Introduction
The interface to the UNCLOS specific features in Geocap are through the use of schemas on datasets and commands. The commands can be found in the Toolbox to the right in the Geocap interface or at the top of the menu which appear when you right click a dataset. Which commands are displayed in the right click menu depend on the schema of the dataset. A Base Line will contain commands appropriate for the Base Line schema, while a Bathymetric Profile will contain different commands.
Exercises
Data Visualization
Visualizations are called actors
Schemas
Geocap uses schemas to classify a dataset. The Shelf Module contains several schemas. Some of the schemas used in the Shelf Module are coast line, base line, limit line, seabed, sediment thickness. You can define the schema of a dataset in the project by right clicking it, and selecting set schema in the pop-up menu. The choice of a dataset´s schema controls which commands you see in the pop-up menu when you right click the dataset. You may create your own schemas as well as edit existing schemas by selecting schemas under edit in the main menu. You can also edit the commands associated with the schemas.
Commands
Commands are operations which can be performed on a dataset. Commands can for example be used to display a dataset in the display window, or to generate new datasets. You can even create your own scripted commands to cater to your specific needs. You execute a command by right clicking the dataset or folder you want to run it on, and then selecting the relevant command in the pop-up menu. You can give different parameters to a command in the command editor. These parameters are stored with the command and used during execution.
Commands can be stored in three categories:
- Item commands
- Schema commands
- Shared commands.
You will find the commands sorted into the different categories in the Toolbox (see illustration below) or on the right-click menu of a dataset or a folder. Commands are also put together in sequence in Workflows to perform visualizations or data operations, see chapter S.
All commands have a front end panel, and most of them have settings that may be customized.
An example of a command front end panel
Item commands
A command can be stored at the level of a dataset or a folder. This is called an item command. This command is unique to this dataset or folder, it "belongs" to that dataset. You can see these commands on the top of the Toolbox or in a sub menu when you right-click a dataset and select Item commands. Most items in the project do not contain any item commands by default.
Schema Commands
A command stored at a schema level is called a schema command. All datasets or folders using the same schema share these commands, which also means that editing these commands will affect all the datasets using this schema. The schema commands of a dataset are listed on the top of the right-click menu.
Shared Commands
Shared Commands are commands which are shared with all datasets and folders. The shared commands are listed in the Toolbox under Shared commands. If you cannot see the Toolbox, it can be opened from View on the main menu.
All commands have a command editor where you may change the properties, thus affecting the way it is executed.
Default Commands
The default command is the command that is executed when you tick the box next to a dataset in the project. By default a dataset will have one of the schema commands as a default command. This can however be changed.
Tip
The Pin to Menu check box lets you decide which commands should be available in the right click menu, so it is easy to keep organized. Try to experiment with this option to manipulate the right click menu.
Sticky Surface
Geocap has a concept where any surface can be set to be sticky. When a surface is sticky, data like points, lines or images may be displayed onto that surface. This is mainly done by re-sampling lines and displaying them a little bit above the sticky surface. When a surface is activated (or set) as a sticky surface, it is copied to workspace under the name sticky_surface. If this dataset is removed from workspace, there is no sticky surface anymore.
Display data on the Sticky Surface
- Right-click on a Seabed surface dataset and select
Set as sticky surface - Select a line, e.g. 1. Maritime lines > 200M lines > atlantis + 200M in your project.
- In the Toolbox under Commands > Schema commands right-click and Edit on the
Display command. - Check the Glue to Sticky Surface and press Execute to do a line display.
- Uncheck the Glue to Sticky Surface and press Execute again and observe the difference.
Warning
Note that points and lines displayed onto a sticky surface are displayed without their original z-values, and this may not be what you intend to do when displaying a foot of slope point or a bathymetric line. Keep that in mind.
Toolbar
Icons | Description of Main Toolbar icons |
|---|---|
| Will cancel any mouse action that is started but is regretted and should be ended without any operation. |
| Start a mouse action that when clicked on a graphical object will delete that object. |
| Start a mouse action that when clicked on a graphical object can set appearance parameters for that object. The appearence parameters are: Opacity, Reflection, Diffusion, Ambience. |
| Start a mouse action where the user is supposed to click on a surface that is map with scalar values. The mapping range of the scalar values according to the color table can then be adjusted. |
| Start a mouse action that when clicked on a graphical object will highlight the corresponding data object in the project. |
 | Start a mouse action where the user can click and draw a rectangle around displayed data and Geocap will list all dataset names and locations. |
| Will delete all graphics in the current viewport or window (if the window holds only one viewport). The corresponding references to actors in the project are deleted. Frequently used in free interactive work. |
| Will delete the last graphical object (also called and actor) that is displayed. Frequently used to erase a graphical object that shall be removed. Note: Redisplaying data from the project using the same command will erase the previous corresponding actor. |
| Will set the graphical window in 2D mode; i.e. only pan and zoom is allowed. The view direction (x, y or z) depends on the corresponding setting. In 2D mode the left button on the mouse is used for immediate cursor response for instance in digitizing. |
| Will set the graphical window in 3D mode; pan, zoom and 3D rolling is enabled. The default 3D mode renders in perspective view; i.e. parallel lines are not parallel on the screen, but shows a perspective. The non-perspective isometric 3D mode is found under toolbar View > Perspective > 3D Isometric. |
| Will turn the z direction of the graphical window upwards; i.e. the positive direction of the z axis points upwards. |
| Will turn the z direction of the graphical window downwards; i.e. the positive direction of the z axis points downwards. This is the default case because most surfaces are below the zero level, but still have positive z values. |
| Will show the graphical window as a frame box. It is important to use this icon to check the graphical window or whenever some display comes out weird if the display algorithm uses the graphical window to set display parameters. |
| Will draw default axes for all visible axes directions. No tick marks are display for simplicity, but the exact location of an annotation position starts at the beginning of the annotation. |
| Will open a Navigator which is a convenient menu for navigating a 3D graphical scene. To some (especially newbies) it can be difficult to use the mouse buttons to orientate the graphics. Be aware that rotation is around the focal point which also can be set by pointing the cursor mouse at a any location on a solid object and push keyboard x. |
| Will zoom in towards the focal point. The graphical window is not changed, although the graphical frame may lie out the visible part of the screen. |
| Will zoom out from the focal point. |
| Will View from above. This icon also contains sub-icons for viewing in other directions. |
| If several windows are created on the same Tab, this icon connects the selected windows to the same visual camera. Very useful when different surfaces that shall be compared are displayed in separate windows that are connected and show the same under all graphical movements. |
| Will show the viewport menu that allows for a quick way to create viewports inside a window. The number and layout of the viewports are determined by just double clicking on the lower right frame in the veiwport menu. If the viewports are connected they can also by used for simultaneously display of surfaces or features that shall be compared. Here is an example of a viewport display for presentation purpose. |
| Enables the light source to be moved around in the graphical scene. Will create shadows and highlight features. Usefull for presentation graphics and detailed studies of special structures. |
| Will scale the graphical scene with all its actor up or down. Very important for selecting a good view. The scaling should also preferable be set in the Project Settings so that the preferred view comes up when loading a project. |
| Will show up a 2D compass in upper right that follows the rotation of the graphical window. Another click on the icon will remove the compass. |
Try out the different tools on the toolbar
Try out the different tools.
Keyboard shortcuts
Geocap has several keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys. Go Help > Keyboard shortcuts to bring up a list. A selection of the most important keyboard shortcuts:
| Key | Explanation | Key | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| o | Toggle color code for last used map command on/off. | + | Zoom in. |
| s | Turn graphics into surface mode. | - | Zoom out. |
| v | Value of height/depth (z coordinate) from cursor position | 2 | Toggle graphics to 2d mode. |
| w | Turn graphics into wire mode. | 3 | Toggle graphics to 3d mode. |
| x | Setting the focal point. The graphics will rotate around this point. | 3 | Toggle stereo view on/off when stereo is activated. |
| y | Cursor point is set at the surface of the graphical element. | z | Zoom by drawing a rubber band with left button on the mouse. |
| j | Snap to any point on a displayed line. |
When using j or y to snap to lines or surfaces, Geocap will report what you have snapped to in the lower left corner.
Try the different keyboard shortcuts
Visualize a seabed surface and test all the above mentioned keyboard shortcuts.