image to digital chart HELP!!

[Ricardo Perez]

Hello everybody!
im currently using opencpn 3.0.2 and have a navigation chart from the bahia de guanta in jpg, thats in venezuela, and i want to convert it into a digital navigation chart, i read the open cpn manual and try with the imagkap to create the header but it didnt work, the program didnt open, i tried to run the program like a win95 or 98 and none of them workd .
has someone use this conversor? or has other ways to do it??
pleasee help !

Thank you very much!
and sorry for my english

Saludos de venezuela!

[sailorF54]

If it is a proper navigation chart, you should have the latitude/longitude of the bottom right and upper left corners of the nautical content of the chart.
If so, here is one way to do it
Crop your image to the nautical content of the chart
Insert the DECIMAL lat/long degree values of the bottom left and upper right corners (in that order) in the following simple text file (West is negative, North positive). (modele.gpx file as attachment)
-----------------
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<gpx version="1.1" creator="OpenCPN" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1" xmlns:gpxx="http://www.garmin.com/xmlschemas/GpxExtensions/v3" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1/gpx.xsd" xmlnspencpn="http://www.opencpn.org">
<wpt lat="47.582305556" lon="-2.933027778">
</wpt>
<wpt lat="47.556916667" lon="-2.860194444">
</wpt>
</gpx>
----------------
Save it as (for example) BahiaGuanta.gpx and save the image as BahiaGuanta.jpg
Download the free GE2KAP app here
Download*
Put the opencpn plugin in the proper folder in opencpn
Read the help file on how to install ooRexx
Read the 'Creating Charts From Images and Kap files' section

[HappySeagull]

Buenos dias, Ricardo Perez.
If you can make your question a little more specific, and say exactly where you have trouble, it's easier to help.

imgkap is a command line tool. It works fine in XP for instance. Don't bother with Win98!
There's a Huge thread here:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ool-56600.html

and a search of this forum for "imgkap" will bring up much more.

There are several alternate methods to make a Bsb/Kap from your map image.... but for all, the first step is "calibrating"- that is, you must discover the latitude and longitude of various pixels in the image before you can use imgkap.
The simplest command for imgkap needs positions for only two diagonal corners and this is where that imgkap thread starts.

MapCal_2 ( in the SeaClear package) can help to find these pixel positions. Google Earth can help too.

If you change gears entirely, GE2Kap per sailorF54 can do the whole thing.

[yachtvalhalla]

I have found this program (MAPC2MAPC) to be EXCELLENT for this type of conversion!
cando

Terry

[HappySeagull]

Originally Posted by yachtvalhalla

I have found this program (MAPC2MAPC) to be EXCELLENT for this type of conversion!
cando

Terry

..yes, I keep meaning to try that properly. I balked at installing a higher version of ".NET" but It looks good and for a few bucks,an easy-all-in-one solution.
To do kaps for free, is a little more convoluted to explain, that's for sure!

[Ricardo Perez]

Originally Posted by HappySeagull

Buenos dias, Ricardo Perez.
If you can make your question a little more specific, and say exactly where you have trouble, it's easier to help.

imgkap is a command line tool. It works fine in XP for instance. Don't bother with Win98!
There's a Huge thread here:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ool-56600.html

and a search of this forum for "imgkap" will bring up much more.

There are several alternate methods to make a Bsb/Kap from your map image.... but for all, the first step is "calibrating"- that is, you must discover the latitude and longitude of various pixels in the image before you can use imgkap.
The simplest command for imgkap needs positions for only two diagonal corners and this is where that imgkap thread starts.

MapCal_2 ( in the SeaClear package) can help to find these pixel positions. Google Earth can help too.

If you change gears entirely, GE2Kap per sailorF54 can do the whole thing.

Hello happy seagull!
my problem is whith the imagkap, i download the imgkap.exe from the page imgkap - Download and open it , and it didnt workd, that is the way how it has to be done?? in the other post that you sent me it says that i need a .doc file, dont know where it is.
Thank you veeery much!

[HappySeagull]

Ricardo, (¡Feliz Año Nuevo!)
Put imgkap.exe in a folder of its own. Name the folder" ImgKapWork" or something else you like!

Now, in that folder, create a new notepad file.
and type just this in the notepad file:

@ echo on
imgkap
pause

Now,save the file as imgkap.cmd (or imgkap.bat)

Now,"double-click" that imgkap.cmd file you just made....

You should see this

It's the help file for imgkap.But it is very simple if you want.

[HappySeagull]

Dacust's site imgkap - Download also has this help.
and here:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post686229

Simplest Method:
A picture of your map and the "lat/long" for two diagonally-opposed corners of that image, , are all you need in the command line to create a chart for Opencpn to use....the new kap file produced will have the same name as the picture file.
Tip: start the command @ echo and end it with pause so you will be sure to see any errors that can help you to fix mistakes....

so, if you get the cmd window in the above test, make a new cmd file like this:

@ echo
imgkap yourpicture.jpg uppercornerlatitude uppercornerlongitude lowercornerlatitude lowercornerlongitude 
pause

and you will see yourpicture.kap appear in the folder very quickly.
Important tip: Avoid spaces in names and be very careful to note where the spaces are in the cmd line above. If you MUST use a space in the name, enclose it in quotes, like this: "your picture.jpg" but I think it is best to replace these spaces with - or_

[Ricardo Perez]

Originally Posted by yachtvalhalla

I have found this program (MAPC2MAPC) to be EXCELLENT for this type of conversion!
cando

Terry

Hello Yachtvalhalla! i downloaded the mapc2mapc program and create the .kap file using the calibration by a file of points, it is pretty easy by the way, what i should do next to put that chart in the opencpn?? i just add it to the chart list but it didnt work ,
Thank you very much!

[Ricardo Perez]

Originally Posted by HappySeagull

Dacust's site imgkap - Download also has this help.
and here:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post686229

Simplest Method:
A picture of your map and the "lat/long" for two diagonally-opposed corners of that image, , are all you need in the command line to create a chart for Opencpn to use....the new kap file produced will have the same name as the picture file.
Tip: start the command @ echo and end it with pause so you will be sure to see any errors that can help you to fix mistakes....

so, if you get the cmd window in the above test, make a new cmd file like this:

@ echo
imgkap yourpicture.jpg uppercornerlatitude uppercornerlongitude lowercornerlatitude lowercornerlongitude 
pause

and you will see yourpicture.kap appear in the folder very quickly.
Important tip: Avoid spaces in names and be very careful to note where the spaces are in the cmd line above. If you MUST use a space in the name, enclose it in quotes, like this: "your picture.jpg" but I think it is best to replace these spaces with - or_

Thank you very much happyseagull but i coulnd make that, the imagkap sent me a pile of errors and i didnt understand them xD i download the MAPC2MAPC program and is very easy to calibrate the map with that program, my question is what i do next with the kap file? i add the file directly to the chart librery of the opencpn? or i have to create another file??

Thank you again ! and FELIZ AÑO!

[HappySeagull]

Oh, too bad, Ricardo.
But, "Easy" es Good
Yes, you can add your kap chart file directly to the chart library you have loaded. Next, when you start opencpn , go to the Toolbox,the Charts tab and then check- mark the "Update Database" or "Database Rebuild" and click "OK" button.
Now you can go and see how your new chart fits!
...but what I do, until I am sure the new chart is just as I want it, is to make a new directory for my home-made charts because it makes it easier to find them if I want to improve them with a better version or whatever...I then load this new directory into O and then just as above, I "Update database" etc.

[Ricardo Perez]

THank you Very much happy seagull !
now ive got my chart jejeje! , is it normal that the border line of the chart appears in red?? because the other borders are green and the new chart doesnt let me zoom out

THank you again!

[HappySeagull]

Ricardo Perez,
Red Border is ok. You can turn outlines off in Toolbox/Display.

Too zoom out on your new chart, try this: In Toolbox/Display, un-check "chart quilting" to see how far you can zoom out!

[Ricardo Perez]

Perfect! All perfect!
Thank you very much happy seagull!
If you're coming to venezuela dont forget to visit us!