. Verify that the following files were copied to your working diskette in drive "B": LX.EXE LOCATION.DAT DETAIL.DAT DEFAULTS LOC-DAT.NDX READ.ME REGISTER.DOC UPGRADES: With the TRANSMITTAL DISKETTE in the "A" drive and your SYSTEM diskette in the "B" drive and the "A" prompt is displayed, enter the command "UPGRADE". This will copy only the changed programs to your system. In some cases your DEFAULT data will be lost and you will have to re-enter it. Proceed as usual with program operation. START UP All you have to do is enter the command LX at the DOS prompt. The LORAN main menu will be displayed on the screen. If the main menu does not appear, review the installation procedure to see that all copy commands executed correctly. Now read through this entire manual to get a feel for it function before you do anything else with the system. INITIALIZATION The first operation you should perform with your new system is to update the default file to your constants. This is done by selecting the utilities function from the main menu and executing the UPDATE DEFAULTS function from the utilities menu. Enter your personal data in all fields applicable. Be sure that you select the correct GRI coordinates for the LORAN chain that serves your geographical area. MAIN MENU FUNCTIONS (1)ADD NEW RECORD - You will be prompted for each required waypoint data item. Enter each item requested. You will then be asked to verify the data just entered. If all is well, the record will be written to disk. If you do not verify then you will be prompted to enter the complete record again. If just one field is in error you might consider verifying the record and going into ALTER/DISPLAY mode to make the correction later. Appendix B1 contains a chart that describes all the FLAGS and TYPE codes currently being used. You should use these codes when requested by the prompt. (2)ALTER/DISPLAY RECORD - ALTER/DISPLAY mode first asks you to select the record/page number desired. (The words RECORD and PAGE are used interchangably throughout this document.) The PAGE num- ber of the waypoint book is the record number of that waypoint in the LOCATION file. The selected waypoint record is now displayed on the screen. A sample of this screen is shown in Appendix A2. The bottom third of the screen summarizes the options available to you at this time. Lets look at them all one by one. (-) Entering the minus sign will cause a display of the previous page. If you were at page one you will remain at page one. (W) Entering the letter "W" will cause the record being displayed to be written to disk. You MUST enter a "W" to permanently change the data on disk. (D) Entering the letter "D" will take you to the scratch pad function. The scratch pad record for the waypoint being displayed will now be displayed. You may make updates to this information as prompted. (number) Entering any number from 1 to 8 will prompt you to change that data item as displayed on the screen. Remember, you must enter a "W" to permanently write that change to the diskette. MAIN MENU FUNCTIONS(cont'd) (2)ALTER/DISPLAY RECORD(cont'd) (+) Entering a plus sign(or an equal sign) will cause the next page to be displayed. If you are at the last page in the file nothing will happen. (S) Entering an "S" will cause the record search prompt. You should then enter the record/page number desired and it will be displayed. (X) Entering an "X" will cause the record being displayed to be marked for deletion. The actual deletion will not take place until the LOCATION file is re-organized. (E) Entering an"E" will cause you to end this function and return to the main menu. NOTE: Entering any other keys will not have any effect. You do not have to press the enter key to select these functions. (3)COMPUTE ADJACENT POINTS - This function allows you to print a waypoint detail page for any waypoint record in the active LOCA- TION file. You will be prompted for the page number of the way- point desired. At this prompt you may enter any valid page number or the value 999. If you enter 999 a waypoint detail page will be printed for every record in the LOCATION file. You may cause the same information to be displayed on the screen instead of being printed by entering a page number which is one THOUSAND plus the page number desired. To DISPLAY page six you must enter "1006" at the prompt. (4)ON BOARD FUNCTIONS - Selecting this function will allow you to calculate heading and distance from any set of LORAN TDIs to any other set of LORAN TDs entered. If either position is a position in the LOCATION file you need only to enter the page number of that position. The program will get the LORAN TDIs from the file and plug them in for you. In addition, the program will compute a chart of time underway against various speeds underway. MAIN MENU FUNCTIONS(cont'd) (5)GENERATE FLOAT PLAN - A float plan is like a flight plan except it relates to boats rather than airplanes. The float plan records up to six waypoints for a day at sea. It also contains passenger information. If you desire a chart of the selected waypoints to be printed you may indicate so at that prompt. You may also select waypoint detail pages be printed for those waypoints in the float plan. You might want to make two copies of the float plan so you can leave one on shore. It makes a good place to start looking when you don't get back on time. (6)PRINT WAYPOINT REGISTER - This function will cause a listing of all the waypoints in the active LOCATION file. The listing will be ordered by waypoint name. This function uses the current index for the active LOCATION file. If one does not exist, it will build one for you. Be sure your index is current before using this function. (7)DISPLAY WAYPOINT REGISTER - This function will display on the video screen fifteen waypoints beginning at the waypoint you select. You will be prompted to enter the page number of the first waypoint to be displayed. Once the first fifteen waypoints are displayed you may elect to see more or end the function as prompted. (8)RE-ORG LOCATION FILE - This function causes the active loca- tion file to be re-ordered by waypoint name. Any records marked for deletion will be deleted at this time. The output of this function is a file named LOCATION.NEW. In order for you to use this file you must either rename the file or select LOCATION.NEW as the active file, either permanently or temporarily. (9)RUN UTILITIES MERGE FILES - This feature allows you to merge two or more LOCATION files into one file and names the new file LOCATION.MAS. Enter information as prompted. UPDATE DEFAULTS - This function allows you to put your individual information into the DEFAULTS file. The default record will be displayed. You will be prompted to select the fields you wish to change. No defaults will be updated on disk until you select item 9, RETURN TO UTILITIES MENU. (9)RUN UTILITIES(cont'd) BUILD LOCATION INDEX - This function builds an index of the active LOCATION file and writes it to disk. The name of the file will be LOC-xxx.NDX; where xxx is the suffix of the active location file. PRINT TAMPA BAY CHARTS) - Plots your waypoints on a map of the Gulf of Mexico in the area of Tampa Bay. There are two or three modes of this printing. An Epson or Epson compatible printer is required for this function. You must have a wide carraige printer (14") to use this function. You need program LXCHART.EXE to execute this function BUILD SUBSIDIARY FILE - This function creates, or over- writes, a file of waypoints selected from the currently active LOCATION file. Every waypoint can be associated with its closest or best saltwater access point. The major Florida access points have been identified and allocated a unique file suffix to be used with LOCATION. In order to use this function you will have to enter the associated access code in the third position of the FLAGS field of the data record. These flags are shown in Appendix B1. To build the sub file you will be prompted to enter the flag desired. When a valid flag is entered the program will perform the function. MAIN MENU SCREEN ___________________________________________________________________ / \ /LORAN C WAYPOINT ORGANIZER *CV01.0* By Fundamental Services\ | RECORD COUNT: 85 FILENAME: LOCATION.DAT | | MAIN MENU ACTIVE GRIs: 7980W 7980Y | | | | 1. ADD NEW RECORD | | 2. ALTER/DISPLAY RECORD | | 3. COMPUTE ADJACENT POINTS | | 4. ON BOARD FUNCTIONS | | 5. GENERATE FLOAT PLAN | | 6. PRINT WAYPOINT REGISTER | | 7. DISPLAY WAYPOINT REGISTER | | 8. RE-ORG LOCATION FILE | | 9. RUN UTILITIES | | | | | | | | | | | | ENTER SELECTION BY NUMBER(PF10 TO END) | | | | | \ Copyright 1983-1988 - Fundamental Services; Clearwater, Florida / \___________________________________________________________________/ UTILITIES MENU ___________________________________________________________________ / \ / \ | | | UTILITIES MENU | | | | 1. MERGE INTO LOCATION.MAS | | 2. UPDATE DEFAULTS | | 3. ----------------------- | | 4. BUILD LOCATION FILE INDEX | | 5. ----------------------- | | 6. ----------------------- | | 7. PRINT TAMPS BAY CHARTS | | 8. BUILD A SUB-FILE | | 9. RETURN TO MAIN MENU | | | | | | | | ENTER SELECTION BY NUMBER(PF 10 TO END) | \ / \___________________________________________________________________/ ALTER/DISPLAY SCREEN ___________________________________________________________________ / \ / \ | | |LORAN C GRI = 7980W 7980Y LOCATOR | |RECORD NUMBER: 6 FILENAME: LOCATION.DAT | | WAYPOINT RECORD DISPLAY | | | | 1. ITD FOR 7980W 14241.7 | | 2. ITD FOR 7980Y 44818.3 | | 3. Latitude 27 38'53" | | 4. Longitude 83 03'31" | | 5. Location Name Clearwater Pass Bell | | 6. Record Flags AH | | 7. Structure Type 8 | | 8. Comments Normal return from sea. | | 9. Waypoint Memory 29 | | | | UPDATING WAYPOINT INFORMATION - ENTER AS PROMPTED BELOW | | | | *** ENTER SELECTION NOW *** | | | | - = DISPLAY PREVIOUS RECORD + = DISPLAY NEXT RECORD | | W = WRITE THIS RECORD TO DISK S = SEARCH FOR ANOTHER RECORD | | D = DISPLAY DETAIL RECORD X = DELETE THIS RECORD | | (number) = SELECT FIELD TO CHANGE E = END THIS FUNCTION | \ / \___________________________________________________________________/ DEFAULTS DISPLAY SCREEN ___________________________________________________________________ / \ / \ | DEFAULT PROCESSING | | | | 1. NAME OF VESSEL--------------- BOAT NAME | | 2. CAPTAIN'S NAME--------------- CAPTAIN NEMO | | 3. VHF STATION CALL------------- WAA-1234 | | 4. VESSEL REGISTRATION---------- FL-1234-AA | | 5. MARINE IDENTIFICATION(MIN)--- 000-1234-123 | | 6. LOCATION FILE SUFFIX--------- DAT | | 7. GRI #1 ---------------------- 7980W | | 8. GRI #2 ---------------------- 7980Y | | 9. WRITE CHANGES TO DISK AND EXIT | | | | | | | | ENTER NUMBER OF FIELD TO BE UPDATED | \ / \____________________________________________________________________/ WAYPOINT DETAIL PAGE WAYPOINT REGISTER FLAGS The FLAGS field in the waypoint record is five characters long. The first three characters are reserved for the program. The last two characters can be user defined. F1: A=Primary location. This waypoint will print in bold type on the waypoint detail page. B=Secondary location. C=Unverified location. This will not be charted in the chart all waypoints function. D=This record is marked for deletion. The ALTER/DISPLAY function requested that this record be deleted but re-org has not yet actually deleted the record. T=Tourist attraction. Good dive spot. F2: H=Home port of call. This identifies the pass or inlet you use to return to home port. The waypoint detail page for this record will contain all associated related points and not be limited to forty. F3: Used by SUB-FILE function as follows: FLAG FILE SUFFIX SALT WATER ACCESS A .ATL ATLANTIC OCEAN B .BAY BAYPORT C .CLR CLEARWATER PASS J .JPS JOHN'S PASS K .KEY FLORIDA KEYS T .TAR TARPON SPRINGS X .XXX USER DEFINED Y .YYY USER DEFINED Z .ZZZ USER DEFINED F4 and F5 USER DEFINED TYPE CODES 1 = Depression 2 = Dropoff/Ledge 3 = Mound/Rocks 4 = Undercut/Cave 5 = Pass/Inlet 6 = Landmark 7 = Manmade Obstruction/Reef 8 = Navigation Aid