README.100 11/15/94   1:100,000 CD ROM Map Making

                         Ken Swaggart, W7KKE
                     w7kke @ ka6eyh.#nocal.ca.usa

This file complements the info in CDROM.txt.  READ IT TOO!

The 1:100,000 line segment maps contained on the USGS CD ROM uses
a different format than the 1:2,000,000 CD ROM maps. My first utility,
CONV100.BAS, converts the 1:100,000 map "Optional Format" extracted files
into the .GRF file format which can be read by the APRS MAPFIXER.BAS program.
For Roads and Waterways (about all that you will use), it generates different
files (up to 9) of each ROAD or WATERWAY rank.  When you import these separate
map files into MAPFIXER you will notice they are extremely fragmented into
small line segments which are not adjacent. The second utility, DEFRAG.BAS
takes the saved MAPFIXER file and defragments it.

Here are the step by step instructions:

  1. Create a directory on your hard drive where you will be work
on your maps. Stick my programs in this directory and copy
MAPFIX.BAS from the APRS directory into this working map directory.
I use C:\APRSMAPS as my working map directory.

  2. Extract "Transportation" and "Hydrography"  for your area of
interest from the 1:100,000 CD ROM using the extraction program
which comes on the CD ROM. I zoom down to the 15' scale on the USGS
extraction program before I extract the map file. Copy these files
into your working map directory.

  3. Run CONV100.BAS.  The program will extract each feature, such
as Interstates, US Highways, etc., as separate files with the
filename extension of .GRF.

  4. Run MAPFIXER.BAS. Import the first converted .GRF file  by using
the @U command in MAPFIX.BAS. After the file is imported and on
your MAPFIXER screen, use the Join command (@J) to join adjacent line
segments for this feature. Save this feature as its own .MAP file
and repeat the process for each map feature you created.

  NOTE: Make sure you use the same origin and scale each time you
        import the .GRF file using the @U command.

  5. Run DEFRAG.BAS to de-fragment each .MAP file that you have created.

     If DEFRAG.BAS crashes, you can recover most of your defragmented
     segments. Look for SCRATCH1.TMP and SCRATCH2.TMP. Rename the
     larger of these two and delete the remaining .TMP file.

  6. Use a text editor, such as DOS's EDIT, and examine your
defragmented .MAP files and tweak as you see fit. You may find that
some line segments consist of only one point - edit those out.

  7. Run MAPFIXER.BAS again and import each of your defragmented .MAP files.
MAPFIXER will bring in individual line colors, or all colors in a given .map
file THAT FIT WITHIN THE WHITE BOX.  You can use IMPORT repeatedly on
different files to bring in points to the existing map you are buiding.
Never IMPORT the same map (and same colrs) twice, or you will just duplicate
points in the file, which you will never see, since they are perfectly on top
of each other.  Check it over for any obvious errors, correct those, then run
the smoother function (@SMOOTH) to pare down the .MAP file if possible.

  Note: I generally do not run smoother on the water boundaries and
streams, but hand edit to reduce the points. Another option which
works well is to use the U command to overlay the water boundaries
and streams onto an existing ROADS.map, then manually draw in the rivers
with the @NEW and @ADD commands. This results if far fewer points than the
automatic method.  I rarely use @SMOOTHER above 1.5, since it really begins
to throw away useful points and makes the roads more jagged.

  9. Alternately, you can use a text editor, such as DOS's EDIT, to assemble
the final map from all the defragmented and smoothed .MAP files created for
each map feature type.

  10. Run MAPFIXER again with the complete .MAP file with all your features.
If it is too large, which it probably is, delete points until you have a map
which will fit within APRS limits.  I hit R to reset to the first point in
the map, and then use the + key to cycle through EVERY point in the file!
If it is not needed, hit @DELETE to eliminate redundant points.

  - There is a 1/4 mile error toward the north east and north west
sections of the map. This is due to the conversion scheme I use to
get from the UTM grid to lat/long. The two grids do not line up
exactly. I hope to correct this in future versions of CONV100, as
soon as figure out how. When you join to adjacent 15' maps, you
will see that the roads are off by about 500 meters. Use mapfix to
tweak the lines so they join.

Please send me (Ken W7KKE) any program enhancements/fixes you make to either
program. I'm sure there are a lot better ways to defragment the
.MAP files - there MUST be!

PS - watch out for "Streams" - when I extract the ones around here
the resulting .MAP has thousands of points!

