WinKarst version 10.2

[Garry Petrie]

Well, it's there, version 10.2, just in time for Halloween. I recently =
spent
two months typing in survey data and registing hundreds of scanned =
sketches,
so I think this version is the most bug free ever. YMMV. I am planning
another update sometime in February, but nothing after that for quite =
awhile
as I move to another compiler platform.

Garry Petrie

http://www.resurgentsoftware.com/software/download.htm#WinKarst%20v9.4%20=
Cav
e%20Surveying

**************************************************************
****      WINKARST VERSION 10.2 Bug Fixes + Improvements  ****
**************************************************************
o Edit pull down menu with keys to editor pages.

o Calculation pull down menu with find and close loops.

o Could not start editor from attribute dialog box.

o Sketch least recently used list operation corrected.

o Corrected backsight shots method corrected.

o Active verification of duplicate shots for consistant data.

o Now able to export loops, traverses, groups as a new
  survey file.

o Can now create a new cave survey of only an included file.

o Survey in the survey list of the editor is high lighted=20
  and for which the shots are displayed.

o Creation of aliased stations fixed.

o Guards for selected aliased stations in properties or
  sketch lists.

o The "K" shot mode not read correctly from survey file.

o Selecting a already loaded sketch as new in the editor "new"
  is highlighted in the sketch name list.

o Can no long create duplicate cave or survey names.

o All choices in right mouse click menu functional.

o Ruler measurement lines shows on white background.

o DXF export of geo-referenced cave is now in UTM coordinates.

o Export caught if attempted to an open file.

o Better scoping of sketches when focus is on a survey.

o Pressing ESC key stops long sketch drawing sequence.

o Improved system information report.

o Incorrect averaging of backsights near north/south.

**************************************************************
****      WINKARST VERSION 10.1 Bug Fixes                 ****
**************************************************************
o Incorrectly set UTM zone for DEMs from southern hemisphere.

o Force all maps with SDTS/DEM data to NAD27 CONUS datum.

o Not recognize datum names with lower case characters.

o Allow for either SDTS or DEM files in .SUR data file.

o Error in WayPoint+ file export for southern hemisphere.

o Vertical distribution fault from black and white map.

o Rotate continous slowed for faster computers.

o Rotate in two axes really does two axes.

o Ruler and flashlight cursors disabled in 3d view.

o Rotation menu items and speedbuttons disabled in 3d view.

o Allow for 1-meter resolution DEM files.

**************************************************************
****           WINKARST VERSION 10.0                      ****
**************************************************************
WinKarst 10.0 is available now. The two most important improvement are
sketch morphing to the lineplot and geo- referenced color backgroud =
images.
WinKarst is by far the most useful software for cave survey and mapping.

WinKarst is "shareware" with a 30-day trial period. WinKarst=20
runs on post Windows '95 operating systems. It is recommended the =
Pentium
class computer has a display resolution of at=20
least 800x600 and set to display 24 or 32 bit color. A fee
of $25 registers a license, previous and subsequent registered=20
users can upgrade for free. The update includes an updated=20
help file and online pdf manual suitable for printing.=20

View the general description at

http://www.resurgentsoftware.com/winkarst.html

and download at

http://www.resurgentsoftware.com/software/download.htm

and email to

support@resurgentsoftware.com

The major enhancements in Version 10.0 are

o Sketches
  - Sketch morphing by proportional distance weighting.
  - Double clicking on sketch opens info box and allows=20
    jump to sketch in editor.
  - Plot single sketch with associated line plot.
  - Station search of possible skeches in new sketch dialog.

o Background Images
  - Color background maps.
  - Georeferencing tool in editor.

o User interface
  - Assemble surveys into group objects for viewing.
  - Color shading by overburden thickness.
  - Passage dimensions reported at each station.
  - Corrected backsights automatically allowed,=20
    impoved backsight usage.

o Miscellaneous improvements
  - Overburden and survey groups exported to database.
  - After export, update status bar.
  - All menu items have hints, removed conflicting hot keys.

For previous users of WinKarst, version 10.0 can be installed=20
directly over an earlier version and it should assume your=20
existing registration code. But as a precaution, please write=20
down your registration code by running the older version=20
first and accessing the Registration dialog from the Help=20
pull down menu. Then install the new version.

**************************************************************
Detailed descriptions
**************************************************************
o Sketches
  - When more than one survey station is registered on a
    sketch, then the sketch can more accurately match the
    survey measurements. Sketch placement on the line plot
    proceeds in two steps, first scale and rotation and
    second morphing. In the first step, multiple pairs of
    registered stations are combined to find the best fit
    of the sketch to the line plot. In the second step, the
    sketch is stretched proportionally towards each of the
    stations. Provided the sketch is already close to the
    line plot, the resultant morphed sketch is unnoticably
    changed. The original sketch remains in memory and a
    mouse click can switch between versions of the sketch.
  - Sketches are now more managable in WinKarst. Each sketch
    can have an identifiable boarder and double clicking in
    side the boarder can open the editor to the corresponding
    sketch. On the Preferences pulldown menu, a new dialog
    box is available for plotting sketches.
  - In caves with overlaying passages, sketches can become
    confusing because they have transparent backgrounds. To
    ease the confusing plot, each sketch can now be plotted
    separately, chosen from the Sketch dialog box.
  - Within the new Sketch dialog box, the user can enter
    either station or survey names and WinKarst presents a
    list of sketches in the area of the entered name. This
    way the user does not need to remember the names of the
    sketches in relationship to the areas of the cave.

o Background Images
  - Color topographical, Forest Service, BLM or aerial
    photographs can now be displayed behind the cave survey
    line plot. The images are referenced to control stations
    and the image is automatically rescaled and position to
    match the line plot. For images with UTM grids, WinKarst
    can display a grid to verify image placement. There is
    no limit to the size of the images, only that they be in
    the universially accepted PNG format.
  - The survey editor contains a georeferencing tool. In the
    tool, control points not associated with the cave survey
    at grid points are recorded in the image. Control points
    are typically UTM intersections or Lat/Lon intersections,
    but road and stream intersections recored with hand held
    GPS devices can also be used. A UTM to Lat/Lon conversion
    interface is provided. More than two control points will
    allow for a more accurate placement of the image. WinKarst
    assumes a UTM projection and some distortion will occur
    for other map projections covering large areas.

o User interface
  - For very large caves, surveys can be grouped in sets and
    view separately as groups. The survey groups are saved in
    the .SUR data file. The groups can be accessed through a
    new dialog on the Preferences drop down menu. Group
    assignment is done in the survey editor.
  - For surveys that include SDTS/DEM data, WinKarst can color
    passage by overburden thickness. The user can immediately
    determine where the cave is close to the surface, pin
    pointing possible dig sites.
  - Station labeling now includes passage dimensions, making
    traditional cartographic symbols easier to draw.
  - The survey editor handles backsights intelligently. For
    surveys with a single pair of instrament reading per shot,
    backsights are marked with a "B" character. For surveys
    with fore and backsights per each shots, corrected back-
    sights in the second reading are marked with the "C"
    character. For fore and backsight surveys, WinKarst can
    automatically detect corrected backsights.

o Miscellaneous improvements
  - The text file database export format has been expanded to
    include overburden and survey group information.
  - After a time consuming file export, the status bar is
    updated to signal WinKarst is ready for more work.
  - Adding new features for color backgrounds and morphing has
    caused a realignment of the keyboard hot keys. All menu=20
    items have hints and conflicting hot keys removed.