| |
|
| [14.10.2007] New
version of Easy Trace Pro 8.4 (build 1341) |
 |
In spite of our sincere wish to slow down a little for careful documenting of the package's new abilities (as it was promised in the previous release) we didn't manage to do it.
We were offered a new order for tracing with (almost unbelievably!) the right to determine the format of initial images. What did it result in? ALL THE IMAGES WERE VECTORIZED IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE! And these were usual topographic maps on the 1:200 000 scale - color ones, rather worn and faded, with rather smeared printing.
The format of raster files we used was - 16 million colors, 500 dpi. Do not consider the resolution too high - the gap between neighboring lines was often equal to 1-2 pixels even in this case.
The focus upon automatic tracing required revision of some tools of course, and this was our recent task. Now we would like to represent the results.
Some explanations for those who didn't deal with automatic tracing. Unlike drawings, there are no real lines in topographic maps, only there fragments (or traces sometimes!) broken by numerous inscriptions and spots of different colors. There are also shifts of primary colors at printing, interpenetration of inks, fading, and whatever else. That is why automatic tracing of such maps is followed by analysis and correction of received vector data. It does not work as "press the button - get the result" but saves hundreds and even thousands of man-hours if you process several tens of topographic maps.
So, the following was done...
- More about new abilities of ET v. 8.4
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [17.08.2007] New
version of Easy Trace Pro 8.4 (build 1305) |
|
New releases of Easy Trace PRO have usually 3-4 months apart but this version is an exception. The rate of program development didn't leave us time to "polish" and publish the next release. Even now it would be better to wait till completion of new HELP, project examples and descriptions of new technologies but the opening of the International Cartographic Conference in Moscow on the 5th of August gave us the deadline and forced to reveal the beta-version. Final design of the distribution kit will be ready within a month.
Actually, the Beta prefix is not so important. Every new improvement of Easy Trace is immediately checked and used by our vectorizing team, so the version is quite efficient. The only difference is the lack of instructions and explanations and they are coming soon.
- More about new abilities of ET v. 8.4
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [25.12.2006] New
version of Easy Trace Pro 8.3 (build 1215) |
|
Nothing
accelerates progress of the package so efficiently as the
projects we do ourselves. Our recent projects were based
on color images and required a lot of polygon forming out
of hatched areas (bogs) and color fillings (forests, lakes,
etc.).
Strange though it may seem, we mostly
do it in automatic mode. In addition, forest borders were
strictly coordinated with lines of rivers and roads when
necessary.
In the course of the work we improved
old tools of the package, created new ones, and found some
useful ways of their combined applying. Articles about
these discoveries will be added to the Technology page
in the near future, and now we shall just mention them
briefly.
It remains only to wonder why these
simple and useful ideas were not realized long ago. To
avoid such omissions in future, Easy Trace Group most earnestly
asks the users to send us any criticism, wishes and suggestions
you have about the package.
- More about new abilities of ET v. 8.3
- Go to "Download" page |
|
|
|
|
|
| [31.08.2006] New
release of Easy Trace v 8.2 Pro (build 1191) |
|
|
Object attribute requirements, quite simple yesterday, have
become rather complicated today. Our last projects comprised
tens of attributive data fields for each of fifty layers. Why
so many? Well, just in a case!!!
But the customer is always right, so, what are the ways to get out of
the difficulties?
- total revision of all attributes (an extremely laborious task and does
not guarantee against errors);
- automatic control of attribute data values and their interrelations
(these relations should be known beforehand and an external software
is required for attributive table analysis);
- generation of inscriptions according to attribute values with their
further comparison with ones in the image...
- More details about new
abilities of the version 8.2 Pro build 1191
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [29.05.2006]
New release
of Easy Trace v 8.2 Pro (build 1180) |
|
|
They say, only most experienced users
apply 10 % of possibilities provided for Microsoft Word.
The situation is even worse in electronic cartography.
There are a lot of CADs and GISes with quite different
formats and forms of data storage. New formats appear,
e.g., for palm computers with GPS Navigator. In addition,
topology model and attributive data standards become tougher
almost every day. Trying to be independent, Easy Trace
has to consider them all.
Even small alternation in the program concerning topology and attribute data
input may cause a great result, 1+1 is THREE in this case. Corresponding sections
of HELP are completely rewritten to provide an integrate review of Easy Trace
todays abilities in forming, editing and verification of complex topological
and attributive data.
Besides, the number of tips in dialog boxes and understandable prompts in the
Status Bar is increased. If the user does not understand and thus does not apply
an option, one may consider it non-existent at all.
- More details about new
abilities of the version 8.2 Pro build 1180
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [15.03.2006]
New version
of Easy Trace Pro 8.2 (build 1172) |
|
|
As it often happens in the course of large projects, new "discoveries" were
made at 8.2 version compiling, which simplify routine but
inevitable operations.
Automatic check-up of vectorized objects is advanced as well as control of their
topological interrelation and accuracy of attributive data.
A new utility is added to simplify data transfer from CAD to GIS. It is no secret
that a lot of spatial data all over the world exists in the form of AutoCAD drawings
(as one might call the system "free"). But geo-informational systems
are required anyway for effective data management...
A new version of compiler is now applied in the program for better control of
the code. As a result a lot of small bugs were identified, which had affected
stability of the program. Total testing of the package was fulfilled to find
and delete the faults.
- More details about new
abilities of the version 8.2 Pro build 1172
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [25.11.2005] New
version of Easy Trace Pro 8.1 (build 1151) |
|
A comprehensive revision of tools for automatic image digitization
was fulfilled at realization of a project on relief data
tracing. Consequently, the time required for map processing
has halved at the least. The revision affected all elements
of the processing flowsheet from black-and-white thematic
layer forming to control of Z-value assignment to contour
lines. In the near future, we are going to publish a description
of tracing techniques and instructions for operators on the
Technologies page.
- More details about new
abilities of the version 8.1 Pro build 1151
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [18.07.2005] New
release of Easy Trace v 8.0 Pro (build 1118) |
|
|
Vector object topology check up:
- New export / import format is implemented. Now Easy Trace
supports .MAP-files of GIS Panorama ("Map 2003")
- New feature of topology check up: at the moment multiple
nodes can be detected. Multiple nodes are those ones
that are formed by more than 2 polylines of the same layer.
- New option of pseudo-node detection during topology
check-up: currently it is possible to specify that pseudo-node
formed by polylines having different attributes is
not
marked
as an error.
- More details about new
abilities of the version 8.0 Pro build 1118
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [13.04.2005] New
release of Easy Trace v 8.0 Pro (build 1107) |
|
|
Vector object topology check up:
- New command “Execute all tests” appears.
It allows starting all existing tests in batch mode.
- Import of topology tests from specified Easy Trace project
is implemented.
- Block and text alignment in the editing mode is provided.
- Utility’s window can be stretched in horizontal
direction. Dialog options are provided with prompts.
- More details about new abilities
of the version 8.0 Pro build 1107
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [21.03.2005] Protection
system error of Easy Trace Pro 8.0.1101 has been fixed |
|
|
Unfortunately, Easy Trace v 8.0.1101 contains an annoying
error in protection system. This error results in forced
termination of program working in demo-mode. If protective
key presents, the program works normally. At the moment fixed
version Easy Trace 8.0.1102 is uploaded at our site …
We present our apologies to everybody who have downloaded
Easy Trace demo-version from 14 till 21 March 2005.
- Open the"Download" page
|
|
| [14.03.2005] New
verson of Easy Trace Pro 8.0 is now avaliable |
|
|
The procedure of image rectification based on triangulation
is implemented. New image tool for adhering curves separating
is provided. The view mode “Displaying objects with
unverified attributes” is enhanced. Usage of OziExplorer
image reference files is implemented. The scrolling direction
control is improved and extended. The program protection
is turned to new hardware lock HASP HL
- More details about new abilities of
the version 8.0 Pro build 1101
- Open the"Download" page
|
|
|
|
|
|
| [09.03.2004] New
release of Easy Trace v 7.9 Pro (build 996) |
|
|
Some of new abilities:
- Any monochrome images (BMP-files) may be used now as
patterns for polygon filling.
- Coordinate transformation based on reference points of
specified layer is provided at data export.
- Color mode transformation of Hi color and True Color
images into ones having adaptive palette is recast.
|
|
| [29.12.2003] Easy
Trace v 7.9 Pro is realized |
|
A new version - Easy Trace v 7.9 Pro is realized. It is available
as Upgrade for Easy Trace users who bought the package before
01.01.2003.
Some of new abilities:
- Thematic representation of points. Thus, you may adjust
screen output of points in accordance with their attribute
values.
- One more view mode - indication of unchecked objects.
The user may now highlight the objects having attributes
that were not checked.
- Significant improvement of the Decorator tool.
- Enlarged set of standard decoration elements.
- Improved tool for designing of slopes.
- New abilities at generation of conventional signs.
- Inserting a block or a text object, you may now align
it by an existing object - a block, a text, or a polyline
segment.
- More details about new abilities
of the version 7.9 Pro build 987
- Open the"Download" page |
|
| [04
Oct., 2003] Easy Trace Group branch
in North America |
|
The branch of Easy Trace Group is open in Toronto (Canada):
|
|
| [25 Sep, 2003] New
release of Easy Trace v 7.8 Pro (build 935) |
|
Primary alterations:
- New features of the Decorator tool:
- "Archways" can be optionally drawn
by dashed lines;
- "Polygon filling with conventional signs
(blocks)" is provided together with a dialog
box for this tool’s settings;
- The length of short hatches for scaled slopes
can be optionally fixed as one-half of the neighboring
one.
- Scroll mouse use is now similar to what is provided
for AutoCAD: wheel rotation - scaling, wheel stroke -
panning. You may now specify the step of scaling in the
program settings.
- Pop-up names of elements are added in the Attribute
Display Settings dialog box.
- The "Transfer Z to Database" utility is bi-directional
now: you may both make Z values a database attribute
and vice versa.
- Go to "What's new in
Easy Trace PRO (build 935)" |
|
| [12 Aug, 2003] New
release of Easy Trace v 7.8 Pro (build 919) |
|
Primary alterations:
- When polygon subtracting the common vertices in intersections
are created for BOTH polygons. Being used in combination
with band polygon creating tool, this feature allows
to sharply reduce time that is necessary for creating of
road network
polygonal model.
- For the convenience of working with decoration tools
each of them is provided with original cursor.
- User interface and facilities of Print Preview window
are improved.
- Using of pictorial presentation of possible attribute
values in attribute input dialog is enhanced.
- Dialogs for setting of attribute values presentation
are completely remaked.
- The utility of raster resampling is added with optional
setting of result raster DPI, including the facility
to scale raster by means of new DPI specification.
- Linetypes control dialog is remaked.
- The following errors are fixed: not-reducing of traced
line when switching from auto to manual mode; wrong
cursor displaying
at text rotation.
- Go to "What's new in
Easy Trace PRO (build 919)" |
|
| [15 Jul, 2003] A new
article is added into Technologies section... |
|
The article "How
Karaganda city has been digitalized" shortly describes the
work process and technique used during preparing of city digital
(vector) map. Digitalization has been fullfilled by request of Data+
company in the framework of creating GIS for City Department of Internal
Affairs. It should be noticed that fully attributed polygonal coverage
had been created based on paper maps of 1 : 2000 scale; it took 2
months and the average cost per standard map sheet was 70 USD.
|
|
| [1 Jul, 2003] New
release of Easy Trace v 7.8 Pro (build 907)... |
|
Primary alterations:
- The facilities of "Band polygon generation" tool
are enhanced.
- The polygon subtruction is improved.
- The object selection dialog is enhanced.
- The polygon filling facilities are improved: new transparent
filling patterns are added.
- The principle of block rotation is changed.
- New options of group editor are added.
- MIF export facilities are enhanced.
- Go to "What's new in
Easy Trace PRO (build 907)" |
|
| [16 Jun, 2003] New
samples for Easy Trace are available |
|
The fragment of Karaganda-sity
project is added to "Download samples" section.
The full project has been executed during creation of GIS
for sity police operational management center. The project "CITY_DEMO.JET" is
available for loading in demo-mode. It demonstrates using
of new Easy Trace features, such as:
- attribute-based polyline displaying;
- picture-based selection of attributes;
- transparent polygon hatching;
- using decoration tool for slope hatches generation,
etc.
New feature "picture-based selection of attributes" is
available only after ET 7.8.903 installation.
- Go to "What's new in Easy
Trace PRO"
- Go to "Download samples" page |
|
| [16 Jun, 2003] New
release of Easy Trace v 7.8 Pro (build 903)... |
|
Primary features:
- Tool for elements of map decoration.
- Defining of user linetypes is revised.
- New facilities at polygon filling: hatchings flling
added (provides "transparency" of filling).
- The Group Editor is completely revised.
- The Select Objects dialog box is completely revised.
- New raster tools are provided:
- Unsharp mask tool.
- Contrast Enhancement (Levels) tool.
- Diffuse tool.
- Tool for creating of band polygon based on polyline
specified.
More detailed info available here:
- Go to "What's new
in Easy Trace PRO v 7.8 build 903"
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [15 Apr, 2003] Pre-release
Easy Trace v 7.8 Pro announce... |
|
- Editing
- Polygon subtraction is provided.
- Inversion of polyline's directions is added after
their selection with the Group Editor.
- Object rotation is now available at polyline editing.
- Attributes
- Thematic polyline displaying is available now.
- You may now set correspondence of attribute graphic
presentation with their values in the Object Attributes
dialog box.
- STK-files are "canceled".
- Export-Import
- Selective import of the JET-format is available
now.
- Block name and rotation angle are now being saved.
- Miscellaneous
- You may use the "Generate Frame and Grid" utility...
- An utility is provided that generates points with
a specified spacing.
- Go to "What's new in Easy Trace
PRO"
- Go to "Products" page
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [31 Mar, 2003] Easy
Trace price changing... |
|
|
Dear colleagues,
Easy Trace Group informs you that since 15th April, 2003
the new version Easy Trace 7.8 PRO will be issued and the
prices will be changed:
The face-values will be the same, but the calculation will
be in Euro currency.
So, the end-user price for Easy Trace 7.8 PRO will
be 999 Euro. All the discounts
remain the same. |
|
| [21 Jan, 2003] Easy
Trace v 7.7 (build 866) update... |
|
New update of Easy Trace v 7.7 PRO have been
implemented.
- New in Topology Editor: the tool always ties
up nodes now, even if no key- modifier is pressed. If
this is the case, the tool conforms to the current topology
rules.
- Editor: algorithm of polygon joining is revised:
a. Self-crossing polygons may be joined now.
b. The program does not fill holes in polygons but includes them
to the outer contour as it happens at export.
c. The process has become faster (speed increase is noticeable
when you process big polygons comprising thousands of pixels).
- Polygon autoclosing/cutting: Algorithm of polygon
autoclosing/cutting is revised to speed-up the process.
- Export/Import: export and import of raster files
for the DGN format is provided now.
- Export/Import: the bug at user line type export
is corrected.
- Export/Import: export and import of AutoCAD
.DWG files is provided now. The operations are based
on the open AutoCAD 2000 interface (OLE Automation),
i.e. they are available if AutoCAD 2000 or later is installed.
- Export/Import: the program exports complicated
polygons with holes to the SHP and MIF formats as cut
rings now. In topologic sense such objects are similar
to "polygons with holes" that are not supported
by Easy Trace.
- Export/Import: the bug of Mid-import is corrected
that arose at Mif file import without database (i.e.
if the "Import attributes" option is off).
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [16 Dec, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.6 (build 840) and v 7.7 (build 861) update... |
|
New update of Easy Trace v 7.7 PRO and Easy
Trace v 7.7 PRO have been implemented.
Some minor errors of previous build of Easy Trace are
eliminated.
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| |
| [06 Dec, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.7 update: build 860... |
|
New update of Easy Trace v 7.7 PRO have been
implemented.
- An adjustable "Custom toolbar" is
added to Easy Trace interface
- Autoscolling at manual tracing is improved
- Support of the Scroll mouse ("with a wheel")
is provided
- Autoclosing and polygon division function is improved
- Topology Editor is improved
- Individual Editor is improved
More detailed info available here:
- Go to "What's new
in Easy Trace v 7.7 PRO build 860"
- Go to "Products" page
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [15 Nov, 2002] Stop
selling of the Rainbow package... |
|
Dear colleagues,
Easy Trace Group informs you that it stops selling of the Rainbow
package as an independent product from the 1st of November,
as it is an integral part of the Easy Trace package beginning
from the version 7.3.
Sincerely yours
Gregory Stepanov
Head of Easy Trace Group |
|
| [15 Nov, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.7 PRO announce... |
|
The release of Easy Trace v 7.7 PRO has appeared.
- Updating of polygon closing
- Updating of polygon division at tracing
- Automatic “backfitting” of vector data
- Team processing of the project
- Quick input of attributes
- New adjustable hot keys
- New in the Orthogonal Tracer
- Attributive data input
- Generation of inscriptions
More detailed info available here:
- Go to "What's new
in Easy Trace v 7.7 PRO"
- Go to "Products" page
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| |
| [06 Aug 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.6 updated: build 837... |
|
New abilities are added to the utility of
automatic polyline (polygon) joining along a user-specified
boundary.
You may divide a polygon into two parts along a user-specified
line at tracing and join polygons manually with the help
of the Editor.
Improved polygon selection: it is enough now to click
any point within a polygon to select it.
- Go to "What's new in Easy
Trace v 7.6 PRO"
- Go to "Products" page
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| |
| |
| [17 Apr, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.6 PRO release... |
|
The release of Easy Trace v 7.6 PRO has appeared.
It is available as demo-version and free upgrade for Easy
Trace users. For more information see the Products and Download pages.
- A mode is added for filled displaying of closed polylines.
- Closing of the current polyline via existing ones is
provided.
- Reordering of layers in the layer list is provided.
- The "Create Polygons" utility has new advanced
facilities.
- A mode is added for contrast displaying of entities
without attributes.
- A mode is added for grid displaying.
- The Auto raster ot vector convertion utility has new
advanced facilities.
- The "Gap Removing" utility is recast.
- A new "Resample" tool is added
- The Rectangle tool has new advanced facilities.
- Go to "What's new in Easy
Trace v 7.6 PRO" page
- Go to "Products" page
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| |
| [27 Jan, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.5 PRO or R2V? |
|
Compare of the R2V and Easy Trace 7.5 PRO
software packages' performance capabilities at automatic
raster to vector conversion of color isoline rasters
- Go to "Easy Trace
v 7.5 PRO or R2V?" page |
|
| [14 Jan, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.5 PRO is available for download... |
|
- Automatic raster to vector conversion utility is completely
revised; in addition, you may now specify areas to be traced
automatically
or
vice versa to be excluded from automatic tracing.
- The new "Filtering of black-and-white rasters" operation
significantly increases quality of color-separated rasters
and makes them fit for automatic tracing.
- The "Merge rasters" utility is extended - you
may now "subtract" rasters.
- The new "Rasterize vector data" utility allows
one to "imprint" polylines of a selected layer
into a raster layer of your project.
- The "Crop raster" operation may be done now
just on the project field at automatic specification of
raster positioning.
- The new "Polygon forming" operation enables
one to create a set of polygons from polylines of the specified
vector layers.
- You may now select objects by the Group Editor according
to their attribute value in a database field.
- A new option of group editing allows polyline splitting
along a user-specified polygonal boundary.
- The Individual Editor may now merge polylines by a fair-curve.
- The error occurred while raster adding with the help
of a world-file (.TFW) received from ArcInfo/ArcView at
fragment-based project creating is now corrected.
- Go to "What's new
in Easy Trace v 7.5 PRO" page
- Go to "Download" page |
|
| [14 Jan, 2002] Easy
Trace v 7.5 PRO announce... |
|
- Automatic raster to vector converting utility is completely
revised; in addition, you may now specify areas to be traced
automatically
or
vice versa to be excluded from automatic tracing.
- New operation "Filtering of black-and-white rasters" significantly
increases quality of color-separated rasters and makes
it fit for automatic tracing.
- The "Merge rasters" utility is extended - you
may now "subtract" rasters.
- The new "Rasterize vector data" utility allows
one to "imprint" polylines of a selected layer
into a raster layer of your project.
- The "Crop raster" operation may be done now
just on the project field at automatic specification of
raster positioning.
- The new "Polygon forming" operation enables
one to create a set of polygons from polylines of the specified
vector layers.
- You may now select objects by the Group Editor according
to their attribute value in a database field.
- A new option of group editing allows polyline splitting
along a user-specified polygonal boundary.
- The Individual Editor may now merge polylines by a fair-curve.
- The error occurred while raster adding with the help
of a world-file (.TFW) received from ArcInfo/ArcView at
fragment-based project creating is now corrected.
- Go to "What's new
in Easy Trace v 7.5 PRO" page |
|
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