Q: How do I import the results from my TAP field strength
study into Maptitude mapping software?
A: Start by running Maptitude.
Create anew Map, such as the
state you need.
At the Maptitude menu, Click File then Open
Under the Files of Type pull down menu select: dBase
file (*.dbf)
Find your file in the TAP Work folder (SWTAP\WORK)
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
Click Open. Your database will be opened in
Maptitude Dataview
Go to the Maptitude Tools Menu
Select Locate By Coordinate
In the X Field Box, Select RDB_LON
In the Y Field Box, Select RDB_LAT
Click OK
The Save As box will appear.
Give a file name for the Maptitude dbd file.
Select the folder for Maptitude studies (not in TAP WORK).
"Sample Coverage Study" is an example of a file
name you could use.
There will be progress bars displayed showing
the status of building the new map of coverage information.
The Map will open showing just the coverage points.
All of the points will be black.
Select the state map by clicking your mouse
on the map.
Go to the Map menu.
Select the layers option.
Select the add layer button.
Select the Sample Coverage Study.dbd file or the file
name that you just created.
Click open.
Your file now shows up in the layer list.
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).
Click close.
Your coverage study now shows on map, but all
of the points are black.
Be sure that you select your coverage layer ("R0000123
Layer") shown in the Maptitude menu pulldown list.
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.)
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.
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.
The program will read the values from the database.
The map will be redrawn with default levels, usually assigned
as equal numbers of points in each level assigned by Maptitude.
Usually, you will want to see field strength values computed
in TAP that relate to particular receiver hardware configurations.
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 manufacturers specifications,
system gains and losses, etc.)
In this example, you will need to set up at three levels:
-9999 to 39, 39 to 50, and 50 to 99999.
In the Number of Classes box, type in the number
of levels that you have (3 for example)
In the Class Settings section, highlight each
line in the Classes list.
You will make these changes in Class Settings
(as an example):
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.
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).
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.
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".
In the Styles box, you can select each of your
levels and give a name to each level to appear in a legend.
When you highlight one of the levels, type
in a name for the legend. In the example, the legends could be:
"No Service" for the 9999 to 39 range
"Mobile Service" for the 39 to 50 range
"Handheld Service" for the 50 to 9999 range.
Then click the Style button.
Select the color, icon, and size of the icon.
Click OK.
Repeat the Style process with each of the levels until you
have the colors, icons, and legend names the way you want it.
Once you have finished the style process, click on Apply.