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 Release of V4.30 TNT products
June 1993
Table of Contents
Database Forms
Release Notes Index
Release of TNTmipsTM
V4.30
Introduction
Much of the effort on TNTmips for the
last 3 months, since the shipment of V4.20 has been concentrated on
improvements in reliability. The important on-line help and batch
features of MIPS have also been implemented in V4.30. However,
some very significant new additions have been made in V4.30 in the area
of using TrueType® fonts, database forms, and additional soft photogrammetry.
The advances in this version in font handling and rendering alone warrant its
use over MIPS V3.33.
TNTmips V4.30 was duplicated and ready
to begin shipping in mid-June. However, due to continued input of new problems
from those using V4.20 it was decided to test V4.30 longer and
more extensively. This was done and the floppy disks have been remade.
TNTmips V4.40 will be shipped about
mid-September on the normal quarterly release schedule.
Name
Changes
MicroImages is announcing some minor changes
and additions to its product names to bring existing and planned product names
into better agreement. The following are the revised product names.
TNTmipsTM
is the revised form of the name for TNT-MIPS.
This is the abbreviated name now used for the Map and Image Processing System.
TNTviewTM
will be the release name for the $1000 product
which has been referred to previously as MIPSview and will be distributed
without charge to those who have previously purchased the stand-alone HyperIndex®
product. TNTview is being rewritten now for distribution at the beginning
of August and will contain most of the complex on-screen visualization and
viewing tools in the TNTmips display subsection.
TNTatlasTM
is a product which may be released by
MicroImages at about $400 to allow the low cost use of HyperIndex stacks or
atlases which you might want to distribute on CD-ROMs. If, and when
released, it would contain essentially the same features as the previous
stand-alone HyperIndex, but will allow the use of CD-ROM stack(s) on any
platform supported by TNTmips.
TNTsdkTM
will be the name for the former C tools kit
which has been more recently referred to as the SDK (Software Development
Kit).
Installation
Microsoft Windows 3.1 (MS W3.1.
The 5.25" version has 31 disks as follows:
25 containing processes and outline fonts; 5 containing both the TNTmips
and MIPS documentation; and 1 with the installation process and the
utilities.
The 3.5" version has 26 disks as follows:
21 containing processes and outline fonts; 4 containing both the TNTmips
and MIPS documentation; and 1 with the installation process and the
utilities.
Running INSTALL upgrades your key to
authorize it for V4.30. It then decompresses and writes a copy of each
process you have licensed from the disks containing V4.30 into a TNTMIPS
directory on your hard drive. You must use the INSTALL routine on
the installation disk supplied with this release to decompress the files
during installation. Installing this V4.30 will completely replace
V4.20 or earlier versions of TNTmips if the same hard drive is
selected.
TNTmips V4.30 may require as much as 58
megabytes of your hard drive depending upon the options you have purchased plus
additional space for the on-line documentation. Eventually this hard drive
requirement may shrink somewhat as processes are further streamlined and
integrated.
Apple Macintosh.
The Mac via AU/X version of TNTmips
is shipped on floppy disks with specific printed installation instructions
included.The Mac via
Workstation.
The TNTmips V4.30 for workstations is
being shipped on 8 mm Exabyte, 4 mm DAT, or 1/4" QIC tape according to the
preference you expressed. Specific installation instructions are included with
each tape.
Those receiving the 8 mm or DAT tape will find
that it contains the following optional versions for installation: Sun Solaris
1.1, Sun Solaris 2.2, Silicon Graphics Indigo, Data General, and the Macintosh.
These tapes also contain the illustrations for the documentation, sample data
sets, and the Software Development Kit (TNTsdk).
Those receiving the shorter 1/4" QIC tapes
will find that they do not contain the Macintosh or Data General versions as
insufficient capacity was available on these tapes to include these versions.
MicroImages will buy longer QIC tapes for the release of TNTmips V4.40.
Should you wish to try any other versions not
supplied on your standard tape or disk, (e.g. IBM, DEC, HP,
and so on) please let MicroImages know and they will be provided if your TNTmips
product key is authorized to run them.
General Changes to Protection Keys
The black software protection key and
associated use with TNTmips V4.30 has not been altered in any way.
However, with the release of V4.30 the red protection key and associated
protection scheme used on the workstation and Mac platforms has been
liberalized. TNTmips, when purchased for a workstation, uses the red
serial key which can now be attached to the serial port of any workstation
supported and will run that platform's version of TNTmips. Thus, everyone
who purchased or will purchase a workstation version of TNTmips obtains
the license to run it on any other workstation supported. This same red key can
also be added to the serial port of an Apple Macintosh running AU/X V3.0,
to a PC running MS W3.1 (and eventually NT), to
allow the installation and use of TNTmips V4.30 as well. While the red
key can be attached to only one machine at a time, this license modification
provides a lot of new convenience. For example, many inexpensive input/output
devices are available for the PC. The workstation version of TNTmips
now allows you to temporarily run on a PC to use these devices. Also
remember that the workstation key is automatically licensed and programmed to
let you load and use these peripherals on the PC (i.e. almost all the
peripheral support features are bundled into the workstation version of TNTmips).
If you have purchased TNTmips for the
Macintosh, you will find that with V4.30 you are authorized to install
and use TNTmips on a PC as well with MS W3.1. Since you
have purchased a D45/M product it will allow you to load and use TNTmips
on any PC using MS W3.1 up to and including a display resolution
level of product D45. However, the D45/M product is a la carte and does
require the purchase of the optional peripheral support features whether used on
the Mac or with MS W3.1.
Since the red serial workstation key can be
used on several different platforms you will find that your tape for V4.30
contains TNTmips for several platforms including the Apple Macintosh.
Simply attach the red key and your tape reader to the particular workstation and
run the install program to select and load the appropriate version. The detailed
installation manual provides assistance on how to attach the serial key to each
workstation, Mac, or PC. Those who have received only a workstation tape
release can request a copy of the floppy disk sets for the Mac or PC if
you will actually use them.
CD-ROM.
MicroImages has purchased and is working with
the JVC CD-R (CD Recording) drive which can record on a
blank CD-ROM. A small announcement on this product is enclosed with this
shipment. Philips also makes a similar device. Unfortunately, with the pressure
to get V4.30 shipped, there has not been time to work out standardizing
all our versions of the software on this media. It is only fair to warn all
clients that MicroImages anticipates using this media extensively and that
upgrades and annual subscriptions purchased after some future date will be more
costly when specified to be delivered on floppy disks. Subscriptions made before
that date will continue to be filled by the media of your choice without
additional cost until they must be renewed. Original product purchases will
continue to be available on any media specified including floppy disks, CD-ROM,
and various tape types.
On-Line
Documentation
A total of 831 pages of TNTmips
documentation are included in the on-line form with V4.30. The on-line
documentation printing capability is available but will not yet print the
on-line illustrations. The stratification of the V4.30 documentation is
as follows: Basic System Operation at 95 pages; Display at 329 pages; Interpret
at 129 pages; Prepare at 128 pages; Support at 51 pages; Appendix at 17 pages;
and Glossary at 82 pages.
The first draft of the on-line documentation
included with V4.30 is now about 2/3 complete. MicroImages has recently
employed two additional technical writing specialists who are introduced below.
Effective with the shipping of V4.30 we will temporarily suspend our
other writing activities, such as our Application Note projects, and draft these
technical writers as well to conclude the first complete draft of TNTmips
documentation. This makes 6 full time experienced technical writing specialists
available. Thus, the first complete draft of the documentation will be available
about 15 August. It should be 1200 to 1400 pages but without extensive
illustrations which are being skipped temporarily in these new sections. A set
of supplemental documentation disks will be available upon special request about
that time.
As soon as this first draft of the total
documentation is complete, two technical writers will return to their other
special projects. The remaining 4 will perfect and expand the documentation with
additional illustrations. However, all 6 will again spend their time just before
the release of V4.40 in mid September checking the processes for which
they are responsible and making sure that the documentation is current with the
additions and modifications for that release.
Subsequently, when the documentation is
complete and illustrated, all 6 technical writers will be assigned special
writing projects to create an increasing number of Application Notes and related
materials. The initial projects will include an Application Note on the use of
the soft photogrammetry in TNTmips and another on the use of the advanced
visualization tools provided in the TNTmips display processes.
A longer master copy of the V4.30
on-line documentation, including illustrations, has been deposited at Kinko's
Copy Center in Lincoln as in the past for your direct ordering. Please be
careful to specify the exact version number of the printed copy of the
documentation you wish to order from Kinko's as they have both V3.32 (no
changes for V3.33) and V4.30 on hand. Please contact George Hiatt;
Kinko's Copy Center; 1201 "Q" Street; Lincoln; NE 68508 at voice
(402)475-2679 or FAX (402)475-2523 for this service. The printed copy of the
1320 pages for MIPS V3.32 (specify single or double sided) is
approximately $80 plus the charge for shipping by the method specified. The
printed copy of the 831 pages for TNTmips V4.30 (specify single or double
sided) is approximately $50 plus the charge for shipping by the method you
specify. A credit card is the best way to pay Kinko's for both the printing and
shipping.
MicroImages
X Server (MI/X)
Windows NT for the PC.
MicroImages has continued to work on the X
Server for Microsoft Windows NT. Basic X Window outlines are
showing up now within NT and thus progress is being made and we may
complete this project in 1 month. It has taken longer than originally thought
because an opportunity occurred which has allowed us to code the NT
network features into the MI/X server. In fact, it was found that it
would have been difficult to program around the network features of NT.
Windows NT for the DEC Alpha PC.
MicroImages has had quite a few inquiries about
the possible release of TNTmips for the new DEC Alpha APX PC
sized desktop machine. MicroImages has just taken delivery of a complete
development system for this new DEC product. The only operating system available
for this machine is the beta version of Microsoft Windows NT. The
strategy of our original X user interface design becomes apparent with
this second NT based machine where we expect that the source code of the MI/X
server prepared for NT on the Intel based PC will be quite similar
to that required for the DEC Alpha PC using NT. We already
know from experience with other processes that the 32-bit C source code
for the TNTmips application processes will compile on this new machine
with relatively few problems. Pending the outcome of these tests, MicroImages
may announce the delivery of TNTmips for this platform.
Windows
for Workgroups
Neither NT nor Windows for Workgroups (WfW)
is the same product as Microsoft Windows 3.1 even though they all share a common
windows user interface. MicroImages is currently distributing TNTmips for
MS W3.1 only and it has never been stated by MicroImages that it was
available for WfW. There are identified problems using TNTmips
when WfW is set up in server mode. MicroImages has acquired WfW and will
investigate the source and solution of these problems. When TNTmips is
working with WfW it will be announced. In the meantime, use TNTmips
V4.30 with WfW at your own risk.
TNTmips
Problems on Some 386/16 Computers
You may have a 386/16 based microcomputer which
is equipped with a 287 math coprocessor. It has been determined that this
combination will cause significant floating point computation problems with TNTmips
via the Watcom compiler. It is important that TNTmips not be run
on such a computer. TNTmips V4.30 (but not earlier versions) will now run
on microcomputers which do not have a math coprocessor but will detect if one is
present and automatically use it. Thus, TNTmips will run correctly on
your 386/16 if you remove the 287 coprocessor. After removing the 287
chip you must add the statement DEVICE=WEMU387.386 into the section
headed [386Enh] in the SYSTEM.INI file. Please see the new
installation manual being distributed with V4.30 for similar information.
TNTmips V4.30 will now also run on the lower cost 486SX based
microcomputers which do not have a math coprocessor with a similar MS W3.1
setup statement.
Temporary
Limitation to RVC Project File Access
Warning: do not attempt to use the same
RVC Project File in two or more TNTmips processes at the
same time unless the file is set to read only. Simultaneously
executing two or more TNTmips processes in a multiprocessing sense which attempt
to write to the same RVC file may result in unrecoverable loss of data in
the RVC Project File. This restriction will be removed in a future
version of TNTmips.
Sun
Modifications
TNTmips is now also available for both
the Sun platforms using the Solaris 1.x series and the Solaris 2.x series. By
now most of you with Sun machines know that Sun was unable or unwilling to
provide you with continuity between these versions of Solaris (Unix). Thus most
software purchased for the older 1.x versions will not run with the newer 2.x
versions (the latest Solaris available is V2.2) and no software compiled for
V2.x will run with V1.x. For example, AutoCAD release 12 is a Solaris 2.x
package only while Word Perfect would run only under Solaris V1.x (current
status of WordPerfect upgrade plans to V2.x is unknown).
This "brilliant" Sun move is about
equivalent to Microsoft bringing out a new version of DOS which would not run
any software you currently have and if you bought any new software and upgrades
it would not run with the machines you still had with the earlier DOS system
installed. Thus, MicroImages has to release 2 versions of TNTmips for the
Sun Sparc series and you must load that which is appropriate for your setup.
Please also be advised that the newer Sun platforms such as the Classic and LX
can not directly run Solaris 1.x except in a slower emulation mode. As we all
know from past experience, emulation usually will run a few big name software
packages well and generally nothing else. MicroImages is already getting
feedback that this emulation approach on the new platforms is causing problems
and delays in other nations with applications which they need for language
conversion of the interface.
Solaris
for the PC
MicroImages has acquired a copy of the
development system for Sun's Solaris product for the PC and might make TNTmips
available for it. At present, however, there has been little interest in this
Unix product. SCO Unix, Solaris, and related Unix systems for the 386-
and 486-based PC simply do not have large scale acceptance in the
marketplace.
INFORMATION
UPDATES
There are no new MicroImages INFORMATION
UPDATES being issued with this shipment.
586s versus Workstations.
An in-depth comparison of the initial 586 PCs
which have been shipped compared to popular workstations can be reviewed by
obtaining the article: Michael J. Miller (15 June 1993); The New PCs;
PC Magazine; pages 109 to 170. This is a very detailed discussion covering the
Compaq Deskpro 5/66 Model 510 (a 586); HP Apollo 9000 Model 715/50; IBM RS/6000
PowerStation 365; Silicon Graphics Iris Indigo R4000 XZ; Sun Sparcstation LX;
and Apple Macintosh Quadra 800.
Page 133 of this article contains important
tables showing a wide variety of benchmarks (Dhrystone, Graphstone, Khornerstone,
SPECmark, Whetstone, X11PERF, and others) comparing these systems. A stand out
result on these tables is that the Compaq 586 is similar in performance to the
Sun LX and Classic workstations which are Sun's replacement for the Sparcstation
2 and IPX workstations.
Windows NT.
A comprehensive technical overview of NT
can be reviewed by obtaining the article: Ben Ezzell (15 June 1993); The
Power Under the Hood, Windows NT, the first 32-bit Windows interface with
some powerful new under-the-skin architecture; PC Magazine; pages 173 to
200.
Windows Display Boards.
New graphics display boards for MS W3.1
can be reviewed by obtaining the article: (13 April 1993); Waking up
Windows; PC Magazine; pages 158 to 219. Additional up-to-date
information on selecting a display board can be reviewed by obtaining the
article: Alfred Poor (July 1993); The Perfect Display; PC
Magazine; pages 147 to 179.
Buying a New PC.
Designing a state-of-the-art PC for use
with TNTmips can be assisted by reviewing the following articles: 1) Winn
L. Rosch (July 1993); The Perfect System; PC Magazine; pages 123
to 145. 2) Alfred Poor (July 1993); The Perfect Display; PC
Magazine; pages 147 to 179. 3) John R. Quain (July 1993); The Perfect hard
Disk; PC Magazine; pages 183 to 206. and 4) Mitt Jones (July 1993); The
Perfect Accessories; PC Magazine; pages 218 to 223.
Service
Information Updates
A brochure from Photo Science Inc. (PSI)
is included which describes a new large format, high resolution film recorder
service they provide. TNTmips V4.30 can export raster files or create
print files (via product F20) for transmittal to PSI for
preparation on this new Saturn film recorder form LTV (a Kodak
subsidiary).
Should any other organization wish MicroImages
to forward similar information on their services to all TNTmips clients
we would be happy to consider doing so. The basic requirement is that the
information be provided in sufficient quantity, that it contain summary price
information on the product or service, and that the providing organization
be a MicroImages' customer.
Optimizing
MS W 3.1
An updated TNTmips installation manual
for all platforms is being shipped for your TNTmips installation
notebooks.
Among the revised information it contains is a
new trick on page 31 which allows setting up a larger permanent virtual memory
than is directly allowed by MS W3.1. MicroImages has already encountered
situations when a very large permanent swap space is required for efficiency in
controlling hardware devices. This trick and many others can be found in the
book: Brian Livingston (1992); Windows 3.1 SECRETS; IDG Books
Worldwide, Inc.; 155 Bovet Road, Suite 610; San Mateo, CA 94402; 990 pages.
New
Features
Display.
A Quick-Add (Q-A) display layer option
has now been added to allow rapid selection and display of a single raster and
multiple vector and CAD layers without a lot of complicated design and
set up features. In V4.30, Q-A will display each layer selected
just as if you used the general procedure to add a layer but immediately clicked
the "OK" button. Thus, vector and CAD objects will display all
their contents and only in the color of white. Modifications to Q-A
planned for V4.40 will automatically display each layer selected just as
it was previously displayed in the general procedure. In other words, Q-A
will default to display each layer selected with defaults of colors, line
styles, database query, and so on as set in the last use of the layer in the
general display process.
The inside contents of the "view
window" (the window where the complex visualization is built up) can now be
quick "snapshot" saved as a raster object in the RVC project
file you select.
A completely new interface procedure has been
provided for the selection of a map projection and its coordinate reference
frame.
The interface procedure for color-map editing
has been significantly improved and several minor new features added.
Error Messages.
While error messages are things you and
MicroImages wish you never encountered, they are a fact of life. Thus, a new
error message system has been integrated into all TNTmips processes. It
displays much more verbose error messages and information which will be helpful
to you and MicroImages in pinpointing a problem. Please provide this complete
message in English as part of your technical support request. Unfortunately,
this will not eliminate those wonderfully descriptive MS W3.1
"Application Error" messages which are trapped and displayed by MS
W3.1 at the systems level.
Those of you using TNTmips who prefer
reading other languages, or are servicing customers who do, may wish to
immediately translate the error messages into that "local" language.
This can be done by translating the error reference file ERRMSGS.TXT into
the local language with the TNTmips text editor or some other editor.
This translation will require the use of an X System font as discussed in
the Application Note entitled Internationalization and Localization.
Please note that in the section below on the use of TrueType fonts in TNTmips,
it may soon be possible to translate TrueType fonts into X System fonts,
but in the meantime you will have to find your own X System fonts. Please
note that once translated, the ERRMSGS.TXT file will be immediately
usable on all platforms supported by TNTmips (workstations, Mac, PC,
etc.).
Instructions on the internal structure of the ERRMSGS.TXT
file are contained as comments at the beginning of this file. You may also
expand and elaborate the error messages in English or any other local language
in your choose by simply adding lines into the appropriate sections in the file.
Please recall however, that the ERRMSGS.TXT file is replaced with the
installation of each new TNTmips version and this will overwrite your
additions and translations, so save a backup copy. A means of preserving your
local language translations or personal additions from TNTmips version to
version is being investigated for future implementation.
On-Line Help.
Context sensitive, on-line help is now
available in a scrolling window for most processes. If you want to request that
this help be expanded or added in a specific process, please let us know as this
is easily done. A couple of pages of instructions on using this on-line help are
included in the on-line documentation and are summarized here. 1) If there is a
menu bar on the window being used you can access on-line help via the help menu
and then select "on context". The cursor will then change into a
pointing finger. Use it to select the item for which you want help. 2) If you
are using a dialog box which does not have a menu bar, it will show a help
button which you can press to show the help window. 3) If an interface item such
as a button has been selected and has "focus", as shown by a black box
around it, you can request on-line help by pressing F1 or the help key for
workstation keyboards which have one.
Those of you using TNTmips who prefer
reading other languages, or are servicing customers who do, may wish to
immediately translate the help messages into that "local" language.
This can be done by translating the help reference file TNTHELP.TXT into
the local language with the TNTmips editor or some other editor. This
translation will require the use of an X System font as discussed in the
Application Note entitled Internationalization and Localization. Please
note that in the section below on the use of TrueType fonts in TNTmips
that it may soon be possible to translate TrueType fonts into X System fonts,
but in the meantime you will have to find your own X System fonts. Please note
that once translated, the TNTHELP.TXT file will be immediately usable on
all platforms supported by TNTmips (workstations, Mac, PC, etc.).
Instructions on the internal structure of the TNTHELP.TXT
file are contained as comments at the beginning of this file. You may also
expand and elaborate the help messages in English or any other local language if
you choose by simply adding lines into the appropriate sections in the file.
Please recall however, that the TNTHELP.TXT file is replaced with the
installation of each new TNTmips version and this will overwrite your
additions and translations, so save a backup copy. A means of preserving your
local language translations or personal additions from TNTmips version to
version is being investigated for future implementation.
Importing
Rasters.
Improved buffering has been added which
significantly speeds up the import and export of TIFF files. The raster
object selection in the import process has been reworked to be similar to that
used in the main TNTmips display process for RVC files and now
allows for the selection of multiple RVC files. You may now also select a
contrast table from the RVC project file to pass the raster through, thus
mapping it to new desired values as it is being converted and exported.
The raster import process is being modified to
allow the selection of multiple input files of a specific type. With this
modification a large number (e.g. video frames in TIFF format) of a
specific file type can be selected and then imported without further input. The
import operations which support the multiple selection features are for the LVT,
simple array, and TIFF formats. Modification to the raster import process
will be continued to add this feature to the import of other raster types.
Raster files of the expensive LVT Saturn
film recorder (LVT is a Kodak subsidiary) can now be imported and
exported. A Photo Science Inc. flier is enclosed which details the technical
characteristics of this large format, high resolution film recorder as part of
the PSI offering of film recording services with this device. With this export
feature you can export rasters to send to PSI for film preparation. The TNTmips
Map and Poster Layout process will shortly be modified to output print rasters
for direct use on this same LVT device. Please note that using Map and
Poster Layout for such activity will, as usual, require that the appropriate
film recorder feature be authorized and installed on your TNTmips.
Landsat data obtained from the Australian and
South African tracking stations on 8 mm tape can now be imported into an RVC
file from either the band sequential or band interleaved by line tape formats.
Rasters produced by the Dianippon Screen-1000
large format color map scanner marketed by Laser-Scan can now be imported into
an RVC file in two formats (the Laser-Scan format and that from the
direct scan software provided by Dianippon).
Copying Rasters.
This process has been significantly reworked to
provide a more intuitive user interface. It now automatically prevents some of
the "incompatible size" errors of the previous version. Improved
buffering provides significant speed improvements for large rasters.
Importing
and Exporting Vectors.
The Tydac SPANS VEH/VEC file can
be imported into a vector object. The companion *.TBA file containing the
associated attributes can also be both imported and exported to/from a companion
database table.
Copying Vectors.
This process will now allow you to manually
select the coordinates of the corners of the area to be copied. The labels
contained in a selected portion of the vector object will also now be copied to
the new object.
Text Editor.
The text editor can now copy, cut, insert, and
delete the highlighted text selected by the mouse.
Surface Fitting.
As an alternative to fitting the surface to the
entire extent of the vector object you can now also directly select a subportion
of the object. To use this feature simply ask for this process to display the
vector object and then use the mouse to draw a single closed polygon or box
enclosing a portion of the vector object. The surface fitting method you choose
will then be applied only to the portion of the vector object within the new
area you have outlined.
Several vector objects can now be selected for
the same surface fitting run with identical parameters.
Buffer Zones.
The buffer zone process has had quite a lot of
improvement in handling the complex special cases encountered by various users.
Classification.
The statistics text file output from the
unsupervised classification or clustering processes can now be saved. It can
then be used as the definition of the training sets in a supervised
classification process.
Orthoimages/DEMs
from Stereo Pairs.
When using this process with a pair of color
images the first two of the three major steps utilize only the one color or
raster object which you select from among the 3 available to form the model,
solve the general image geometry, and perform the autocorrelation to derive the
elevation of the original image's cells. The first of these processes is the
Prospective Projection Transformation. The second is the Stereoscopic Modeling
process which autocorrelates the two stereo images to derive the elevation of
the cells of one of the images. The third Restitution process has been modified
so that you can select the corresponding 8-, 16-, or 24-bit color composite
raster of the left or right image to be resampled into a color orthoimage. Thus,
if you begin the sequence of 3 processes with 3 separate red, green, and blue
color raster objects and a corresponding color composite raster object, the last
process will yield a color composite orthoimage.
Using a premade color composite raster for the
final resampling saves on computation time since all three colors are resampled
(by the method you select) all at one time rather than repeating the same time
consuming computation over for each band. However, you may want to perform this
operation on stereo images with more than 3 multispectral bands (imagery of this
type already exists). Thus, this last process will be modified in V4.40 so that
it will allow you to select any number of coregistered raster objects (e.g. red,
green, blue, photo infrared, etc.) and the final positional resampling will
automatically be performed sequentially on each raster object. The process would
then yield a Project File containing a coregistered set of multispectral raster
objects representing orthoimages of each spectral band selected.
Orthoimages from Single Images
(Restitution).
If a geo-referenced Digital Elevation
Model (DEM) already exists for an area, this new process will combine it
with a single airphoto or SPOT image to produce an orthophoto or
orthoimage respectively. This process corrects for the image geometry and
terrain induced displacement errors within the limits of the accuracy of the
geo-referencing of the DEM and the number, distribution, and accuracy of
the ground control points you add to the image. The geo-referenced DEM
might be available from a USGS for the 7.5' quadrangle of interest, a
previous stereo image computation using a pair of older SPOT images or
airphotos, or some other source. However, the new, single image selected may
contain significantly altered natural resource, environmental, urban, or other
surface features which did not change the areas topography. This new TNTmips
process can be used with such new images to prepare a current orthoimage of
these altered features without the requirements to repeat the more complex,
complete soft photogrammetric solution.
MicroImages has developed its own technical
solutions for these processes. However, general information on the concepts as
applied by others can be found in recent articles. For SPOT imagery see:
Liang-Chien Chen and Liang-Hwei Lee (May 1993); Rigorous Generation of
Digital Orthophotos from SPOT Images; Photogrammetric Engineering and
Remote Sensing; pages 655 to 661. For airphotos see: Gregory S. Tudor and Larry
J. Sugarbaker (GIS Orthographic Digitizing of Aerial Photographs by
Terrain Modeling; Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing; pages
655 to 661.
Producing a new orthoimage with these technique
is relatively straightforward TNTmips process. It is nowhere near as
complex a process as preparing an original DEM and orthoimage from a
stereo pair and the necessary ground control. In summary, you simply select well
defined ground control points in the image with the mouse and enter their
geographic coordinates. The coordinates of the image points selected for control
might be derived from a topographic map, a GPS survey, or other
convenient methods. A minimum of 4 ground control points must be used. However,
the more control points provided, the better the result. They should also be
selected in a well distributed net pattern over the area especially including
the high points.
A likely scenario is that in the office you
print out sections of the image and mark up ground points which can be
accurately identified on the image, are well distributed over the image, and can
be subsequently located in the field. Then the coordinates of these objects are
determined in the field with a GPS device. For example, a single tree in
the middle of a meadow can be accurately identified on the image and found in
the field to read its GPS coordinates. In the general photogrammetric
surveys before GPS, it would have been necessary to select permanent
features or premark surveyed image control points. This yielded expense and
sparse control point information in rough terrain where the densest control
point net is actually needed. Taking the printed image to the field as outlined
above and reading the GPS coordinates of trees, bushes, rock outcrops,
other distinct natural features can provide dense control points in rugged areas
and yield more economical and accurate orthoimages.
The data you use in this process may have a
significant resolution mismatch such as when using a DEM derived from SPOT
stereo images with a high altitude airphoto or when using a USGS 7.5' DEM
with a low altitude airphoto. An elevation surface fitting and resampling
procedure is included within this process so that a coarse resolution elevation
surface can be directly combined with a higher resolution single image to
produce a high resolution orthoimage. However, it should be clear that the
higher the resolution of the DEM the more accurate the orthoimage will be
when high resolution images are available. When specifying the output raster
object you will also be able to select the cell size, scale, and other
parameters of the orthoimage which need not equal that of the DEM or
original image.
Please also recall that the mosaic process in TNTmips
can take the separate orthoimages which result from this process and put them
together into a orthoimage map unit. Also recall that during the mosaic process
that color tone trends within the orthoimage (e.g. vignetting in a photos) and
between them (e.g. light balance differences between photos) can be greatly
mitigated.
Another interesting learning and validation
approach is available with this new process. Generally, with high and low
altitude airphotos you will have access to stereo pairs. Should you choose to
use an existing DEM to correct one of the pair you can just as easily
processes them both and compare the orthoimages which result to determine the
amount of error in the DEM, your ground control points, and the process.
Overlaying the orthoimages obtained from the left and right images in a
different colors in the display would be the easiest visual method of
comparison.
Next you might think about using the mismatch
as a means of improving the accuracy of the desired orthoimages. However, by the
time you get to this level of complication you should think about using the
complete stereo solution which uses this type of information to yield both the DEM
and the orthoimage. However, even with the complete solution it is very
instructive to use the DEM you compute derive both the left and right
orthoimages and compare them. Furthermore, when using a complex soft
photogrametric solution the recent technical literature proposes combining the
left and right orthoimages to feed back into an iterative solution to improve
the final DEM and orthoimage positional accuracy. Needless to say, this
interactive process begins to take a lot of computer time. However, while this
step is not yet employed in TNTmips it will be investigated for possible
use as more powerful desktop computers will soon become the norm for use with TNTmips.
Many MicroImages clients have become very
interested in the inexpensive and casual-use photogrammetric processes creeping
into TNTmips. Their gradual incorporation into the product you already
have on your desktop has required the use of 32-bit C, a windows user
interface, a gradual move into the higher speed processors (386 and 486), and
especially the new robust RVC Project File data structure. Thus, this 2
year effort and investment by MicroImages is only becoming available and useful
to you with via TNTmips.
The use of these soft photogrammetric
techniques can be a complicated idea for those without photogrammetry
backgrounds or the will and determination to self-teach themselves the topic.
While MicroImages intends to continue to improve these processes (we have many
good mathematical and computational ideas left), the current important task is
to provide material to enable you to become a "casual photogrammetrist"
to apply these methods as you need to your projects.
Some users are already experimenting with the
use of this suite of processes with the help of our technical support and the
software engineer who created them. TNTmips V4.30 contains on-line
help for these processes which provide good starting point for those who wish to
push ahead immediately.
The very experienced technical writing
specialist who brought you such complex written favorites as the SML, SDK,
and Internationalization and Localization Application Notes is now going
to clarify the use of these photogrammetric processes as follows. Beginning
immediately the draft of the on-line documentation will be created over the next
4 to 6 weeks as part of the push to provide the first complete draft
documentation for all TNTmips processes. Next this draft documentation
will be illustrated. Finally, an Application Note on the topic will be
undertaken. This step-by-step documentation process will stretch over many
months but each draft section will be provided to you as soon as available in
printed or disk format.
It is also anticipated that a CD-ROM
with sample SPOT stereo pairs, scans of high altitude airphoto models,
existing 7.5' USGS, DLG coverage, and related materials will be
provided early in this process in RVC Project Files, probably first as a
rough draft sample CD-ROM.
Viewshed
finding.
You can now interactively select the viewing
reference point using the mouse.
SML.
A very important feature added is that you can
now add your functions to SML using the TNTsdk (the TNTmips
software development kit). After you compiled these new functions, SML
will allow you to select and use them in your scripts. Printed items amending
the respective Application Notes are enclosed with this shipment, describing
this advancement in more detail.
Importing
TrueType Fonts into MicroImages Fonts.
First let us start with the United States legal
aspects of this important advance in TNTmips. Those MicroImages clients
in other nations have more knowledge than MicroImages regarding the copyright
laws of that nation and the protection of U.S. copyrights by that nation's laws.
The things which may be copyrighted under U.S. law about any font are twofold.
1) The name of a font can, and often, is
copyrighted and protected by United States law. This memo has been printed using
the Helvetica® font. The name Helvetica which mentally creates an outline of
the letter "A" in your mind is the property of a U.S. company
and may not be used by anyone else within the U.S. without a license to describe
any other font with an "A" of some other shape. Since you may
rename your TrueType fonts as you import them into TNTmips via MS W3.1
you need not use these original names to describe your MicroImages fonts.
2) The written or computer methodology or
language for the expression of the outline of the font may also be copyrighted
under United States law and thus may not be used by anyone else without a
license. The best example of this is the use of the Postscript language to
describe and store the outline of a font. Thus the Postscript description of the
letter "A" in a Helvetica font is copyrighted and you can not
use Postscript to describe or render a font without a license. This memo has
been printed using a Helvetica font stored in a Postscript description of its
shape. When you import a TrueType font into TNTmips via MS W3.1 it
will be translated into a new descriptive outline for each character which will
be stored in the MicroImages font.
The actual appearance of a font is not
copyrighted. This is the important salient point of this discussion! Thus
the appearance of the letter "A" in a Helvetica font as
stored in Postscript and rendered on a screen or printer is not protected. Thus
you or MicroImages can draw by hand, print, or otherwise create the letter
"A" to look like a Helvetica "A" without
violating the United States copyright protections extended to fonts as outlined
above. Thus, if you have a means of storing the outline of characters which is
different from Postscript® and you do not name the font Helvetica, you may
render and use characters which appear to be the identical letter "A".
MicroImages has provided you that opportunity in MIPS V3.33 and TNTmips
V4.20 processes using the MicroImages or "bird" fonts. TNTmips
V4.30 now significantly improves the use and appearance of the MicroImages
bird fonts by reissuing them and rendering them as outline fonts only.
Furthermore you may now import, rename, and use any TrueType font as a
MicroImages font in any process. This vastly expands the number of fonts
available to you.
Any TrueType font can be converted to a
MicroImages font by using the Outline Font Editor in TNTmips to use a
font access function built into MS W3.1 which reads and provides the
TrueType outline for each letter. Most commercial software products
"ask" MS W3.1 via this same function for each character outline
when they want to display or print using TrueType fonts. Importing TrueType
using the TNTmips Outline Font Editor simply uses this same function to
obtain the outline description of each character. The Outline Font Editor then
translates the TrueType character description into a new vector description and
stores it in a MicroImages font object. Each MicroImages font you create in this
fashion is stored in a separate file with the extension of *.OF standing
for Outline Font.
All shape features of the imported TrueType
font, except "hinting", are preserved in the MicroImages font
including its full cubic spline description. Hinting is a special, font specific
characteristic which adjusts line widths during the rendering of the font on a
low resolution devices. Hinting has not been provided in TNTmips, but its
absence will have little or no impact on products created on high resolution
screens and high resolution printers which you generally use.
The font you are importing can be renamed so
that Helvetica® becomes HELVET.OF. The name you select must be 8
characters or less and becomes the *.OF file's name. A brief description
can also be added and stored in the MicroImages font where you can keep
additional information about the font to be viewed later during any font
selection process.
You will find that 5 standard MicroImages fonts
named for birds (so called bird fonts) are automatically installed by TNTmips
V4.30 and available for your use. The contents and appearance of these bird
fonts are listed on the attached sample page. If you rename the TrueType fonts
as you import them MicroImages suggests you choose anything else except bird
names to avoid confusion. MicroImages may choose to provide additional bird
fonts in the future which might overwrite the fonts you import if you use other
bird names.
Everything printed on the sample font page was
laid out and rendered in TNTmips by Map and Poster Layout, output to a
print file, and printed on the new HP Laserjet 4 printer at 600 dpi. You
will also find that all the text rendered on the SPOT graymap print attached to
illustrate the quality of this HP Laserjet 4 has also been rendered in
Map and Poster layout in a very high quality fashion using the standard 5
MicroImages bird fonts.
TNTmips draws a character obtained from
a MicroImages font in each process with exactly the same logic as MS W3.1
draws the character from the TrueType fonts. The character rendering used by all
TNTmips processes uses the exact, same full cubic spline rendering as MS
W3.1. Thus, with the exception of "hinting", you will find that
the characters rendered by TNTmips produce the same character outline as
other commercial programs which use the built-in process provided by MS W3.1.
Suddenly, with rapid advancement of MS W3.1
into the world-wide market, there are thousands of font types available to you
in TrueType format in many local languages at very low costs. More fonts are
available as TrueType than any other form. All, and any, of these fonts are now
available for your use in TNTmips V4.30 processes which now use these
fonts for text in making maps, on screen display, and anywhere else that a
process generates text. As outlined below, these fonts may even subsequently
become available for use in customizing the X Windows user interface of TNTmips.
Those of you using TNTmips V4.30 on any
other platform such a workstation or a Mac have the same 5 standard MicroImages
bird fonts. You may also now convert X System bit-mapped fonts into
MicroImages outline fonts as described below. For the time being, to import
additional TrueType fonts into MicroImages fonts for use with V4.30 you
will have to improvise as follows. You can simply import the TrueType font on a PC
which is already set up to run TNTmips under MS W3.1. Then move
the MicroImages font file over to the workstation or Mac platform for use. As
long as the font file and name are not altered in any way, the MicroImages font
you create in this fashion will be immediately usable on any platform. The byte
order used on the platform need be of no concern. Please watch out however, that
the transfer method you use does not change the file name or add some hidden
bytes to the beginning or end of the *.OF (or *.RVC) file. File
transfer via a network is usually safe, however, transfer via a physical
media such as a floppy may not be. For example, moving a file from a PC
to a Mac using the built in Apple PC File Access procedure will add
hidden bytes to the file. Subsequent attempts to use this file via TNTmips
and AU/X 3.0 will not work as the file has been altered by the addition
of these hidden bytes. Alternatively, DOS file name conventions are
different from Unix conventions. Use the common subset of legitimate characters
when physically moving *.OF (or *.RVC) files between these
platforms.
For Unix users of TNTmips, acquiring and
installing all of TNTmips on a MS W3.1 PC platform requires a lot
of extra work just to create additional MicroImages fonts from TrueType fonts.
However, it is currently necessary since the TNTmips Outline Font Editor
must access and use the font access function embedded in MS W3.1 as
described above. However, by V4.40 MicroImages will make this much easier
by providing a pure MS W3.1 utility for this activity. This little MS
W3.1 utility program will run on any convenient PC machine equipped
only with MS W3.1, not TNTmips. The utility can be simply copied
onto the machine and run within MS W3.1 without anything else including a
key. It will accept the TrueType character outlines from the MS W3.1 font
access function and generate an intermediate file of character outlines. It can
not create a MicroImages font directly in an *.OF file as this kind of
process requires that a TNTmips authorization key is present. You would
then move this intermediate file to the workstation or Mac running TNTmips
and use a new option in the Outline Font Editor to read it and create the normal
MicroImages font object (*.OF file) for your subsequent use.
You also might choose to create and use a
MicroImages font which you import from another language such as Russian
Cyrillic, Greek, and so on. After importing these MicroImages fonts from
TrueType fonts with V4.30, you will have to figure out by trial and error which
keyboard strokes and ASCII equivalents map into each character. After you make
this table up, you can make a keyboard reference map for each font and keep it
near the keyboard or simply paste the letters on the keys. MicroImages will work
toward techniques to simplify this in V4.40. Those using languages with 2-bytes
per character such as Chinese will have to be patient a little longer for the
solution of the use of their characters in TNTmips. Certainly those of us
working at MicroImages and you, are learning a lot more about fonts, letters,
languages, encoding, keyboard entry methods, and so on than we ever thought
we wanted to, or would have to learn in connection with a "simple"
domestic image processing and GIS package!
Importing
X System Fonts into MicroImages Fonts.
It is also possible to import font formats
commonly used on an X System into MicroImages fonts for use in V4.30.
X uses bit-mapped fonts which have raster instead of outline character
descriptions. (The use of outline fonts is supported by X but their use is not
yet common!) Importing the X bit mapped fonts by TNTmips into a
MicroImages outline font produces characters which have the same choppy and
straight line boundary flaws (no splines) found in the MicroImages fonts
supplied and rendered in the MIPS V3.33 and TNTmips V4.20.
However, the tactical value of this X font import process is that those
of you using workstations with 1 byte language fonts available for their user
interface can also convert them immediately to MicroImages outline fonts for use
within any TNTmips process. This may be of particular temporary value
until you obtain good outline fonts in your language via TrueType fonts. It is
also of value for workstation users who wish to create additional MicroImages
fonts beyond the 5 bird fonts released with V4.30 without importing
additional MicroImages fonts via a special installation of MS W3.1 on a PC.
The X font formats and their original
file extensions which can be imported by TNTmips are the Bitmap
Distribution Format (*.BDF), Portable Compiled Font (*.PCF),
Server Normal Format (*.SNF), and the *.SCF format. BDF
fonts are by far the most commonly used and available. MicroImages has found
that almost every 1 byte per character font that we had on our workstation
products from various vendors could be accessed and converted in this fashion.
Importing X fonts, like the importing of
TrueType fonts via MS W3.1 outlined above, requires use of a part of the X
System and Unix. First make sure the fonts are properly installed so that they
are usable by the X Server operating on your Unix based system. Within TNTmips
use the outline font editor process (FILE/OPEN option) and you will be presented
with a list of all the X fonts available to the server from which you can select
the one that you wish to import. TNTmips will then request each character
in the font and convert it into a character in an outline (*.OF) which you name
and use in TNTmips.
Importing
Postscript and other Fonts into MicroImages Fonts.
You may find that the fonts you have or would
like to use are already available in some other format such as Postscript (Type
1 ATM or Type 3), Nimbus Q, or others from Bitstream, Agfa Compugraphic, etc.
The commercial product Font Monger V1.5 produced by Ares Software Corp. at $150
retail and handled by software discounters can be used to convert these and many
other fonts into TrueType as well as other popular formats. Font Monger is
available for MS W3.1 and the Mac and also contains a good font editor.
For an even more advanced outline font editor for the Mac or MS W3.1,
consider using Fontographer 4.0 which can even turn your personal cursive
handwriting or printing into a TrueType font. A short review of FontMonger can
be found in: Aileen Abernathy (August 1993); FontMonger and Incubator Pro;
MacUser; pages 71 and 72.
Exporting
MicroImages Fonts to X Server Fonts.
MicroImages is now experimenting with the
techniques needed to convert a MicroImages outline font into the bit mapped
formats needed for X and Unix. In this fashion the MicroImages outline
font might be used to create fonts in the Bitmap Distribution Format (*.BDF)
which could then be installed by Unix and used by X. This would allow any
MicroImages font to be used to customize the X/Motif interface used in TNTmips.
This has particular value in converting the TNTmips user interface to a
"local" language where *.BDF fonts may not be as readily
available as TrueType fonts.
Map and
Poster Layout.
The style for the text used on map grids and
scale bars can now be selected. The outline bird fonts can thus be selected and
used in bold, outline, enhanced, and so on.
Database Forms.
You may now interactively design a layout or
template to control how your database records are displayed for viewing and
editing. Database fields can be selected and positioned. The size and formatting
of the numeric fields can be specified (e.g. decimal places and left/right
justification). Descriptive labels can be prepared and placed to explain the
fields displayed. A simple column view of selected fields can be used which is
helpful when more than one record is attached to each vector/CAD element.
Application
Notes
Software Development Kit (TNTsdk).
This Application Note has been essentially
completed in a draft form with the addition of a final section of additional
code examples and associated discussion. Please insert the new section provided
with this shipping in your existing draft copy. This Application Note will now
begin to move through final editing, printing, and shipment to all.
One additional source code section added
includes a complete listing of the TNTmips process for converting a CAD
object to vector object (CADTOVEC.C) together with a narrative discussion
of the structure and function of this program. This complete TNTmips
process was selected as an example as it illustrates how to read and write
line-type objects, the difference between CAD and vector objects from a
software viewpoint, and how to create the topology for a vector object. Reading
and writing a raster object is covered in detail in the earlier examples in this
Application Note.
Another source code sample is VECTSTAT.C
which illustrates the use of TNTmips standard data structures to access
and manipulate coordinate information at the lowest level.
A final section provides the details needed to
assist you in preparing your own new functions with TNTsdk which can in
turn be used in your SML scripts.
Feature Mapping.
This Application Note has been essentially
completed in a draft form with the addition of final sections of 40 pages in
length. The new sections contain new illustrations of how you can employ the
unique Feature Mapping in TNTmips in ways which may not have yet occur to
you. Please insert the new section provided with this shipping into your
existing draft copy. This Application Note will now begin to move through final
editing, printing, and shipment to all.
Exclusive
International Representatives
MIPS/TNTmips is currently in operation
in 45 nations with several new nations pending. The following new
Representatives have been welcomed to our distribution network since the
distribution of TNTmips V4.20.
Russia
The area of "new" Russia will now be
serviced for MicroImages products by a wholly Russian owned firm VIDAR
Ltd.; P.O. Box 16; Moscow 109028; Russia; voice (7095)297-1720; FAX
(7095)297-1720. Dimitry E. Frolov is the principal to contact at VIDAR,
and he is responsible for their GIS and image processing activities. VIDAR
also has a major subdivision which has produced and markets a medical image
processing system throughout Russia. They have also developed and sell a low
cost introductory GIS process and related software products. VIDAR
has begun demonstrating TNTmips and is moving to concluding sales of
several initial systems. VIDAR has translated most of the Guide into
Russian and placed a series of advertisements in Computer-World Moscow.
Spain
The area of Spain will now be serviced for
MicroImages products by SAICA; C/ Aristoteles; 9 - Bajo B; Madrid 28027;
Spain; voice (341)404-8894; FAX (341)405-4304. Miguel Pelaz is the owner and
contact at SAICA. SAICA markets surveying, map making, GPS,
and soft photogrammetric solutions in the Iberian Peninsula and is now expanding
into GIS and remote sensing business activities.
Domestic
Resellers and VARs
Arizona Area
Landrum & Arras, located in Payson, Arizona
(between Phoenix and Flagstaff) will provide access to the products of
MicroImages in the general area of Arizona and New Mexico. This new company
offers a variety of services such as GPS field data surveys, GIS
and image preparation and analysis, system assembly and installation, training,
and similar activities. Tracy and Darrell, the Principals, are experienced MIPS
and TNTmips users who can be contacted at P.O. Box 536; Payson, AZ
85547-0536; voice (602)472-7731; FAX (602)472-7731.
New
Image Printers/Plotters Supported
HP Paper.
HP has a special new paper available for
use with color ink jet printers such as the 300XL, 550C, 1200 models. It
is the LXJet Series Glossy Paper, catalog #HP51636H and is about $1 per sheet.
This is not the normal high clay content special paper sold by HP for its
ink jet printers. This paper looks and feels like glossy photo print paper or
plastic and does not absorb the ink drops like the normal special HP ink
jet recommended.
Anyone who has an HP color ink jet
printer must try this new paper as it provides a remarkable increase in the
print quality for images. Due to its high cost, you should develop your color
images using the regular paper and then insert and use this special paper for
the final copy if the highest quality product is warranted. It is not yet known
if these glossy sheets can be obtained in the large sheets needed for the large
format HP color ink jet described below.
HP Designjet 650C.
Recently HP announced a 300 dpi, large
format, color printer using the same ink jet cartridge methodology as their
smaller format printers such as the 300XL and the new 1200 units. Two models are
available: D size at $8500 retail, and E size at $10,000 retail. They are
already widely available at a discount. Both come standard with parallel and
serial interfaces with other interfaces available as options. Both are supported
by TNTmips V4.30 under printer product feature P15. Their direct support
strictly as pen plotters will be via HPGL requiring feature L3.
These are high quality devices which are
important developments in connection with image display and GIS. They
finally provide the individual user and small group user comparable hard copy
results to those obtained on much more expensive large format color
electrostatic printers. They are also well built, which is reflected by the low
cost of their on-site annual maintenance fee of about $350 compared to $5000 and
up for the electrostatic devices.
MicroImages has just supported these printers
and can not yet comment on their quality. We will be preparing sample image maps
over the next few weeks. The material cost for these printers will be higher
than electrostatic unless you refill your own ink cartridges but is easily
offset by the much lower maintenance costs. They print at about 1/2 the rate of
the electrostatic printers. Since the 650C makes only 1 pass for all 4 colors
this makes its effective time to print color about 1/2 that of the
electrostatics which must make 4 passes. The time to print a complete print from
a premade color print raster at D size is about 7 minutes.
A reproduction of the color brochure on these
excellent HP printers is enclosed with this shipment.
HP LaserJet 4 (model C2001A).
This 600 dpi black and white laser printer
supports letter and legal size paper via parallel or serial ports. Its use for
printing and plotting within TNTmips requires printer support feature P0
which is included in the basic price of every TNTmips package. Please
note that both the standard bird font reference chart and the graymap of the SPOT
image of Crow Butte which are attached were printed on this printer. A driver is
also available for this printer for use with MIPS V3.33.
HP DesignJet 600 (model C2848A).
This 600 dpi black ink jet printer is capable
of printing and plotting on letter to E-size paper via serial or parallel ports.
Its use for printing and plotting via a raster within TNTmips requires
printer support feature P15. Its direct support strictly as a pen plotter will
be via HPGL requiring feature L3.
FARGO Primera (model 76000).
This 204 dpi color thermal transfer printer is
capable of printing on letter paper via a parallel port. For those of you who
are familiar with the early Calcomp ColorMaster and PlotMaster thermal transfer
color printers, this printer produces similar results at a much lower price and
higher speed using printer support feature P5. The retail price of the
printer is $1000 and supplies cost $.45 per page.
FARGO has just announced a $250 firmware
modification to this basic $1000 printer which allows it to also print with
sublimation printer technology on foil and paper of about $3 per unit. With this
advanced dual printing capability, you can use the less expensive thermal
transfer foil and paper for lower quality needs and for draft work. The higher
quality, more expensive sublimation materials can then be substituted for
selected final results. MicroImages has only seen samples of the results for the
sublimation modification and they looked photographic-like and good. TNTmips
does not yet support the sublimation option but it will be added as soon as
FARGO can supply the necessary software support tools.
A reproduction of the color brochure on the
basic Primera printer is included with this shipment together with a copy of a
press release announcing its modification into a sublimation printer. A list of
the International distributors is also included should you wish to inquire how
to obtain this interesting new printer in your Nation.
Advanced
User Workshop 6 (AUW6)
The Sixth Advanced User Workshop (AUW6)
will be held in Lincoln as usual on the bitter cold days of 11, 12, and 13
January 1994. January 14 (a Friday) will be scheduled as an additional
"open day" for the workshop so you can all visit with your favorite
programmer and technical support specialist. The fee for the 3 day formal
workshop will be $400, and the open day will be provided without charge. Please
make plans early for these dates if you are outside the U.S. and/or with a
government agency requiring long range planning.
Staff
Changes and Expansions
Dr. G. Tomas Murauskas has joined the
MicroImages team as a Technical Writing Specialist. Tom has a BA degree
in geography from McGill University in 1980. His MA in geography was
completed at the University of Saskatchewan in 1984 with a thesis entitled
"The Expansion of the Northern Saskatchewan In-Migration Field and Changes
in the Perceived Friction of Distance". His PhD in geography at the
University of Oklahoma in 1989 was completed with a thesis entitled
"Nuclear Waste Repository Siting and Locational Conflict Analysis: A
Contextual Approach". Previously Tom has also worked on such projects as
oil field and pipeline database assembly in Western Canada, spatial analysis of
demographic data, methods for reconciliation of nuclear waste site conflicts,
and image processing of vegetation in Big Bend National Park. Tom's initial
assignment will be contributing to the pending "big push" to complete
the first draft of the documentation for TNTmips.
Christopher Dore has joined the MicroImages
team as a Technical Writing Specialist. Chris received his BA in 1982 in
anthropology from Washington State University. His MA in anthropology was
completed at the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 with a thesis entitled
"Cultural Spaces in a Philadelphia Restaurant". Chris is ABD
(All But Dissertation) for a PhD in Anthropology at the University of New
Mexico. Chris is considering the use of TNTmips in the analysis of the
Maya artifacts collected as part of field work in Yucatan Mexico. His objective
is the explanation of the Maya city/community interrelationships based upon
50,000 artifacts inventoried under the sponsorship of the National Geographic
Society and others together with soil, topographic, architectural, and related
parameters mapped for a 2 kilometer by 2 kilometer site. Previously Chris has
taught introductory courses in archaeology and anthropology and conducted
extensive field archaeological surveys in Mexico, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Chris' initial assignment is contributing to the pending "big push" to
complete the first draft of the documentation for TNTmips.
Rich Ervin has joined MicroImages as a
Technical Support Software Engineer for our clients and for network support of
MicroImages' internal systems. Rich received his BS degree in physics
from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1992. Rich also has previous Air
Force experience in photographic image interpretation and programming and in
software support responsibilities within the University framework.
Thomas C. Schafer has joined the MicroImages
team as a Technical Support Specialist for direct client support. Tom received
his BS in 1983 in geography from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His
MA in geography was completed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in
1989 with a thesis entitled "Impacts of Climate Change on Selected Great
Plains Counties, 1890 - 1960". Tom has previous employment experience in a
commercial agricultural testing laboratory and the teaching of introductory
geography courses at the University level. Tom brings to 4 the total number of
MicroImages staff whose primary task is to provide our clients with verbal and
written technical support. These staff include Terry Peterson, Steve Sizer, Rich
Ervin, and Tom Schafer.
Bin Chen has joined the MicroImages team as
Software Engineer for code preparation. Bin Chen received his BS degree
in mathematics in 1984 from Capital Normal University in Beijing and an MS
in computer science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1993. Bin has
previous working experience in teaching mathematics in a Beijing high school.
Bin's initial training assignment will be to prepare a first software draft of
an interactive Motif window design tool for internal use by other MicroImages
software engineers and those clients who use the Software Development Kit (TNTsdk).
Employment
Opportunities
MicroImages assisted in the connection of two
experienced MIPS/TNTmips users with new positions during the last
quarter. Since then MicroImages has received several new requests for
experienced users and for new positions at varying professional levels. Please
contact MicroImages for assistance in such employment matters so that all the
systems and experienced MIPS/TNTmips masters are kept busy.
Promotional
Activities
MicroImages has made a test mailing of 3000
fliers to computer oriented companies to recruit possible representatives in the
following nations: Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Greece,
Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Malaysia, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia.
Another promotional mailing was made to 1250
U.S. and Canadian companies engaged in mining exploration as listed in the
Randol Mining Directory.
A test mailing of 1000 was also made to those
International Mining Companies listed in the E&MJ International Mining
Directory whose names began with A, B, or C. International mailings will be
continued to the remaining companies in this directory based upon the results of
this test mailing.
Advertising continues in a wide variety of
publications. Modified advertisements listing the names and contact information
of our Exclusive Representatives in the respective areas have been placed in
test GIS and remote sensing publications in United States, Australia,
Europe, and Asian publications.
Features
missing from V4.30
The MIPS V3.33 features listed below are
not available in TNTmips V4.30. These features are being reworked as time
allows. If any particular feature listed is specifically holding up your
conversion to TNTmips V4.30 or your projects please let us know so we can
give their conversion a higher priority.
Generally used features.
Raster profile display
ArcINFO Coverage import
Elliptical arcs - (arc, wedge, and chord) can
not be created
Snap to grid feature is not available in CAD
editor
Vector route tracing
Printers which communicate via GPIB, SCSI,
and Xerox VPI cards
Making legends for the screen and Map and
Poster Layout (being redesigned)
Preparing and showing a slide show
"CLASS-CMAP" - special image
analysis routine
Importing all raster formats directly from
open reel CCT tapes.
Specialized features used by 1 or a few
users.
Transfer of labels from vector polygons in
Feature Mapping
Dual raster color overlay method for
georeferencing
Automatic interval capturing (intervalometer)
in video digitizing
WDBII - World Data bank II import (use
RVFTORVC to convert)
|
25 March 2009 |
page update:
16 Jun 11
|
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