In the right section now.......

With a little editing of the default schema I have found that GPSMapedit is a very capable creator of shapefiles with AT5 attributes.

I'm at an early stage of playing with it, and there is probably someone here who can throw some qualified help into the mix.

So far I have been able create and export labels, icons, spot depths direct to IMC. For anyone not wanting to get to grips with a full blown GIS application, and who wants to be able to annotate their charts, this is a good cheap solution (it has a huge variety of background imagery built in).

Trevor

PS You'll also be able to create charts to run on Garmin chartplotters

Hello Trevor,


i believe the best for beginner is QGIS. Why?
You load/draw the own data. Next step, You can merge the file with sample files from IMC. Now You have the right strucuture for attribute table in Your shape/data. Now change attributes values with extension "table manager" in QGIS. This is realy simple for beginners. With Mapedit i see problems for beginners and Mapedit can't create geotiffs or manage kml. The IMC recommend QGIS and this is not not without foundation.


Best wishes
fjordfisher

Which is why I said it is a simple solution for people who dont want to get involved in a full blown GIS program.
Not everyone who is interested in making their own charts is interested in GIS and learning to use complex and unfamiliar systems. I don't use QGIS and could never get on with it, mainly because I'm used to other systems.

Normal people (not Geeks like us) just want to trace a border, plonk some labels on, hit a button and make a map.
This is a VERY good way to plonk some labels, rocks, slipways etc on, which is something RM isn't able to do at the moment.

It would also be tremendously useful when Matt implements MP export :) for people who want to make charts for their NUVI and Marine Garmin devices.

T

Well that was well worth a few hours fiddling. The chart below was created entirely in GPSMapedit and exported directly to IMC. All I need is for Matt to make an MP export for the bathymetry and its a self contained simple solution for making charts for Lowrance plotters. Who'd have thought it ?
You can always just use the shapefile that RM makes with bathy directly into IMC alongside the GPSMapedit exports.

T

This is really "lazy persons" chart making.......

Simply make a label point, fill as much text into the "comments" field as you like (well, 256 characters I think?) , and you now have a permanent clickable info point in the chart. Very simple, very easy, and very useful for fishermen / surveyors / marine archaeologists etc to make themselves.

Combine this sort of functionality with some raster backgrounds and vector isobaths direct from RM and these are amazing charts considering that can be done by literally anyone.

T

Excellent information - thanks for sharing.

A little bit of editing of the ShpDefault.dat file with notepad was all it took. It exports Land, shorelines, isobaths, depths, labels, info points, slipways, rocks and plenty more directly into IMC.

If anyone wants some hints on setting this up let me know. I use some custom skins in GPSMapedit to keep life really simple and can let you have a copy of the modified ShpDefault.dat (so far..) so that you can see whats happening and play with it.

Matt, sorry to be discussing other applications on your forum. The idea is to get RM bathy onto Lowrance plotters efficiently and easily. This is just one way to do it.

T

The image below has recommended routing / demarkation lines etc. Its all possible.

Hello Trevor,


yes i also find, that Matt also should mp-Export function. Is the best for You and Garmin output.

I have copies Your style and i find it very good.

Questions: If the sun blinds, is there a problem with screen in portable/open use of units?
Can i display this style in older units (my friend have a LMS527), and which setting changees i need?


Best wishes
fjordfisher

If possible, please send me Your ShpDefault.dat. Thanks!

The style is based on the standard ECDIS configuration that I use almost daily. Its pretty much tried and tested under all known conditions, and represents a "best choice". I opt for 5ft for the dark blue shallow areas, 10ft for the light blue areas, and white for everythin else. If I want to colour e depth range for trolling it can easily be done wih a raster background.

The exact colors are chosen to be compatible with the largest range of units (take them from the top of the colour chart), but they need to be tested on specific units to be sure. The older Lowrance devices were by no means consistent.

While I dont use GPSMapedit for anything other than the compilation stage of certain GPS charts, and for changing label configuration from m to ft, its a great little program. I stick with GM for the majority of my work. lot of people who wouldn't have time or inclination to learn GM could be creating maps in a couple of hours in GPSMapedit, so it seems a sensible thing to find a simple solution that uses it.

all the best

T

ShpDefault.zip now attached to previous message.

I've included details of the object types I use in the encl images. Some are still to implement in the ShpDefault.dat file, but all the important ones are in there.

I may need to make a skin for the Lowrance objects, so that its really WYSIWYG

Trevor

Trevor, could you give us some hints how to use this ShpDefault.dat in GPSMapedit?

Hi Danny,

I'm writing a little tutorial at the moment, need a little input from Matt.

Here is a snip from it - the skinfile is attached..........


The first few items only need to be done once, just to set up the application.

First load the AnglingCharts skin into the program so that it knows all about the new objects

available and has a nice sensible colour scheme.

Tools - options - view - mapskins - add.

Now select the mapskin that you want to use

View - Mapskins - select the one you want to use.

Next put the new ShpDefault.dat file into the Gpsmapedit "_ExportSchemas" folder. I suggest you

rename the old one first rather than overwrite it. (you'll need to close the program)

Make sure that File - map properties - Header - Type set is set to Garmin (sorry, but this is the

only way this works !)

Make sure "snap to grid" is OFF Tools- options - edit - snap to grid. "Stick to Neighbours" is

useful and should be on.

Thats your application setup.