Google Earth to BSB / KAP

[Surveyor]

I have noticed that the resulting images are not quite as good as in previous versions also. They seem pixalated or as Pak suggests, there arent enough colors in the darker ranges.

[phiggins]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I will have to work on the image quality.

But right now I still have a bunch of users who are having a problem with V5. They either get no image, or a partial image. I wish I couild get it to fail, I've tried it on 4 different computers in the house and all of them work OK.

So there will probably be another release soon to test.

Pakthan, would you mind sending me the log of the same place you showed in your last post BUT before you run it, could you edit the GE2KAP.options.txt and change DIAG=0 to DIAG=1 then save the file and then run GE2KAP . This will give some more diagnostic messages.

Send the log to phiggins@gmn-usa.com

[phiggins]

Well I was able to find another computer in the house (doesn't everyone have 8) that failed with V5.0.4. So with the help of a bunch of users, thanks guys, I was able to fix their problem where the chart was blank.

Just uploaded V5.0.6
www.gdayii.ca ...Downloads... GE2KAP

BTW: I know hardly anyone reads the README files but it does advise you that you should turn Terrain off in Google Earth Options before running GE2KAP. When its on, not only does it produce funny charts when you do overlays but also the chart produced could be very inaccurate.

Hope the new version still works for everyone who worked on V5.0.4

[phiggins]

New Version: GE2KAP.V5.1.0

I just uploaded a new version that fixes a few problems:

1. Eliminates small rectangle that appears on chart when using very fast computers.

2. Changes the resolution from 72 pixels/inch to 96 pixels/inch.

3. Does not maximize the GE plugin window on OpenCPN.

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

[Surveyor]

Paul,

Thanks for the update. It works on both of my machines just fine. I hate to be a complainer or seem ungrateful but...the images are not as good as your earlier versions. I had to convert to jpg in order for picasa to accept it but you can see my results.

[phiggins]

Surveyor,

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm don't know what picasa is but what do you mean that it would not accept it until you converted to a JPG?

[Surveyor]

Picasa is the Google web based picture and web album host. It it similar to Flickr. Tiff apparently is a format that they do not support.

[phiggins]

Ungrateful Complainer (just kidding)

I really would like to see a chart created on the newest version and the same chart created on an older version that is better quality. Because frankly I can't see it any difference with the tests I've done.

[phiggins]

Multi-Language version of GE2KAP

I have finally bit the bullet and created a multi language version of GE2KAP. I need some testers who are willing to translate all the messages to another language. Actually there are only about 50 messages so shouldn't be that hard.

If you want to translate and test, please send me an email:

phiggins@gmn-usa.com

[phiggins]

Surveyor,

I may know why you think the image is not as good in the current version as to previous versions.

First the purpose of GE2KAP is to produce a BSB/KAP chart not a JPG . A KAP file can only have a maximum of 127 colors. If you try to convert an image with more colors than 127 the program that does the conversion program (tif2BSB) will give an error.

In previous versions, the first file produced was the .JPG file that was produced when we did a Save Image in Google earth. This JPG file has nearly 70,00 colors. The first thing GE2KAP did in previous versions was to convert the JPG to a BMP with only 127 colors. Then it converted the BMP to a GIF then to a TIF and finally to a KAP.

If in previous versions you used the initial JPG file to save in picasa, it would look very good because of the number of colors. But the KAP file wouldn't look as good because it has only 127 colors.

In the current version of GE2KAP, I bypass producing the JPG and create a BMP with only 127 colors from the Google Earth Image. Then it converts the BMP to a GIF then to a TIF then to a KAP. When you press the View Chart it converts the KAP back into a TIF and displays that image. If you compared this image to the image from the JPG file produced by previous versions it would not look as good because there are only 127 colors.

But the kap image would look the same in both versions. (Actually the new version produces a better image because the resolution is 96 pixels/inch while in older versions the resolution was 72 pixels/inch.)


Comments?

[phiggins]

Surveyor (aka Ungrateful Complainer)

I have noticed that the resulting images are not quite as good as in previous versions also.

You are right. I did some comparisons on other computers with different screen sizes just comparing the resulting kap charts and I can see what you mean. There is a difference between V1 and V5 that is quite noticeable. I will see if I can improve it.

[phiggins]

Just uploaded version V6.0.1. The chart produced is as good as previous versions.

It also:

- Adds multi-language suport. So far only I only have German translation (thanks Arsène Titéra). I have included example files for Spanish and French. I you would like translate the French or Spanish or add another language file, let us know here so we don't have duplicate efforts. See the READMe for details.

- Especially for Surveyor (as well as the better image): when you View a chart, the image is a BMP file with same name as the chart kap file. This way you can store it in picasa or other program without converting it.

You can get the new version at my website:

www.gdayii.ca .... Downloads .... GE2KAP

[Surveyor]

You have out done yourself! The results look fantastic and the program works flawlessly on my problem machine.

Whitey should be fed filet mignon for this effort!

[phiggins]

Thanks very much... Whitey is so excited he can't wait for dinner.

Glad you complained. For some reason on my large screen computer it was difficult to see any difference but on the little Acer it was very apparent.

[phiggins]

Hey!

Where are all the French and Spanish sailors who begged me for a multi language version of GE2KAP. We need translators.

Maybe I should try the translation with my high school French. My first wife was French, but I never could talk to her. As for my Spanish, the girls in Cuba called me "Hombre no Comprende".

Maybe everyone is sailing.