SingulArch-Pocket
© by Stefan
Biermeier 2004/2005
Updated
14.03.2006
This
instruction is not a complete documentation of the software. Nevertheless I
tried to mention the most necessary aspects.
It might
be helpful to also read the far more extensive German instruction of the
desktop-version of SingulArch. Descriptions of different forms, coding of the
coordinates etc. are important for the pocket-version as well (http://www.singularch.com/files/anleitung.zip).
SingulArch-Pocket was designed as a tool for the collection of
information from archaeological excavations (or perhaps biological, geological
etc. projects) and the administration of coded coordinates (for this purpose it
contains a CAD Tool which displays raster and vector information). You will
find information about SingulArch-Pocket under http://www.singularch.com/pocket_e.htm
.
SingulArch-Pocketwill
only run correctly, if you set the decimal separator of Windows CE (for numbers
and currencies) to point (and the number grouping symbol most probably to comma).
Otherwise several SQL-statements - particularily in the CAD mode – won’t work.
The installation of SingulArch-Pocket will copy all necessary files to
the folder \Programs\SingulArch-Pocket on your PPC. To practice with the
example-DB Erding.cdb copy this file to the folder \My documents \ of your PPC.
If the Embedded Visual Basic Runtime EVB is not installed automatically (it
depends on the kind of distribution or your type of processor) it has to be
downloaded from the internet (google: EVB runtime download)
During
installation of SingulArch-Pocket or the EVB you might be asked if you want to
replace several DLLs. Keep the newer ones.
There is
an example DB and an empty DB in the applications folder. Copy them to the
folder \My Documents\ or a subfolder (e.g.
\My Documents\SingulArch-Projects) to be able to open them (rename the
empty project-DB according to the name of your project; you can create a new
project by clicking on “New project” automatically). Erding.cdb was the first
project that was completely documentated with SingulArch-Pocket; copy it into
“My Documents” if you want to open it.
If you use the desktop version of SingulArch as well you need the database-tool
SingulArch_Sync.mdb for synchronisation between desktop- and PPC-version. You
will find it on the CD-Rom of the full version of SingulArch-Pocket. With this
tool you can create desktop-projects from PPC-projects and vice versa or
exchange datasets between both of them.
When you start SingulArch (there is a shortcut in the menu) you must
select a project on your pocket PC. You can use SingulArch-Pocket also as data
base viewer for any CDB data bases (click on the SQL-button of the main menu).
You will have to prompt a password. Only the administrator may delete
data. The standard users may change and add data. Visitors may use
SingulArch-Pocket as a project-viewer. The static passwords is mentioned on the
letter that comes with the CD-Rom of the full version.
The forms has buttons for navigation. After filling out/changing fields
you have to push the update button to save.
The dropdown fields containing the kinds cameras and author are
generated dynamically from the pertinent project tables. Other dropdown fields
are generated from text files, which you can change.
Invalid inputs (e.g. strings in fields for numbers or double inputs like
two or more features with the same number) are sometimes possible. Otherwise
SingulArch-Pocket would slow down.
Most of
the forms offer the possibility of using predefined SQL-statements to filter data.
The statements are found in the file sqllist.txt.
You can use the CAD Tool for the visualization of coordinates. Deleting,
adding and changing of coordinates is possible.
The fewer options (LINES, code, N1/NU) you use, the faster the regeneration
of a drawing will be. Mapping several hundred coordinates take some time. There
are three code-fields for storing additional information about a coordinate.
Code1 and 3 are text-fields (Code 3 just one letter) , code 2 needs integer
numbers (normally code 2 should contain the number of the according feature).
You may code completely after your own conceptions. If you want to map in
AutoCad with the desktop-version of SingulArch, you have to code in accordance
with SingulArch. You will find Information about correct coding in the German
helpfile of the desktop-version of
SingulArch and in the AutoCad-drawing "Messvorgang.dwg" which is
contained in the desktop-version as well.
Here are some important codings for Code1
(and their result in the CAD-Tool of the PPC or the AutoCAD-export via the
desktop-version):
N0...,N9 and NU: levellings of different
planums; NU is the bottom levelling of a feature (points in CAD-tool with
height if N1 or NU; triangles with height in AutoCAD)
GG: border (lines in CAD Tool; closed polyline
in AutoCad)
B1...,B9: Outlines of features (lines in CAD
Tool; closed spline in AutoCad)
C1...,C9: Outlines of features (lines in CAD
Tool; open spline in AutoCad)
P1...,P9: Outlines of features (lines in CAD
Tool; closed polyline in AutoCad)
Q1...,Q9: Outlines of features (lines in CAD
Tool; open polyline in AutoCad)
PP: open polyline (lines in CAD Tool; open
polyline in AutoCad); a good choice for coding GPS-data
Integer: coordinate of a find; use the finds ID
or sub-No. (points in CAD-tool; point in AutoCad).
PS: disturbance (lines in CAD Tool; closed
polyline in AutoCad)
Codings for Code2 :
The integer number which you enter in code 2,
corresponds to the according feature. Therefore you shouldn’t leave this field
empty.
Codings for Code3 :
Code 3 is for an additional single letter, if
you – e.g. – have several polylines or splines belonging to a feature
Since
version 1.1 SingulArch-Pocket is able to interpret GPS-Data (GPGAA protocol).
The data may be stored as UTM-, Gauss-Krueger- or decimal-coordinates (WGS84).
An import/export of Top50-OVERLAY files of TOP50-maps is supported, so you can
use the Software as a simple navigation. Your main settings are stored in the
file gps.txt.
Since version 1.2 maps can be displayed
Georeference
‘by hand’: Save your 256-colur-bitmap in the map-folder of you PPC (the path of
your maps is stored in the file gps.txt). The georeferencing information of the
maps must be written into maps.txt (detailed instructions in this file).
Since
Version 1.22 Bitmaps can be referenced in the CAD-mode as well.
You can
create overlays in the coordinate form, which draw borders for new maps in the
TOP50-program. This information is written into maps.txt automatically. Load
the overlay in TOP50, make a screenshot, cut the selection and save it as
bitmap with 256 colours in your maps-folder on the PPC and you have a new map
you can use.
You can
georeference a bitmap in the CAD-Tool ‘onscreen’ (You have to know length and
height of the map (meters; degrees for a WGS-map)). Save such a map in Folder
‘My Documents’ and load it via the bitmap-button in the CAD-tool. Follow the
instructions then.
During GPS-mode a new map will be loaded automatically, if you leave the
borders of the current map (only, if there is a map which fits to your current
position). The first fitting map which is mentinoned in maps.txt will be
loaded, then. Because of that you better place smaller maps at the beginning of
maps.txt and bigger ones at the end.
Since
Version 1.42 there is a ‘DGPS’-like function: you may connect two PPCs via
WLAN. One of them should be placed on a known coordinate. This ‘server’ sends
the current aberration to the ‘host’ PPC. Thios function was not yet tested but
it should help to minimice the GPS-aberration. SingulArch-Pocket is thus
perhaps the most accurate GPS-solution on the market.
You will
find several im- and export-functions in the main menu (creating Reports by
clicking the R-buttons; im- and export coordinates (read the impformat.txt):
you can – e.g. – create an AutoCad-Script which draws all the filtered
coordinates as points with codes in AutoCad).
Coordinates
can be exported as DXF-file (the will be exported as points with their code as
text).
Don’t
forget to backup your data regularily (e.g. on a memory card).
First
English version. See the German helpfile for recent changes.
-
CAD-Tool asks, if you use a metric or angular system when you start it. Units
are in meters or seconds then.
- Bug in
GPS-interval-mode fixed.
- Some
smaller bugs fixed.
- Maps,
air-photos etc. can be (geo-)referenced and displayed in the CAD-Tool now.
-
UTM-coordinates are supported now.
-
Comfortable coordinate-transformation-tools were added in the coordinate-form.
- Some
bugs in the CAD-tool were fixed (e.g. wrong ID-number when saving a coordinate,
loading maps automatically didn’t work).
- New
line in gps.txt: you can now decide wether maps should be loaded automatically
or not.
-
Navigation-buttons are now integrated in the menu bar.
- New
projects can be created via button-click in the main menu.
- bitmaps
can now be referenced in the CAD-Mode as well.
- You can
also enter a path to your project-DB manually now. So it is possible to open
DBs which are not in the folder “My Documets” (e.g. network-paths)
- A bug
concerning the button “geo-refernce bitmap” in the coordinates-form was fixed.
- Export
of coordinates as DXF-File is supported now: they will be written as points
with their code as text into the DXF-file.
- If you
click on copy in the feature- or find-form, the current record will be copied
and pasted as a new record.
-
Info-buttons in feature- and foto-form will give you further informations about
features (existing fotos etc.)
- Report-functionality of features was extended.
- A dropdownfield will be opened when you enlarge the description of features.
Its predefined texts (from e_wordpool.txt) will help you to enter your
descriptions faster.
- Data
from external devices (e.g. from totalstations) can be stored now. Settings in
totalstation.txt.
- A GPS-calibration-functionality was programmed.
- You can
use the PPC as a foto-board now (button in the fotos’ subform)
- Some bugs were fixed.
- Drawing
of vectordata may be disabled via the CheckBox “Vec.” In CAD-Mode now
(important if you work with referenced Bitmaps e.g. in GPS-Mode).
- The
indices in the project-DBs were changed. SingulArch-Pocket works faster now
(you should now use SingulArch-Sync version 1.01 now for the synchronisation
with desktop-projects).
- A
registration routine was implemented: customers of the software will get
registration informations for licensing the program. Within this routine the internal
passwords can be changed at will.
- Some bugs in GPS-mode were fixed.
-
Registration routine was extended. You can license SingulArch-Pocket as a
light-version now (only CAD-Tool, coordinate-functions and smaller parts from
the database will be enabled).
Version 1.42
-
DGPS-like solution uin the CAD-tool: 2 WLAN-PPCs with GPS van communicate with
each other: a PPC which is placed on an known coordinaten sends its current
aberration to a second PPC, increasing its accuracy.
- Copy-funktion in fotodetail- und drawingdetailform.
If you have questions or suggestions mail to kontakt@singularch.de
Current information like prices, contact address, an order form and lots
of other stuff are found on my homepage: http://www.singularch.com/
Your feedback and
suggestions help to improve the software.