About

Create a new Cave System Document by selecting File | New menu choice or by pressing the new document icon on the tool bar. Once New is selected, WinKarst's survey editor is started. The editor contains six pages, System, Caves of the System, Surveys of the Caves, Properties of the Stations, Sketches and Maps. The pages are selected by clicking on the tabs just below the top of the window. All boxes and buttons on the pages have "fly over" hints, just pause the mouse over the object and a message will appear.

Of the six pages, only the first three contain essential, required information to specify a cave survey.

Opening an Existing Cave Document

From the File pull down menu, press the "Open..." choice and the Open dialog box will appear. The dialog box can be accessed more quickly by pressing the second button from the left on the Tool Bar. A cave document's name can be typed in the "File Name" box or selected from the list of names in the box below. More than one file may be selected. The "List of File Types" drop down box will switch the selection filter to show only cave documents of a particular type. Changing a directory or disk will automatically cause the list of available documents to change. Pressing "OK" or the Enter key or double clicking on a name will select the document.

Alternately, using Window's Explorer or My Computer, locate the name of the cave survey to open. Double click on the file's name or use the right mouse button to open the survey. The file type extension must be recorded by Windows for this method to work. Windows will prompt you to record cave survey file types the first time this method of opening a file type is used. Once the file type has been set, it is also possible to create a shortcut on the desktop to pick a particular cave survey and open it with WinKarst. Through the extension typing, Windows can also open cave surveys with WinKarst from an email or browser application.

Finally, if WinKarst is already open, select the cave survey to open in Window's Explorer or My Computer and drag the icon or file name to WinKarst's window. This will cause WinKarst to open the cave survey. It is possible to select several cave surveys and drag and drop all of them into WinKarst. This also works if the dragged items are placed on a shortcut to WinKarst on the desktop, if WinKarst is not already running.

Main and Locator Map Windows

WinKarst starts with the Main Map window and once a cave survey file is read, the cave is plotted in the window. If the cave survey has geographic coordinates, i.e. latitude and longitude, then it is possible to bring up the Locator Map window. Before User can enable the Locator Map, a Digital Elevation Model file (SDTS format) and/or GeoTiff image encompassing the coordinates of the cave survey must be loaded. SDTS and GeoTiff files are available for free across the world wide web.

When both windows are open, they are interactively connected. The locator map shows a rectangle corresponding to the area covered by the main map window. The locator map also shows a small circle for each cave entrance in the survey. Resizing or moving the view in the main window causes the rectangle in the locator window to change accordingly. Conversely, redrawing the rectangle with the mouse in the locator window causes the view to change in the main window. When the mouse is moved over the locator map, the coordinates of the mouse are displayed in the status area of the main window.

Views - Multiple Document Interface

WinKarst uses a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) to describe Cave Survey information. MDI means the user can simultaneously view several cave surveys at the same time. For example, the user can load two versions of the same cave (would have to exist as different files), one closed and the other not and compare how the closure was performed. The user could load two versions from two different dates and see how the cave survey has changed. Display modes are generally linked to the document and therefore two views would be showing different details about the same cave (different files).

Within the window frame of WinKarst, the document which is active will have its title bar colored by Windows (blue is default). Clicking any menu choices or tool buttons applies the action to the active document. Selection of the active document is either made by clicking on the appropriate title bar or by selecting the name of the document in the Window pull down menu.

When the Locator Map window is active, all of the cave entrances from all of the cave documents will be displayed on the map.

Window Controls and Iconing

WinKarst employs all of the standard or typical Windows controls for sizing, moving, focus and ionizing. Your Windows help system, accessed from the program manager or desktop in third party Windows add on products, is a good source of information.

Sizing

Sizing is accomplished by moving the mouse on the edge of the window frame. When the cursor changes from a single to a double headed arrow, press and hold the left mouse button while moving the mouse. Expand or contract the window to the desired size. Alternately, press on the button with the triangle in the upper right hand corner of the window if you want the window to fill all of the available space. In the pull down Window menu, the option Tile will arrange all of children to fill all of the available space among them. All children windows in WinKarst, maps and the edit window are re-sizable.

Iconizing

A window can be iconized by pressing the button with the inverted triangle in the upper right corner of the window. The icons for the window will appear in the lower left corner of WinKarst parent window. Icons can be restored by either double clicking on the icon or by selecting the window's name in the pull down Window menu.

Focus

A window has the focus when its top bar, containing its title, is a color different than the background color of the Windows system. When several caves are loaded and one is on top or maximized, focus can be switched to another cave by picking the window from a list on the Windows pull down menu. Some dialog boxes will retain the focus until either OK, Cancel, Esc or Enter is pressed.

Moving

Window are moved by moving the cursor with the mouse to the top bar and pressing and holding the left button. Moving the mouse with the button depressed will move the window. Map or Edit windows can be moved such that some part of them will be beyond the edge of WinKarst's main or parent window. But in such a case, the part of the child window extending beyond the boundary will not be visible. Pressing Cascade in the Windows pull down menu will move all the windows into stacked offset pattern. Creating a new window will also cause any existing windows to cascade. By selecting the a windows name in the Windows pull down menu, it will be brought to the top of any cascaded stack.

Using the Mouse

The operation of the mouse over the cave drawing has different effects, depending upon what is displayed on the map. The mouse behaves in the typical Windows manner in all menus and dialog boxes. The mouse is active when it is shaped as an arrow. When the map is drawing, the mouse is a hour glass and inactive. Should there be a need to interrupt the drawing process, press the "Esc" key. It is not possible to interrupt any of the calculation processes such as loop determination and closure.

When no labels are displayed on the cave drawing, the view will pan to the location pointed to by the mouse when clicked. If both plan and elevation views are present, clicking in the top section will pan to an elevation view and in the bottom to a plan view.

When labels are displayed, clicking once will change to focus of the labeled object type to the nearest object to the mouse's location. The new object of focus will retain the color of the previous object. Double clicking in this case will bring up an information box about the item nearest the clicking point's location. For example, if Survey names are displayed, clicking near the letter "A" will bring up information about the A survey.

By drawing a box, it is possible to zoom in or out in scale. A box is drawn by clicking and holding down the left button and dragging to the opposite corner of box encompassing the desired area. Zooming will occur when the left button is released. If the box is drawn in a left to right manner, the view will zoom in with the display filling the area of the box. If the box is drawn in a the opposite manner, the view will zoom out with the previous display filling the area of the box.

Pressing the mouse's right button will bring up a menu list at the mouse's pointer.

When in the three dimensional mode, the mouse is used to rotate the cave about two axes. Select a point in the window and press and hold the right button. By dragging the mouse to the left or right with the right button depressed, the cave will rotate about its vertical axis. Similarly, by dragging up and down, the cave will rotate about its horizontal axis.

When continuously rotating the cave view, pressing the left mouse button in the view's window will stop the rotation. Pressing the Escape key on the keyboard will also stop the rotation.

Mouse Modifiers

The mouse can assume new functions by pressing one of three buttons on the tool bar. The buttons are Handgrip, Inspector and Measure. When the Handgrip is enabled, pressing and holding the left mouse button grabs the map at the location and moving the mouse pulls the map in the same direction.

The Inspector mouse causes a station name to pop up near its location when the mouse passes near by.

The Measure mouse allows the user to select two stations and determine the distance and direction between them.

Window

Cascade

Use this control to cascade the views of the cave surveys. A cascaded group of windows will appear to be place up top of each other, each one with a slight offset so the the mouse can be use to select and bring a window to the top of the deck.

Tile Horizontally

Use this control to tile the views of the cave surveys. A tiled group of windows will fill all of the main frame of WinKarst horizontally with each of the individual caves.

Tile Vertically

Use this control to tile the views of the cave surveys. A tiled group of windows will fill all of the main frame of WinKarst vertically with each of the individual caves.

Arrange Icons

Use this control to arrange the icons of ionized views of the cave surveys.

Open Caves List

This is a dynamically changing list of caves currently open in WinKarst. Change the focus to any one of the caves in the list by selecting it.

File

Choose this pull down menu to open, save, rename and close cave survey files, This menu item also contains the controls for printing cave maps.

Edit

Choose this menu item to edit a cave survey or other cave characteristics.

Preferences

From the Preferences pull down menu six dialog boxes can be activated. The dialog boxes for caves, surveys, station and loops have push button controls and list for controlling the items included in the cave maps.

Maps

This pull down menu as methods for mapping, view selection, scaling, and sub menus for color usage and labeling.

Calculation

Clicking this choice will activate the Calculation dialog box. In the dialog the parameters for loop closure and adjustment can be modified and data processing can be initiated. See Determination of Coordinates to learn how to control the data calculation process.

SDTS

The SDTS pull down menu contains the controls for using Digital Elevation Model data. Until a DEM or SDTS file is actually read, only one choice is available on this menu, opening files.

Images

The SDTS pull down menu contains the controls for using Digital Elevation Model data. Until a DEM or SDTS file is actually read, only one choice is available on this menu, opening files.

Window

This pull down menu has controls for window management. The menu also has the control for generating addition views of the cave.

Help

Enter the help system from this menu.

File

New

Use New to create a new file for a cave survey. The survey editor is then started, which consists of four pages, for the Cave System, Caves of the System, Surveys of the Caves and Properties of the Stations. At least one shot must be completed on the Surveys of Caves pages before the cave can be plotted.

Open...

Use Open to select and existing cave survey. Cave surveys can be created by any ascii or text editor or KARST for DOS. There are several types of cave Survey File Formats, KST, SUR, SEF, DAT, MAK, PLT and TXT. Use the file type drop down list to choose the type of file format.

Save

Save writes any modifications to permanent storage. Currently, it is not possible to modify SUR files. KST and PLT files can be modified by adjusting the loops of the cave survey. SUR files that have been adjusted for loops must be save under a new name so a not to corrupt the original survey data.

Save As...

Use Save As for creating duplicate cave surveys, saving the results of loop adjustments or transposing cave surveys between the file data types. Duplicate file names are prompted for OK before overwrite.

Close

Use this control to exit a cave survey. Note that if multiple views of the cave survey are present, only the view that has the focus will be closed. Use the Close All choice in the Windows pull down menu to simultaneously close all of the views of a cave survey. As the last view is closed, if the cave survey was modified, the user will have the choice to save the modifications.

Close All

Use this control to close all of the views of a particular cave survey. Only the cave survey or system with the focus will be closed.

Import...

The import function allows the user to import any of the file types that can be open as an existing cave survey document. The imported survey is added to the existing document, within the definition of the cave survey file type.

GeoTiff...

GeoTiff refers to TIF files which have geographic (or cartographic) data embedded as tags within the TIFF file. The geographic data can then be used to position the image in the correct location and geometry on the screen of a geographic information display. GeoTiff can be displayed as background maps to cave surveys and sketches or displayed in the Locator Window in conjunction with a corresponding DEM. More than one model file can be opened at a time, if they are physically adjacent.

DEM...

Open a Digital Elevation Model file. Two types of file types are supported, the older DEM format and the new SODS format. In the older format, all of the information is contained in a single file. In the SODS format, the information is spread in to a dozen or more files. WinKarst reads the "catalog" SODS file, which contains a list of files that contain all of the model's information. More than one model file can be opened at a time, if they are physically adjacent.

Export...

The export function allows the user to export a representation of the cave survey into other applications. There are seven types of export formats:

DXF AutoCAD version 12, 13 and 14, AutoCAD Lite, Corel Draw, MSWord.

BMP Windows Bitmap, Corel Photo Paint, Front Page, MSWord, PhotoShop.

PNG Portable Network Graphics, Corel Photo Paint, Front Page, MSWord, PhotoShop.

TIF Tagged Image Format, GeoTiFF, Corel Photo Paint, Front Page, MSWord, PhotoShop.

DBF dBaseIV database format, MSAccess, MSFoxPro.

SHP Shapefile, ERSI GIS programs, OziExplorer.

TRK Garmin Track, Garmin's PCX5 format.

WPT Garmin WayPoint, Garmin's PCX5 format.

TXT Comma delimited UTM coordinates, WayPoint+, TOPO!GPS.

SUR WinKarst Survey, export a selected cave, survey, loop or traverse.

SEF SMAPS Survey Exchange Format, export a selected cave, survey, loop or traverse.

DAT COMPASS survey, export a selected cave, survey, loop or traverse.

TXT Comma delimited spread sheet for importing into MSExcel or MSAccess or other database programs.

Pressing this control will bring up the Export Save As dialog box. The format type is selected in the Save File As Type drop down list. The file's name can be selected from the list or typed into the name line. Duplicate file names are prompted for OK before overwrite.

Color coding is encoded with the export file, but the importing software may or may no render the colors as expected. Fonts type is not exported.

Caves without geographic coordinates, latitude and longitude, will not have the TRK and WPT export file types.

The three dimensional export function allows the user to export a complex representation of the cave survey into other applications. Line plots are exported as a collection of line segments in three dimensional space. Passage or Rug plots are exported as a complex collection of "3dface" objects. Each line survey shot will be represented by six 3dface objects.

To export a three dimensional view, WinKarst must be in the three dimensional mode, as indicated by the 3D button on the Tool bar or by the check mark next to the three dimensional choice in the Map pull down menu. Three dimensional export file type is either BMP or DXF, but DXF is the only true three dimensional object.

Print...

Print activates the print dialog box.

Print Setup...

Making changes from the printer's default setting can be made in the setup dialog box. This dialog is also available from the print dialog box.

Most Recently Used File List

Each time WinKarst is used, the files read during the session are recorded and placed on this portion of the File Menu for easy future access. Up to eight file names are recorded and are saved once the program has terminated.

Exit

Exit WinKarst. If any open cave surveys have been modified, the user is prompted for saving any modifications.

Edit

System Shift+F2

Open the survey editor on the system page.

Cave Shift+F3

Open the survey editor on the cave page.

Survey Shift+F4

Open the survey editor on the survey page.

Properties Shift+F8

Open the survey editor on the property page.

Sketches Shift+F12

Open the survey editor on the sketch page.

Map

Open the survey editor on the map page.

Maps

Plan Cntl+p

Pick this control or press the control and 'p' keys to display the cave in its entire plan view, scaled to fit the window. Only the window with the focus will be redrawn.

Elevation Cntl+v

Pick this control or press the control and 'v' keys to display the cave in it profile or elevation view, scaled to fit the window. Only the window with the focus will be redrawn.

Plan and Profile Ctrl+o

Pick this control or press the control and 'o' keys to display the cave in its plan and elevation views, scaled to fit the window. Only the window with the focus will be redrawn.

3D Unified Alt+o

Pick this control or press the Alt and 'o' keys to display the cave in three dimensional space. Zooming must be accomplished by either the keyboard or Maps pull down menu, see below. Panning must be accomplished with the window scroll bars. In three dimensional display, the mouse is used to rotate the cave in two axes Only the window with the focus will be redrawn.

Rose Diagram Alt+c

Pick this control or press Alt and the 'c' keys to display the cave's survey data in a three dimensional histogram. The radial angle in the circular plot represents the bearing angle of the survey data, while the radial distance represents the inclination angle. The color of the intersection of the two angles represents the frequency of occurrence within the survey data, red the highest and violet the least frequent.

Vertical Distribution Alt+l

Pick this control or press Alt and the 'v' keys to display the cave's survey data in a vertical passage distribution histogram. The length of each horizontal segment shows the proportion of passages that exist in one of 256 depth slices. The color by depth sequence is automatically adjusted to give each peak in the distribution a unique color. The new color definition is used when the cave is subsequently displayed with depth coloring.

Scale and Legend Cntl+i

The scale and legend dialog box is reached by selecting this item or pressing the control key and 'i'. In this dialog box it is possible to set the drawing's scale and angle of rotation. Symbols indicating the values of these parameters, a scale bar and compass, may each be added or removed from the map. The type of units expressed in WinKarst, English or Metric, is selected in the Scale and Legend. How the mouse's coordinates are expressed, absolute or relative from the cave's origin, is selected in this dialog box. The drawing of either a longitude and latitude or UTM grid is enabled in this dialog.

Projections Alt+j

The Projection Dialog box is reached by selecting this item or pressing the Alt key and 'j'. One of five geographic projections and one of twenty datums may be specified. Each projection must be "described" before it can be used in the Projection Specification dialog box. Only cave surveys with Longitude/Latitude control points can be projected. The default projection type upon starting the program is UTM and it requires no specification. The Geographic Calculator is reached from this dialog box.

Rotate Left Cntl+r

Use this control or press control and the 'r' keys to rotate the cave counter clock wise about a vertical axis. Both the plan and elevation views will rotate.

Rotate Continuously Alt+c

Use this control or press Alt and the 'c' keys to rotate the cave clock wise continuously about a vertical axis. Press the 'escape' key to halt the rotation. Both the plan and elevation views will rotate.

Rotate in Two Axes Alt+x

Use this control or press Alt and the 'x' keys to rotate the cave clock wise continuously about a vertical axis and horizontal axis. Press the 'escape' key to halt the rotation. Both the plan and elevation views will rotate.

Rotate Right Alt+r

Use this control or press alternate and the 'r' keys to rotate the cave clock wise about a vertical axis. Both the plan and elevation views will rotate.

Zoom In Cntl+z

Use this control or press control and the 'z' keys to zoom the window with the focus in by 10%.

Zoom Out Alt+z

Use this control or press alternate and the 'z' keys to zoom the window with the focus out by 10%.

Focus

Pick this control to bring up the Focus sub menu. The sub menu will enable the choices for focusing on a cave system, a single cave or single survey.

Color

Pick this control to bring up the Coloring sub menu. The sub menu will enable the choices for coloring caves, surveys, loops or by functional relationships.

Label

Pick this control to bring up the Labeling sub menu. The sub menu will enable the choices for labeling caves, surveys, loops and stations.

Fonts

The fonts dialog box is reached with this control. The dialog will allow the user to change the text's point size, style and color that appears on the cave maps. Chosen fonts and their characteristics will be used when printing the cave survey, provided the Windows supplied print driver supports them. If station symbols are shown on the drawing, their size will be proportional to the chosen font's point size.

Calculation

Parameters

Open the loops and survey calcuation dialog box. The dialog box allow for changing the varibles that control the loop closure adjustments. The Loop Bunder value is set in this dialog. Different options for calculating the cave survey are also chosen in the dialog.

Find Loops

Find all the loops in the survey.

Close Loops

Find all the loops in the survey and close the loops according to the parameters set in the calculation dialog.

Restore Unclosed

Restore the survey to the unclose form, the condition prior to closing the loops.

Preferences

Save Preferences

Use this control to save the current display options. The display options will be selected the next time the program is started.

System F2+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F2 to bring up the System Form. The dialog box allows the user to learn about the overall cave system

Cave F3+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F3 to bring up the Cave Form. The dialog box allows the user to select caves, learn about a cave, color or label caves and edit cave related parameters in the survey.

Survey F4+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F4 to bring up the Survey Controls dialog box. The dialog box allows the user to select surveys, learn about a survey, color or label surveys and edit an individual survey of the cave survey.

Exceptions F6+Ctrl

An exception survey is a survey that is not connected to the main body of the cave survey. The may have no connecting station to the main body or may have been declared void for documentation purposes. Use this control or press the Control key and F6 to bring up the Exception Controls dialog box. The dialog box allows the user to select surveys, learn about a survey and edit an individual exception.

Stations F7+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F7 to bring up the Station Controls dialog box. The dialog box allows the user to select a station, learn about a station, label a station, enable labeling options and edit the shots that connect to a station.

Properties F8+Ctrl

The Station List is a grouping of stations than have been independently selected by the user. Use this control or press the Control key and F8 to bring up the Station Lists dialog box. The dialog box allows the user to create or modify the station list, learn about stations in the list, label the stations of the list and edit the shots that connect to a station of the list.

Loops F9+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F9 to bring up the Loop Controls dialog box. Initially, some of the options of the dialog box are "grayed" until the loops of the caves have either been found or closed. The grayed options will remain so if there are no loops in the cave survey. The user may determine and close the loops of the cave from the dialog box. The user may also learn about a loop, color or label a loop and edit the shots that make up a loop from the dialog box. See Determination of Coordinates to learn how to control the loop closure process.

Traverses F10+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F10 to bring up the Traverse Controls dialog box. Initially, some of the options of the dialog box are "grayed" until the loops of the caves have either been found or closed. The grayed options will remain so if there are no loops in the cave survey. The user may determine and close the loops of the cave from the dialog box. The user may also learn about a traverse, color or label a traverse and edit the shots that make up a traverse from the dialog box. See Determination of Coordinates to learn how to control the loop closure process.

Groups F11+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F11 to bring up the Group Controls dialog box. The assignment of survey to groups is done on the Survey page of the Editor. Once groups are created in the Editor, they are presented in a list in the Groups Dialog. A group can be selected and plotted separately as a unique object. The dialog also can provide information about a survey group.

Sketches F12+Ctrl

Use this control or press the Control key and F12 to bring up the Sketches Controls dialog box. The registering of stations to a sketch is done on the Sketches page of the Editor. Once a sketch as at least two registered stations, it appears in the Sketches dialog. A individual sketch can be plotted with the underlying survey from the dialog. The dialog also can be used to search for sketches that may intersect a survey or contain a station. By typing a survey or station name in the dialog, a list of prospective sketches is determined by calculating the area of the sketch and the location of the survey or station. The dialog can also provide information about a sketch.

If the cave line plot view is not plan, then this menu choice will be greyed and unavailable.

Help

Use this control or press F1 to enter the help system.

Search for Help On

Start help system in Search Contents dialog box.

How to use Help

General Microsoft instructions about Help.

About

Use this control or press the 'i' tool on the tool bar to learn about the version of WinKarst when no cave survey is open, or about a cave survey after opening a file.

Author

Use this control to learn how to contact the author.

Registration

Use this control to open the Registration form. The username and keycode can be entered or changed in this form.

SDTS Menu

Read SDTS...

Open a Digital Elevation Model file. Two types of file types are supported, the older DEM format and the new SDTS format. In the older format, all of the information is contained in a single file. In the SDTS format, the information is spread in to a dozen or more files. WinKarst reads the "catalog" SDTS file, which contains a list of files that contain all of the model's information. More than one model file can be opened at a time, if they are physically adjacent. If a subsequent model is read that does not touch the previous set of models, the previous set is replace with the single new model. File names can be set in the cave survey file on the System page of the survey editor and automatically read when the cave survey is opened.

SDTS Info...

Display information about a particular Digital Elevation Model. The menu choice brings up a dialog box which list the models currently loaded in WinKarst. Select a model name from the drop down list and press the Info button to display the information.

20 Foot/10 Meter Contours

Draw contours with either 20 foot or 10 meter intervals. The selection of English or Metric units is made in the Scale and Legend dialog box reached from the Maps pull down menu. The displayed map must be the Plan view.

40 Foot/20 Meter Contours

Draw contours with either 40 foot or 20 meter intervals. The selection of English or Metric units is made in the Scale and Legend dialog box reached from the Maps pull down menu. The displayed map must be the Plan view.

200 Foot/100 Meter Contours

Draw contours with either 200 foot or 100 meter intervals. The selection of English or Metric units is made in the Scale and Legend dialog box reached from the Maps pull down menu. The displayed map must be the Plan view.

Surface Shadow

Enable drawing of a projection of the cave survey on the surface calculated by the Digital Elevation Model. The surface shadow is always either white or black, depending on the display's background color. The displayed map must be either the Profile, Overall or 3D unified views.

Surface Mesh

Enable drawing of a three dimensional surface mesh based on the Digital Elevation Model. The mesh is only draw above a box enclosing the cave's survey. The mesh is always either white or black, depending on the display's background color. The displayed map must be the 3D unified view.

DLG Transportation

Display DLG roads and trails information if a SDTS Transportation catalog data is loaded. Roads of different quality are displayed with different line weights. The color of the roads is fixed to light green. Roads can only be displayed in the Plan view.

DLG Water

Display DLG streams and lakes information if a SDTS Water catalog data is loaded. Intermittent streams are displayed with a different line weight than permanent streams. The color of the water is fixed to blue. Water can only be displayed in the Plan view.

Locator Map

Display the Digital Elevation Model in a separate child window. Once a model's data file is read, its possible to display the locator map without reading any cave surveys. The locator map has its own menu, but its mouse's movement is linked back to a main cave plot display.

Images

Read GeoTiff

Open a GeoTiff image file. Only images with a valid set of meta data can be used and the processed projection must be UTM. Adjacent images can be tiled together into a composite image. If subsequent image is read that does not touch the previous set of images, the previous set is replace with the single new image. File names can be set in the cave survey file on the System page of the survey editor and automatically read when the cave survey is opened.

GeoTiff Info

Display information about a particular GeoTiff image. The menu choice brings up a dialog box which lists the images currently loaded in WinKarst. Select an image name from the drop down list and press the Info button to display the information.

Remove Collar

Many GeoTiff images are direct scans of USGS topographical maps with the corresponding location and processing information stored as tags in the image. The scan may or may not include the white boarder around the image and the legend area at the bottom of the sheet. To facilitate the tiling together adjacent topographical maps, WinKarst can optionally remove the boarder with this option enabled.

Rug Cntl+g

This control will toggle all of the views of a cave survey to show either the cave floor (or profile) as calculated from the Left, Right, Up and Down passage dimensions or just a simple line plot. If the map is colored, then the passages will be sorted such that the highest levels will appear on top of the lower passages.

Sketches Cntl+b

Display station registered sketches or background maps on the cave survey lineplot. Images are automatically scaled and rotated to match the registered stations. All images are draw together, transparent in the background color. Sketches can only be displayed in the Plan view.

Single Sketch

Display a single station registered sketch on the cave survey lineplot. Images are automatically scaled and rotated to match the registered stations. Sketch selection is made in the Sketch Preference dialog box. Sketches can only be displayed in the Plan view.

Sheet Sketches

Display a specific set of station registered sketches. The entire set is automatically scaled and rotated to match the registered stations. All images are draw together, transparent in the background color. Sketches are placed on a sheet in the Assignment drop down list on the sketch page of the survey editor. Sketches can only be displayed in the Plan view.

Hide Line Plot Cntl+h

If sketches or background images are displayed, the lineplot can be disabled to simulate a completed and hand drawn cave map. The mode is only enabled in the Plan view.

Map Graphics Cntl+f

Draw color maps as a background to the cave survey lineplot. The background color is automatically switched to white for readability. All maps in the system are drawn. The mode is only enabled in the Plan view and can work in conjunction with sketches.

Morph Sketches Cntl+m

The control key and 'm' toggles between raw and morphed sketches. When first selected or after editing the cave survey, the sketches are morphed and a progress meter shows when each sketch is finished. Once morphed, the view can be toggled back and forth between raw and morphed versions to observe the results. Only those sketches in the field of view are morphed and moving the field of view will cause additional sketches to be read and morphed as needed.

Locator Map Menus

File

Choose this pull down menu to export from or close the Locator Map. This menu also contains an exit item to close the entire program.

Options

This pull down menu contains options for setting the Locator Map's size, colors, shading modes and contours.

Locator Map File

Export

The view in the Locator Map window can be exported as a BMP file.

Close

Close the Locator Map window.

Exit

Terminate WinKarst.

Locator Map Options

Rainbow Colors

The color scheme used to represent elevation is based on the rainbow spectrum, violet the lowest and red the highest.

Earth Colors

The color scheme used to represent elevation attempts to display land types, white on the top of mountains, brown midranges and dark green in the lowlands.

B/W Colors

The black and white scheme represent elevation with white the highest and black the lowest.

GeoTiff

The GeoTiff image is drawn in the corresponding geographic region. It DEM data is also present, a Shadow Map or Relief Map will be shaded proportionally from the base GeoTiff image.

Relief Map

The Relief Map darkens the elevation colors based on slope, the steeper the slope the darker the color.

Shadow Map

The Shadow Map illuminates the field with a low to the horizon, bright light source from the west.

Featureless

No Relief or Shadow darkening of the colors.

Contours

Draw contours at 200 foot intervals.

Only Contours

Draw contours at 200 foot intervals, without drawing the underlaying colors.

Tool Bar

The two drop down list on the Tool Bar contain the caves within a survey with multiple caves and surveys within the currently selected cave. Clicking on a cave name will select the cave and cause the survey drop down list to change to the surveys with the cave. Clicking on a survey name will select the survey. If the map focus is one either cave or survey, then selecting either a cave or survey from the drop down lists will cause the display to draw the selected object.

The Tool Bar speed buttons have the following definitions:

New file

Open file

Save file

Save As new file

Edit cave

Print Map

Help

About WinKarst

Color by Depth

Label Station Names

Toggle Line/Rug drawing

Zoom In

Zoom Out

Black background for map

White background for map

Reset color selections

Rotate Counter Clock Wise

Rotate Clock Wise

Autoscale to Plan View

Autoscale to Plan and Profile

Autoscale to Profile View

Continuous Rotation

Two Axis Rotation

Three Dimensional

Rose Diagram

Vertical Passage Distribution

Measure between Stations

Inspect Station Names

Grip Panning

DEM Locator Map

Draw Elevation Contours

Draw Surface Shadow

Draw Surface Mesh

Draw DLG Roads and Trails

Draw DLG Streams and Lakes

Draw a single Sketch

Draw all Sketches

Draw a Sketch Sheet

Hide Survey Line Plot

Draw map background image

Hot Keys

Use Esc key to close any dialog if opened by accident.

Cntl + a Label station properties

Cntl + b Draw Sketches

Cntl + c Color every cave

Cntl + d Color into Page

Cntl + e Color every survey

Cntl + f Map Graphics

Cntl + g Rug/Line mapping

Cntl + h Hide Line Plot

Cntl + i Scale Dialog Box

Cntl + j Label Junctions

Cntl + k Label Head of Traverse

Cntl + l Label stations

Cntl + m Morph Sketches

Cntl + n No labels

Cntl + o Map overall view

Cntl + p Auto plan view

Cntl + q Color every loop

Cntl + r Rotate Counter Clock Wise

Cntl + s Label surveys

Cntl + t Color by time

Cntl + u Label Head of loops

Cntl + v Auto elevation view

Cntl + w Color below surface

Cntl + x Color every loop

Cntl + y Label head of Group

Cntl + z Zoom in

Alt + a Color by Station's Shots

Alt + b Label sketches

Alt + c Plot Rose Diagram

Alt + d Color by Depth

Alt + j GeoProjection Dialog box

Alt + k Label with traverses

Alt + l Vertical Passage Distribution

Alt + o Three dimensional view

Alt + q Color every traverse

Alt + r Rotate Clock Wise

Alt + t Continuous rotation

Alt + u Label within Loops

Alt + v Label every cave

Alt + x Two axis rotation

Alt + y Label surveys in Group

Alt + z Zoom out

F1 Help

F2 Draw cave system

F3 Draw cave

F4 Draw survey

F7 Draw station

F9 Draw Loop

F10 Draw traverse

F11 Draw group

Cntl + F2 Draw overall cave system

Cntl + F3 Cave Dialog box

Cntl + F4 Survey Dialog box

Cntl + F6 Exception Dialog box

Cntl + F7 Station Dialog box

Cntl + F8 Property Dialog box

Cntl + F9 Loop Dialog box

Cntl + F10 Traverse Dialog box

Cntl + F11 Group Dialog box

Cntl + F12 Sketch Dialog box

Shift + F2 Edit System

Shift + F3 Edit Cave

Shift + F4 Edit Survey

Shift + F8 Edit Property

Shift + F12 Edit Sketch

Up arrow Pan up

Down arrow Pan down

Left arrow Pan left

Right arrow Pan right

Page up Step up

Page down Step down

Home Step left

End Step right

Escape Stop a continously rotating drawing

Scroll Bars

When either the bottom or side scroll bar is present, it means the cave's dimensions extend beyond the limits of the display. If the side scroll bar is present, the cave is larger in the North/South direction, East/West direction for the bottom bar. When the cave is plotted in the auto scaling modes, the scale is adjusted such the entire cave fits into the field of view. In this case no scroll bars will appear. The size of the scroll bar tabs represents the area of the window's view relative to the extends of the entire cave system.

When a scroll bar is present, clicking on its arrow or dragging the thumb wheel (the square box between the ending arrows), will pan the view in the indicated direction. Given the selected Scale, the position of the thumb wheel indicates what portion of the cave's extend is in the field of view. For example, if the side thumb wheel is towards the bottom and the bottom wheel is towards the right, then the field of view is of the southeastern section of the cave.

WinKarst as an auto binding feature for scrolling or panning. The view will never pan past the north/south, east/west extents of the cave. In this manner, it is less likely the user will be viewing a blank screen wondering where the cave is. Note, it is possible to zoom out in scale enough to "see" beyond the limits of the cave using the Mouse or Zoom out function.

Status Line

The status line, the part of the window's frame at the bottom, displays information about the current state of the cave view.

The next three fields from the right give the location of the mouse's pointer in cave space. If the view is plan, only the left two fields of the three will be active, representing the x and y coordinates. If the view is elevation, the center field of the three will be inactive and the other two representing x and z coordinates. If both views are present, then either the y or z coordinate will "freeze" as the mouse pass between plan and elevation views. If the cave survey has a geographic location, geographic coordinates, i.e. latitude and longitude, can be displayed once selected in the Map | Scales and Legend form

The next field from the right, or roughly in the center, is the current scale. The scale may be expressed as a ratio or in English or Metric units. As the view is zoomed in or out, the scale will change to the new value.

The last field, the field on furthest to the left, is the help indicator line. When the mouse passes over a Tool Bar item or a menu item is passed (displayed in inverse video lettering), this line will display a short message to help indicate its function.

When the Locator Map is present, has the focus and the mouse passes over it, the Status Line reports the position in geographic coordinates.

Editing a Cave Survey

Getting Started

Editing a Cave Survey

Using the Editor

System Page

Cave Page

Survey Page

Properties Page

Sketch Page

Map Page

Elements of a Cave Survey

Elements of a Drawing

Calculations

Spatial Data Transfer Specification (SDTS)

GeoTiff Images

Data File Formats

Editing a Cave Document

Edit a Cave System Document by selecting Edit menu choice or by pressing the edit document icon on the tool bar. The editor contains five pages, System, Caves of the System, Surveys of the Caves, Properties of the Stations, Sketches and Maps. All boxes and buttons on the pages have "fly over" hints, just pause the mouse over the object and a message will appear. The entire Editor can be resized to match the resolution of the user's computer, however, a minimum resolution of 800 x 600 is recommended.

The editor is integrated with the main mapping window. This means changes made to the survey data in the editor will be reflected immediately in the main window when the editor is closed. It is very important to remember to save the survey data before closing the program, otherwise and changes will be lost. WinKarst keeps track whether a change has been done in the editor and asks the User before closing the survey or the program itself. The title bar of the main window will show the word "modified" once a change has occurred. Save a survey by pressing on the toolbar symbol or in the File drop down menu.

The Editor can also be reached by pressing the Edit button on any of the Preference forms. When accessed this way, the editor will jump to the page associated with the form. The Editor can also be started after Double Clicking on an object displayed on the map and pressing on the Edit button that appears on the dialog form that appears. When the editor is started this may, it jumps to the page associated with the object and the specific item in the cave survey. Similarly, when the Editor is closed by pressing the OK button, the drawing's object selections, e.g. cave, survey, etc, will be copied from the last object the Editor was focused upon.

Each of the Editor's pages have either six or eight buttons along the right edge, OK, Cancel, Info, Help, New, Delete, Cut and Add. The buttons OK and Cancel will always close the Editor, the former applying any edits to the cave survey, the later discarding any changes. The title of the Editor's window will display the word, "Modified", once a change has been made to the cave survey. When the Cancel button is pressed after changes have been made, the user will be prompted to actually verify the changes should be discarded.

The Help button will start this Help browser, jumping to the information pertaining to the editor page in question. The Info button will display a dialog box detailing information about the current object being edited, e.g. cave, survey, etc.

The New and Delete buttons will create or destroy a new object type of the type being edited, e.g. cave, survey, etc.

The Cut and Add buttons will remove or add components to the object being edited, e.g. adding a shot to a survey.

Side Button Page Assignments

	System	Cave	Survey	Property	Sketch
Ok	Accept edits and close editor	Accept edits and close editor	Accept edits and close editor	Accept edits and close editor	Accept edits and close editor
Cancel	Discard edits and close editor	Discard edits and close editor	Discard edits and close editor	Discard edits and close editor	Discard edits and close editor
Info	Display information about System	Display information about Cave	Display information about Survey	Display information about Property	Display information about Sketch
Help	Get help about editing System	Get help about editing Cave	Get help about editing Survey	Get help about editing Property	Get help about editing Sketch
New	Select a new file to include	Create a new Cave	Create a new Survey	Create a new Property	Select a new image file
Delete	Delete a file from the include list	Delete a Cave	Delete a Survey	Delete a Property	Delete a image file
Add	Add a SDTS file to system	Add a control point station	Add a shot to Survey	Add a station with Property	Add a reference station to image
Cut	Cut a SDTS file from system	Cut a control point station	Cut a shot from survey	Cut a station with Property	Cut a reference station from image

System Editing Page

The System page contains only a couple of parameters the pertain to the entire cave system survey, the author of the document's name, choice of either English or Metric units, whether or not to automatically calculate magnetic declination, whether the coordinate system is Absolute or Relative, a list of Included files and a list of Geographic Data files.

It is required to select a unit of Measurement, Metric or English. It is required to select a type of Coordinate System, Absolute or Relative. An Absolute coordinate system locates positions on the Earth by longitude and latitude. A Relative coordinate system has an arbitrary origin from which all cave entrances are referenced from by x,y and z numbers.

The magnetic declination calculation is based on the point in time and the location of the cave's entrances on the Earth. WinKarst can calculate the declination for the years 1900 through 2005. The check box for automatic magnetic declination is enabled when the coordinate system is Absolute.

Because the is no method to convert locations from a Relative to an Absolute coordinate system, changing systems will cause the deletion of existing control points. Ensure the correct system is selected before describing any control points of the cave system survey.

The list of included files in the system appears in a drop down list on the page. Create a new file to include by typing its name in the line for included files. After pressing enter, the user is prompted as to whether to create the file by the name provided. If the file already exists, it is simply included as part of the system. Pressing the New button on the right side will invoke a File Open Dialog box to search the file system of the computer. When the file is located in the same or subdirectory of the location of the cave survey data file, then the file name will appear shortened to the relative path to the file.

Note: an existing file that is included is not actually read from a disk until the OK button is pressed and the editor closes. That means the survey data in the include file will not appear in the Survey editor Page until the editor is opened a second time.

When the choice of coordinate system is Absolute, then the list of Geographic Data Files is enabled. Pressing the Add button on the right side will invoke a File Open Dialog box to search the computer for SDTS catalog files, DEM files and GeoTiff files. SDTS file set must be previously unpacked and preferably located in a separate directory from the cave survey data files. When the file is located in the same or subdirectory of the location of the cave survey data file, then the file name will appear shortened to the relative path to the file.

Cave Editing Page

The Caves of the System page has a number of data fields to describe properties of the caves in the system and some lists to help find either caves or stations within the system. Each cave can have a Name, Location, Datum (for Absolute coordinates), a list of Control Points and a list of Aliased Stations and their Equivalence.

The Cave List provides for the selection of each cave in the system. A cave is selected by clicking on its name in the list. To change the name of a cave, select it from the list, then type over the name in the cave name box and press enter. The cave's Location is specified by typing the value in the box and pressing the enter key. The location text is optional.

The Station Name and List provides for the selection of a station. Selection is initiated by typing a letter in the Station Name box. For each letter that is typed in the box, the Station List shows all of the stations in the cave with the letter prefix in their name. The final selection can either be made by typing the entire station name and pressing enter or by clicking on a name in the Station List. The Station Name and List is only a tool for finding stations already defined in a Survey. Any Station name can be typed into the Control, Aliased or Equivalent station drop down lists and then later defined in a Survey.

Pressing the Add button on the right side will open a dialog box to type in a Station name, or the one selected from the Station List will be pre-selected. Alternately, the Station name can be typed directly in the Control Station drop down list and accepted after pressing the Enter key. Once a Control Point has been selected, its coordinates will be displayed in the X and Y boxes for Relative or Longitude and Latitude boxes for Absolute coordinate systems, plus the elevation. The elevation can be interpreted has either English or Metric units. Changes to any of these values are accomplished by typing over the value and pressing the Enter key. A Control Point can have an additional text string attached to it by typing the text in the Control Marker Text box. Pressing the Cut button at the right edge will delete the currently selected Control Station from the list. Selecting a Control Station name from the drop down list and pressing the Delete key will remove it and the associated coordinates from the survey.

When entering Longitudes, values in the Western Hemisphere are negative, the Eastern Hemisphere positive. When entering Latitudes, values in the Northern Hemisphere are positive, the Southern Hemisphere negative. The appropriate Datum must be recorded for any absolute coordinate from the pre-defined list of Datums. If the coordinates come from a GPS unit, consult the manual of the GPS to determine what Datum it is using.

Aliased Stations are typed into the labeled drop down list and pressing the Enter key. Once a Aliased Station has been entered, a corresponding equivalent station name must be typed into the Equivalent Station box. There can be any number of Equivalent Station names to correspond to an Aliased Station. In processing the cave survey data, when any of the Equivalent Station names are encountered, then the Aliased Station name is substituted. This provides a method to connect surveys that are physically connected in the cave but do not share any station names. Selecting an Aliased Station in the drop down list and pressing the Delete key will remove it and the associated Equivalent Station names from the survey.

To create additional caves, press the New button along the right edge of the page. A form will appear to type in the new cave's name. Similarly, pressing the Delete button at the right edge will delete the currently selected cave, after completing a conformation form.

Survey Editing Page

The Surveys of the Caves page has a number of data fields to describe properties of the surveys in the cave and a Survey Shot spread sheet. Each survey can have a Name, Date, Team, Comment and of course, a list of shots. The survey's name can be changed by typing over the value and pressing the Enter key in the Survey Name box. Starting in Version 8.0 of WinKarst, duplicate survey names are not allowed. Warning: Previous surveys with duplicate survey names will be merged into a single survey. To compensate, Version 8.0 now allows non-contiguous the shots within a single survey.

To create an additional survey to the initial survey, press the New button at the right edge of the page. A form will appear to type in the new survey's name. Similarly, pressing the Delete button at the right edge will delete the currently selected survey, after completing a conformation form. Survey without any shots will automatically be deleted from the system when the OK button is press to close the editor.

Each survey can have a date, selected from the Year, Day and Month drop down lists. A survey's Team and Comment can be entered by typing in the appropriate boxes and pressing the Enter key. The Team and Comment fields are optional. The magnetic declination is set by typing in the Declination box and pressing the Enter key (the Declination box is absent if Automagnetic Calculation is enabled).

In the lower left corner are three check boxes for survey properties. These properties are Fixed in Loops, True Declination and Do Not Calculate. A fixed survey does not have its shots adjusted during the loop closure process. A True survey uses the declination entered for the survey, despite if Automagnetic Calculation has been enabled. The no calculation option allows for inclusion of a survey for documentation.

The Survey Shot spread sheet can have ten, eleven or twelve columns, Shot Code, From Station, To Station, Length, Bearing, Inclination, Passage Left, Passage Right, Passage Up and Passage Down, Comment, Backsight Bearing, Backsight Inclination and Depth Delta. If Depth Delta or Depth gauge is chosen with backsights, only the bearing has a backsight column. The Depth column replaces the Inclination column in both cases. The choice for backsights and depth gauge is made with the dialog box accessed by pressing the Ordering button towards the lower right corner of the page. The column ordering is changed in this dialog box by clicking on a column box and dragging it to the desired position (note, there is no visual feedback of the moving column until the mouse button is released). The choice of survey units is made in another dialog box reached by pressing the Units button located next to the Ordering button.

Data entry is accomplished by moving the mouse to the appropriate box, selecting it with a click, typing a value and finally pressing the Enter key. Pressing the Escape key before the Enter key will restore the original data for the box. Once the data is entered, the box selection is automatically moved to the right. A selected box or focused box is indicated by a slightly darker outline and the selected row by a triangular wedge in the left most column. Navigation about the spread sheet can also be accomplished by using the arrow or page up/down keys.

Each row in the spread sheet has a row number in the left most column. The selected row number is shown at the bottom of the sheet in the VCR button area. Typing a new row number in the Row box will jump the row selection to that row. The VCR button to the right of the box is the Fast Reverse button, jumping to the first shot in the survey. The button to the left is used to Advance the selection by one row, the next button to the left is the Fast Forward to the end of the survey and the last button is the Play, which adds a new shot to the end of the survey. If more shots exist than can be shown in the spread sheet at one time, used the scroll button on the right edge to move the rows up and down to the desired shot. The widths of the columns can be adjusted by placing the mouse on the column line in the first row and dragging left or right.

Next to the VCR buttons are two Search buttons. The left search button opens a dialog box to type in the characters to search for in the shot spread sheet. The editor will then jump to and focus on the first occurrence of the desired text. The second button is for a Repeat Search on the same text.

A new shot can be create in one of three ways. First, by pressing the Add button on the right side of the page, which will create a new shot after the selected row. Second, by pressing the Down Arrow with a box in the last row selected. Finally, third, by editing and pressing enter in the last column of the table. The From station of a new shot is brought forward automatically from the previous line's To station. A predicted To station for the new shot is determined by the last character in the From station and the current focus is just after the last character of the predicted station name. If the predicted station name is correct, simply press Enter to accept the name, otherwise press Backspace and type the correct station name. A Station name that does not already exist with in the survey, but exist elsewhere in the cave are assumed to be tie-in stations for the survey. For tie-in stations, the user is asked to confirm the name of the Station.

Finally, a shot can be deleted by pressing the Delete key while any box is selected in the row of the shot to be deleted. The Cut button on the right edge can also delete a selected Shot. The shot will be deleted once the conformation form has been completed. The deleted shot is place in a buffer and a Undo button will appear in the lower right corner of the page. Pressing the Undo button will restore the shot to the survey. If a different survey is selected, the Undo button changes to a Paste button. Pressing the Paste button adds the deleted shot to the second survey, thus moving the shot from the first to the second survey. Several shots can be selected for deletion or moving by first clicking on the left most column, the column with the row number, of the first row to be deleted or moved. The entire row will be highlighted, indicating multiple rows can now be selected. By holding down the Shift key and pressing either the Up or Down arrows, additional rows are selected and highlighted.

As data items are entered into the Shot spread sheet, data boundary checking is done and illegal values are not allowed. Shot length must be a positive number, azimuth positive and less than 360.0, inclination greater than or equal to -90.0 and less than or equal to 90.0 and the FROM and TO stations must be different. Shots are also check that enough data items are present to create a complete shot. For backsights, the azimuth and inclination are reported and the difference displayed if the angles differ by more than 5 degrees. Shots and Stations which do not connect to the main body of the cave survey are recorded in the Exceptions Dialog and are characterized as Hanging.

Backsights are handled one of two ways. If the survey only records a single pair of azimuth and inclination for each shot, then a Shot Code of 'B' is used to mark the shot as a backsight. This is equivalent to reversing the FROM and TO station names. On the other hand, if the survey records two pair of measurements for each shot, then the backsight is written in the AZM2 and DIP2 columns. In the situation of corrected backsights and two pair of measurements, WinKarst can automatically detect the corrected data and will mark a 'C' in the Shot Code column. The user can also type a 'C' in the column to flip the values in the AZM2 and DIP2 columns. The 'B' character does not apply to the single pair, backsight data model. A warning is given if the back and fore azimuth or inclination differ by more than 5 degrees. A warning is also given for any shot with the same FROM and TO stations that differ by more than 5 degrees. A final warning may appear if another shot with the same FROM and TO stations appears to be a backsight relative to the shot being edited.

The following table describes the values allowed in the Shot Code column

Code	Meaning	Single or pair measurements
N	Normal	Both
X	Length excluded	Both
B	Backsight	Single
R	Length excluded backsight	Single
C	Corrected backsight	Pair
K	Length excluded corrected	Pair
V	Void