Vector Soundings Font Size?

[JesperWe]

Is there any way to tune the font size of the depth soundings when displaying ENC's?
(without having to recompile the software... )

I find the numbers are quite large and they can get a bit cluttered when zooming out.

/j

[idpnd]

Not that I'm aware of, but you may wish to try fiddling with the vector chart settings in the tools menu, or turning down the level of vector chart detail for a given level of zoom.

[JesperWe]

Yeah tried all those...

Maybe I suck at searching, but I tried to find building instructions and failed.
Does it build with MinGW or do I need VS?

Any pointers to where in the source I would fiddle with the font used to render soundings?

[idpnd]

People have been building it on VS with a file supplied by Mark (Psyches), the current "VP" of dev.. Not sure what thread it's on..

[JesperWe]

I checked out the CVS. The readme says it uses Watcom.

Since the code was not self explanatory, and I only have MinGW installed I think I'll wait and see if there are some tips on where to mess with the font before I attempt to build :-)

[Totobeloeil]

JesperWe,
Did you try to toggle the soundings on / off :
tools / settings -> vector charts -> ShowSoundings
Build help can be found on several threads. This one seems to be up-to-date (except route manager and / or AIS patches) :
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...n32-34824.html

[PeteCross]

Originally Posted by JesperWe

I checked out the CVS. The readme says it uses Watcom.

Since the code was not self explanatory, and I only have MinGW installed I think I'll wait and see if there are some tips on where to mess with the font before I attempt to build :-)

Hi Jesper,

Its very easy to download and install VC2008 Express from MS site(free). I now use VC2010 Express Beta 2 which I think is an improvement, but a little harder/longer install time. Use this with the VCProj file pointed to previously and you should be able to compile the CVS code. (A certain amount of experience is needed with VC, to get going)

When you have sorted all this, then you can focus on file s52plib.cpp line:2853 where you will find the font creation.

Good luck..
/Pete

[PeteCross]

Originally Posted by PeteCross

Hi Jesper,

Its very easy to download and install VC2008 Express from MS site(free). I now use VC2010 Express Beta 2 which I think is an improvement, but a little harder/longer install time. Use this with the VCProj file pointed to previously and you should be able to compile the CVS code. (A certain amount of experience is needed with VC, to get going)

When you have sorted all this, then you can focus on file s52plib.cpp line:2853 where you will find the font creation.

Good luck..
/Pete

Update

There is a fairly simple method to changing the text format for an object and that is editing the rules text file.(S52razds.rle)
Rename it then so as not to get confused!

In this file there are formats similar to the following:

TX($TXSTR,$JUSTH=3,$JUSTV=1,$SPACE=2,'15110',0,0,C HBLK,27)

Searching on TX will give you all these.

To format this text information.
the '15110' is used to give the following:
1 = Style
5 = Weight
1 = Width
10 = Text Size

Text Size seems mostly to be 10 but 20 is used sometimes!

Could save time compiling etc...

/Pete

[PeteCross]

I have done a global change in S52razds.rle from '15110' to 1518' and '15120' to 15116'.
This gives gobally smaller text on vector charts and to my mind less obstrucktive, but still informative.

/Pete

[Psyches]

Thanks Pete. I'm interested to hear in other folks comments - I suggest if several agree, we add a feature request on sf.net to make the change the default.

I'd make the change myself but I really want to get Dave's review for this kind of thing.

[sailorF54]

Originally Posted by Psyches

Thanks Pete. I'm interested to hear in other folks comments - I suggest if several agree, we add a feature request on sf.net to make the change the default.

I'd make the change myself but I really want to get Dave's review for this kind of thing.

I'd hate to seem presumptuous, but I'd bet that Dave will object on account of the loss of legibility at a distance (sticking to the ENC doxa ).
Across the board reduction (see PeteCross post) does improve US ENC rendering (some geographic labels were way too huge).
Strangely, sounding size (see original query) is not affected.
I wonder why !

[idpnd]

Note the geographic labels problem is an NOAA ENC specific issue - doesn't occur on C-MAP.

[sailorF54]

Originally Posted by idpnd

Note the geographic labels problem is an NOAA ENC specific issue - doesn't occur on C-MAP.

Granted, but it seems easier to tweak OpenCpn according to one's taste / requirement than to modify an ENC chart
Here's a snapshot of some Spanish ENC

[PeteCross]

Originally Posted by Psyches

Thanks Pete. I'm interested to hear in other folks comments - I suggest if several agree, we add a feature request on sf.net to make the change the default.

I'd make the change myself but I really want to get Dave's review for this kind of thing.

I was thinking that this sort of thing should belong to a special customization section (web page) as Dave suggested for color schemes, before going on vacation. He was going to modify the library code to enable this sort of thing. Maybe by having an extra keyword in the rules file to identify customization.
Dave then has the ability to maintian the standard/default rules.
As we see from this small example, it does not solve everyones problems of soundings text size.

/Pete

[PeteCross]

Here is the result of my customization so far. Rule file is included.

/Pete