Google Earth to BSB / KAP

[phiggins]

Seems that was not correct. I think I was being fooled by the cache having the data already. I now think the problem is that Ge2KAP was setting the Exaggeration to .01. If I set to 1.0 I don't get the bleed through even with the "Use high quality terrain..." unchecked.

I will fix this in the next version of GE2KAP. If anyone cares to test this new version please let me know.

[phiggins]

NEW Version GE2KAP.V9.7.2

Just uploaded a new version of GE2KAP that fixes some problems using Google earth V7 and also skewed charts.

Get it here: www.gdayii.ca Downloads...GE2KAP

[yachtvalhalla]

[QUOTE=phiggins;1221191]NEW Version GE2KAP.V9.7.2
Just uploaded a new version of GE2KAP /QUOTE]

Thanks Paul ... works fine with XP and W7U.

First time I've seen the 'DLL_Source.zip' file

Terry

[phiggins]

Thanks for the feedback terry. The 'DLL_Source.zip' file is just the source for the two DLLs so that I'm "Open" compliant. If anyone needs to know what is in the two DLLs they can unzip it otherwise it can be ignored.

[sailorF54]

Hi Paul

The left and right pic boundaries seem skewed (already noted with GE2KAP 9.6.4)
Opencpn 3.2.1, GE 7.0.3.8542, W7, GE2KAP 9.7.2

PS added: This only seems to occur a rather high level of zoom
Skewing is not always in same direction

Lower level of zoom seems OK (4th pic)

[phiggins]

Sailorf54, Thanks for the feedback.

Can you tell me what you were overlaying and at what scale.

[sailorF54]

Here you are

CM93 Jan 2011 - Porth Cressa - South coast of main island (St Mary's) Scilly Island - SW tip of UK

Kap chart is available here (remove .doc)
http://dl.free.fr/n2MEYNZS2
(too large for upload on CF)

[phiggins]

SailorF54,

This is being caused by Google earth's terrain feature. It will vary depending on the where you create the chart. I'm not sure how its affecting the accuracy of the charts produced.

In GE V7 you cannot turn off terrain so the only solution is to drop back to GE V6 and turn terrain off. You can get a copy of GE6 on my website:
www.gdayii.ca/Downloads

I have opened a problem with Google but so far they have ignored my complaints about being unable to turn off terrain in V7. Perhaps more people should complain.

[sailorF54]

Thanks Paul

Latest GE2KAP works fine with your copy of GE 6.2.2...
The largest discrepancy I measured on visible features near the edges of GE 7 and GE 6. chartlets is about 10 m, which is of little concern, at least to me...

Thanks again for that wonderful tool of yours...

[phiggins]

Thanks,

With GE V7 I am actually fighting two problems because terrain is always on. One is the distortion you saw and the other is the bleed through of the background. I reduced the second problem in V9.7.2 by always setting the 'Terrain Exaggeration' to 1.0. But by doing this it causes the first problem.

You can reduce the first distortion problem by setting the Terrain Exaggeration to the smallest value .01 just efore you create the chart. But GE2KAP will reset it to 1.0 again for the next chart.

Perhaps I should just let the user decide what the Terrain Exaggeration should be. He could set it low to reduce the distortion or high if he is getting bleed through.

Any opinion on this ? What do you think, should I not set the Terrain Exaggeration and just let you decide?

[sailorF54]

My two cents...
Letting a warped chart scale into the picture may reduce the confidence of new users. It is certainly disturbing to me. I would suggest setting Terrain Exaggeration to a very small value, and letting the user increase it if bleed through (Moire pattern ?) gets too severe.

[phiggins]

SailorF54,

I agree. Since having the exaggeration high causes not only distortion but also affects the accuracy of the chart I will make the default .01 and provide a field to change the exaggeration if needed.

If you want to test this new version for me, please send me an email.

[phiggins]

I have uploaded a new version that corrects the GE7 distortion problem.

Before running it go into GE Tools..Options...3D and set the Elevation Exaggeration to .01 then open the Cache tab and Clear both the memory and disk cache.

There is a new field called Exaggeration which sets the Elevation Exaggeration of GE. The default is .01 and should not be changed unless you are having bleed through problems of an overlay then you can try 1.0 and see if that fixes the bleed through.

[phiggins]

Google Earth V7 has a neat "Send Feedback" feature that allows you send them a screenshot of GE. You have to go to Tools - Options - General tab and uncheck "Show web results in external browser" for it to work. The Send Feedback is in the Help pulldown.

I just sent them an example of the bleed through problem and asked them to either put back the "Show Terrain" button or fix the bleed through problem.

If anyone else is having the bleed through problem, they should send GE Feedback. The more we complain, the better the chance it will be fixed.

You can a good example of the bleed through by using the opencpn option of GE2KAP and display the CM93 chart of the little Abacos island in the Bahamas.

Oh, if you do complain, don't mention GE2KAP or they are liable to send a hit squad to my house to get Whitey and me.

[mikepeter]

the last ge I con I had on opencpn was like a red swerll now all I can find in the opencpn sight is the ge icon that looks like ge