Re: OT: How to open SHP (Shapefiles)?
Terry Pinnell
>On Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:11:21 +0100, Terry Pinnell
><terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote (with clarity & insight):
>
>>>Hopefully ArcReader will be simpler to use - despite its 205 MB
>>>download.
>>
>>Duly installed ... but it appears that ArcReader opens only PMF files,
>>not SHP.
>
>How about Shape Viewer?
>
>http://www.qarah.com/shapeviewer/
That's more like it, thanks Mike! Loads fast and uses few resources.
However, it turns out that the *content* of my downloaded SHP files
wasn't worth the effort. Here's a typical example, (viewed in another
program I found a little earlier):
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s247/terrypin999/SHP-Example-LCC2000-V_084P_1_0.jpg
BTW, if anyone else has used that GeoBase site I'd be interested to
know your views. After persisting for most of the day, I'm finding it
virtually unusable. Apart from its rather obscure UI, it's glacially
slow at every refresh. I have yet to get a single combination of a
target area (say 10 miles square) with all the other elements you
expect on a walking map - like clearly identified names of places,
rivers, lakes, mountains, etc. And for a fortnight's holiday I need
about 13 such maps.
--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK
Happy Trails
on top of the area you want? Save your lines as KML/KMZ files and
convert them with one of the many utilities to something you can load
as map lines or tracks into your gps.
Terry Pinnell
Well GE may indeed be what I end up using. (Although I don't yet have
any 'lines' or tracks as I haven't done the walks yet! The rough area
will be good enough.) However, a GE-derived map is far inferior to a
decent topo map, which is what I'm hoping to find.
Happy Trails
You missed the point.
You can draw your own lines in GE - no need to do the walk first -
then d/l them to your gps as your map. You just have to see enough of
the area you want to walk to be able to make out the roads/trails you
want to map. It is not too hard for roads and for hi-res areas, but
difficult for lo-res or no roads.
If you want elevations - as in topo maps - why not use ibycus? (I'm
sorry - did you already rule this out for some reason?)
If you ever want elevations, just get the 90 meter elevation data from
(? can't remember off-hand) and make your own. But of course you need
slightly sophisticated software to do this.
Terry Pinnell
>On Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:35:21 +0100, Terry Pinnell
><terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:
>
>>Happy Trails <nom...@myplace.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Why don't you just start up Gaggle Earf and draw yourself some lines
>>>on top of the area you want? Save your lines as KML/KMZ files and
>>>convert them with one of the many utilities to something you can load
>>>as map lines or tracks into your gps.
>>
>>Well GE may indeed be what I end up using. (Although I don't yet have
>>any 'lines' or tracks as I haven't done the walks yet! The rough area
>>will be good enough.) However, a GE-derived map is far inferior to a
>>decent topo map, which is what I'm hoping to find.
>
>You missed the point.
No, I think it was you who missed the point! As I said, I don't *know*
the actual 13 or 14 paths we will walk during this fortnight. I have a
brief brochure description for each, in areas I'm totally unfamiliar
with. Here's an example on day 3.
"Banff National Park: Ink Pots
------------------------------
Following Johnston Canyon, beyond the Lower Falls, this trail winds
through a forest of lodgepole pine, spruce and Douglas fir. The trail
opens up onto Johnston Creek meadows where spring fed pools of
striking colour are found.
Distance: 11,8km / 7 miles, loop trail with spur at the far end."
>You can draw your own lines in GE - no need to do the walk first -
>then d/l them to your gps as your map. You just have to see enough of
>the area you want to walk to be able to make out the roads/trails you
>want to map. It is not too hard for roads and for hi-res areas, but
>difficult for lo-res or no roads.
>
>If you want elevations - as in topo maps - why not use ibycus? (I'm
>sorry - did you already rule this out for some reason?)
>
>If you ever want elevations, just get the 90 meter elevation data from
>(? can't remember off-hand) and make your own. But of course you need
>slightly sophisticated software to do this.
A couple of the sites I've found have an elevation layer and GE itself
has elevation data too.
Happy Trails
<terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:
>No, I think it was you who missed the point! As I said, I don't *know*
>the actual 13 or 14 paths we will walk during this fortnight. I have a
>brief brochure description for each, in areas I'm totally unfamiliar
>with. Here's an example on day 3.
Can . . . you . . . see . . . the . . . trails . . . on . . . GE?
If so, you can map them all, and then pick the ones you want to use
when you are there.
The point that you missed was that MAYBE you can map them ahead of
time from GE - you do not need to walk them first to get the tracks as
you mistakenly thought!
But please don't repost anymore just to answer me - I'm done here.