|
|
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| New in Easy
Trace 8.3 |
| |
| New
in build 1215 25.12.2006 |
 |
-
We strongly recommend to dim colors of the image as much as
possible. It does not cause problems for visual recognition
of objects but vector lines become well distinguishable against
a dark background. At that you may assign similar hues to vector
layers without fear to confuse them.
There was previously a problem with dim images - tools' cursors
and "rubber bands" of tracers were poorly distinguishable in
them. So, we have changed the cursors where
necessary, and now they are clearly visible against any background
as well as ones of editors.
- Another seemingly insignificant alternation concerns the "Snap
distant" term. Previously, a tool could seize an object
or a vertex when the distance to it didn't exceed this value
measured in screen pixels and dependent on size of the square
representing the vertex. It was a conflicting idea - small
squares better represent the line but are difficult to hit
and vice versa.
So, vertex size and snap distance are independent parameters
now. To specify the snap distance value, open Service->Project
Parameters->View.
DIGITIZATION
- The autoclose mode
of
tracers enables easy polygon forming when a closed ark-and-node
contour is ready. But you have to specify two points on the boundary
of future polygon, and it may be rather difficult sometimes.
A new mode is provided for tracers now in addition to the manual and
automatic ones - One-click
polygon creation.
You just click any point inside the polygon you want to create and it
will be formed automatically if there is a topologically
correct closed contour around this point formed by fragments of lines
and polygon boundaries.
The mode was particularly useful at coordination of automatically traced
polygons that represented forests with polylines of rivers and roads,
which bordered them. Of course, we applied the Topology Correction utility
first to form common vertices at polygons and polylines crossings.
- It is necessary to edit borders of polygons (especially traced
automatically) at polygon cover coordination with linear objects.
Polygon extension is very simple - start and finish the polyline of its
new boundary on the existing one in the autoclose mode and then add the
new-created polygon to the polygon you are editing.
Now, a new mode is provided for equally simple
deletion of a polygon part - Cut of polygons part.
It is available at manual and
automatic tracing
and also in the One-click polygon creation mode .
Just press SHIFT to switch the mode on/off. The
cursor becomes red or gets additional symbol (x) in the polygon deletion
mode to indicate difference from common tracing.
- Individual buttons are provided in the Parameters Bar of tracers
for automatic and manual tracing mode to exclude ambiguity at
mode selection.
- The algorithm of line segment copying is generally
revised (this operation is particularly important at
forming of adjoining polygons and coordination of polygonal
and linear objects). Besides, all polyline vertices automatically
become visible when the mode is on and return to the initial
presentation mode when it is off.
- At attributive data input for a polyline during tracing or
immediately on its completion, the line will be represented as
if selected with the Editor. It simplifies visual control - which
line receives the attributes.
- The following way of duplex line tracing (roads,
etc.) proved to be useful. In color images, it is enough to trace
the color "clamped" between two black lines after forming
of an additional color set. For a black-and-white image, make
an additional raster layer with the help of the Invert command
and add it to the project.
(Note, that the package also provides another way to vectorize the roadway
and its axial line - you may trace one of the lines and apply the Band
Polygon command).
The algorithm of color set forming by
a template from a "seed-point" was revised for better road
tracing along the color between two black lines.
- The Auto Tracing Utility is alternated a little:
automatic "View all" scaling mode at start of the utility
is canceled. At selection of autotracing parameters, you may
now compare them inspecting a chosen part of the image (without
searching this part after every test).
UTILITIES
- The Autodetect Swamps utility is added
to the utility group designed for after-treatment of vectors
after automatic tracing. It is well known that bogs in topographical
materials are represented by a conventional symbol (a series
of horizontal lines) whereas GIS interprets them as polygons.
ALthough Easy Trace has a specialized tool for bog tracing
,
some maps may be too complicated for it. For example, in Siberia
one sheet of a topological map 1:400 000 may contain several
thousands bogs of complex shape.
The Autodetect Swamps utility automatically creates
polygons requiring just little manual correction basing on digitized
hatches. On the whole, the process comprises:
- isolation of hydrography layer with the Subject
Layer Extraction tool
;
- filtering
-
the Swapms extraction strategy;
- automatic vectorization;
- "trash" deletion, identification of hatches, and polygon
forming with the Autodetect Swamps utility
Note: the utility may be useful even if you
are not going to trace bogs at all! Rivers, lakes, and
bogs are often represented in the same blue color in topographical
maps. When hatches of bogs are identified, digitized, and deleted
from the source image, you receive "pure" hydrography.
In our project for example there were more than one thousand
lakes and rivers only in two map sheets. We managed to separate
them from bogs and trace automatically.
- The set of mask filters is increased - new filters are added
for arial objects and for hatches (bogs).
- The Topology Optimization utility
got a new feature - you may now specify editable and "frozen" (unalterable)
layers. Similar to the Topology Correction utility, there is
the snowflake mark
near "frozen" layers,
and the pencil mark near
editable ones.
EDITOR
- Attributive data input as a separate operation (rather than
a step of object tracing) is convenient when the map contains
a lot of objects with similar attributes. It both speeds up digitization
and enables you to use the Group Editor
.
On the other hand, search and selection of objects without attributes
takes much time even in the specialized view mode of their "highlighting" .
Now the Editor provides automatic targeting of objects without attributes
with the help of the and keys
in the "Objects without ID" mode. I.e. you needn't change scale
and manually scroll the working window in search of such objects.
Actually, we applied the same mechanism as for navigation by error marks,
which is already habitual for ET users. It is also added to the Z-input
tool for search of contours without Z values.
- The navigation itself is somewhat improved. First, a "buffer
zone" along the border of the working window is provided.
It saves from situation when the error mark is partly visible
on the border and the error it indicates is already outside the
screen.
Second, it is convenient to place long objects in the center of the working
window. That's why the When moving to the next object
always place it to center of the screen option
is available now in the System Settings dialog box ("Others" page).
It controls object positioning at execution of the «Next error » and «Previous
error » commands.
When the option is off, an object situated within the working window
and outside the 10% buffer zone will not be placed in the center.
Z-INPUT TOOL
- The following alternations are made in the Z-input tool
:
- The "Go to the nearest uninitialized
contour"
command
is added to the tool submenu. When selected, the working
window shifts and the nearest contour without Z-value
appears in the center;
- The commands "Delete Z labels" and "Parameters" are
deleted from the tool's Parameters bar;
- "Z-checking" option in the Parameters bar is
renamed for "Confirm"
- "Z Parameters " dialog box
is alternated:
- the fields Zmin and Zmax are transferred to the "View" page
;
- the Basic Z value field
is added in the "Main" page (to be used when
zero Z value is not provided for intermediate or index
contours, e.g. -50, 50, 150...);
- Z palette gets renewed at alternation of the range of
possible Z values.
- Z indication mode is
improved:
- non-contour polylines (ones belonging to the layers,
which are not listed in the table in the "Main" page)
are drawn in gray. They don't hamper Z input any more and
you needn't switch them off;
- presentation of text objects (also in gray) is restored
(it was canceled when the "Show Text " mode
was
added ).
- Scientific type of number presentation in the "Z" field
is canceled. "E" may be now used as a hot key.
MISCELLANEOUS
- The Project Parameters->View dialog
box is alternated: there are only two color sets now - for black-and-white
and color images correspondingly. Size of cursor, vertex, etc.
is common for both color sets.
- Bug is corrected in the Line Forming utility (Auto Tracing
group) - it ignores ends of unclosed polylines now to avoid forming
of numerous unwanted segments.
- A lot of new prompts are added that appear in the Status Bar
at different situations. Besides, special fields are provided
for option explanation in some dialog boxes.
|
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| New
in build 1200 01.11.2006 |
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- Upper bound
of line width in regular and group editors is increased up to 20
- Auto-detecting circles utility is fixed: there was an error of radius
reduction to templates specified.
- Auto-detecting ortho-objects utility: option allowing deletion of
original polylines is added
- The bug of closing command of ortho-tracer is fixed.
- Inscriptions generation utility:
- the parameter “Put inscriptions to the layer” is
stored for every inscription template separately;
- the parameter “Start editing of inscription” is
moved to Attributes dialog.
- Project inspection utility: the error of start scale definition
is fixed.
- Text editor: the error of text extent definition is fixed. This
error sometimes caused the problems of text catching.
- Topology utilities: the error of test import is fixed.
|
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| New in
build 1198 15.10.2006 |
 |
- The Inscription Tool first
developed for the previous ET version proved to be extremely
useful and thus we made efforts for its further improvement.
First of all, you may now specify an area you want to review
rather than to revise entire project. It means that the tool
may be applied for "nonrectangular" projects, for selective
inspection of a user-specified zone, and inspection may start
at any area of the project.
Besides, you may now change review scale (frame size) and frame overlapping
without operation restart from the beginning.
- At last! The Point, Block, and Text tools may be now among
Custom Tools. Besides, there may be up to 3 Custom tools' bars
now!
It seems insignificant, but try to work at a project comprising more
than FIFTY layers! It will not be long before you realize that about
one third of your working time is devoted to selection of required layers
in the project layer list. One hour more, and you are ready to break
your PC ...
So, group in the three bars MAIN custom tools for creation of linear
and point objects, but do not fall into extreme - you needn't ALL layers
in the panels!.
Note that every tool has its own settings.
- An improvement that gives second wind to the autoclosing
mode. It is enough now to click inside a space bordered with
polylines (roads, rivers, polygon boundaries, etc.) to form
a polygon out of it. You needn't any more select a line of
its future boundary and copy two points - just click inside.
This is true for Curvilinear, Broken, Orthogonal, and Dotwise
Tracers
- Control over project view modes is improved.
First of all, concurrent screen output of black-and-white and color images
is alternated. Previously, OR operation was used at overlapping of black-and-white
images on color ones, which gave their unnatural presentation. Now, the
following options of black-and-white image output are available:
- invisible - the images are quite "transparent", only tracing
tools "see" them;
- visible - black-and-white images overlay color ones without
distortion of their color;
- OR mode, as previously. It may be useful for comparison
of black-and-white images.
To select the last mode, click the Combine
colors at overlapping of black-and-white images option in the Service
-> System settings -> Others page. This option substituted
the "Forbid transparent presentation of black-and-white rasters" one
.
- A view mode is added, which switches the text off. Automatic
generation of inscriptions is extremely effective for control
of completeness and accuracy of attribute data input, but numerous
inscriptions may hamper tracing and check of tracing quality.
The mode simplifies search of objects skipped at tracing and
solution of geometrical problems.
- Control of attribute-based inscription generation is improved:
- the "Alignment of generated text" parameter
is added. Its possible values are LEFT and CENTER, independently
for every template;
- the "Text height" parameter is now independent.
- slope angle also may be different in different templates.
I.e., street name may be written along the line, but
inscription in a polygon will be horizontal;
- layer list is organized alphabetically.
- Development, storage and use of mask filters is completely
revised. A new module is added - Repository. It contains strategies,
filters, and masks that may be used for quick development of
new filters.
Quick analysis of alternations caused in the image by a mask filter is
provided - they are shown as blinking pixels.
And a lot of other features! In general, mask filtering became understandable
at last, and it is described in the article .
- Not only mask filters can compare two black-and-white images
- a new tool is added just for this purpose.
- Object Attributes dialog box is essentially alternated.
The "Parameters" button is added , which allows to specify the following
options:
- open the dialog automatically for every next object at attribute check-up;
- jump to the next object if OK button is clicked at attribute check-up;
Besides:
- Empty line is admissible now when the Auto option is checked (it is
equal in rights with other values).
- If parameters of attribute-based inscription generation are not specified,
the "Generate Inscription" button is accessible all the same
- the program prompts you to make settings if you click it.
- Text section in the drop-down list of attribute values was limited
to 8 lines, and longer lists demanded scrolling. Now the program calculates
text section's size reasoning from size of other sections and specified
maximal size of the drop-down list.
- Point and comma both may separate integer and fractional parts.
- The Check Polygon Cover utility is significantly improved
- it may now check partly formed covers.;
- Bookmarks became less actual when Inspector was developed,
but nevertheless:
- a new-added bookmark appears at the bottom of the list and becomes
current,
- the Go to Next (F5) and Go to Previous (Shift+F5) commands restore
the current bookmark first if you change scale or position after you
have put it;
- "Delete current bookmark" command is added.
- The Object Attributes dialog box appears if you "transfer" an
object from one layer to another (if the "Acquire attribute
input at object creating" option is on for the target
layer).
- A hot key is provided for the Polyline Resize
/ Shifting tool - J by default. Object capture by
the tool is improved. For example, it is enough to click
inside a polygon to widen it.
- Positioning of lengthy objects of the _ERRORS_ layer and "unchecked" objects
became better. The object is always on the screen when you
jump to it.
- Hatched Area Tracer ("Bog Tracer") is improved:
- right click completes polygon forming;
- the tool is affected by the "Acquire attribute input at object
creation" option;
- the program automatically rounds butt-ends of polygons.
- The "Display vector information at scrolling" option
is deleted as an outdated one. Instead, the "Fill
polygons at scrolling" option is added. It is on by
default. On the other hand, it may be reasonable to switch
it off if you use a high-resolution LCD display but a weak
video board.
- Bug correction. Warning about insufficient resources could
appear when loading images about 1 GB large, even if you specified
a suitable disk for temporary data location.
- Bug correction in the Project Attributes dialog box - text
in the attributive fields looked double sometimes.
- Bug correction in the Mark Objects as (Un)verified utility.
The program didn't put marks but inverted them if "Selected
objects" option was on.
|
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| New in Easy
Trace 8.2 |
| |
| New in
build 1191 31.08.2006 |
 |
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.
There are other ways to simplify attribute input and check by they all
require thoughtful project preparation ( whereas alternations of the
qualifier are often being made just in motion!).
First of all, they comprise careful setting of domains (ranges of possible
values) for every attributive field, as well as refusal to fill some
fields at all. It does not mean of course that these fields remain empty,
by they may be filled automatically as there values depend on values
in other fields.
It may be much easier to make a simple
software for post-processing - final modification of attributive
tables after vectorizing. For example, fields Number of Storeys,
Fire Resistance, Material and Dwelling/Non-Dwelling were provided
for buildings. Our operators typed values in one field only
and a simple program sorted them out by the fields later.
It may be also reasonable to increase number of vector layers and decrise
ranges of possible attribute values. Less variants - less mistakes.
In general, orginize your work constructively!
Well, let us return to the news...
- Generation of attribute-based inscriptions
proved to be very useful at attribute data control. But difficulties
arise when the image is overfull with inscriptions.
If this is the case, the only convinient way to deal with the
numerous generated inscriptions is to place them over corresponding
inscriptions in the image. This approach simplifies accuracy
controll also as it is difficalt indeed to miss mismatches.
Two options are added to the Generate Inscriptions Utility for inscription
positioning:
- Start editing of generated text -
the program starts editing mode jsut after attribute input,
and the new-generated inscription is already selected and ready
for move;
- Always place the text horizontally -
for layers with areal (polygonal) objects.
Inscriptions made of gaps only as well as decimal point and following
zeros of numbers with empty decimal part are not output any more.
- Unlike automatic check of topology for linear and polygonal
objects (after forming of a set of tests of course!) check of
attribute values taken directly from the image requires an orderly
review of the vectorized map sheet. At that you may move the
viewport with the cursor keys but any zooming disturbs the order
of review and you only approximally return to the point where
it happened.
The Inspection mode is provided now for an orderly and scrupulous inspection
of material. Specify the scale and the way of review, and you are sure
not to miss any centimeter of the project.
The project field will be divided in a stipulated number of shots with
a specified mutual overlapping. The M and N hot keys are provided to
jump to the next or previous shot. At that you may "go for a walk " along
a lengthy object or zoom in when necessary. Next press of the M key (next
shot) returns you to the shot from where you started. Press the key once
more to jump to the next shot.
- Attribute Domain Setting is simplified - double klick in the
cell of the table opens the dialog box for the selected attribute.
- Output of point heigh marks in the View Z mode is alternated
- the points have the color of the layer now rather than the
colors corresponding to their Z values. It makes them more noticeable
on the screen.
- Precision of the Medial Line tool is now specified in fractions
of raster pixel, as it is much more obvious .
- Corrected bugs and shortages:
- The bug is corrected, which caused monstrous drawing
deceleration for polygons with TRANSPARENT filling and
THICK boundary line. A rear but indicative case - the bug
was not in the program code but in API Windows. Polygon
drawing is now being done in another way...
- The program preserves line thickness at import now.
Generally speaking, line thickness is useful at digitization
only for object classification control. But if you have
to alternate the project-prototype "while running", you
may want to import some already digitized data back into
it. That is the case line thickness import is provided
for.
- The bug is corrected, which caused line thinning in
blocks at import of a block set from another project. Unexpected
transparency of blocks filled in the source project was
a particularly unpleasant surprise.
- The bug is corrected in the Generate Inscriptions by
Object Attributes dialog box - the program deleted the " Put
inscriptions on the layer of labeled objects " mark
if you clicked the Cancel button .
- The Blocks dialog box: automatic expanding is provided
for the block number column (that cut off three-figure
numbers previously).
- Compulsory substitution of black color in raster layers
for the "default" color at project loading is canceled.
The "default" color should be specified explicitly once,
when you add the image to the project
.
- Generation of inscriptions: if no inscription template
is specified for a layer and the "generate inscriptions" option
is marked in the Object Attributes dialog box the program
does not suggest any more to generate the missing template
after attribute alternation .
- A mean of description correction is provided for linetypes
incompatible with ACAD standards .
- The Attribute Value Parameters dialog box for point objects:
a bug is corrected, which caused rescaling after alternation
of screen output parameters for a group of objects
.
- Hatched area tracer ("Bog Tracer") was damaged in one
of previous versions (and when? No information from users!)
so that it often formed contours with chaotic protuberances.
The tool is completely recast, and polygon merging algorithm
is alternated to avoid forming of "sausage garland" instead
of a united polygon.
- The Medial Line of Polygons tool: the bugs are corrected
that could cause program hang or error messages.
|
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| New in build 1180 29.05.2006 |
 |
- Help articles about forming of the topological
model, thematic displaying, and attribute applying
in Easy Trace are completely rewritten. You will find them
in the Easy Trace HELP sections "Database. Working with
attributes -> Database operations" and "Vectorizing
Technologies -> Topology in Easy Trace".
- Import from ArcGIS is improved. The domains of the CLASS_ID
field are being imported now. Although ArcGIS does not regards
them as normal domains (they are called "subtypes"), it helps
a lot at Easy Trace adjustment to the qualifier applied in the
ArcGIS-prototype. You need not "draw" them into tables
manually, the program automatically takes the domains for attribute
table setting at import from MDB files.
- Special folders (added SHX-fonts, icons of conventional signs,
filling patterns and icons of customer tools) belong to the project
now rather than to the program. They are stored in the project
folder now and thus you may move it to another working place
without any problem.
- Thematic displaying of lines is improved - the rounding of
line thickness is up to 0.1 pixel instead of 0.5.
- The Topology Correction utility is enhanced. It now considers
not polylines only but also points and insertion points of blocks.
- Import of the block set from AutoCAD: 3D-polylines of blocks
are being imported as usual (planar) lines.
- Context help is now provided for error marks. Select an error
and press F1 to open the HELP page describing this error.
- Tips are added to dialog boxes of the Generate Inscriptions
by Object Attributes and Topology Structure optimization utilities
and Tracer setting
.
- The following bugs are corrected:
- Error mark generating utilities check if any mark has
been generated before they start the editing mode for correction.
- Special error marks are provided for missed vertices
and vertex duplication in the Topology Check-up utility.
Previously, the program generated the "Cross-intersection" and "Vertices-intersection" marks
instead
.
- Coordinate transformation at Import/Export: the program
ignores empty lines in the CPT-file now. Previously, it
considered such CPT files as ones with wrong format.
- Medial Line tool: the bug is corrected, which could
cause clipping of rather long "tails".
- Generate Inscriptions by Object Attributes dialog box:
maximal length of inscriptions is increased up to 100 mm
in the hard copy instead of previous 10 mm.
- Topology Correction utility: the bug is corrected, which
arose when the "Consider polyline ends only" option
was on. Previously, the result depended on the order of
polylines, i.e. on the order of layers and polylines belonging
to each of them .
- The Transfer Z to/from Database dialog: the bug is corrected,
which caused program termination if there were no fields
in the project suitable for Z data storage .
|
| |
| New in build 1172 15.03.2006 |
 |
- The Generate Inscriptions by Object Attributes utility is improved:
- the unit of text height is mm of paper now;
- you may put inscriptions to the layers of the objects they relate to;
- inscription of a unclosed polyline will be generated over its longest segment;
- defining of the insertion point and direction is improved at inscription generation for closed polylines;
- if a single object should be labeled (when you close the Object Attributes dialog box), the program tries to place
the inscription within the area represented on the screen;
- for one-line inscriptions generated while in the tracing mode,
the Editor will be taken automatically to specify the insertion point and text inclination;
- if you try to generate inscriptions on a frozen layer, the program prompts you to unfreeze it or to cancel the
operation;
- It is needless to open the Object Attributes dialog box in the Unverified
Objects' Indication mode at good visualization of attributes. The mark verified/unverified
will be deleted automatically if you use the Shift+F/Shift+V combination
(instead of usual F/ V hot keys) to navigate to the next/previous unverified
object.
- Relief vectorizing remains a topical task as well QC of the operation
results. The Break Search utility is added to check smoothness of resulting
vector lines. Accordingly, a new error mark is provided - "Polyline
break".
- The Convert Blocks to Points utility is added.
The blocks selected with the Editor or belonging to the selected layer become points. If the target layer where the points will be generated is linked with an attribute table,
block names and inclination angles may be saved to it as attributes.
The utility may be useful at transfer from a collection of ACAD drawings to a full value GIS. For example, at pipeline management.
- The Topology Check-Up utility considers point objects (points and blocks) at last. The errors mean the following for these objects:
- «Dangling node» marks a point object that does not coincide with any vertex or node of any polyline.
On the other hand, a polyline end coincident with a point object does not form a dangling node ;
- «Vertex» marks a point object that coincides with a vertex, but not a node of any polyline;
- «Pseudo node» indicates doubling of point objects of the same layer. The At Attribute Coincidence option is ignored.
- Output of Project Information is modified to simplify automatic calculation of operator labour cost:
- regional settings are no more in use at output of information on length of polylines belonging to a layer and number of vertices per length unite (to avoid gaps between digits, which were difficult to deal with);
- data on length of polylines and number of point objects is now represented in the first two columns of the report.
It is simple to make an EXCEL table for calculation of standard time at
map sheet vectorizing basing on the average time required for input of a
point object and 1 km of vector line belonging to a certain layer. Thus,
payment by results can be easily introduced for operators.
- The tool of contour enlarging/contraction is useful
if you want to input only centerline of a road represented by a double line.
It can now draw "parallel curves" for unclosed polylines. It means
that you vectorize one roadside and then shift the curve to location of the
centerline missing in the image.
- A similar task - centerline drawing - but for elongated polygons
- can be solved by the Polygon Centerline tool. A
typical example of the tool applying is forming of a river net for scaled-drawn
rivers.
- The Check Polygon Cover utility is improved. It
became faster and check of some rear ambiguous cases is added.
- Editing of non-empty attributive data table's structure has become available at last!
Previously, we often faced the situation when the customer asked to add several forgotten fields to the datatable when a pilot project was half-ready...
Records remain mostly unchanged at table editing. "Mostly" means that data will be surely lost if you delete the field it is written in, and long records will be shorten if you make corresponding fields shorter. You will be warned anyway...
It should be noted that manipulations over the table don't influence settings of thematic displaying.
The following operations are available:
- change of the fields' order;
- field adding and deletion;
- adding of the specialized fields _X_CPT_ and _Y_CPT_ designed for coordinates of reference points in the target system
(to be used for transformation of vector objects' coordinates at Import or Export);
- copying of table structure not from a DBF-file only,
but also from a table linked to another layer of the current project;
- editing of field names and formats in the table directly, without opening of a special dialog box.
- The hot key for thematic displaying on/off is changed - it is Alt+D
now;
- First and end points of a polyline in the Polyline Vertices
mode are now marked with filled squares similar to the Polyline
Ends mode.
- Two view modes are added for the Binarize and Create Color Set tools:
initial image is displayed at Shift pressing,
pixels included in the current mask only are displayed at Ctrl pressing;
As it has been already mentioned above, a great "mistake correction work" was done in ET v. 8.2 due to applying of a new compiler and some slackness of the vectorizing market after the New Year.
- Bug correction: the Topology Correction utility distorted polyline form badly due to "swinging" of high-order filters (trimming of filter accuracy and length are changed as well as estimation of preliminary smoothing);
- Bug correction: after Undo applying in the Subject Layer
Extraction tool, alternated RGB values of the selected pixel
remained in the Parameters Bar of the dialog box.
- Bug correction: the Z Check utility (in the "Check-up
contours crossed by rivers" mode) marked a false error
on the last (with stream) crossed isoline.
- Bug correction: polygons with holes could be damaged at
export sometimes (if the "remove bridges" option
was on).
- Bug correction: coordinates were shown wrongly in the Control
Points dialog box at Export/Import with coordinate transformation
using control points from a layer, although it didn't influence
the operation itself;
- Bug correction: the Topology Check-up
and Topology Correction utilities stopped when number of
vertices in a polyline exceeded 8190. The program now does not alternate
such lines but copies them to the layer of errors and generates
a corresponding message with the operation completed.
- Bug correction: line form optimization didn't occur at tracing
of a self-crossing line;
- Bug correction: point import from a CSV
file was impossible unless all 4 values (point type,
X, Y, Z) were specified;
- Bug correction: the program didn't cut out "holes" from
polygons at import from MDB/MXD;
- Bug correction: import of "holed" polygons
and check-up of coordinate correctness for points and polylines
vertices are provided for data import from MAP (GIS Panorama);
- Bug correction: abnormal termination of the program occurred if you specified an object different from polyline with the Shears tool in the "existing polygon" mode (at Control pressed);
|
| |
| New in Easy
Trace 8.1 |
| |
| New in build 1151 25.11.2005 |
 |
- 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 in Easy
Trace 8.0 |
| |
| New in build 1118 18th of Jule 2005 |
 |
- 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.
|
| New in
build 1107 13th of of April 2005 |
 |
- 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.
|
| |
| New in Easy
Trace 7.95 |
| |
| New in build 1043 of 23rd of November 2004 |
 |
- 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.
|
| |
| New in Easy
Trace 7.9 |
| |
| New in build 1012 of 1st of June 2004 |
 |
- 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.
|
| New in Easy
Trace 7.9 build 996 of 9th of March 2004 |
 |
- 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).
|
| New in Easy
Trace 7.9 build 987 of 29th of December 2003 |
 |
- 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 in Easy
Trace 7.8 of 25th September 2003 |
| |
| New in build 935: |
 |
- 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.
|
| New in build
919: |
 |
- 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 in build 907: |
 |
- 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.
|
| |
| New in build 903: |
 |
- 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.
|
| New in build
883: |
 |
- 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.
|
| New in Easy
Trace 7.7 of 21th of January 2003 |
| |
| New in build 866: |
 |
- 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:
- 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).
- 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.
- 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).
|
| New in build 860: |
 |
- 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:
- Autoscolling at manual digitalization is
improved.
The program adjusts scrolling direction now to the direction of the line
being traced.
- 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.
- 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.
- Topology Editor is improved.
Any nodes may be deleted; left click at pressing of a key-modifier causes
node tightening.
- 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.
|
| New in build 853: |
 |
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

- 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.
- 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).
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 in Easy Trace 7.6 of 15th of May 2002 |
| |
| New in build 837: |
 |
- 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.
|
| New in build 830 |
 |
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Navigation from one error to another with the help of Error
Editor is completely revised, it has become convenient indeed.
- 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.
- 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Control upon insertion point is provided for blocks created
in Easy Trace.
-
Use of the "Eraser" tool is simplified and systematized.
The right mouse button works as local Undo now.
-
"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.
|
| New in build 813 |
 |
|
-
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.
|
| Bugs and inaccuracy corrections |
 |
- 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.
|
| Unimportant changes |
 |
-
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.
|
| New in Easy
Trace 7.5 of 15th of January 2002 |
| Full revision of the automatic tracing utility |
 |
| 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. |
| New operation "Specify areas" |
 |
| This operation enables you to specify several
areas to be traced automatically or vice versa to be excluded
from automatic tracing. Combination of automatic and semiautomatic
tracing allows one to reduce total time of raster to vector
conversion.
Access:Utilities > Specify areas
More details: the "Specify areas" utility makes
it possible on the project field to:
- Specify a set of polygonal areas to be traced in the
automatic mode;
- Exclude areas "difficult" for the automatic
tracer. Specify these areas and than select the "Invert"
command of the submenu to make them unavailable for auto
tracing.
|
|
| New operation "Filtering of black-and-white
rasters" |
 |
| Apply this operation to improve significantly
the quality of the rasters obtained by scanning and/or color
separation. Improvement of raster line shape makes subsequent
tracing more rapid and simple.
Access (at raster editing):Edit > Filtering
More details: it's possible to select one of the standard
strategies, so user is able to choose the strategy that is
the most suitable for the source material. If there are no
apropriate standard strategy user can create special strategy
using existing filters. Considered sequence of filters (filtration
strategy) allows sometimes to make badly defective rasters
suitable for automatic tracing.
Standard filtration strategy "Thin isolines"
This strategy supposes that your source material is represented
by thin, long, and winding lines without crossings (relief
isolines for example).
1. "Soft line separation / knob removal"
Before filtration, it is often possible to detect neighboring
lines stuck together, even in a badly eroded raster. Gluing
removal enables routine recognition and processing of the
lines.
2. "Removal of local defects"
Successful line processing often becomes possible after removal
of erosion and parasitic knobs that are plentiful in lines
after color separation. This filter corrects most of these
defects and thus promotes good work of binding filters. Besides,
it deletes evident gaps in lines.
3. "Line thinning and line end lengthening"
Successful line processing often becomes possible after artificial
extension of hanging line ends that shortens gaps in the lines.
Besides, this filter sharpens ends of thick lines and thus
makes the direction for search of line continuation more evident.
4. "Dash line binding"
Although most of isolated raster points are just "rubbish",
some of them may help the program to bind line shreds over
a rather long gap. It is particularly useful if the gap coincides
with an abrupt line curve.
5. "Short gap binding"
This filters binds most of short (1-2 pixels) gaps. It also
serves as the base for the "Long gap binding" filter.
6. "Long gap binding"
This filter is based on three operations - "lengthening
- binding - backoff". Besides, more "aggressive"
binding may be used under the assumption that the neighboring
relations have been already restored and it will not cause
errors.
The "backoff" operation shortens the line ends the
program failed to bind and thus restores their initial state.
7. "Cavity filling"
Smoothing and cavity filling conclude the strategy, otherwise
this operation will unite closely set lines having at least
one common point. But these events occur locally enough and
often coincide with crossings of isolines and grid lines,
inscriptions, etc. These sites should be either traced manually
or entirely edited before/after vector joining after automatic
tracing.
Applying of smoothing and cavity filling at an early processing
stage may be also useful as it enables the program to bind
much more gaps. The damage caused by false filling at "narrow"
places may be significantly less than the profit of successful
binding.
8. "Line shortening"
If line ends at the gap look past each other, line lengthening
may prevent correct joining of vector lines after tracing.
As line ends were lengthened at the third processing stage,
this filter shortens them down to their initial stage. It
will certainly shorts some "useful" ends of untied
lines too, but also a great number of "rubbish"
segments. After shortening these segments will be successfully
delete at the final stage of raster cleaning.
9. "Strict line separation"
After binding, smoothing, and cavity filling, the program
can recognize confidently many line contiguities to grid lines,
text, etc. This filter breaks these ties much more "aggressively"
than one used at the first stage.
10. "Removing of knobs and short segments"
This filter shortens thin knobs, deletes separate points and
short segments. It helps to diminish amount of errors at the
stage of vector joining as many of them are caused by short
vector segments of confused directions. |
|
| New operation in the "Merge Rasters"
utility |
 |
| This operation is intended for "subtraction"
of rasters placed on the project field "one over another".
Access: Utilities > Merge Rasters
More details: ability is added to delete data of the
specified raster layer from the resultant raster. The emptied
places will be filled with a user-specified color. This operation
is useful at color raster "stratifying" into thematic
layers. For example, you may delete grid lines and water objects
from the layer of relief isolines. |
|
| New utility "Rasterize vector data" |
 |
| You may now "imprint" vector data
into a raster layer of your project with a selected color.
Access: Utilities> Rasterize vector data
More details: here is a simple example of the utility
applying. Color separation gives sometimes rasters containing
not only objects of the target color but also undesirable
ones (coordinate grid in the Hydrography raster) that hampers
tracing. To remove the grid from the Water body raster, act
as following:
- Trace the grid;
- Specify the width of raster lines equal to the width of
raster lines;
- Fulfill "rasterization" of the traced grid on
the Hydrography layer applying black color;
- Trace water objects.
|
|
| New operation "Crop Raster" |
 |
| This operation allows you to make rectangular
cropping of rasters just on the project field.
Access: Project > Crop Raster
More details: sometimes you need to link to the project
field a raster that is already registered in a GIS and supplied
with a corresponding file (TFW, CPT, TAB). Using of this file
at raster linking ensures you against problems at data transfer
to the target GIS. At the same time, this raster may content
useless information outside the area to be traced. Cropping
of these margins saves time at data processing.
Another example is assembling of raster fragments into the
entire raster field. Some fragments may overlap each other.
Cropping of the rasters you have already added to the project
helps to avoid ambiguity in the overlapping areas.
After cropping area specifying, you may correct its size
and position on the raster field of your project. |
|
| New utility "Create polygons" |
 |
| This utility enables one to create a set
of polygons out of polylines of the specified vector layers.
Access: Utilities > Create polygons
More details: the "Create polygons" utility
makes on the specified layer a set of polygons that correspond
to minimal (nonoverlapping) polygons formed by polylines attributed
to the user-specified layers. Optionally it marks out the
following errors:
- Self-intersection, i.e. crossing of segments belonging
to the same polyline;
- "Cross"-intersection - mutual crossing of two
polylines without node forming or overlapping of segments
belonging to different polylines;
- "Vertex"-intersection - mutual crossing of two
polylines with vertex forming;
- "Dangling nodes" - line ends that don't belong
to any of the resultant polygons.
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| New abilities at export into TOP (CREDO) format |
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| At export into TOP format, you may now input
for every layer some data specific for the CREDO system.
Access: File > Export
More details: in accordance with recommendations of
the CREDO-DIALOG firm, new options are provided for export
into TOP format. Now you may specify for every layer:
- Flag of relief data present on this layer;
- Number of its corresponding CREDO-layer;
- Code for conventional of the layer (parameter /K:xxx);
- Code for point conditional sign of the layer lines (parameter
/KL:xxx).
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| Extended abilities of the selection criterion function
at group editing |
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| You may now select polylines consisting at
most specified number of vertices. It has also become possible
to select objects according to their attribute values (if
any).
Access:Group Editor submenu > Selection criterion
> "Select objects" dialog box
More details:
- Specify a non-zero value in the "max.vertices"
field, and the polylines having not more vertices than this
number will meet the selection criterion.
- If you want to select some objects (points or polylines)
belonging to the same layer and bringing attributive data,
you may use an attribute value as a selection criterion.
To do it, specify the desirable attribute (select it in
the list of database fields), its value, and the mode of
compare with this value ("equal", "less",
etc.).
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| New operation "Polyline splitting along polygon
boundaries" at group editing |
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| This operation enables selection of line
fragments within user-specified areas.
Access: Group Editor submenu > Shears
More details: As a rule, there are a lot of subsidiary
lines (inscriptions, topographic signs, coordinate grid, etc.)
in source rasters. At automatic tracing, they will be traced
together with ones bearing useful information. To delete these
polyline fragments, act as following:
- Select the "Shears" operation in the Group
Editor submenu;
- Specify non-selfcrossing polygons containing the lines
to be deleted;
- Select the "Perform group split" command in
the tool submenu: polylines will be split at the points
of their intersection with the polygon boundaries, and polyline
fragments within the polygons will be selected;
- Press the "Delete" key to delete all the selected
line fragments.
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| Extended abilities of the Individual Editor |
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| Applying the polyline Individual Editor,
you may now to:
- Split a polyline at the vertex nearest to the point you
have specified;
- Split a polyline at simultaneous deletion of the shorter
resultant line parts;
- Merge two polylines by a smooth curve;
- Select another polyline as a base one remaining in the
merging mode.
More details: In the "Split the line" mode:
- The scissors split the line in two in the vertex nearest
to the point you have clicked if the SHIFT key is held down;
- The program deletes the shorter segment of the split
line if the CONTROL button is held down.
In the "Merge two lines" mode, the program connects
an endpoint of the base (currently selected) polyline with
an endpoint of another line you have clicked with the mouse
left button.
At that, the nearest to the specified point end / initial
points of the lines will be connected:
- By a linear segment if you don't hold any key down;
- By a smooth curve if you hold the SHIFT key down;
- You may also change the base polyline remaining in the
merging mode if the CONTROL key is held down.
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| New abilities of the "Brush" tool |
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| You may now use both mouse buttons for drawing. |
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| Bug correction in the "Project-by-raster fragment"
operation |
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| 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. |
|
| New in Easy
Trace 7.3 of 1st of October 2001 |
| New import/export subsystem |
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| The list of supported formats remains the
same, but the parameter control interface has become more
consistent and common for all the formats. Besides, new possibilities
are implemented:
- While export and import, coordinate transformation is
possible now basing on user-defined control points file
of CPT or TAB (MapInfo) formats. Coordinates transformation
includes turns, shift and scaling (general affinne transformation);
- Information about raster snapping to vector project field
of TFW, CPT formats (control points text file), and of TAB
(file of special format for raster registered in MapInfo)
is exported. The registration file provides correct positioning
of raster and vector information in final GIS/CAPR application;
- The user chooses raster registration format and the list
of registered rasters while export into any format;
- Possibilities of output files' name forming are extended
now while export (the selection of suffixes and extensions
while export of each layer into separate files);
- While attributive information import, it is possible
to specify database table names for each layer/ object type
couple;
- Simultaneous import of numerous files of the specified
format is possible;
- While import, the DXF-format of AutoCAD 2000 is supported;
- While export into MapInfo format, the user may specify
any information about the projection that will be recorded
into the output MIF files. While TAB-file based selection
of coordinate transformation, the information about the
projection is taken from this file.
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| Automatic vectorization |
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The internal algorithm of automatic vectorization is improved.
That results in evident speed increase and in the accuracy of
the final results. |
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