Loading Charts

[dpopken]

Can I load any chart into the program and display it regardless of gps location? If so, how?

Thanks

[cagney]

Yes, no problem, as long as it is of a recognized format.
More here ->Installing Charts | Official OpenCPN Homepage.
and Chart Formats | Official OpenCPN Homepage
Thomas

[dpopken]

I was not accurate in my request. I have successfully loaded charts into the program, but how do I display a specific chart? Right now, the only charts that display are related to my gps location. I want to be able to open any chart that I have downloaded regardless of where the gps is. They are in the right directory and in the right format, but I can't figure out how to do it.

[nohal]

Move to the location of the particular chart by panning the view with your mouse (hold down left button and move the mouse). If you want to see just one chart, turn off quilting. If it's too far, use Ctrl+T and enter the coordinates you want to move to. There is no way to tell the program "Open a chart with filename XXX"

Pavel

[AnchorageGuy]

I too have found this method to be cumbersome and tedious. It would be great if the next version had the ability to open charts listed in the directory through a separate menu item. Chuck

[cagney]

Originally Posted by Waterwayguy

I too have found this method to be cumbersome and tedious. ....

It's so fast and easy.
1 Zoom out so you can see the chart.
2 Click on it. OpenCPN will as a result, center on the chart.
3 Click on the chart in the chart bar.
4 The chart displays

This works whether the gps is running or not.

If you insist on loading one particular chart, you can also use Chart Groups as an alternative to the way Pavel mentioned.
OpenCPN works a bit differently than many other chart-plotters.
It does not load individual charts, it loads chart directories.
Once you are used to it it's very quick and easy.

OpenCPN User Manual | Official OpenCPN Homepage

Thomas

[dpopken]

Here is what I would like to accomplish. I boot up OpenCpn and the gps. It puts me on the Texas Gulf Coast. All Gulf Coast Charts are easily accessed as per your zoom out and select. But what if I want to view the chart for Barnegat Bay, NJ? Then I assume I use the Control "T" command and give it a Lat/Long coordinate which will force the program to load NJ charts instead of Gulf Coast?

If I am following this thread correctly, I can also set up Chart Groups that could be individually selected from the right click menu onscreen. i.e. I could have a Chart Group set up for East Coast regions, Gulf Coast, Caribbean, Europe, etc.

[JesperWe]

Another alternative for jumping quickly between different locations is setting a waypoint at each point of interest. To move there, open the route manager waypoint tab, select the waypoint and click "Zoom to".