Contents of Mapper

Mapper is a tool you can use to create map projections (maps) of a given area.

Introduction

What is Mapper?

Commands

File Menu Commands

Options Menu Commands

Index

DesignCAD file

Directives

File Menu Commands

Flight line file

Map databases

Map projection file

Map projection types

Map scale

Options Menu Commands

Parameters

What is Mapper?


What is Mapper?

Mapper is a set of software tools designed to let users create and manipulate map projections on a personal computer (PC).  The capability exists to generate five popular map projections.  These include azimuthal, cylindrical, mercator, lambert, and sinusoidal projections.  Data for projections are contained in five coordinate databases at various resolutions.


File Menu Commands

Open

Opens a directory window for the selection of a map file.  This file must have the extension par.

Save

Saves all work to the current file.

Save As

Saves all work to a specific file.

Print

Prints the current map on the default printer.

Copy

Copies the current map to the clipboard.

Exit

Quits Mapper.


Options Menu

Map Setup

Opens a dialog box which contains all of the parameters necessary for creating a map projection.

Run

Opens a dialog box which contains directives on file types to generate or include when creating a map projection.


Parameters

Databases

All map projections are derived from 6 available map databases.  These databases contain raw geographical coordinates at various resolutions.

Projections

There are 5 map projection types available when creating maps.  Each has its own advantages and disadvantages given the geographical location and the desired map extent.

Coordinates

This is where the map scale or limits are set.

Grid

The size of an overlying map grid is chosen here.  Grid spacing is in latitude and longitude with a resolution of 1 degree.

User database

This counts as 1 of the 6 available map databases.  When this option is chosen, a directory window is opened allowing you to choose any new or unique map database with the bin extension.


Directives

Generate Map Projection

When this option is turned on, a map projection file is generated when you click on Run.

Generate Screen Plot

When this option is turned on, a screen plot of the current map projection is displayed on the screen when you click on Run.  This option only works when either a map projection file under the current name exists or Generate Map Projection is also turned on.

Generate DC File

When this option is turned on, a DesignCAD file is generated when you click on Run.  This option only works when either a map projection file under the current name exists or Generate Map Projection is also turned on.

Include Flight Line

When this option is turned on, a user generated flight line file is included when creating a map projection.  This option only works when either a map projection file under the current name exists or Generate Map Projection is also turned on.


Map Databases

World

A general-purpose database that contains low-resolution geographic data of the entire world.

Ecost_c

A high-resolution database that contains Eastern U.S. coastal bays and shoreline.

Ecost_r

A high-resolution database that contains Eastern U.S. rivers.

Ecost_cr

A high-resolution database that contains Eastern U.S. coastal bays, shoreline, and rivers.

Empty

An empty database used when only a grid is needed of an area.

Userbase

A new or unique database chosen from a directory window which must have the bin extension.


Map Projection Types

Azimuthal

Used when true direction and distance are needed from a center point.  It is commonly used for areas up to and including 1 hemisphere.  Any center point on the globe is valid, making this projection the most useful.  Do not use this projection unless a math coprocessor is installed in your computer.  This projection is math intensive and may tie your computer up for minutes without a coprocessor.

Mercator

Used for navigation purposes, because a course of constant bearing can be drawn between 2 points.  This projection becomes very distorted above 85 degrees North and below 85 degrees South latitude.

Lambert

Used  when the "right shape" is needed.  This projection is only good for areas with an East-West extent of temperate latitudes.  The U.S. is a good example.  The Lambert projection is valid between 10 and 80 degrees North and South latitude.

Sinusoidal

Used for small areas, or those of a North-South extent.  Can also be used to show the entire Earth or its quadrants.

Cylindrical

Used most often when working with areas around or near the Equator.  This projection is valid for any part of the globe, but the poles do become distorted.


Map Scale

Center Latitude

This is the center point in latitude used when making an Azimuthal map projection.

Center Longitude

This is the center point in longitude used when making an Azimuthal map projection.

Range From Center

This is the range (in nautical miles) the map will span from the center point when making an Azimuthal map projection.

Min. Latitude

This is the minimum latitude used when making all map projections except Azimuthal.

Max. Latitude

This is the maximum latitude used when making all map projections except Azimuthal.

Min. Longitude

This is the minimum longitude used when making all map projections except Azimuthal.

Max. Longitude

This is the maximum longitude used when making all map projections except Azimuthal.


Map Projection File

This is a binary file produced by Mapper when ever a map projection is created.  This file is subsequently used to produce screen plot files and DesignCAD files.  Map projection files are those which have no filename extension.


DesignCAD File

This is an ascii file which is in the DesignCAD format.  This format is a left over from the DOS version of Mapper.  To manipulate, print, or plot a map...you had to export a map projection into DesignCAD.  Now, under Windows, you can copy the current map to the clipboard.  From here you can paste the map into any number of Windows programs, including Windows Paintbrush.  Paintbrush offers simple tools for image editing.  For more powerful editing, turn to drawing or CAD programs like DesignCAD.  DesignCAD files are those which have the filename extension dc.  DesignCAD was developed by American Small Business Computers of Prayer, Oklahoma.


Flight Line File

This is an ascii file which you must create.  A flight line file is a file of points.  A point consists of a latitude and a longitude.  To create a single line, there must exist at least 2 points followed by the symbols # #.  The # # symbols mark the end of the line.  For example, the following was taken from the file Flight.flt.  There are 2 lines in this file, because there are 2 sets of the # # symbols.

37	-75

37	-76

37	-77

#	#

34	-75

34.5	-75

35	-75.3

35.5	-75.5

36	-76

#	#