Q: How do I import the results from my TAP field strength study into Maptitude mapping software?

A: Start by running Maptitude.

  1. Create a new Map, such as the state you need.
  2. At the Maptitude menu, Click File then Open
  3. Under the Files of Type pull down menu select: dBase file (*.dbf)
  4. Find your file in the TAP Work folder (SWTAP\WORK)
  5. Select your Results database file. The TAP Results database name will be Rnnnnnnn.DBF, where nnnnnnn is the Task ID from TAP, such as R0000123.DBF
  6. Click Open. Your database will be opened in Maptitude Dataview
  7. Go to the Maptitude Tools Menu
  8. Select Locate By Coordinate
  9. In the X Field Box, Select RDB_LON
  10. In the Y Field Box, Select RDB_LAT
  11. Click OK
  12. The Save As box will appear.
  13. Give a file name for the Maptitude dbd file.
  14. Select the folder for Maptitude studies (not in TAP WORK).
  15. "Sample Coverage Study" is an example of a file name you could use.
  16. There will be progress bars displayed showing the status of building the new map of coverage information.
  17. The Map will open showing just the coverage points. All of the points will be black.
  18. Select the state map by clicking your mouse on the map.
  19. Go to the Map menu.
  20. Select the layers option.
  21. Select the add layer button.
  22. Select the Sample Coverage Study.dbd file or the file name that you just created.
  23. Click open.
  24. Your file now shows up in the layer list.
  25. Select the move up button and move your file up in the list (the 2nd or 3rd layer is fine. You can change the location later if your data is covered up or covers up something else).
  26. Click close.
  27. Your coverage study now shows on map, but all of the points are black.
  28. Be sure that you select your coverage layer ("R0000123 Layer") shown in the Maptitude menu pulldown list.
  29. Next, click the Color Theme Map Wizard (This is a button with three triangles on the Maptitude toolbar. You can hold mouse the buttons to display the button function.)
  30. In the Field box, select RDB_VAL. This is the field (or column) in the TAP Results database that contains the computed field strength value.
  31. Maptitude offers various ways to automatically classify the data to be plotted., such as equal distribution of values, etc. Since we are plotting field strength information to see particular levels, we want to set the levels manually. Click the Manual button. This will bring up the Manual Theme box.
    1. The program will read the values from the database.
    2. The map will be redrawn with default levels, usually assigned as equal numbers of points in each level assigned by Maptitude.
    3. Usually, you will want to see field strength values computed in TAP that relate to particular receiver hardware configurations.
    4. For example, suppose you use the TAP Required Field utility to determine that the field strength necessary for a mobile receiver unit is 39 dBu, and a handheld unit requires 50 dBu. (These numbers are for this illustration only. You determine the actual values for your system based on receiver manufacturer’s specifications, system gains and losses, etc.)
    5. In this example, you will need to set up at three levels: -9999 to 39, 39 to 50, and 50 to 99999.
  32. In the Number of Classes box, type in the number of levels that you have (3 for example)
  33. In the Class Settings section, highlight each line in the Classes list.
  34. You will make these changes in Class Settings (as an example):
    1. First line: From -9999 (inclusive) to 39 (not inclusive). This will plot all the points with a field strength value below 39 dBu. In our example, these would be points with values below the minimum required field for any of the receivers under consideration.
    2. Second line: From 39 (inclusive) to 50 (not inclusive). This will plot all the points at 39 dBu and above (adequate for our sample mobile unit) but below 50 dBu (not enough for our sample handheld radio).
    3. Third line: From 50 (inclusive) to 9999 (inclusive). This will plot all the points at 50 dBu and above for service to the handheld units.
  35. When you are finished setting the values, click the Styles tab. This will allow us to set the graphical information for each of the value ranges, or "classes".
  36. In the Styles box, you can select each of your levels and give a name to each level to appear in a legend.
    1. When you highlight one of the levels, type in a name for the legend. In the example, the legends could be:
    2. "No Service" for the –9999 to 39 range
    3. "Mobile Service" for the 39 to 50 range
    4. "Handheld Service" for the 50 to 9999 range.
    5. Then click the Style button.
    6. Select the color, icon, and size of the icon. Click OK.
    7. Repeat the Style process with each of the levels until you have the colors, icons, and legend names the way you want it.
  37. Once you have finished the style process, click on Apply.
  38. Once your map has been redrawn, click on OK.
  39. Your map and legend are now in a readable form.

 

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