AutoPath Database

AutoPath Database

Q: I want to write a database file directly for use with the TAP AutoPath function. How can I do that?

A: The AutoPath database files are dBase (.DBF) files, each record defining a path to be processed by AutoPath.

You can also create a comma-delimited (.CSV) or Excel (.XLS) file, then import the data into an AutoPath database.

AutoPath is designed to set up multiple point to point paths from values in a database, then to optionally

send a profile plot to a printer device,
save the profile parameters to a file for later use,
compute the field strength at the end of the path and write the results to a text file
send the text file to a printer device

The AutoPath program sets up a TAP Task, which can be executed immediately, or saved for later execution along with other Tasks.

The database structure for the AutoPath program is shown below (the Field description shown during the AutoPath Import function is shown in "Bold Type":

Field Name
Format
Description
Comments

Path_ID Characters 40 "Path Desc"
Will be used in constructing file names for saved path profiles or text calculations;

Must be unique in the table

Can be blank; program will construct name from Desc1 and Desc2

Path_Print Numeric 2
"Print Profile?"

Option to send profile plot to printer

Options:

0 Do not print path
-1 Print path

Path_Save Numeric 2
"Save Profile?"

Option to save HDPath parameters for profile plot

Options:

0 Do not save profile for HDPath
-1 Save profile for HDPath; path description will be constructed using Path_ID

Path_BMP

Numeric 2 "Save BMP?"
Options:

0 Do not save graphic image
-1 Save graphic image; file name will be constructed using Path_ID

Fld_save Numeric 2 "Save Field?"
Options:

0 Do not save field calculation details
-1 Compute field strength; Save results to text file; file name will be constructed using Path_ID (Saving to another database structure is a possible future enhancement)

Fld_Print Numeric 2
"Print Field? "

Option to compute path field strength

Options:

0 Do not print field calculation details
-1 Compute field and print results

K_Curv Float 5.3
"Earth Curv"

Effective Earth Curvature

Options:

Blank (default 4/3 earth = 1.333)

Freq_MHz Float 11.5
"Frequency (MHz)"

Frequency in MHz

Used for Fresnel zone on profile and loss or field calculations

Options:

Blank (suppresses Fresnel plot and field calculation)

ERP Float 11.5
"Eff Rad Power "

Effective Radiated Power

Used for field calculations

Blank suppresses field calculation

ERP value must be the value in the azimuth and elevation angle for the path. (If the entry into the database comes from the TAP Fixed Facility database, this value will be computed based on the antenna pattern information for the facility.)

ERP_Un Character 3 "ERP Units"
Options:

Blank (suppresses field calculation)
mW
W
kW
dBm
dBW
dBk

Desc1 Character 40
"Site 1 Desc"

Description of Site 1

Lat1 Float 14.9 "Latitude 1" Decimal Degrees, positive for North

Lon1 Float 14.9 "Longitude 1" Decimal Degrees, positive for East

Datum1 Character 11 "Datum 1"
Options:

Blank (treated as No Adjustment)
No Adjustment
NAD 27
NAD 83

ElvMode1 Numeric 2 "Interp Site 1?"
Options:

0 for specified site elevation; MSL1 will be used
-1 for interpolated site elevation; MSL1 will be ignored

MSL1 Float 10.4
"Site Elev 1"

Site Elevation above Mean Sea Level

MSL_UN1 Characters 2 "Elev Units 1"
Options:

ft
m

AGL1 Float 10.4
"Antenna 1 Hgt"

Antenna Center of Radiation Above Ground Level

AGL_UN1 Character 2 "Height Units 1"
Options:

ft
m

Desc2 Character 40
"Site 2 Desc"

Description of Site 2

Lat2 Float 14.9 "Latitude 2 " Decimal Degrees, positive for North

Lon2 Float 14.9 "Longitude 2" Decimal Degrees, positive for East

Datum2 Character 11 "Datum 2 "
Options:

Blank (treated as No Adjustment)
No Adjustment
NAD 27
NAD 83

ElvMode2 Numeric 2 "Interp Site 2?"
Options:

0 for specified site elevation; MSL2 will be used
-1 for interpolated site elevation; MSL2 will be ignored

MSL2 Float 10.4
"Site Elev 2"

Site Elevation above Mean Sea Level

MSL_UN2 2 Characters "Elev Units 2"
Options:

ft
m

AGL2 Float 10.4
"Antenna 2 Hgt "

Antenna Center of Radiation Above Ground Level

AGL_UN2 2 Character "Height Units 2"
Options:

ft
m

RX_gains Float 10.4 "RX Gains (dB)"
Antenna, pre-amp, etc. for receiver

RX_losses Float 10.4 "RX Losses (dB)"
Transmission line, body, building, etc.

RX_sens Float 10.4 "RX Sensitivity"
Manufacturer's required input threshold

RX_unit Character 8 "RX Units"
Units for sensitivity value

Options:

dBm
uV

RX_imped Float 10.4 "RX Impedance"

RECORD_ID Character 7 "Record ID"
Must be unique value in the table, starting with 0000000, and including only numeric characters (0000001, 0000002, etc);

This value is assigned automatically by the Import function in AutoPath.

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Field Name	Format	Description	Comments
Path_ID	Characters 40	"Path Desc"	Will be used in constructing file names for saved path profiles or text calculations; Must be unique in the table Can be blank; program will construct name from Desc1 and Desc2
Path_Print	Numeric 2	"Print Profile?" Option to send profile plot to printer	Options: 0 Do not print path -1 Print path
Path_Save	Numeric 2	"Save Profile?" Option to save HDPath parameters for profile plot	Options: 0 Do not save profile for HDPath -1 Save profile for HDPath; path description will be constructed using Path_ID
Path_BMP	Numeric 2	"Save BMP?"	Options: 0 Do not save graphic image -1 Save graphic image; file name will be constructed using Path_ID
Fld_save	Numeric 2	"Save Field?"	Options: 0 Do not save field calculation details -1 Compute field strength; Save results to text file; file name will be constructed using Path_ID (Saving to another database structure is a possible future enhancement)
Fld_Print	Numeric 2	"Print Field? " Option to compute path field strength	Options: 0 Do not print field calculation details -1 Compute field and print results
K_Curv	Float 5.3	"Earth Curv" Effective Earth Curvature	Options: Blank (default 4/3 earth = 1.333)
Freq_MHz	Float 11.5	"Frequency (MHz)" Frequency in MHz	Used for Fresnel zone on profile and loss or field calculations Options: Blank (suppresses Fresnel plot and field calculation)
ERP	Float 11.5	"Eff Rad Power " Effective Radiated Power	Used for field calculations Blank suppresses field calculation ERP value must be the value in the azimuth and elevation angle for the path. (If the entry into the database comes from the TAP Fixed Facility database, this value will be computed based on the antenna pattern information for the facility.)
ERP_Un	Character 3	"ERP Units"	Options: Blank (suppresses field calculation) mW W kW dBm dBW dBk
Desc1	Character 40	"Site 1 Desc" Description of Site 1
Lat1	Float 14.9	"Latitude 1"	Decimal Degrees, positive for North
Lon1	Float 14.9	"Longitude 1"	Decimal Degrees, positive for East
Datum1	Character 11	"Datum 1"	Options: Blank (treated as No Adjustment) No Adjustment NAD 27 NAD 83
ElvMode1	Numeric 2	"Interp Site 1?"	Options: 0 for specified site elevation; MSL1 will be used -1 for interpolated site elevation; MSL1 will be ignored
MSL1	Float 10.4	"Site Elev 1" Site Elevation above Mean Sea Level
MSL_UN1	Characters 2	"Elev Units 1"	Options: ft m
AGL1	Float 10.4	"Antenna 1 Hgt" Antenna Center of Radiation Above Ground Level
AGL_UN1	Character 2	"Height Units 1"	Options: ft m
Desc2	Character 40	"Site 2 Desc" Description of Site 2
Lat2	Float 14.9	"Latitude 2 "	Decimal Degrees, positive for North
Lon2	Float 14.9	"Longitude 2"	Decimal Degrees, positive for East
Datum2	Character 11	"Datum 2 "	Options: Blank (treated as No Adjustment) No Adjustment NAD 27 NAD 83
ElvMode2	Numeric 2	"Interp Site 2?"	Options: 0 for specified site elevation; MSL2 will be used -1 for interpolated site elevation; MSL2 will be ignored
MSL2	Float 10.4	"Site Elev 2" Site Elevation above Mean Sea Level
MSL_UN2	2 Characters	"Elev Units 2"	Options: ft m
AGL2	Float 10.4	"Antenna 2 Hgt " Antenna Center of Radiation Above Ground Level
AGL_UN2	2 Character	"Height Units 2"	Options: ft m
RX_gains	Float 10.4	"RX Gains (dB)" Antenna, pre-amp, etc. for receiver
RX_losses	Float 10.4	"RX Losses (dB)" Transmission line, body, building, etc.
RX_sens	Float 10.4	"RX Sensitivity" Manufacturer's required input threshold
RX_unit	Character 8	"RX Units" Units for sensitivity value	Options: dBm uV
RX_imped	Float 10.4	"RX Impedance"
RECORD_ID	Character 7	"Record ID"	Must be unique value in the table, starting with 0000000, and including only numeric characters (0000001, 0000002, etc); This value is assigned automatically by the Import function in AutoPath.