Google Earth to BSB / KAP

[phiggins]

I have just updated the GE2KAP download to the the beta version.

You can download it at: www.gdayii.ca/Downloads GE2KAP

I will only support version 3.4.4 or higher.

[sinbad7]

Paul..

I can't remember if it was possible to use a .kml file to create a .kap file,having selected not to start Google Earth?

Tore

[phiggins]

Tore,

No GEKAP does not support creating a kap file from a KML. A KML file itself does not contain an image but you can reference an image with the <IMG> keyword and indicate where the image is with the <SRC> keyword. So just having the geo locations is not enough.

If you are thinking of using the KML file produced by the OpenCPN GE plugin, it currently only contains the camera information (lat/lon, tilt, etc). It could be enhanced to contain all the geo locations and a <IMG> referencing a JPG of the GE display.

But Pavel (GE Plugin author) is considering enhancing the plugin to create a GPX file with the geo locations of the GE display when you "Save the View as JPG". I could then use that JPG and GPX to create a KAP file.

[sinbad7]

Paul..

I am just thinking along the sequence here:

1. Execute the .kml file which automatically opens GE in the desired location.
2. Execute GE2KAP which looks for a GE window
3. GE2KAP finds the open GE window and saves it in .jpg format
4. GE2KAP finds the geo locs from the open GE window
5. GE2KAP creates the .kap file

Is this not possible?

I just did a MANUAL test run as follows which worked a treat:
1. Executed a .kml file which opened the required GE window.
2. Saved as a .jpg to the GE2KAP directory
3. Executed GE2KAP (old version without the overlay option) which created the .kap file.


Tore

[MdJ]

Originally Posted by phiggins

Tore,

No GEKAP does not support creating a kap file from a KML. A KML file itself does not contain an image but you can reference an image with the <IMG> keyword and indicate where the image is with the <SRC> keyword. So just having the geo locations is not enough.

Hello,

I modified my code "imgkap" it can now generate a file kap from a kml file (GoundOverlay) with a single image Icon.

It works with files generated by Atlas Mobile Creator (search version 1.8 on web since last version contains only OpenStreetMap for right question)

(You can try it and, if author want, imgkap can be integrated into GEKAP)

M'dJ

[phiggins]

I am just thinking along the sequence here:

1. Execute the .kml file which automatically opens GE in the desired location.
2. Execute GE2KAP which looks for a GE window
3. GE2KAP finds the open GE window and saves it in .jpg format
4. GE2KAP finds the geo locs from the open GE window
5. GE2KAP creates the .kap file

Is this not possible?

I just did a MANUAL test run as follows which worked a treat:
1. Executed a .kml file which opened the required GE window.
2. Saved as a .jpg to the GE2KAP directory
3. Executed GE2KAP (old version without the overlay option) which created the .kap file.

Tore the new version of GE2KAP should work the same as you describe in your MANUAL test.

So are you asking for me to modify GE2KAP to accept as input a KML file that has the Geo coordinates and automatically position GE to those coordinates then proceed as normal to create a KAP file? Where would you get the KML input from?

And MdJ, are you asking me to modify GE2KAP to accept as input a KML file that has the Geo coordinantes and contains an <IMG> and use it to create a KAP file without using Google Earth? Does Atlas Mobile Creator generate such a file? If so, could I see an example.

[sinbad7]

Paul..

The .kml file could be generated from the GE plugin in OpenCPN, or from any software capable of generating GE .kml files. For example 'Google Earth KML Creator'

Tore

[MdJ]

Originally Posted by phiggins

And MdJ, are you asking me to modify GE2KAP to accept as input a KML file that has the Geo coordinantes and contains an <IMG> and use it to create a KAP file without using Google Earth? Does Atlas Mobile Creator generate such a file? If so, could I see an example.

Sample,


With MOBAC (Mobile Atlas...) I generated KMZ file from the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Unzip the KMZ file gives 2 files, KML and JPG:

doc.kml
files/liberty.jpg

doc.kml contains

<? xml version = "1.0" encoding = "UTF-8" standalone = "no"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2">
<GroundOverlay>
<name> Liberty New York </ name>
<icon>

<href> files / Liberty.jpg </ href>
<drawOrder> 0 </ drawOrder>

</ Icon>
<LatLonBox>

<north> 40.70771 </ north>
<south> 40.666056 </ south>
<east> -74.00116 </ east>
<west> -74.078064 </ west>
<rotation> 0.0 </ rotation>

</ LatLonBox>
</ GroundOverlay>
</ kml>

Imgkap directly accepts doc.html file and fetches file/liberty.jpg to make the KAP file (includes color reduction and converting)
(> imgkap doc.kml)

You can also build a header file with just KAP readable data and with that make the final file:
> imgkap files/liberty.jpg yourheader.kap
give files/liberty.kap

yourheader.kap does not contain the image or RGB values ​​... the identification and contact information to make a kap.

M'dJ

[phiggins]

Tore, MdJ,

GE2KAP (V3.4.4) already supports creating a KAP file directly from an image file with the geo coordinates in a KML file. You just select the image as an overlay and check "Do not overlay on Google Earth".

The KML file must have the same filename as the JPG. So if the JPG is xx. jpg, the KML would be in xx.kml. It expect the format of the KML to be in the same format as Google earth Placemarks wth two placemarks, one for the UpperLeft corner and one for the LowerRight.

[sinbad7]

Paul..

But it would be more convenient if there was an additional option in GE plugin to 'Save as .kap',which could a) create the .kml file and execute it and b) start GE2KAP which searches for the open GE display and creates the .kap from the given co-ordinates.

At the moment,it is easier to execute the .kml file,save as .jpg and use the original GE2KAP (without overlay function) to create the .kap file. Works very well and is quick.

Tore

[phiggins]

I have a new version of GE2KAP that I would like a few users to try before I upload it to my website. This version uses a different method of getting the Google Earth window. I'm particularly interested in someone who is using a 64 bit system to try it but all are welcome to try it out.

If you want to try it please send me an email:

phiggins@gmn-usa.com

[phiggins]

GE2KAP V4.1.0 has been uploaded to my website: www.gdayii.ca/Downloads

This version:

1. Uses a new method to access the GE window. Instead of typing in the data on GE, it takes a snaphot of the Google Earth window.

2. Supports creating a chart from the OpenCPN Google Earth plugin (must be higher the version 0.6, which is not yet available).

Please Note: If you are currently running on a 64bit Windows operating system, you MUST install the oorexx 32bit version. The 32bit version works fine on a 64bit system. You can download the 32 bit 4.1 version of oorexx at:

Open Object Rexx

If you currently have the 64bit oorexx installed, it will be uninstalled when you install the 32bit version.

[sailorF54]

Originally Posted by phiggins

GE2KAP V4.1.0 ...

2. Supports creating a chart from the OpenCPN Google Earth plugin (must be higher the version 0.6, which is not yet available).

Hi Phiggins

Nohal (Pavel) has just released version 0.7 of his GE pluging, with GE2KAP support
I've downloaded GE2KAP V4.1.0, which runs fine creating .kap images

But I fail to see how I can output a .kap image starting from the GE pluging
Could you describe the steps ?
TIA

[phiggins]

Sorry people but the plugin got changed from my initial testing to the one Pavel just released so GE2KAP 4.1.0 didn't work with it.

I've just uploaded V4.1.1 that should work with the new GE plugin. Much thanks to Pavel for implementing this. You have to be at OpenCPN 2.4.506 with GE plugin V0.7.

The steps are:

1. Start OpenCPN and then start the GE plugin.

2. Display the area you want to create a chart and size the GE plugin window.

3. Start GE2KAP, fill in the chart name and press Create Kap.

BTW because the plugin is controlling the GE window, GE2KAP cannot overlay an image or chart so the controls are not shown when the plugin is running.

[sailorF54]

Originally Posted by phiggins

I've just uploaded V4.1.1 that should work with the new GE plugin. Much thanks to Pavel for implementing this. You have to be at OpenCPN 2.4.506 with GE plugin V0.7.

Works beautifully !!! (Vista)

Thanks to you both for that great tool...

PS Seems to work fine with oorexx 4.0.1 instead of 4.1.0 (which was reported to trigger several antivirus programs)