MAPFIX.txt  Ver 6.8c        NOTES  ABOUT  USING  MAPFIX


In order to minimize the size of MAPFIX I have removed all of the HELP
screens and placed them here.  I am also going to add a version number
to all future releases of the program.  Before using a new version, be
sure to check this file for new notes....

Ver 68c  New MAKEMAPS.BAS builds a 32 to 64 mile APRS map directly in
  one step from the 2,000,000 CD ROM.  Then use MAPFIX alt-SMOOTH
  command and other aids to get points below 3000.  This is better
  than using the MAPFIX alt-USGS process which takes many steps.
* The KEPT dots during the alt-SMOOTHing process are highlighted
  in white so it is easy to see.
* I noticed that the TEST-SMOOTHER
  routine does not appear to be working.  Ill check...
* Compiled the program into MAPFIX68.exe and included it in the
  BBS upgrade files

Ver 6.8  Separated out the help text and put it here...
Ver 6.7  No new features.  Tried to reduce program size to avoid memory probs."
         Fixed the re-draw of lines during ADDs.

Ver 6.6  Fixed a bug which prevented the FIRST road in the file from being
         shown.  IT was there, and everything worked, but it was displayed
         in black...   This version was posted later and added to APRS6.6

Ver 6.5d This version ADDED MOUSE SUPPORT!  And was initially distro'd with
         the first few days of 6.6.  See above




HERE IS THE BASIC HELP SCREEN FOR MAPFIX:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 The ORIGIN, CENTER and BORDER are shown (but only the CENTER and RANGE in
 MAPLIST.apr are actually used by APRS.  Labels are right justified to the
 point just after the last letter.  CALLS & OBJECT names will be left
 justified.

 OPERATIONS          MAP FUNCTIONS         @N - NEW FEATURE   LABEL COMMANDS
 H - HELP SCREENS    @C- Change CENTER     @A - ADD point      S - SHOW labels
 D - map DIRECTORY   ^C- Change COLOR      @D - DELETE point  @L - add a LABEL
^S - SAVE MAP!!!      M- MAPLIST.apr file  @K - Kill feature   L - LABELS off
 R - RESET pointers   O- OTHER map bordrs  @M - MOVE point"
 Q - QUIT            @R- set map RANGE     @T - TRIM borders  F8 - Add marker
@I- Import fm other map               

 DISPLAY COMMANDS     POINTER MOVEMENTS   USGS CD ROM CMDS  DIGITIZER & GPS
 SPACE to draw map    N- Next Feature     B- BOX PPD area   @O- OPEN COMMS
 ARROWS  (shft)       P- Prev Feature     U- USGS overlay   @B- BEGIN new line
 PgUP/DN (ctrl)       G- Go to Pointer    T- Test smoother  F1- MOVE cursor
 HOME to Cursor       F- Find point      @S- SMOOTH file        vice ADD pt
 END to map center   ^F- Find another    @U- USGS BUILD!
                     +/- move Pointer    @J- JOIN lines     @G- GPS OVERLAY
 F2 CONVERT ORIGIN                       ^R- REDRAW on/off  F9- Init Mouse
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MOUSE MODES:

 CURSOR: Use F9 to open appropriate MOUSE port (must be MICROSOFT SERIAL
         MOUSE).  Left button is ALT-ADD and right button is FIND command.

 POOR-MANS-MOUSE DIGITIZER:  Use alt-O to OPEN COMM port and READ MOUSE.txt



MAPFIX.bas HELP SCREEN PAGE 1:

MAPFIX can build and edit APRS maps in a variety of ways:

   FREE-HAND: Good for filling in roads, but hard to make roads exact
   CDROM:     Gets points from 2,000,000:1 and 100,000:1 USGS CD ROM.
              Both generate Mbytes worth of points that take a lot of
              time to filter down to a useable APRS size!
   TABLET:    Connect a digitizer tablet and draw! BEST METHOD!
   GPS DATA:  Replay any APRS GPS track history file and DRAW map lines
              over the track
   CONVERSION:Change origin or scale on-line (old function of MAPCNVRT.bas)
   IMPORTING: Import features from other maps with auto-point conversion!
 
   Although MAPFIX is very versitile, manipulating points with a TEXT
   EDITOR is still useful for whole scale rearranging of points and
   features in a map file.
 
   MAPFIX uses the normal yellow APRS cursor, and a White MapPoint which
   marks the next point to be processed.  ALT Keys allow you to MOVE the
   MapPoint to the cursor, ADD a new point at the cursor, or DELETE the
   MapPoint.  The G key will GO to the MapPoint and conversly, F will
   FIND the point nearest the cursor.
  
   CAUTION, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT PERFECT... KEEP BACKUPS!  Do a little
            at a time!
 
 
HELP PAGE 2:
 
   1. Ken Swaggart has refined his tools for converting 100,000 USGS data to
      the same format used by MAPFIXER for 2,000,000 data.  See CDROM.txt.
 
   2. MAPFIXER uses the smaller VGA fonts and alternate screen for the map
      and HELP screens.  Therefore it will NO LONGER run on CGA screens
 
   With MAPFIX.bas, you can modify features by moving, adding or deleting
   Points or Killing whole features, ie: roads, rivers, borders, etc.
 
   If the MapPointer and FeatureName get out of sequence, the RESET command
   may fix them, but you should save the file immediately and check it with
   an editor.
 
   Using the IMPORT command, you can IMPORT features from many smaller maps
   into one larger map, or you can take points out of adjacent maps and put
   them into yours.  Only the points that fit within the current WHITE
   center-&-range BORDER will be imported.
 
   The TRIM command is sort of the converse of IMPORT.  It will TRIM all
   points outside of the white RANGE box.  It keeps at least one point
   of each line outside of the box, and may need a little clean up at the
   edges.
 
   The MAPLIST command shows your MAPLIST.map file; and the OTHER MAPS
   command shows all MAP borders so you can see how your new map fits in.
   You may use F3 and F4 keys to select smaller or larger map borders to
   draw.


HELP PAGE 3:        Using GPS Track History Files to draw maps!"
 
 
   To aid in creating accurate maps, W7KKE in Calif wrote a module to
   overlay GPS Track Histories into MAPFIX.  Use this to build and fix
   your own maps!
 
   After you have loaded your map, type alt-G (GPS Track History') and
   enter the history filename.  This will overlay the track history file. 
   You may then use the normal MAPFIX.bas routines to move map segments
   and add so that the map will agree with the GPS data contained in the
   track history file.  This is especially useful with the history files
   saved by a laptop during mobile GPS operations.
 
   CAUTION:  Since GPS data is only accurate to 100 yards due to the
   effects of Selective Availability, I would avoid using GPS data
   explicitely below about the 2 mile range.  For this reason, I make
   the size of the GPS positions expand below the 2 mile range to roughly
   approximate the size of the 100 yard error circle.
 
   Note that you can START a NEW map from scratch by just typing NEW
   instread of a MAP filename when starting up the program.


PAGE 4 INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING A DIGITIZER:
 
   MAPFIX.bas can also accept the serial data from a digitizer tablet or
   table thanks again to W7KKE.  THIS IS THE MOST ACCURRATE WAY TO BUILD
   MAPS!
 
   To use a digitizer, first you must hit the ALT-O command to open the
   COMM PORT for the digitizer.  This command also lets you test the
   digitizer while testing the alignment of the map on the digitizer
   surface.  It then prompts you to identify the upper left and lower
   right corners of the map, in order to calibrate the digitizer to the
   latitude, longitude and scale of the map.  From this point on, the
   0 button on the digitizer mouse, or the PEN is the same as the ALT-A
   ADD command.  Points will be added AFTER the current map point.  To
   start a new map feature, you must first move the cursor to the new
   starting point, before using the ALT-N NEW command.  There are 3 ways
   to move the cursr:
      1) arrow keys
      2) fourth button on a 4 button mouse
      3) press F1 and then use the mouse or Pen (once for each press of
         F1).  OR you may use the alt-B BEGIN command which does NOT
         require the cursor to be moved first.
 
   To speed up the screen during editing, MAPFIX does not erase and re-
   draw the entire map after each new point, but only draws the new line
   segment.  While editing points, the old line remains until you draw a
   new map.             
 
   Use CTRL-R to toggle on and off the RE-DRAW feature.  With RE-DRAW off,
   you can rapidly DELETE points, but you cannot see the effect of the
   deletion until you hit SPACE to redraw the map.  Hitting space turns
   REDRAW back on.

