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 .

• Effectiveness of automatic and semiautomatic tracing of color images depends directly on successful extraction of black-and-white images (thematic layers). A new utility Subject Layer Extraction is elaborated for this purpose. It is based on domination of one color from the R-G-B palette in most of thematic layers.
  
  This utility may be used for both direct forming of thematic layers and complete background suppression. It is particularly effective for capture of color information drawn on gray-scale materials (air-photos for instance). The illustration represents the same fragment of an image with a dense contour coverage before and after application of the utility. Final extraction of contours into a new layer can be accomplished by the Binarize Utility followed by mask filtering.
  
  
  
• The set of mask filters for lines 3-5 pixels wide is added. The Thick isolines and Very thick isolines filters are available now besides the previous Thin isolines one. The Regular artifacts filter is shown as an example. It takes several minutes to create such a filter and results of filtering are evident
  
  
• Forming of a relief digital model on the base of contour lines is a complicated task. Automatic tracing may speed up the process in several times – but only for relatively clean images. New means of raster skeleton post-processing added to the Autotrace Lines utility make demands of image quality much lower.
  
  The approach to selection of "branches" and "bridges" is entirely changed. New options are added for skeleton cleaning from small loops and X-shape adhesions. Control on angular criterion at search of undesirable lines is provided.
  
  Joining of pseudo-nodes after deletion of "branches" and "bridges" has become much more intelligent. Most “dirty” segments - ends of torn lines may be now deleted with the “vector eraser” without use of the “shears”.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A new function is added to the Topology Check-up Utility– search of multiple nodes. Cleaning before the Gap Removing operation implies deletion with the Editor all indeterminacies that appear at nodes joining 3 and more lines together. The Utility marks these nodes that may be placed to the center of the screen with the help of the F and V hot keys of the Editor.

• The Gap Removing Utility is completely revised. Previously, the number of correct joints fell abruptly for image lines thicker than 3 pixels. The current version of the Utility completely excludes cross-joining, and the percentage of correct joints has increased significantly.
  
  Possibility of joining of neighboring lines (at sheet border and similar situations) has become smaller.
  A new option is added – Don't merge (insert separate segment). It enables deletion of wrong joints with one move of the “vector eraser”. Restoration of a curve line lost part at merging is also improved.
  

• The Topology Correction Utility is altered. The attempt to bring up the ends of contour lines to the map frame could resulted in "adhesion" of neighboring polylines previously . The flags "Consider polyline ends only" and "Consider polylines of different layers only" are added to the utility.
  
• The Topology Correction Utility: Bringing up of a polyline's end segment to crossing with a polyline of another layer preserves direction of the segment.
  
  

  Initially	Was in V8.0	Became in V8.1

  
  
• Optimization of line form after automatic tracing is revised. The filter for optimization considers now irregular vertex-to-vertex distance. Thus, line form correction is possible not only for dense but also for sparse parts of the line (for example, after manual joining and editing). Besides, filtering may be multiple.
  
  
• Polyline Editor: you may select the "shears" mode of the Editor with the help of the hot key (W by default) without previous selection of the Editor itself. In other words, you may change "vector eraser" for "shears" by one press of the hot key.
  
  
• Polyline Editor: to change shear's modes (with/without deletion of the end segment) – press the Shift key (instead of Ctrl) once. The last used mode will be current at the next selection of the tool.
  Previous modification of the mode at Shift pressing (cutting at the nearest vertex) is canceled - it is enough to point the vertex with the "sheares".
  Besides, when in the cutting mode, the Editor now ignores all objects but polylines at the cutting point.
  
  
• Group Sheares: previously the program canceled cutting if you tried to use the "hand" for image panning after cutting polygon defining. Now you may easily pan your image and specify any number of cutting polygons.
  
  • a prompt is added about possibility to use polylines as ready boundaries of cutting areas. Keep the Ctrl key pressed at line specifying as a cutting boundary.
  • the cursor becomes the arrow when you press Ctrl
  
  
• Group Sheares: Navigation by error marks is provided now with the help of the F and V hot keys (similar to the Editor).
  
  
• Z-input tool: if you assign Z-values to contour lines previously attributed to different layers (intermediate, index, etc.) you will like contour displaying applying line type specified for the layer (for example, dashed lines for supplementary contours). Besides line width may be specified for every layer in the Parameters dialog box of the Z-input tool.
  Line attribution to different layers takes only several minutes if you use the Group Editor but save you from errors at Z input you will probably be searching for hours .
  
  
• Z-input tool: the tool automatically suggests to attribute an isoline to the proper layer (intermediate, index or supplementary contours) if necessary. You needn't take the Editor for it and thus the operation speeds up significantly and serves as additional control of Z-value correctness.
  
  
• Z-input tool:
  • the new Single touch mode allows to input Z-value with one click (use the Shift key to change the mode);
  • icons and cursor symbols are changed;
  • when in the Contour crossing mode, the layer of the first captured object becomes current;
  • Shift does not influence any more on the direction of Z-value change (increase or decrease). Instead, use the mouse lefr key for increasing values and right key for decreasing;
  • at layer change or height change requests, the cursor automatically comes to the OK button and returns to the line when clicked;
  • if you press Ctrl at line crossing, the first crossed line will be attributed to the layer of supplementary contours;
  • the tool has a hot key now (Alt+Z by default)
    
    
• Z-input tool, Topology Editor, Shears, Eraser of vector objects:
  • error-to-error navigation is added with the help of the F and V hot keys.
  • right click to delete the selected error mark
    
    
• Z-Check-up utility is completely revised. Now it forms a triangulation net via all reference points and middle points of all the contour lines and controls correct elavation alternation along the net edges.
  
  • the option "Generate Z-inscriptions where errors are found" is deleted from the dialog box (automatic generation is provided now)
  • after the check, the utility starts the Z-input tool and select an error mark.
  • you may now specify a boundary layer - sheet frame for example, or other lines crossing contours. If a segment (an error mark), which connects objects with incorrect Z-values crosses any polyline attributed to this layer, the error will be skipped (not added to the _ERRORS_ layer).
    
    
• There are problems sometimes at closed polygon forming after tracing in the Outlining mode if the contour is crossed by "parasitic" lines (grid lines for example). Then it is impossible to use the ability to extend/compress contours, provided for the tracer. An individual Closed contour resizing tool is created for post-processing of such polygons. You may now trace and edit preliminary "lake coast" or "forestry border" and then compress or widen these contours.
  
  
• Diagnostics is improved at automatic grid forming by vertices of a closed polygon (frame of the map sheet). If grid generation is impossible for the specified polygon on some reasons, a message appears with explanation of the fault .
  
  
• Autotracing area specifying:
  
  • a prompt is added about possibility to use polylines as ready boundaries of autotracing areas. Keep the Ctrl key pressed at line specifying as a boundary.
  • the cursor becomes the arrow when you press Ctrl
    
    
• Hot key adjustment: if the specified key combination is already assigned to another command, you will see a request for confirmation of the change.
  
  
• Topology Correction Utility: at start, checks if correction strategies include "frozen" layers and suggests to unfreeze them, otherwise the layers are excluded from the strategies.
  
  
• Error mark deletion: an option is added to the dialog box which enables switching on/off entire groups of error marks.
  
  
• Bookmarks (up to 8) are provided for both image and vector documents. The bookmark in Easy Trace is a combination od scale and working window position. Bookmarks noticeably simplify systematic check of vector data.
  • (Ctrl+F5) to insert
  • (F5) to move to the previous one
  • (Shift+F5) to move to the next one
  • you may delete all the bookmarks at once
  • the bookmarks are saved to the ini-file of the project
    
    
• A hot key is provided for the Line direction view mode (F9 by default)
  
  
• The Unverified object indication view mode is alternated - now unverified objects looks as usually and verified ones are grey and their vertices are not highlighted even when the Polyline Vertices mode is on.
  
  
• The "Selected objects" option is added to the "Mark objects as (un)verified" dialog box. It helps to verify attributes of objects selected by the Group Editor by any criterion.
  
  
• Alt + right click now instead of Ctrl + right click to open context menu of raster layers (Show/hide raster layer, Open raster, etc.). The menu itself is completely revised.
  
  
  
  
  Upper part - the list of raster layers underlying the current cursor position. The flag indicates if the image is switched on or off. Correspondingly, selection of the layer name changes its status (switches off/on). The lower part contains the list of operations available for the "topmost" switched on image.
  
  
• Alt + left click in the project field "drags up" the undermost switched on image underlying the current cursor position to the top of the layer list. This option is particularly useful at vector data joining along a boundary.
  On a big raster field, apply Alt + left click twice to make the bordering raster layers the first and the second in the list. Later you may switch them on/off using the Alt+1 and Alt+2 combinations. Previously you had to open the Project Layer Settings dialog box to rearrange the layers (and to recall their names first).
  
  There is a limitation though: all the above is true if all the images in your project are black-and-white or color. If the project contains images of different kinds, the displacement takes place within the group: the color raster will not be the first in the project but the first among color rasters.
  
  
• The Topology structure optimization utility is added - it deletes superfluous vertices from the specified layers but completely (!) preserves topological coherency of the polygonal cover as well as linear and point objects connected with it. The utility not only "unloads" the project (up to 60 000 vertices may be deleted!) but makes straight fragments really straight (i.e., specified by two vertices). More about this tool.
  
  
• Bug fixed: use of the Unsharp Mask or Diffuse filters at a very large scale could lead to abnormal termination of the program.
  
  
• Bug fixed: tracing tools "forgot", which tracing strategy was current.
  
  
• Bug fixed: direction of unclosed polylines could be alternated at export to SHP sometimes .
  

• Bug fixed: direction of holes in complex polygons was wrong sometimes at export to MDB .
  
  
• And the last but not the least – we already apply some elements of the next, cardinally new ET-9.0 version at execution of orders for tracing. So, the new program is coming...
  

• 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.
• Error in SHP import is fixed: first integer field of database table currently is treated correctly.
• New option is added to all outline tracers: closed contours can be enlarged or constricted with specified value.
  

  To understand what this option is intended for, look at the following sample:
  fig. 1	fig. 2

  If an user tries to digitize this contour with the help of center-line tracer, a lot of different continuations will be found and the user will be asked about every of them. At the same time inside outlining of the same contour can be done by one click (fig 1). What is necessary to do after that is to stretch (enlarge) the ready contour and it will put exactly at the middle of the raster line (fig. 2).

• Mask filtering utility interface is slightly modified. New feature for check points set-up is added. These check points will record any changing of pixel color at managed positions.
  

• The first and most sorrowful news:
  In the view of the fact that the vendor of protective hardware plugs, Aladdin corp., stops to supply plugs of HASP 4 type, Easy Trace software is turned to new HASP HL plugs.
  As the result, HASP HL plug is not compatible with ET versions earlier than 8.0. Therefore the users having HASP 4 plugs can not get upgrade to version 8.0 without plug exchange.
  The users having right to free Upgrade (to our greatest regret) will have to repay new plug cost (25 USD).
  For other users who will pay for Upgrade (outside one year free Upgrade period), the Upgrade cost is NOT CHANGED. In this case we take the expenses for forced plug exchange upon ourselves.

  This plugs exchange will bring nothing but useless headache to our company. Nevertheless it is forced action. We present our apologies for caused inconveniences.
  

• Image correction and georeferencing based on reference point set triangulation:
  For image georeferencing based on arbitrary set of reference points one can use local affine transformation defined on triangles that are result of reference point set triangulation. Unlike global affine transformation that is defined based on all reference points, the local transformation puts reference points exactly to specified positions. And this allows to rectify extremely distorted images.
  
  

• New image tool “Separating of adhering curves” is implemented
  First of all this tool is intended for processing of dense bunch of relief contours. The tool analyzes brightness deviations and effectively splits contours in concentration sites. This allows using auto- and semi-automatic tracing for materials that earlier can be processed only manually.
  
  

• The mode of displaying object with unverified attributes:
  - In this mode, the way of object examination with hot keys F and V is changed. Now searching is made among unverified objects, but not errors as in other modes.
  - Unverified object vertices displaying is switched off.
  
  

• OziExplorer image reference files (*.map) can be used for image georeferencing and coordinate transformation at import/export.
  
  

• Scrolling direction control is slightly changed.
  When pressing work window scrolling frame, scrolling direction is not restricted with 8 fixed directions, but it now depends on cursor
  location in scrolling frame. Namely, scroll direction corresponds to conditional line from work window center to cursor position.
  For processing materials having a lot of long almost-straight lines, new optional scroll mode is added (see Service /.Tracing parameters / Scroll along cursor rubber line). When the option is switched on scroll direction is agreed with direction of trace tool cursor rubber line. This allows tracing of long straight lines almost without looking aside to move visible image part.
  Scrolling speed is controlled now with the help of sliders.
  
  

• The tool for contour elevation assignment:
  The following errors are fixed:
  - incorrect displaying of elevation values;
  - incorrect assigning of Z values for first contour based on elevation point.
  The same error is fixed in v. 7.95 build 1044, that works with HASP-4 protective plugs as before.
  
  

• DWG export / import:
  The following errors are fixed:
  - incorrect conversion of Russian text inside blocks at export;
  - incorrect layer color defining at import.

• Image georeferencing based on arbitrary set of points:
• the points from a user-specified project layer having special attributes can be used as reference points.
• Z-value assigning tool:
• in addition to contour line with known value, it is possible to use elevation point object as the starting point;
• elevation steps and view parameters settings for index, intermediate and supplemental contours separately;
• new mode of automatic elevation assignment along river polyline;
• new utility for contour elevations verification based on elevation points and crossing river polylines.
• Binarization tool and Color set creation tool:
• interface has been redesigned and unified;
• o color masks processing and histogram handling are improved.
• Circle editor:
• in addition to circle-to-polyline transformation circle-to point and circle-to-block transformations are provided;
• this operation is available both for one and for several selected objects.
• New tool simplifying coordinate grid generation is implemented (e.g. in order to remove it from the image).
• Any polygon can be used now as an area for Auto Tracing and Group Shears operations.
• New “Timer” command is implemented in “Information” page of “Project Properties” dialog box. It is intended for timing of separate project parts processing.
• New semi-transparent fill patterns are added into standard fill patterns list.

• ArcGIS: export/import:
  • Direct exchange with ArcGIS geodata base is added. At that, export/import is provided not for entities and their attributes only but also for domains.
  • Export/import of MXD-document (ArcGIS) is provided. Thus, a ready map with all its
    settings will be created by export.
    
• Raster operations:
  • Tools and methods of new filter forming for black-and-white image filtering are published. Thus you may now create a filter considering specific character of your raster materials.
  • Pixel grid of the image can be represented beginning from the specified scale.
  • The "Contrast Enhancement", "Brightness,...", "Unsharp Mask", "Diffuse" filters are improved. They became somewhat faster.
• DGN export:
  • Prototype file use is improved – all its elements but graphic ones are being copied now. Besides, explicit control of polygon (shape) forming out of closed polylines is added: polygons will be formed only of the polylines attributed to the layers marked as polygonal ones at export (similar to export into the SHP and MIF\MID formats).
• Editor:
  • Block and text alignment in the editing mode is provided.
• Attributes:
  • If the structure of attribute data table is copied from an existing one, the first its field will be automatically adjusted to storage UserIDs (it means either widening or a new field adding).
  • The bug is eliminated that caused catastrophic slowing down at writing of great amount of records to the database.

• Any monochrome images (BMP-files) may be used now as patterns for polygon filling. The patterns should be stored in the folder of filling patterns specified in the Service / System settings/ Locations dialog box. By default, the folder is called "FillPatterns" and stored in the Easy Trace system folder.
• Coordinate transformation based on reference points of specified layer is provided at data export. Reference points are common point objects. They should be linked to the database and have special attributes informing the program of the point position in the target coordinate system (see HELP).
• Color mode transformation of Hi color and True Color images into ones having adaptive palette is recast.
• At block or text insertion, you may align the new object relative to an existing block, text, or polyline segment. If the new object should be parallel with it, hold the Shift key pressed and click the mouse right button on the base object before block/text insertion. To insert a block/text at right angle to the base one, click the last holding CTRL+SHIFT pressed. Besides, the "Direction" command (Q hot key by default) rotates the new object in 90 degrees if the Angle field in the Parameters Bar is checked.
• "Cut out projects" utility is provided. It allows subproject separating from a big initial project basing on polygons of user-specified layer.
• The "Split Project" utility is renamed into "Create Subproject". Besides, a bug is corrected so that the subproject now rightly inherits the settings of thematic object displaying specified in the initial project.
• A new option at point object (point, circle, block, text) insertion allows its snapping in accordance with the specified topology rules. When the mode is off, snapping requires using of the SHIFT / CTRL keys.
• The settings of thematic object displaying can be now exported into csv-file.
• The “Array” mode is added to the Decoration tool (specified symbols (blocks) fill a rectangle).

• Thematic representation of points.
  Thus you may adjust appearance of points according to their attribute values. Any block may be used as point type now. Thematic representations of points may be exported to the DWG and DXF formats.
• A new mode of screen output is provided - indication of unchecked objects. You may optionally highlight objects having attributes that were not browsed ("checked"). The mode decreases time of attribute verification significantly. A special utility is provided to operate the marks "checked" on one or several vector layers.
• The Decorator tool is well improved.
  • New options are added - generation of parallel lines and leaders (arrowheads).
  • Slope design is improved (both scale and non-scale ones): the ravine design option is added, and preview of generated hatching is provided.
  • The tool for conventional sign generation not only fills polygons with blocks, but also can align them along a line.
• At block or text insertion, you may now align it by an existing vector object - a block, a text, or a polyline segment. For the alignment, click the base object with the mouse right button holding the Shift key pressed.

• New features of the Decoration 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.
• New in 3D polyline tracing/editing: 3D polyline snapping to other objects is now in accordance with general rules, at that the current vertices receives Z-value of the captured object.
• The "Polyline Joining" utility is recast: vertex divergence at polyline joining along a user-specified line is eliminated; the program joins polygons with polygons only.
• The dialog box for adjustment of tracing settings is transferred to the "Service" menu and the "Default" button is added into it; tracing speed control is modified a little.
• Hot key adjustment is modified a little; current hot keys are now represented in the menu and prompts.
  

• At polygon subtraction the program forms common vertices at snapping points of BOTH polygons. Coupled with the Band Polygon Tool, this innovation saves a lot of time at creating of a road network model.
• Every Decorator tool has now its distinctive cursor facilitating tool applying. Besides, checking of map design elements’ size is provided for the modes with fixed size of these elements. The program generates corresponding message if the object is too small or of improper shape for applying of the selected tool.
• Interface of the Print dialog box is improved
  
  
  
• The bar of icon selection in the Attribute Value Parameters is recast.
• Specifying of layer settings is alternated. One may specify all necessary parameters in the main dialog box for layer control now.
  
  
  
• Complete revision of the Attribute Display Settings dialog
• It is possible now to specify DPI of the resulting raster at Resample utility applying.
• Line Type dialog box is recast: the Description column is added to the table, sorting is provided for all the columns, standard line types are added that may be copied and exported but may not be alternated. Line Type Definition dialog box is also revised. All alternations of the line pattern will be saved and represented at the same time.
• Insignificant changes: Status bar is added to the Settings dialog box, and design of the dialog boxes is alternated a little. Tracer tools’ settings are isolated into an individual menu, and the Reset to Default Settings button is added in the Tracing Strategies dialog box, and tracing speed control is also alternated a little.
  

• New abilities of the Band Tool (generating a buffer zone, i.e. a band polygon along the specified polyline). You may now create the axis line of the polygon at any specified layer.  
     
   
• At polygon subtraction, the program checks the case of non-overlapping polygons and resultant polygons composed of several isolated ones
• Criterion-based selection of objects is improved; new abilities are added:
  • Search among selected objects;
  • Add to selected objects;
• The dialog box for font installation is recast. Text scale may be specified now either in project units or in millimeters.
• Polygon filling is improved; new kinds of "transparent" filling are added
   
  
   
• The block rotation principle is a little changed: at present the base line is vertical one.
• The group editor is enhanced: there is a new option "Standard Windows style of object selection" in program settings. If this option is switched off the objects can be selected without Shift key pressed. At that Shift key causes new selection and reset of existing selected objects.
• MIF export facilities are enhanced: it is possible to use custom file of MapInfo projections; also "US Survey feet" units are now supported.
  

• A new tool is provided for elements of map decoration :
  • hatching of slopes;
  • signs of bowers, sheds, etc.
     
• Defining of user linetypes is revised: all line elements as well as line width are now measured in millimeters. It simplifies line defining in accordance with standards.
• Export of linetypes into the AutoCAD's LIN-file is provided.
• Interface of user linetype editing is alternated - defining of new linetypes is now much more handy.
• Advanced facilities at polygon filling: the user may choose one of 6 standard hatchings besides continuous filling. Hatching provides "transparency" of polygons. Polygon filling color may be specified independently of its boundary's color.
   
  
   
• The Group Editor is completely revised. Editing of circle and block parameters is added.
• The utilities of block exploding into composing entities and polyline transformation into a 3D-line and conversely have become functions of the Group Editor.
• The Select Objects dialog box is completely revised: interface is unified and selection criteria are added.
  
  
   
• New raster filters are provided. Several functions are added - diffusion, unsharp mask and contrast enchancement, etc. They significantly enlarge the range of raster data that may be prepared for vectorizing in Easy Trace.
  • Unsharp mask.
    
     
  • Contrast Enhancement (Levels tool).
    
     
  • Diffuse.
    
     
• The new tool "Generation of band polygon based on polyline specified" (creation of buffer zone) . Using tool's Parameters bar, one can specify the target layer and the method of polygon creation (at the left, at the right of the base polyline or symmetrically). Also there are fields for specifiing polygon cross size and polygon boundary line width. To create band polygon it is enough to point base polyline with mouse cursor.
  

• Editing
  • Polygon subtraction is provided: if the current object is a polygon, the "Split/substract" command subtracts from it any other polygon you specify (inside the current one).
  • Inversion of polyline's directions is added after their selection with the Group Editor.
  • At box selection, the objects crossed by the frame will be also selected if you drag the frame from right to left. At dragging from left to right, only objects totally falling into the frame will be selected, just as before.
  • Object rotation is now available at polyline editing. The polyline begins rotating around the first vertex just after you have selected this command. To select a new position of the line, click the left mouse button. To change the center of rotation, hold the SHIFT key pressed and specify the point you want to be the center with the left button. It the specified point is situated near a polyline vertex or segment it will be automatically dragged towards the corresponding polyline point.
    
• Attributes
  • Thematic polyline displaying is available now according to their attributes. Line color, style, and width can be adjusted.

    

  • Changes of the Project Layer Settings dialog box: the "Attribute display setting ." option is available now at line type selection for layers connected with a polyline database table. This option opens the corresponding dialog box. The "by attributes" inscription substitutes the line pattern for the layers having the thematic polyline design option on.
  • Changes of the Project Layer Settings dialog box: double click in the Point Table or Polyline Table column opens the dialog box of the corresponding database table, but not the entire database as it was before.
  • You may now set correspondence of attribute graphic presentation with their values in the Object Attributes dialog box (and thus the operator can now input object attributes in the WYSIWYG mode - by conventional signs in the raster). Use the "Attribute Display Settings" (Project Menu -> Database -> Polyline Table -> Visualization -> Edit) dialog box to set the correspondence, and the Locations page of the Settings dialog box to adjust the folder of icons.

    

  • STK-files are "canceled": the program storages all auxiliary database information in a united database.ini file.
    
• Export-Import
  • Multiply connected polygons ("cut rings" for example) may be optionally exported to the SHP or MIF-formats as multipoligons.
  • Selective import of the JET-format is available now - you may import line types, blocks, text styles, layer set together with its link to the database as well as the database structure itself.
  • Block name and rotation angle are now being saved as its attributes when you export blocks to the SHP-format as point objects. This feature allows you to use thematic presentation of point objects in ArcGIS.
  • At SHP-format import, notches in multipoligons are determined by its position only, not in the direction of path-tracing.
  • The font import bug is eliminated that led to default font (STANDARD) damage: 0th style now is always STANDARD when you open a file.
  • The bug of font import to the DXF and DWG formats is eliminated that prohibited from the import.
    
• Miscellaneous
  • You may optionally use the "Create Bound Line" utility to generate the reference point grid represented as crosses or solid lines. The utility is now called "Generate Frame and Grid".

    

  • Text and block generation: you may cancel object rotating and come untied of the insertion point applying the Undo command or the Escape key (right click only was previously stipulated for this operation).
  • An utility is provided that generates points with a specified spacing along polylines attributed to the specified layer. This utility distinctly simplifies creation of 3-D surface in target systems.
  • The error occurred at inscription generation is corrected that led to program crash if you tried to delete either a layer once specified for inscription generation, or its database.
  • The bug of block exploding is eliminated that led to incorrect transformation of embedded blocks.
  • The bug of polyline tracer is eliminated that prohibited sometimes from automatic closing/cutting.
  • The bug of the "Explode Blocks" utility is eliminated that often made the "Selected blocks" option inaccessible.
  • The bug of the "Explode Blocks" utility is eliminated that led to incorrect calculation of the circle diameter.
    

1. 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.
   
2. Editor: algorithm of polygon joining is revised:
   • Self-crossing polygons may be joined now.
   • The program does not fill holes in polygons but includes them to the outer contour as it happens at import.
   • The process has become faster (speed increase is noticeable when you process big polygons comprising thousands of pixels).
     
3. Polygon autoclosing/cutting: Algorithm of polygon autoclosing/cutting is revised to speed-up the process.
   
4. Export/Import:
   • export and import of raster files for the DGN format is provided now.
   • the bug at user line type export is corrected.
   • 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.
   • the program imports complicated polygons with holes from 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.
   • the bug of Mid-import is corrected that arose at Mif file import without database (i.e. if the "Import attributes" option is off).
     

1. An adjustable "Custom toolbar" is added to Easy Trace interface

   

   You often have to execute similar operations in sequence at raster to vector conversion and data correction in Easy Trace: to vectorize the raster to the layer X1 applying the Z1 tracing strategy of the Y1 tracer, then to vectorize the raster to the layer X2 applying the Z2 tracing strategy of the Y2 tracer, and so on. It is easy to make a mistake at that (for example, one may attribute hydrological objects to the Buildings layer or select the curvilinear tracer for vectorizing of orthogonal objects). The problem is particularly pressing at team work. The new version allows you to adjust a special bar of User tools. Every standard operation receives its name and icon that calls the assigned tracing tool, tracing strategy, and target vector layer. It is enough to click the icon for preparation to the standard operation (e.g., tracing of isolines). The User tool’s setting may looks like that:

   
   
2. Autoscolling at manual digitalization is improved. The program adjusts scrolling direction now to the direction of the line being traced.
   
3. Support of the Scroll mouse ("with a wheel") is provided. The caster turn scrolls the working window vertically, and if the SHIFT key is pressed – horizontally; the caster press causes zooming.
   
4. Autoclosing and polygon division function is improved. You may divide an existing polygon in two parts in the Autoclosing mode with the help of a tracer. To do it, create a line to cut the polygon along («the cutting line») that meets the following requirements:
   • to be entirely within the polygon,
   • each of its ends may be connected with the boundary of the polygon you want to divide in accordance with rules of autoclosing.
   Successful polygon dividing will be confirmed by a brief blinking of smaller polygon’s boundaries. The bigger polygon inherits attributes of the initial one, and the smaller polygon is considered to be a new-created one. It will be attributed to the current layer.
   
5. Topology Editor is improved. Any nodes may be deleted; left click at pressing of a key-modifier causes node tightening.
   
6. Individual Editor is improved. Autoclosing in the editing mode is brought into accord with this operation in the tracing mode, i.e. the "Close the line" command generates a closing line only on condition that the current layer is polygonal.
   

1. Updating of polygon closing:
   It is necessary sometimes to create vector objects that coincide exactly with contours of other objects belonging to other layers, i.e. objects of different layers should have common vertices. For example, lot boundaries may coincide with buildings, and fences.
   Previous to ET v. 7.6, one had either to copy objects to the desirable layer and cut the lines later, or to snap the contours manually - rather time-waste methods. Beginning from version 7.6, current polyline closing via existing ones is provided (the "Close" command). The closing may be fulfilled automatically at snapping of the second end of the polyline to be closed ( in the Parameter Bar of the Tracer). Unfortunately, sometimes this operation persistently created a polygon coinciding completely with contours of an object. So, the user had to select carefully the edge (or edges) to form the polygon relative to.
   
   The Polygon Closing function is updated in ET v. 7.7, and the program generates polygons correctly now. Automatic screen regeneration after polygon forming is added to the function for better control.
   
2. Updating of polygon division at tracing
   The ability to divide a polygon in two parts along a user-specified line with the help of a tracer appeared first in ET v. 7.6. Beginning from version 7.7, you may divide polygons that don’t necessary belong to the current layer. The smaller of the two new-formed polygons will be attributed to the current layer.
   How to do it?
   To divide a polygon in two parts, create the cutting line with the tracer of curvilinear, broken, or orthogonal lines. At that, the autoclosing mode should be on. The cutting line should meet the following requirements:
   
   • to be entirely within the polygon
   • to be snapped to the polygon with common vertices forming.
   
   Polygon dividing will be confirmed by brief blinking of smaller polygon’s boundaries. Bigger polygon inherits attributes of the initial one, and the smaller polygon is considered to be a new-created one and has no attributes.
   
3. Objects belonging to different layers must have common vertices sometimes. Manual correction of small discrepancies between these vertices at topology checking-up is a very laborious process. Besides, some of these vertices may be missing by mistake, and their manual input also takes a lot of time. That’s why the “Topology Correction” utility is added to ET v. 7.7. It superposes vertices belonging to different layers and situated within the specified distance and creates common vertices on different polylines. You may “freeze” a layer, i.e. protect it from changes (marked with the snowflake) and use it as a pattern.
   
   
4. Team processing of the project
   The "Subproject Generation" new utility enables team work over a big project organized in the following way:
   • create your general project containing all the rasters
   • create working projects (subprojects) containing one or several rasters added to the general one.
     
   
   
   At subproject creating the general one is used as a prototype, i.e. all its settings, layers, database structure will be copied. You may optionally control subproject creating from the general project (create their names and boundaries in the general one). Edge information (outside the project field) may be optionally added to the subprojects to simplify future arranging of vector data.
   
5. Quick input of attributes
   The concept of attribute input template is introduced - it allows input of the entire attribute totality with one click of the mouse button.
   Use the “>>” button to extend the Object Attributes dialog box.
   Existing attribute templates are represented in the lower part of the dialog box.
   
   
   
   The "..." button is meant for new template creating. Left button click - input of values from the template to the current record. Right button of the mouse - additional operations on templates.
   The program saves templates even if you refuse from attribute editing (i.e. click the Cancel button).
   
6. New adjustable hot keys
   - F2 - opens the dialog box for attribute input and editing;
   - F7 - cyclically changes the current layer - the next in the layer list visible non-frozen layer becomes current;
   - F8 - switch on / off the Line Vertices mode
   
7. New in the Orthogonal Tracer
   - angle fillet is provided for the manual mode; the list of angles is fixed and unajustable yet; quick (cyclical) change of rounding radiuses - the adjustable hot key "B"
   - The hot key “G”is added that switch on / off the Alignment by the Baseline mode.
   
8. Attributive data input
   One may now use mnemonic signs at attributive data input. In other words, clear interpretation of attribute values (that are often represented by numerical codes) is available. For example, the layer of buildings in your project is linked with the Buildings database table, and its Type attribute may possess one of the following two values - 1 (dwelling) and 2 (store). At attribute input you may now just write these words instead of their corresponding numbers. At that, codes (1,2) will be input to the Buildings table by the program
   
   
   
   In the shown example the record: USERID=13, Type=2 will be added to the Buildings table.
   To use attribute decoding (mnemonic signs) at input, edit first the file of the same name as the database table and the «.STK» extension applying any text editor (Notepad for example).
   In our example it’s the buildings.stk file containing:
   @Type
   1|dwelling|d
   2|store|s
   STK-file format:
   @<<FIELD NAME 1>>
   <<ATTRIBUTE VALUE 1.1>> | <<ATTRIBUTE DECODING 1.1>> | <<ABBREVIATION 1.1>>
   <<ATTRIBUTE VALUE 1.2>> | << ATTRIBUTE DECODING 1.2>> | << ABBREVIATION 1.2>>
   ...
   @<<FIELD NAME N>>
   << ATTRIBUTE VALUE N.1>> | << ATTRIBUTE DECODING N.1>> | << ABBREVIATION N.1>>
   ...
   If attribute decoding is not found, the program will use the value directly written by the operator
   A Wizard for STK-file creating will be added to the next Easy Trace version.
   
9. Generation of inscriptions
   At inscription generation on the base of the object’s attributive data the following field values are being used:
   - Abbreviation of the attribute value (d or s in our example). If not found, then:
   - Decoding of the attribute value (dwelling or store in our example). If not found, then:
   - Attribute value (1 or 2 in our example).

• New abilities at automatic merging of polylines and polygons
  New abilities are added to the utility of automatic polyline joining along a user-specified boundary. In contrast to previous ET versions, not only ends of unclosed lines may be sewed together, but polygons as well. It is particularly valuable when you unite map sheets processed as independent projects and thus have to merge entities present in both of them (rivers, roads, bounds of green plantations, etc.). Automatic control of attributive data and topology correctness is provided at joining
  
  
  Project fragments before merging:
  A. Merging line. B. Operator's mistake made at vectorization of the upper fragment:
  there is no line continuation. C. Roughness of manual vectorization - horizontal shift.
  D.Gap (about 2 pixels) as a result of incomplete line tracing near the boundary
  of the lower fragment in the manual tracing mode.
   
  Project fragments after merging:
  A. Merging line. B. Marked operator's mistake: there is no continuation. C. Roughness of the manual vectorization is corrected. D.The gap is removed.
   

• Polygon joining in the editing mode
  You may now join polygons with the help of the Editor together with automatic polygon joining. To be available for joining, the polygons should cross each other, or have a common edge, or a common vertex. Attributive data attached to the polygon(s) will be modified correctly while the operation.
  This new feature of the program is particularly useful when your source material contains a lot of polygonal objects (lot plans, etc.).
  How to do it?
  
• Polygon division at tracing
  You may now divide a polygon into two parts along a user-specified line at tracing.
  How to do it?
  
• Improved polygon selection
  It is enough now to click any point within a polygon to select it. The polygon will be selected if no other object could be selected by this click.
  

1. Complete revision of the project creation technology and raster adding and correction. Efficient and successive step-by-step execution with the help of Wizard is introduced for these operations. Unfortunately, project creation and setting have been remaining for beginners a barrier difficult to overcome. We have divided the process into simple and clear steps now that will be supported by a set of projects-prototypes.
   
2. Work is underway on a new class of automatic tools intended for recognition of objects of specific types. A new utility of circle recognition and classification according to their diameters is available in the present version. We are working at a mean of building recognition providing for coordinated processing of building groups. Automatic recognition of buildings and input of their attributes is planned for typified materials such as 1:2 000 maps. Prototype of the "Orthogonal Object Recognition" utility is included in the program version for test and consideration.
   
3. Repeated marking of topology errors is eliminated at topology checkup. Error marks are changed and systematized. The program creates and stores error marks on a special layer (_ERRORS_). The marks may be moved or deleted with the Editor and Group Editor.
   
4. Navigation from one error to another with the help of Error Editor is completely revised, it has become convenient indeed.
   
5. The "Cross intersections" test of the "Topology Checkup" utility is now supplemented with the option "Ignore overlapping". When it is on, the program does not mark complete overlapping of segments belonging to different polylines as an error.
   
6. The "Attributes" command is now available in Tracer's submenu on polyline tracing completion. It enables you to input attributes of the line you have just traced.

7. Attribute input is provided now for polylines generated at tracing of circles. At that, the technique of attribute input is identical to one at linear object tracing.

8. Functionality and the Control bar of the Circle tool are changed. Diameter list contains now only the values input manually. When in semiautomatic mode, you may specify diameter of the circle being traced in three ways:
   - "By raster" - circle diameter corresponds to its size in the raster.
   - "From the list" - diameter will be determined by raster, but then the most fitting diameter from the fixed diameter list will be used.
   - "Specific value" - the value should be specified or selected in the list, and the size of the corresponding raster entity will be ignored.
   "Screen copying" is added - click any traced circle with the mouse right button, and the tool will adopt its parameters.
   The list of used diameters "remembers" the layers attributed to corresponding circles. You may switch this "memory" off with the help of the option "Forbid implicit layer change on tool selection" (Service/Parameters...).
   It is possible to snap the center of a circle to a polyline applying the Shift or Control keys. All point objects now conform to the same rules of topological relations.

9. Control upon insertion point is provided for blocks created in Easy Trace.

10. Use of the "Eraser" tool is simplified and systematized. The right mouse button works as local Undo now.

11. "Inscription Generation" utility is added.
    Access: Utilities menu->Database Utilities->Inscription Generation.
    This utility allows text string compiling on the base of attributive data values and arbitrary characters. The string forms a text entity; its location depends on geometrical characteristics of the object. Position and orientation of the text entities meets the adopted inscription requirements. This utility is useful at attribute input control and enables forming of a special "cosmetic" layer in town building maps. Necessary correction of text entities' positions is minimal.
    

• The following new means of data management are added for successful forming of polygons:

  • Filled display mode for closed polylines. Filling is available for any layer or group of layers separately;

• The sequence order of the layers may be changed now for correct representation of filled areas. Raster and vector layers are available for drag and drop operations in the Project Layer Settings dialog box;

• Closing of the current polyline via existing ones. The "Close" command of the Tracers and the Editor of Polylines is aimed at polygon forming. If both ends of the line you want to close form common vertices with another polyline, the closing part of this second line will be copied. A similar operation will be also done if the polyline you want to close joins different polylines that have a common vertex. The closing may be fulfilled automatically at snapping of the second end of the polyline to be closed;

• The "Create Polygons" utility allows now polygon closing via the frame and "hauls" vertices within a user-specified distance.

• The "Export closed lines as polygons" option is added to Export into MapInfo format.

• A contrast display mode is provided for entities that are falsely devoid of attributes (identifier for linking with a database table). When in this mode, all the entities will be drawn in two colors:
  • muted for entities with attributive data or ones belonging to the layers that are not linked with a database;
  • bright for entities without attributes that should have had them (possible mistakes).

  The bright color will be changed for the muted one after linking of the entity with DB.

• A grid display mode is added. The grid specified in the Project>Project Properties dialog box is rather useful at inspection of raster fragments's junctions and for control of polyline joining at merger of projects.

• New abilities of automatic tracing. Tracing of polylines and filled areas are segregated. You may now specify a threshold value of line width to avoid tracing of filled areas. Parameters are provided for screening of different artifacts like "bridges", "spikes" and "strokes". Automatic outlining of areas may be done through centers or edges of boundary pixels.

• Wrong S-joining of polylines (the Gap Removing utility) is eliminated. Reliability of the "curvilinear" merging of ruptured polylines is increased, results of the operation need less editing.

• Specifying of the rules to be held at topology model forming is now available through the Project>Topology rules command. Difficult access to these settings hindered from use of the program's ability to form correct topology relations between vector entities automatically.

• A new "Resample" tool is added for proportional "stretching" along both the axes. The tool is useful at processing of rasters having low resolution and may sometimes do them fit for automatic tracing.

• The Rectangle tool allows size correction of traced rectangles according to specified patterns. A rectangle will be substituted for one from the pattern list if the difference of there size is within a user-specified tolerance. We are going to provide this feature for complicated orthogonal contours in future.

• Symbols marking topological mistakes and incorrect line joining at the boundaries of projects to be "sewed together" are simplified and systematized. Mark to mark navigation is now provided by the Editor of polylines, and these travels on the project field are optimized.
  

• Snapping mode determined by pressed SHIFT or CTRL key has become priority relatively the rules of topology creation specified in the Project>Topology settings dialog box. Pressed SHIFT or CTRL key always makes the program to form a vertex or a node correspondingly.
  
• The error occurred at copying of a polyline segment is corrected. The program chose a wrong part of a closed line for copying sometimes as it considered vertex number instead of length of the line part to be copied.
  
• The error occurred at placing of error marks after automatic polyline joining at project merging is corrected. Although the program didn't join the lines belonging to different layers at the sheet boundary, it didn't mark the situation as an error.
  
• The rare bug of polyline end vertices' displacement at line shape optimization is eliminated. It could cause unclosing of polylines and coherence violation.
  
• The bug of early polyline closing at filled area outlining is corrected.
  

• The Tracers dialog box is moved to the Tools menu (Tools>Tracing).

• A new layer for formed polygons will be created automatically if the layer list does not contain the name you have specified.

• Difference in cursor appearance in the manual and automatic tracing mode became greater.

• The options "Frozen" \ "Editable" feature of raster layers play the role of the "Forbid tracing of color rasters" option. If the raster is not "frozen", it is available for tracing.

• The list of tracing strategies contains only the strategies created for the current tracer.

• Cursor appearance is changed for the Point tool not to hide the insertion point.

• The "Brush" tool (raster editing) is improved to use both mouse buttons (drawing \ erasing). You may assign colors to the buttons directly in the raster, with the help of the "Eyedropper" tool.

Automatic tracing became faster, more reliable and high-quality.

Access:Utilities > Auto tracing

More details: new tracing algorithms have increased both speed of the processing and quality of its results. You may now specify the average width of raster lines in the dialog box of automatic tracing parameters to make the tracing (and subsequent joining of line ends) more accurate. The program automatically calculates this parameter by default. The options "Ignore spots with diameter less than" (this diameter is equal to the side of a circumscribed square) and "Delete lines with length less than" works more correctly now.