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LORAN Notebook (LNB) V2.0
March 2, 1992
This program is free for the taking. It may be uploaded on any BBS
and added to any public domain library as long as the following
conditions are met:
1. This documentation is included with the executable program.
2. Neither the executable program or this documentation is altered.
(I would be VERY interested in trading loran numbers with other LNB users.
I may even be willing to convert other database formats to LNB.)
I can supply the data format if anyone has a need for it.
As you have probably guessed from my icon, I use a Micrologic Voyager
SportNav (hand heald) loran. It carries the TDs out two decimal points
and this program allows for that. (Version 1.0 was not released)
Release 1.1. Fixed a problem with the IDCMP messages that caused some
gadgets to stop if you moved the pointer while holding
them down.
Release 1.2. Added error checking to the number fields. Fixed a bug that
could hang the system if an invalid output file was given.
Added graphic plotting of longitude/latitude data. Read about
the plot screen towards the end of this file.
Release 1.3. Made the Box Marked routine faster.
The F1 key will locate the current site on the plot.
The F1 key will also find the current site on the main
window (previously used the help key)
Allow user to toggle the title bar on the plot screen
Fixed a bug in the Print Current Site option.
Standardized some of the terms in this doc file.
(I did not uploaded 1.3 this on any BBS)
Release 1.4 Added Latitude and Longitude scale to the graphic display
with pointer guidelines
The plot speed has been improved slightly.
Land can be drawn and edited (see the plot menu)
This has been bugging me since V1.0... The LONGITUDE now
comes before the LATITUDE everywhere (screen, printouts)
There was something warped about having the y-axis first.
Allows you to place a hurricane icon to plot hurricane
movement.
Release 1.5 Fixed a bug that prevented the LAT gadget from being activated
after pressing return on LON.
Release 2.0 Added the 'World Map' menu option that will draw a fairly
accrate outline of the north-west quardrant of the earth's
features. This is a subset of the Micro World Database II.
Areas outside of what the program will display were deleted.
If you can lay your hands on the complete CIA database (over
20 Mb) and had a lot of time to kill, the Loran Notebook
shouldn't have a problem with it. There are three map files
included. The program uses the appropriate resolution for
your zoom factor to speed things up.
Moved the Lattitude before the Longitude on screen and
printouts.
Fixed a bug that would not allow the hurricane symbol to be
deleted.
Pressing the F5 key while on the plot screen will display the
maximum area possible.
Numbers on the long/lat scale will not overwrite each other now.
Included in the archive:
LoranNotebook - The program
LoranNotebook.WMap1 - Used by the World Map menu option (High res)
LoranNotebook.WMap2 - Used by the World Map menu option (Med res)
LoranNotebook.WMap3 - Used by the World Map menu option (Low res)
LoranNotebook.doc - The program's instructions
Loran_Data - Some sample Florida sites.
(Each file also has an icon)
NOTE 1: The map of Florida in the sample data
was hand drawn and is very rough. I hope
to have a more accurate version soon.
NOTE 2: There is a hurricane plotted in the
Loran_Data file. Press the shifted
minus a few times to zoom back far
enough to see it.
>>> BETA NOTICE
If you start the Loran Notebook from the CLI and follow the program
name with a questionmark ('LoranNotebook ?') you will get a revision number
and a template. If the revision number is followed by a Beta character
(a strange looking capitol 'B') you have a Beta Test. Beta tests are
still in testing and not intended for release. If you want to play with it
anyway, go ahead.
The testing has pretty much been limited to whatever time that I can play
around with the program. Since I would rather add features than play around
this is limited even further. I need to learn to multitask.
>>> THE BEEF
The LORAN Notebook (LNB) is a dedicated database for LORAN users. It may
be started from the CLI or workbench. If started from the CLI the database
file name may follow the program name. It detaches itself from the CLI so
there's no need to use the 'run' command with it.
If you are starting the LNB from the workbench you may double click on its
icon or double click on the icon of a previously created LBN database. The
latter will run LNB and load the selected database.
The notebook is based on North Latitude and West Longitude (covers U.S.A.+).
If you are starting a new database you will be limited to 500 entries. If
you hit that limit save the database and reload it. You will have another
500 entries available in addition to the previous entries. The size of each
of your databases is limited to your Amiga's memory (1700 entries is about
250K). Every time you load a database you will have 500 'blank slots'
available. This should be enough for additions. You must select ADD SITE
from the menu (or Right-Amiga-A) to actually add a new site.
Since the working database is in RAM it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you
re-save it after any changes. The program will remind you to save when you
exit. I strongly recommend that you save the database after any significent
changes, even if you are not ready to exit. Always keep a backup of the LNB
and, more importantly, your database on a separate disk.
In the title bar the current number of sites loaded into the database as
well as the number of sites that are selected. These will be updated as
needed during your session. While the current database in memory is being
deleted the counter will reflect the status.
The string gadgets are, I hope, self explanatory. Lon, Lat & TDs are
stored as floating point numbers. This will prevent you from using minute
marks, hyphens, etc. in these fields. Waypoint and Depth are stored ad
intergers, thus whole numbers only will be accepted in those gadgets.
There are three QUICK gadgets. These are built-in descriptive info for
the site. The first one is the most important because it is on the
printouts. The other two are handy for future searches. The left side of
each QUICK gadget will cycle backwards through the options and the right
side will cycle forwards. If you have any suggestions for the list let me
know. The program will not allow the same item twice in a site.
The list is: WRECK, REEF, LEDGE, SAND, BRIDGE, ROCK, PASS, PORT,
MARKER, CHANNEL, DANGER!, ANCHORAGE, SPEAR FISHIN, FISHING, DIVING and
CONFIRMED.
>>> COLORS (assuming that you have the original WB colors)
These are the colors in the select box (The large box at the bottom
of the window that shows up to eight sites at a time.)
NORMAL........ Red letters with a black background.
SELECTED...... White letters with a black background.
CURRENT SITE.. Blue background (letters same as above).
There can only be one current site at a time.
Sites may be selected and deselected my clicking on them with the mouse
pointer (left button). You may also drag the mouse across multiple sites
while holding the button down. If you move the pointer above or below
the select box while holding the button down the sites will scroll.
All sites are deselected when loaded.
>>> THE MAIN MENU
NEW - Clears memory of the current database.
OPEN - Loads a LNB database. If you try to load a file that
is not an LNB database you will be yelled at.
SAVE - Saves the entire database.
(I STRONGLY recommend that you save the database, and ALL
valuable info on at least two separate disks. A faulty
disk is a terrible thing!)
SAVE MARKED - Allows you to save the sites that you have selected
(white text). This is handy in breaking up a large
database.
NOTE 1: This does not delete the selected sites from the
current database.
NOTE 2: Currently there is no way in the program to
merge databases. If this is needed let me know.
ABOUT - Does nothing useful.
QUIT - Exits the program.
ADD SITE - Creates a opening for a new site.
DELETE SITE - Deletes the current (blue background) site.
DELETE MARKED - Deletes all of the selected sites (white text).
TO PRINTER - Sends output to the printer if checked.
The check mark status is saved with the file.
TO FILE - Sends output to a file if checked. You will be asked
for a file name. The check mark status is saved with
the file.
ONE LINE - If checked, each site will be printed on one 80 column
line. If it is not checked each site will print on
three lines. The check mark status is saved with the
file.
PRINT CURRENT - Prints the current site only. The format will depend
on if ONE LINE is checked or not.
ALL MARKED - Prints all selected sites. The format will depend
on if ONE LINE is checked or not.
ALL SITES - Prints all sites in memory. The format will depend
on if ONE LINE is checked or not.
WITH ICON - If checked, all databases and text files and land point
lists will have an appropriate icon saved with them.
If you alter or add your own icon the program will not
overwrite it. The check mark status is saved with the file.
WORLD MAP - Draws the north-west quardrant of the continents as a blue
outline. Also drawn are country & state boundries, major
lakes & rivers and islands. The data files
(LoranNotebook.WMap1-3) are a modified version of the World
Data Base II. Since this data is disk based, it cannot be
edited with the EDIT option below. This menu option may
also be accessed from the PLOT screen menu.
When the map begins to draw a window will open at the
bottom of the screen with a progress bar and STOP button.
Pressing the STOP button only stops tha map from being
drawn, not hand drawn land, sites or the scale.
A [H] (high), [M] (medium), or a [L] (low) will be in the
progress title to indicate the resolution of the map being
used.
PLOT MARKED - Plots the individual sites that have long/lat numbers
entered AND are selected (white). The sites will be scaled
to fill the screen.
PLOT ALL - Plots the individual sites that have long/lat numbers
entered. The colors match the select box: Red for normal
and white for selected.
>>> KEYBOARD
(No string gadgets can be selected for these keys to work)
F1............... Locates the current site.
F2............... Toggles the way sites are sorted (Site Name or County)
UP ARROW......... Scrolls up one site.
SHIFT UP ARROW... Scrolls up one window of sites (8).
DOWN ARROW....... Scrolls down one site.
SHIFT DOWN ARROW. Scrolls down one window of sites (8).
LEFT ARROW....... Scrolls current site up one.
RIGHT ARROW...... Scrolls current site down one.
>>> SEARCHING
All of the string gadgets except ERR have a search button connected to
them. To search for a specific county make sure that the county name is in
the string gadget (or part of the name, case doesn't matter) and click on
the word 'County:'. When the search is done all of the matches will be
highlit and at the top of the list. All string searches are non-case
sensitive (upper case and lower case are the same). Leading and trailing
spaces are stripped prior to the search.
All number searches (Lon, Lat, TDs, Depth & WP) work with the ERR factor.
An Error factor of 0 (zero) would require an exact match. An error factor
of 10 (ten) would match if the site is -10 to +10 from the search number.
In this way you could search for all sites with a depth between 60 and 80
feet by entering 10 for the error factor and 70 for the depth to search for.
The plus sign between LAT and LON does a double search. It searches a
rectangle around the entered numbers. The size of the rectangle will depend
on the error factor. TDs may be searched the same way but since they are
not parallel and at right angles to the equator the results could be a
strange shape. (I know, Latitudes are not parallel either, but they're close
enough for most purposes).
Error factors may be entered in decimal points or whole numbers. For
depth searches only whole numbers are used (no rounding). The error factor
is saved with the file.
Searches on the QUICK gadgets must match any that are not blank. If you
have REEF, FISHING and a blank gadget and start the search all sites REEF and
FISHING will be found, the blank will be ignored. The match may be in any
of the three QUICK boxes. (Remember to use the LOCKED gadget described
below to prevent changing the current site.)
>>> LOCKED GADGET
This allows you to enter text or numbers into a string gadget without
actually changing the current site's info. The QUICK gadgets will also
be locked. This is handy for searches when what you are looking for is
not currently on the screen.
When you deselect the locked gadget the current site's information
will be redisplayed.
>>> MARKED SEARCHES
If you click the MARKED gadget your next searches will only be against the
previously selected sites. By using this you could isolate a group of sites
10 miles E-W and 100 miles N-S in a particular county.
You will not be able to select the MARKED gadget if there are no selected
sites.
>>> SORT ARROW
At the bottom of the window is a small arrow pointing either left or
right. If it points left the sites will be sorted by the site name.
If it points right the sites will be sorted by county.
Any sites that are selected will be moved to the top of the list and
sorted independently of unselected sites. The arrow's direction is saved
with the file.
>>> SELECT/DESELECT GADGET
Located to the left of select box is a tall, thin gadget that will
select or deselect all of the sites in memory. What it does depends
on the condition of the first site in the list. If it is active clicking
this will deselect all of the sites and if it is not active it will
select all of the sites.
>>> ABOUT THE PLOT SCREEN
First things first... DO NOT USE THE GRAPHIC PRINT FOR NAVIGATIONAL
PURPOSES!
Whenever you select plot from the menu there will be a slight delay while
the program scales the data. A minimum of three sites with longitude and
latitude must be available for plotting. (If I knew how to turn TDs to
long/lats I would use them too.)
The plots will have the latitude and longitude scale at the left and bottom,
respecivately. These will be anamorphically adjusted to fit the chosen
display. Minutes markers are displayed without numbers. There are two
guidelines that follow the pointer for reference, they are cleared before
printing.
Because of the scaling you have to be a little careful. If you have 300
numbers for Florida and one for New York the plot will have one dot for
New York at the top, a big gap, and a bunch of dots at the bottom. My testing
consisted of 1775 Florida numbers and when plotted the entire outline of the
state is visible (without the land).
The plot screen has the usual forward/backward gadgets in the upper right
corner, but you can't see them. They're actually quite easy to find.
I like using the LEFT-AMIGA-M and LEFT-AMIGA-N keys to flip screens. You may
also turn on the title bar for the usual gadgets (see below).
There are three menu choices from the plot screen. They are:
PLOT SCREEN MENU *******
PRINT SCREEN - To successfully pull this off you need a graphic
compatable printer and the proper driver selected in
preferences. During the print the screen will change
colors to reflect the printed output (and save your
ribbon or toner). The background will be white with
the sites represented as black dots. Currently
selected and unselected sites print the same unless boxed
(see below).
PLOT MARKED - Plots the individual sites that have long/lat numbers
entered AND are selected (white). The sites will be scaled
to fill the screen. This is the same as the menu option
from the main loran window. Sites that are not selected
will not be displayed.
PLOT ALL - Plots the individual sites that have long/lat numbers
entered. The colors match the select box: Red for normal
and white for selected. PLOT ALL will also return the
display (zoom %) to the original settings. This is the
same as the menu option from the main loran window.
BOX MARKED - This will draw small boxes around all selected (white)
sites. This can be handy prior to printing to show
selected sites better.
REDRAW - Redraws the screen clearing any boxes. This is also used
to update plot screen if you make any changes (add/delete/
select/deselect) on the main window. (This isn't done
automatically because it would take too long every time
that you made a change.) REDRAW is the same as PLOT ALL
except that it keeps the current zoom level.
TOGGLE TITLE - Selecting this will either display or hide the title
bar. Showing the title bar will allow you to drag the
window up and down. When the title bar is not visible
the hidden forward & backward gadgets are still available
in the upper right hand corner. The way that you leave
the title bar will be saved with the file.
FUNCTION MENU *******
NORMAL - This is the 'Normal' arrow pointer. It will allow you to
draw boxes around any areas that you want. It does not
select, zoom or clear anything.
MARK - This is the 'Crosshair' Pointer. Selects all sited within
the box (inclusive). All other selected sites are
deselected and any boxes are erased. Any selected sites
will also be selected in the normal loran window on the
workbench screen. The pointer will return to NORMAL after
the sites are selected.
ZOOM - This is the 'Double Box' Pointer. The boxed area will
be enlarged to fill the screen. All selected sites will
remain selected. The pointer will return to NORMAL after
the sites are selected. To 'unzoom' choose PLOT ALL
from the menu.
LAND MENU *******
WORLD MAP - Draws the north-west quardrant of the continents as a blue
outline. Also drawn are country & state boundries, major
lakes & rivers and islands. The data files
(LoranNotebook.WMap1-3) are a modified version of the World
Data Base II. Since this data is disk based, it cannot be
edited with the EDIT option below. This menu option may
also be accessed from the PLOT screen menu.
When the map begins to draw a window will open at the
bottom of the screen with a progress bar and STOP button.
Pressing the STOP button only stops tha map from being
drawn, not hand drawn land, sites or the scale.
A [H] (high), [M] (medium), or a [L] (low) will be in the
progress title to indicate the resolution of the map being
used.
CREATE - Allows you to draw a land area by selecting points with
the left mouse button. Up to 1000 points may be created.
To separate land areas select a point outside of the main
display area (left or bottom of screen). Points may be
added at any zoom level. Choosing any other menu item
will cancel CREATE. When in CREATE the pointer will become
a small arrow.
NOTE 1: A file with ANY land points will be about 8K larger
on disk than a file without land points.
NOTE 2: Land that you create will redraw MUCH faster than
the world map data. If you only use a small area
try tracing the world map and then turning it off.
EDIT - Allows you to EDIT any land points previously created. All
land points will become white dots and all loran sites will
be deselected and displayed as red. As you position the
single crosshair pointer over a white dot arrow heads will
be added to it. When this happens you may use the left
mouse button to move the point. If you have many land
points the guidelines may be a little slow.
IMPORT - Reads an ASCII file to create the land points. If land
already exists the program will ask you if you want to
delete it first, otherwise it will be appended.
NOTE 1: This file may be edited with any word processor
that does not add any formatting information.
the format is: +AAAA.AA +BBBB.BB
Where 'A' is the LONGITUDE and 'B' is the LATITUDE.
They may be separated by spaces, commas or tabs.
The longitude must begin with a plus (+) sign
to let the program know to convert it to the
internal format. A plus before the latitude is
optional. To separate land areas enter zeros,
the plus sign is optional. This will allow
advanced users to create map files from nautical
maps. Numbers with plus signe may be mixed with
exported data.
NOTE 2: IMPORT will attempt to read whatever file that
you tell it to, even if it isn't a long/lat list.
Attempting to import the world map will not work.
EXPORT - Writes the current land points to an ASCII file that is
compatable with the IMPORT option. This is handy to move
land points from one file to another. If the WITH ICON
menu item (main window menu) is selected a palm tree icon
will be created also.
NOTE1: The program does not store land points as longitudes
and latitudes, but with a more base 10 friendly
system to speed things up. Therefore if you attempt
view this file you will find that the numbers are
similar to, but NOT longitudes and latitudes.
NOTE2: This only exports points that you have created.
CLEAR - Asks you if you want to delete all of the land points.
If there are no land points nothing will happen.
NOTE: This only deletes points that you have created.
KEYBOARD
F1 .............. Locates the current site by drawing a box around it.
The box color will depend on if the site is selected
(white) or not (red).
F5 .............. Zooms back to maximum scale.
F6 .............. Adds a hurricane symbol at the present pointer location.
This will be saved with the file ONLY land has been
created. The size of the symbol remains the same
regardless of the magnification.
SHIFTED F6....... Deletes the hurricane symbol.
F10 ............. While you are in EDIT and have a land point selected
(arrow heads on the crosshair) this will insert
another land point. You may then move land point
freely. (sorry, but my old A1000 doesn't have an
insert key) If you have many land points there will be
a slight delay.
DEL ............ While you are in EDIT and have a land point selected
(arrow heads on the crosshair) this will delete the
current land point. If you have many land points there
will be a slight delay.
- .............. (Unshifted Minus Key) Will zoom the display out about
one minute from each side. There are no limits on
how far out you can zoom.
_ .............. (Shifted Minus Key) Will zoom the display out about one
degree from each side.
= .............. (Unshifted Plus Key) Will zoom the display in about
one minute from each side. The maximum zoom in is
two minutes on the screen (The program will tell you).
+ .............. (Shifted Plus Key) Will zoom the display in about one
degree from each side. The maximum zoom in is
two minutes on the screen (The program will tell you).
NOTE: You can zoom in closer with the ZOOM pointer.
LEFT ........... Moves the display 10% of the current resolution (screen
that's visible) to the left. (SHIFTED LEFT moves 40%
screen left)
RIGHT .......... Moves the display 10% of the current resolution to the
right. (SHIFTED RIGHT moves 40% screen right)
UP ............. Moves the display 10% of the current resolution up.
(SHIFTED UP moves 40% screen up)
DOWN ........... Moves the display 10% of the current resolution down.
(SHIFTED DOWN moves 40% screen down)
You may have noticed that there is no way to close the plot screen once it
has been opened. It will close up when you quit the program.
>>> DOCUMENTATION
I really hate writing these doc files.
>>> COMMENTS & FLAMES
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Allen Maroney
2009-66th Ave. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
GEnie - A.MARONEY
UUNet - ...uunet!roscoe!anthrax!diver!amaroney
