Live GPS tracking is supported in the Editor via scripting to provide customers the flexibility to make customizations and, if required, further develop additional GPS related features into the software. The GPS support is provided in this way because of the difficulty of "hard programming" into the Editor a single set of GPS related features that satisfy the GPS requirements of all customers.
Two source code scripts providing GPS functionality are packaged with the Editor:
- GPSLocate. When used with a connected GPS device, this script presents the current GPS location on the map, tracks the way, and marks the GPS points. This script provides a good starting point for someone wishing to use the Editor's scripting tools to add custom GPS features and functionality.
- GPSLocateEnhanced. This script provides a more complete GPS related feature set that can be run and used with a connected GPS device without further customization. It represents our best attempt to provide the set of GPS related features most users will find useful. Features include presentation of current GPS tracking position, snapping GPS position to nearest vector, automatic map scrolling, presentation of the course as points, speed limit feature, saving current location as a point of interest, and creating line and polygon (area) layers from the GPS data. This script can also be further customized as each Editor customer may require.
The Editor GPS connectivity reflects the NMEA GPS interface protocol via either the computer’s COM or USB ports. Live GPS tracking points can be reprojected on-the-fly to a map layer or multi-layer map project displayed in any coordinate system, using the Editor's advanced support for coordinate systems.
The Editor also supports the GPX (GPS exchange) data format for batch transfer of data between the Editor an a GPS device. Just open a GPX file containing GPS data as a map layer, which can be presented in a project with other map layers. Reproject the GPX layer to the project coordinate system as may be required. The data can be edited in the GPX format or converted to any other Editor supported vector format (SHP, GML, KML, EOO, MIF, TAB, DXF, JSON, SQL layer ...). A number of free software programs, such as EasyGPS (www.easygps.com), can be used to transfer GPX format data to/from a GPS device.
More GPS related guidance is provided in KB10627.