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Import Bitmap

Note

The features for importing bitmaps requires the option BMP.

Importing Bitmaps via File|Import

A bitmap imported via menu File|Import enables to automatically place bitmap files (e.g. TIFF-files) in a frame, provided that the corner coordinates of the bitmap are saved in an additional file having the file extension TFW and that both files are saved in the same directory (e.g. bitmap file 34139ca2.tif and coordinate file named 34139ca2.tfw).

Multiple selection of the files to be imported can be used. It is not necessary to select the TFW file as well, since CadnaA check for and load the relevant data automatically.

Importing Bitmaps via ODBC

Furthermore, bitmaps can be imported via the ODBC-connection (see Database Import (ODBC & XLSX)). You can also import other bitmap files using this method. In this case you do not have to create a bitmap frame from the toolbox. CadnaA will automatically create this frame in the lower left corner of the project‘s limits (as set on Options|Limits menu), giving it a size of 10 x 10 m. The bitmap‘s frame can be adjusted as usual.

Bitmap-formats

The following bitmap-formats can be imported for the time being (modifications subject to change at any time):

CALS Raster, DCX, DWF, ECW, GEM Image (IMG), GIF, IOCA (ICA), JFIF, JPEG, JTIF, LEAD CMP, Macintosh Pict (PCT Macintosh QuickDraw), MacPaint (MAC), Microsoft Paint (MSP), MPT (Multipage TIFF), OS/2 Bitmap, PCD (Kodak PhotoCD Files), PCX, Photoshop 3.0 (PSD), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), PostScript Raster (Encapsulated PostScript), SUN Raster (RAS), TIFF, TIFF CCITT (also Group 3 and 4), TIFF (LZW), Truevision TGA (TARGA), Windows Bitmap (BMP), Windows Metafile (WMF), WinFax Group 3, WinFax Group 4, WordPerfect (WPG WordPerfect raster files) and some others.

Proxy Server

When accessing the Internet for WMS services or Google Maps via a proxy server, the required settings occur in the Proxy Server Settings dialog (Options menu).

In case the default setting („Use system‘s proxy“) does not work, the settings must be set up individually. In this case, contact Datakustik for assistance.

Importing Bitmaps from WMS-Server

WMS (Web Map Service) is a service provided by companies or government agencies for various types of bitmap data distributed over the Internet. Common examples are satellite images, road maps, land cover data, and noise maps.

To import a bitmap from a WMS server in CadnaA follow the steps outlined below:

  • Insert a bitmap object in a CadnaA file with a geodetic reference. For bitmaps not having a geodetic reference (i.e. corner coordinates not using a specific geodetic system) the import fails since bitmap coordinates are always used on import.

Note

Please make sure your PC is connected to the Internet!

  • Click the „WMS“ button on the Bitmap dialog.

The first access may take some time since the list of WMS servers gets first updated.

The dialog Options for WMS-Bitmaps opens:

Dialog options

  • WMS-Server: shows the selected WMS server name. Selecting a different WMS server will update the „layer list“.
  • buttons „Edit/Add/Delete“: enable to edit, add or delete WMS servers as well as to select from a couple of presets (WMS-Server settings, see below).
  • Layer List: On column „used“ in the list of layers activate at least one layer (either by a double-click with the mouse or by writing an 'X' into the first column). The order of the layers is relevant and can be adjusted by dragging with the mouse button pressed.After activation, move the focus to a different row in order to enable the OK button.
  • Resolution: specify the bitmap‘s resolution (in DPI)
  • Scale 1:X / Use current Scale: Enter a scaling or use the current scale of the CadnaA main window.

Importing a Bitmap

Clicking the OK button starts downloading the bitmap tiles required for the final image. Depending on the size, DPI and scale the import operation requires more or less time.

After completion the user is prompted to save the bitmap in case of „File“ option is selected on Bitmap dialog or it is saved directly with option „Bitmap embedded in cna-file“).

  • Click OK to close the Bitmap dialog displaying the import result.

Specifying WMS Servers

The specifications for each WMS server is displayed when clicking the „Edit“ button for the server selected.

  • Server Name: used to display the server on the WMS server list box
  • Server URL: points to the WMS Server and is evaluated up to the first '?'.

Note

If no layers appear in the „Layer List“ on dialog Options for WMS-Bitmaps the most likely error is within the URL.

There are many WMS Servers available for free on the Internet. Terrestris mentioned above is an example that uses open source OpenStreetMap data. Please note that many WMS Server only cover some parts of the world or a country/state. This means that trying to download a bitmap from outside of those bounds will import a white bitmap. Please check the website supplying the WMS Server to study what area is covered.

All WMS servers offer data for several coordinate systems. On import the data will be transformed into the coordinate system specified in CadnaA (see Coordinate System). It is recommended to use option „Choose automatically“.

  • Authentication:
    • none
    • User credentials: If the access to the service requires an authentication, enter the username and password here.
  • option „I agree with the Conditions of Use“: activate this option and click OK to add the server to the server list

Transferring the server list

The server list is stored per computer/user via an INI file and is not saved with the CadnaA file. In order to transfer the actual server list to another PC copy the file "wms.ini" from this location to the same location on another PC:

"C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Datakustik\CadnaA"

Importing Bitmaps from GoogleMaps

Alternatively, bitmaps can be imported from GoogleMapsTM. The general requirement is that the object coordinates are in a well-known national or international coordinate system (see Coordinate System).

Click on the „Import from Google Maps“ to display the import options.

View

The view of he bitmap can be selected in Google Maps, or, alternatively be specified based on actual bitmap coordinates in CadnaA.

  • option „Choose region in the browser“: After selection of a geodetic coordinate system, and after agreeing to the conditions of use of Google Maps the import is started by clicking OK. For this option, the latest version of "Microsoft Edge (Chromium)" must also be installed, which is automatically kept up to date by Windows updates. Move/zoom the view in GoogleMaps so that the area to be imported is visible. Then click the button „Ausschnitt festlegen“ („Select Region“) in the upper left corner of the browser window.
    • option „Initial position on the bitmap center“: With this option checked, the imported bitmap will be centered on the bitmap‘s coordinates.
  • option "Use Bitmap-Dimensions“ (default setting): With this option is selected, the area covered by the actual bitmap object is used to define the import area.
    • list box „Map Type“: selection of the default map type (RoadMap, Satellite, Terrain or Hybrid)
    • option „Zoom level (resolution)“: Choose between „low detail“ and „high detail“ regarding the bitmap‘s resolution.

button „Global Coordinate System“

A correct import from GoogleMaps requires object coordinates in a known coordinate system. Click on the button „Global Coordinate System“. For project files a national or international coordinate system of which has been specified will be displayed on the subsequent dialog Coordinate System (for description of the dialog and available coordinate/reference systems see Coordinate System). With the option „User-defined Coordinate Systems“ activated just those are listed.

Agree to Conditions of Use

Accept the Conditions of Use of GoogleMaps by selecting the check box. Then start the import from GoogleMaps by clicking OK. Finally, you will be prompted to enter a file name and to save the file. Then the imported bitmap is displayed.

Use GoogleMaps API key

The number of down-loadable maps from GoogleMaps is limited by Google Inc. However, a user-defined so-called „API key“ can be created in order to bypass the GoogleMaps download restriction. For this functionality, see also our Technical Note TN1801.

Example

Path: Examples\Bitmaps

Details on the procedure can be found in the referenced document.