NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

[ktmluke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ktmluke]

Hi there, i have a question about the Geoscience Australia NatMaps that can be bought or downloaded (for free) from there web site. I originally came across them from a topic in this forum. Have downloaded the whole of Western Australia into OziExplorer and have been very happy with them. My problem is when i try to copy them to run on OziExplorer CE i cant get it to work. I have tried many but it has got the better of me. Anyway back to the question have noticed that you can buy the some maps on dvd. I have been into a store and had a read of the packet and the maps are in DPF format. What i want to know is, can i then import them into OziExplorer? I had just bought the Hema Australia 4WD 1:250k but but besides the regional maps they are no more detailed then my Roads and Tracks map book. Thanks for any help

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Ozi will not support PDF (not DPF) format. If you have downloaded these from Geoscience Australia then you needed to download these as ECW format. Then you need to import these into OziExplorer on your PC so that it can generate the map boundary/extents. This is a .map file. You CAN then push this through a conversion program that creates a new file from the ECW file that is a more native format to OziExplorer and OziExplorerCE. This file is a .ozfx2 or .ozfx3 file (depending on if you use an older or newer version of the conversion tool).

If you have NOT converted to the .ozfx2 or .ozfx3 format then you need to copy both the .map and .ecw files across. If you have converted then you will need to copy bot the .map (ensure this is the converted version) and the .ozfx2 or .ozfx3 files.

The .ozfx2/ozfx3 files will load quick on the screen and screen refresh will be faster when moving otherwise you may experience a lag in screen refresh, especially if you are using a vary large ecw file (eg > 200Mb)

[JamesC Member Find all posts View Profile Close JamesC]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Ozi will not support PDF (not DPF) format....

Correct, but you can still import the PDF data as maps for use in OZI if you know the coords of some of the features in the map you wish to use.

The short and curly is you use the snapshot feature of a pdf file, make a new bitmap file which you can open using microsoft paint, save it as a jpg file...then...open the jpg via ozi by using the import and calibrate option. you then calibrate it with your known coords and other data such as whether it is gda94 etc. it will then produce a lovely clean map for you to use. I did it with the GBRMPA PDF maps found online, very handy. A thread I started last year covers how to calibrate....

cheers

[ktmluke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ktmluke]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Just had a look at oziexplorer's site and these maps are listed on there and it says that the format is in ECW and that they should work with oziexplorer. Can I ask people running oziexplorer, where they get their maps from? Are there any other maps that i can purchase for oziexplorer? Cheers

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Just had a look at oziexplorer's site and these maps are listed on there and it says that the format is in ECW and that they should work with oziexplorer. Can I ask people running oziexplorer, where they get their maps from? Are there any other maps that i can purchase for oziexplorer? Cheers

ECW will work BUT you need a .map file as well. If you don't have the map file then importing these into OziExplorer PC will generate the .map file. If you do not have the .map file then it will not display. OziExplorer/OziCE can display a lot of formats. ECW is just one whihc has built in calibration but can not directly access this. You can also use jpg, bmp, gif (I think), so long as there is a calibrated .map file.

I mentioned in a previous post about the ozfx2 and ozfx3 formats. These are a native format for storing the raster image that is very quick to load/display on screen. This still requires a .map file though.

The maps I have come from many sources. I have downloaded the .ECW files from Geoscience Australia website (www.ga.gov.au). These are all free. I also have HEMA 2008 on DVD and I have purchased a number of the Westprint maps direct off their website (Westprint maps are better IMO than the HEMA as they are not cluttered with a lot of text that you can not read on the GPS screen as most of it is cut off and also does not display a swag of icons around every town covering potential detail). I've also used Nonimaps to download Google maps for particular areas. Most of the time the GA maps are good enough for me. Too much detail and they can become somewhat unsuable.

[jarrah7rally Member Find all posts View Profile Close jarrah7rally]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

I've been playing around with converting the ecw files to ozi3 format (latest version) how long should the conversion take ?

Yeah I know silly question but I've sat her just about all day and only converted 3 files so far

Does having internet connected affect the conversion time ?

Yes luke, I'm getting there patience is required mate - then I just got to figure out how to run ozice on the Dig-options TP09X1

Any suggestions appreciated

Cheers

Dean

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Conversion can be a killer. Depanding on the speed of your PC and the size of the files you are try to convert it can take a long time. There are some files that just will not convert either. Too large to be done.

What files are you converting at the moment? Three in 1 day means they are big. From memory the HEMA maps have ECW and OZFX formats on the DVD.

[jarrah7rally Member Find all posts View Profile Close jarrah7rally]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Natmap 2008 ECW to latest ozi3

Or should I try and cut down the map sizes and create my own ?

[ktmluke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ktmluke]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

hey dean sounds like a massive drama. I dont know much when it comes to conversion.

As to the ozexplorer-ce to run on gps i followed instructions from a topic posted on this forum Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W) i used a program called ce-editor to change some some settings. i dont know if that will help but maybe have a read. Hey dean i hope you are not putting all this effort just for me. Cheers for letting me know anyway.

[jarrah7rally Member Find all posts View Profile Close jarrah7rally]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Luke In the same boat as you - need to convert the files anyway.

But yes its a slow process think I've got WA covered - just !

As time permits I'll continue converting the remaining files for east of the imaginary fence line :wink:

i'll look into that link you suggested - just gotta have a lappy bit hard with a desktop/tower for syncing the units together !

[ktmluke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ktmluke]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

hey dean how are your maps going? I bit the bullet and decided to buy a copy of the natmaps, will be good to have copy myself. Have just got home and just filling out the registration form now will let you know how i go. You say you have got WA done did it just take its time or did you figure something out? See what happens hey.. Cheers lucas

[jarrah7rally Member Find all posts View Profile Close jarrah7rally]

Re: NATMAP Digital Maps 250K (2008/2009)

Getting there very slowly - SLOWLY being the operative word.

Cranked up the computer last night (approx 930pm) to finish off the remaining files left the computer running overnight and it converted 2 maps and was about 50-75 % through the 3rd map. Another 2 maps still to be converted

So I'm hoping - pending no major power outages earthquakes tornadoes etc when I get home tonight it'll be all finished.

Tried using that mobile device sync and that didn't work, however It guys here showed me what to do and in theory oziCe should now work once I install the Micro sd card into the GPS unit.