Thank you. Now seems to be clear for me. Will try to play with new shape export file you send. In general it is more than enought export only level 0 for mapping, but would be fine to have all 4levels on my HDS exactly like I have on my mp file.

I am not very familar with the syntax for making algoritm in shape export file, but very eager to learn more about it. Can you advise me with some web link with simple tutorial for that? Just a basics.

How to use GME to change the levels at which objects appear.

Load up the latest ShpDefault.dat ( the one in the post above ).

Load up the sample mp file (congtrimmed.mp linked in earlier post).

If you run the export you'll see the roads are hanging around too long and clutter the chart as you zoom out.

Edit - select - by type - clear all (a good habit to get into) - check Navico Roads - OK

Hold the cursor over a road somewhere and right click. Modify - extend all elements up to level - select 1 (or 0....) - OK
File export etc .... you know the rest.

HINT If the objects dont seem to want to change levels simply select as above, right click over one of the objects, and hit "extract all elements". Then it'll work. This can happen with imported shapefile data from RM.

If you are starting with a new map then you need to let the program know about the zoom levels you want to use.

So File - Map properties - then insert or change until you get something that looks like the pic below. Its a good basis for further experimentation.

T

Ok. Clear and simple. But these things (how to work with GME) more less i know. I am more interesting how to edit ShpDefault.dat file. Something i can found in IMC manual, but not everything.

Can you please explain more how to use new IMC function for attributes editing?

The shpdefault.dat file is a simple text file. I am going to annotate it if I have time. It would be good if someone could make a little application to change the settings in this file, as it's evidently not exactly user friendly. Meanwhile the best way to learn how to use it is to play with it, just like I did, and contribute your findings.


The IMC attribute function is a Navico feature which will probably be documented by them in due course.

T

There is a new tutorial on creating AT5 charts in GPSMapedit available at Anglingcharts.com

The first installment covers making the Lake / Lakes, Islands and background - the basics for a chart.

The second part will detail how to quickly and easily create labels, information points, slipways, weed areas, buoys, roads etc.

The new annotated shpdefault.dat is there (and here) which has details inside it on how to edit it (if you want to), and what it does. It has been tuned now, so very little changing is actually required.

This has simply got to be the easiest way to create lake topography for Lowrance GPS, and I'm seriously thinking that its MUCH easier than Globalmapper for this part of the task. You don't even need to look under the hood.

I was able to create 4 lakes, all close together this evening using some old data, I then ran a quick RM on each one - imported the contours into GME, then sent the whole lot together to IMC producing a chart with multiple lakes - just like that.

It now supports land contours and multi level objects (simplify as you zoom out) as well.

T

Great job! now i will have something to play with on long winter evenings:-)

Is it any possibility to make 3D map (like Navionics Platinium) using RM ?

I've just put a couple more tutorials on the Anglingcharts website, including creating Bottom Structure Areas on the AT5 chart from sidescan mosaics. Loading these into GME is simple, and its just a matter of drawing around the structure you want to highlight. It then transfers across as a Bottom Structure Area onto the Lowrance chart.

Theres also a download page with the latest files needed.



T

Really nice Trevor. I will try tomorrow.

I've now included Submerged weed areas, pipelines, small rivers and streams, tracks, as well as bottom structure, so make sure you have the latest skinfile, shpdefault.dat and test file. All are available on the AnglingCharts website in the Download section HERE

Enjoy

T

Transparency - with a few lines in the script it now supports transparency, fully configurable for individual or groups of objects.

I can't wait to see what is possible when somebody who actually knows what they are doing starts playing with the script !

T

Great Trevor!

The only problem is, that not all lakes/waters result in serviceable shadow relief for background, especially not small and monotonous lakes.

Which setting (transparency and shadow relief) have You used?

Best wishes
fjordfisher

Question to GPIVERSON: is there a chance, that we user anytime can use own charts in 3D (not only in pseudo 3D as in HDS Gen2 touch units)?
Thanks for answer!

Jorg,

as you know - 3D charts are really quite useless things from a practical point of view - but they DO LOOK NICE.
I use charts every day, and can't think of one occasion when they would have given me a better situational awareness than I already have, and plenty of times when they would have been downright confusing.
To make these 3d charts I used a background grid I created in GM, while I wait for Matt to make a 3d export :)
I used a transparency of 250 for Land and 50 for the blue bits. The structure and weed areas are fully transparent icon areas.

T