need help

[mikepeterf]

I have downloaded this but I don't know how or where do I install it
I have mapcal can someone help me


mc2bsbh: converts georeference format from MapCal to BSB header
Usage: mc2bsbh [-d] [-s chartname] [-o outfile | -e extension] [-l] <infile>
<infile> : the output from MapCal - normally CHARTCAL.DIR
-d : this is debug mode. It prints out a bunch of garbage
-s chartname : convert a single chart header from <infile>
-o outfile : to specify your own header file name
-e extention : to specify your own header extension
-l : to print out just the list of charts in <infile>
For information look at MapCal Utilities
For help visit forum at OpenCPN - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[dacust]

Originally Posted by mikepeterf

I have downloaded this but I don't know how or where do I install it
I have mapcal can someone help me


mc2bsbh: converts georeference format from MapCal to BSB header
Usage: mc2bsbh [-d] [-s chartname] [-o outfile | -e extension] [-l] <infile>
<infile> : the output from MapCal - normally CHARTCAL.DIR
-d : this is debug mode. It prints out a bunch of garbage
-s chartname : convert a single chart header from <infile>
-o outfile : to specify your own header file name
-e extention : to specify your own header extension
-l : to print out just the list of charts in <infile>
For information look at MapCal Utilities
For help visit forum at OpenCPN - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Easiest way is for you to start doing one. We can walk you through the steps.

You don't install mc2bsbh, you just need to run it with the right files set up as input.

On the MapCal Utilities link, scroll down until you see the "Requirements:" heading.

You have MapCal and mc2bsbh, you also need tif2bsb and ImageMagick. tif2bsb doesn't need installation, but I think ImageMagick does. You'll just need to look on their web pages to see.

Once you have the pieces, you can scroll down a little further to the "Steps for Use" section.

The gist is:
First you calibrate a chart using MapCal.
Last you create the chart using tif2bsb

In between you have to convert some stuff because the stuff that comes out of MapCal is not in the format needed by tif2bsb.

Additionally, the image you want to calibrate may not be in a format that MapCal can use, so you MIGHT have to convert the image before calibrating.

SO, first download the other pieces, then get an image to calibrate. Post the image in here so we can see what your are working with, and we'll step you through.

I just noticed a typo on the page. The very last step before the diagram, it says "tif2bsbh", should just be "tif2bsb".

-dan

[mikepeterf]

ok I have downloaded everything I need ,,tif2bsb ,,mc2bsbh, and ImageMagic i have a chart that im trying to convert im sending 1 in a jpg

[dacust]

OK, first trick is getting the .jpg into a format that MapCal can read. It can use ,bmp and I THINK .png and maybe one more? I use .bmp.

There are ways to set the PATH variable in Windows to make commands all work from within a working directory. If you are going to do a lot of them, you'll want to do that. But for now, let's just do it the quick and dirty way. It is quick, but it is dirty because if you don't clean up after yourself, you'll lose things and leave garbage in your program directories. So, keep track of what you put where.

You have the directories for the programs, make a directory for charts, and make a directory called 2111. That's the chart number. We are going to use this name a lot of times, so we want it short, but unique. This directory is where we will keep a copy of each of the items we make for the chart. So, you'll end up with a 2111.bmp, 2111.hdr, 2111.kap, etc.

So, first one. Copy the chart into that directory and name it 2111.jpg (lower case jpg).

Next, the dirty part, instead of working on the jpg there, copy it into the directory where you have ImageMagik.

Now, start > run > cmd.exe
This will bring up a command window. You'll be in here a lot.
CD to the directory for ImageMagick. If you then type
dir
and press enter, you should see all the ImageMagick programs and also the 2111.jpg. If you see this, you are in the right place.

To convert it to a bmp, type in
convert 2111.jpg 2111.bmp
and press enter
Now do a dir again and you should see the .bmp

Copy 2111.bmp that to your 2111 directory.

Next, we want to calibrate the chart. Start MapCal and open the chart 2111\2111.bmp.

See if you can calibrate the chart using the directions in the help or on the website. If not, ask questions in here.

The hints are:
Calibrate 3 points towards the corners.
Make sure to draw the border around the usable part of the chart.
ABSOLUTELY, once you are done, take the option that says "Save calibration". It will not ask you where to save it. It will just automatically save it to a file called CHARTCAL.DIR.

Once you are done, copy CHARTCAL.DIR to the 2111 directory and also post it here so I can see it.

-dan

[mikepeterf]

so far so good up till here where do I put the bmp in ImageMagik theres like 5 folders im lost here

[dacust]

Just so I can keep it straight, can you post a list of the folder names?

The .bmp should go in the 2111 folder.

So, the 2111 folder should contain 2111.jpg and 2111.bmp

MapCal can handle getting the 2111.bmp from any folder, so for this one time we won't copy it to a different folder to work on it.

Once you get it calibrated, you need to copy CHARTCAL.DIR from the MapCal folder to 2111.

-dan

[mikepeterf]

ok so far I think so good I have the calibrated, chart CHARTCAL.DIR it wont let me attach it here so if you can give me the next steps ill try it

[dacust]

Copy CHARTCAL.DIR to the folder with mc2bsbh.

Then from cmd.exe, cd to that directory and run:
mc2bsbh CHARTCAL.DIR -s 2111

It should output a 2111.hdr file. Copy that to the 2111 directory.

If you did not name the chart 2111, you either need to change that in the above command, or you could also just do
mc2bsbh CHARTCAL.DIR
- that will produce a .hdr file for every chart calibrated in CHARTCAL.DIR.

You are almost done, now.

You probably still have the 2111.jpg and 2111.bmp in the ImageMagik folder, right? Just cd to that directory and run the following two commands.
convert 2111.jpg -colors 127 2111.gif
convert 2111.gif -colors 127 2111.tif

Now, copy 2111.gif and 2111.tif to the 2111 directory. (we don't really need the .gif, but what the heck)

So, now you need two of these to make to final chart.

Copy 2111.hdr and 2111.tif to the tif2bsb folder.
cd to the directory and run:
tif2bsb -c 127 2111.hdr 2111.tif 2111.kap

You should now have a 2111.kap which is the actual chart. So, copy it to the 2111 directory.

NOW you are ready. copy the 2111.kap to a directory for your charts. Whever you want. Then, in OpenCPN, go into the chart manager and add that directory to the chart list and let it rebuild the data base.

You should be able to see your chart,

To clean up, just delete the 2111.xxx files from all the directories EXCEPT the 2111 directory. Now you're ready to do another one.

If you have a problem in the above steps, first thing to do is attach the CHARTCAL.DIR and 2111.hdr in here. You can do that by making a copy and name it CHARTCAL.DIR.PDF and 2111.hdr.pdf. The PDF will let you attach it. I'll just have to download it and rename it back so I can look at it.

-dan