Importing GPS Assets

How to import tracks and waypoints into ReefMaster.

Selecting Files to Import

To import files into ReefMaster, click the Import GPS Assets button in the Main Toolbar. A standard file selection window is shown, which shows files of all supported file types. To restrict which file types are shown, select the required file type from the file types drop-down list box.

Any number of files can be selected for import, and the files can be made up of any mix of supported file types. Once the required files have been selected, click the Open button (or press Return). A progress window is shown whilst the files are processed, after which the Import GPS Assets Window will open.

The Import GPS Assets Window

The import GPS assets window is split into two panels; the Asset List (1) and the Options Panel (2).

The Asset List

The asset list shows all of the assets that have been read from the selected files. Note that there may be more assets in the list than the number of files selected, as individual files can contain a number of different assets.

Each asset is shown as on a separate line in the asset list, with information such as name and time, when available. The type of the asset is indicated by the icon in the second column. The Elements field refers to the number of track-points within a track, or the number of waypoints in a waypoint collection.

Use the check-box in the first column to select or de-select an asset for import, or use the Select All and Select None buttons underneath the asset list to select or de-select all assets in the list.

Duplicate status

Assets may be exact or partial duplicates either of other assets within the current import batch, or of assets that have already been imported into the current ReefMaster workspace. Partial duplicates are highlighted in orange and exact duplicates in red. A Partial duplicate indicates that some data is shared between assets e.g., some track points within a track, or some waypoints within a waypoint set. By default only unique tracks are selected for import. Waypoint sets that are flagged as partial duplicates are selected for import by default, however duplicate waypoints within the set will not be imported unless the Do not import duplicate waypoints option has been unchecked (see below). Use the Hide Duplicates button to hide all partial or exact duplicates.

The Options Panel

Import to Folder

Assets can be moved directly to a folder during import by selecting destination folders for tracks and waypoints.

·Select the required folder by clicking it in the folders list.

·To create a new folder, click the New Folder button in the list header. The new folder must be selected after it has been created.

Time Zone

The time zone that will be applied to all of the assets imported as part of this import batch. By default this is the time zone specified in Global Settings. The time zone of individual assets can be changed in the appropriate asset edit window post-import.

Equipment

Equipment profiles are a way of grouping properties of a GPS device used during the import process.

Select the profile for use during the import using the drop-down list. To edit an existing profile, or to add a new equipment profile, click the Edit button.

Track Import Options

(1) Exclude zero depths

Check this option to exclude all track points with zero depths on import. This option is useful when the tracks to be imported contain depth information, and a zero depth can be considered an error.

Note that checking this option when the track to be imported does not contain depth data (i.e. all depths are zero) will result in no track points being imported for that track, and a warning window will be shown advising of this fact.

Track points with zero depths can also be removed easily after import, by filtering by depth in the Track Edit Window.

(2) Apply tide adjustment

Check this option to assign a Tide Station to all tracks being imported in this import batch. The tide station can be selected from the drop-down list.

Tide stations can also be assigned in the individual Track Edit windows; checking this option during import saves time when multiple tracks are being imported that share the same tide information. Note that all tracks within the import will be assigned the same tide station, if one is selected. Tracks from different areas should therefore be imported in separate batches.

(4) Open tracks for editing after import

Check this option to open all tracks for editing immediately after import. This option is not recommended when importing a large number of tracks.

Waypoint Import Options

(1) Do not import duplicate waypoints

By default ReefMaster does not import duplicate waypoints. Duplicates are determined on position and time; name and symbol are not considered. To ignore time when determining whether a waypoint is a duplicate, check the option When determining duplicates..ignore time.

(2) Combine single waypoints

When importing waypoint image snapshots from Humminbird™ devices, each waypoint is held in a separate .DAT file. Checking this option combines all such waypoints into a single set after import. The alternative is that a new waypoint set is created for each waypoint.