AutoPath™ Function
Q: I need to plot several profiles for different paths. How can I automate the process?
A: The TAP AutoPath module enables you to build a database of path information. You can then plot a profile and/or compute field strength information for each of the paths.
Note that all values in this example are for demonstration purposes only. You should determine appropriate settings for your application.
(This article describes the AutoPath function in TAP 6.0.2210 or later with a Maintenance Subscription date of January 31, 2008, or later. If you are using an older version of TAP, please refer to the previous AutoPath Function article.)
(Note that a new feature to save path profiles as .BMP image files was added with TAP 6.0.2216 and Maintenance Subscriptions through February 28, 2008, or later.)
Note that you should first plot one of the path profiles manually in TAP. Plotting and printing one path manually will let you set up the printer device and set the printer for landscape or portrait plots, as well as the print template settings, which will then be used as the default TAP uses for AutoPath profile plots. Plotting a path or two manually before turning AutoPath loose with lots of paths is usually a good idea anyway to catch issues like a typo in the coordinates, missing topo data in the area, or other unexpected results.
From the Path menu, select "AutoPath"
The AutoPath form is displayed:
Each of the sections on the form can be expanded or collapsed by clicking the caption for the section.
For example, click the “Task” section caption. The section will be expanded:
To create a new AutoPath study, click the New button on the toolbar:
A new Task will be created and a Task ID will be assigned. (The Task ID is created by the program and is used to keep track of the various parameters and files used for the study.)
Enter a description for the AutoPath study:
In the Topo Data section, set the parameters you want to use for the topographic elevation data for all the paths to be drawn with this AutoPath Task:
The Topo Data parameters are set in the same way you set the parameters for drawing a single profile in HDPath.
In the Propagation Model section, set the parameters you want to use for the field strength calculations for all the paths to be drawn with this AutoPath Task:
The Propagation Model parameters are set in the same way you set the parameters for a single profile in HDPath.
In the Surface Features section, set the Surface Feature files you want to use for all the paths to be drawn with this AutoPath Task:
The Surface Feature parameters are set in the same way you set the parameters for drawing a single profile in HDPath.
In the Land Use section, set the parameters you want to use for the Land Use data for all the paths to be drawn with this AutoPath Task:
The Land Use parameters are set in the same way you set the parameters for drawing a single profile in HDPath.
In the Output Path section, use the browse button (…) to select the folder where you want to save the text file for each field strength calculation in the AutoPath Task:
In the AutoPath Database section, use the browse button (…) to assign the database of path information you want to use to define the paths to be processed by AutoPath:
For example, you can open an existing .DBF file that contains AutoPath parameters, such as the AutoPath Sample file in the AutoPath folder:
Since the AutoPath database defines all the needed path parameters on one line (one record), there are over 30 fields, or columns, to display. You may want to expand the width of the form in order to see more of the information at once. You can also position the mouse cursor over the boundary between the column headers to adjust the column widths:
When you have the parameters and database information you want, click the Save button to save the information:
After the settings have been saved, you can run the AutoPath study by clicking the Run button on the toolbar:
Note you can also run the AutoPath Task from a command line or shell command.
When you run the AutoPath study, a progress box displays the current path being processed.
The profile is printed for each path with “Print Profile?” selected in the AutoPath database, using the printer settings and template layout set in HDPath as described above:
The field strength calculation is printed for each path with “Print Field?” selected in the AutoPath database:
You can also import path information from an Excel spreadsheet (.XLS) or a comma-delimited ASCII file (.CSV). The header information for each AutoPath column is described in the AutoPath File Format article. You can also create an empty template .CSV file to use for entering your data.
For example, create a new Task in AutoPath by clicking the New button in the toolbar:
Enter a description for the new study.
In the AutoPath Database section, click the Browse button (…) and enter a new name to create a new database to hold the imported records:
You can also use an existing database when importing records. In that case, the new records will be added to the existing database, and the previously existing records will also still remain in the database.
The new empty database will be shown.
To import records from an Excel or comma-delimited file, click the import menu:
On Import form, use the Browse button (…) to find the file you want to import.
Click the Import button to import the records from the file:
Close the Import form by clicking the “X” in the upper right corner. The imported records will be added to the AutoPath database:
Normally the execution of AutoPath is initiated with the Run button as described above. In some circumstances it may be advantageous to launch AutoPath from a command line, or from a "shell" command in another (user supplied) program.
The command line or shell command syntax to launch AutoPath is:
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SWTAP\SWHDPath.exe /AUTOPATHTASK=xxxx
where xxxx is the Task ID for the TAP Task created in the AutoPath user interface described above. The Task ID is assigned by the program and is shown in the Task section of the HDAutoPath form.
If your TAP installation is not in the C:\PROGRAM FILES\SWTAP folder you must substitute the correct path name where the TAP files (including SWHDPath.exe) are located.
 |
Copyright 2008 by SoftWright LLC