GeoTools e-Newsletter # 146:

  
 

July 4, 2005
Bangalore, India

GeoTools V 6.04 update:

Pick up this latest update from
http://www.4d-technologies.com/geotools/download/geotools.exe

New command added: 'GT_XP_RetDat' (Miscellaneous Tools):

The GT_XP_RETDAT command is a modified explode command which explodes polylines, blocks, hatches and mulitple polygon objects while retaining both extended entity data and object table data in each one of the exploded components.

New command added: 'GT_CmdDlgTog' - Automatic toggle command-line mode (script-mode) on and off
'GT_CmdDlg' - Asks for a Yes/No question and toggles GeoTools command-line mode on/off

Commands enhanced:

GT_FLIP : [Polyline Tools - Flip (reverse) directions] :

Two new options have been added to this command. You can now flip polylines based on the values of the first and last point elevations. Depending on whether the first point elevtaion is lesser than or greater than the last point elevation, you can reverse the direction of the polyline. This is a very useful tool in many surveying applications where you expect polylines to be flowing in either increasing or decreasing z values. This command helps to identify such flows and reverse them. Please be aware that this tool only looks at the first and last point elevations and does not check the intermediate vertex elevation values for any reason.

In the future, we plan to come up with a more "intelligent" polyline elevation analyzer program that would also study the pattern on intermediate elevations and check if there are intermediate segments that violate the desired flow of the vertices.

GT_3DOFFSET : [Polyline Tools - 3d offset of polylines] :

The internal mechanism of this command has been altered slightly to overcome some bugs which would show up while handling some situations of 3d polyline vertices. The program is now more stable and error-proof. These changes affect only the handling of offsets when the number of vertices between the source and offsetted polylines are not the same.

GT_REPBLK : (Block Tools - Replace blocks) - The GT_REPBLK command now allows a manual selection of blocks to be made for block replcaement. The earlier way of working would replcae every instance of one block with another. This has now been changed. Additionally, this command now retains both extended entity data as well as object table data while replacing one block with another.

Enhanced commands:

GT_LINE2PL : (Polyline/Conversion Tools - Convert lines and arcs/circles to polyline):
GT_3DF2PL : (Conversion/Polyline Tools - 3DFaces to polylines)
GT_3DF2PFACE : (Conversion Tools - 3DFaces to polyface mesh)
GT_PFACE2PL : (Conversion Tools - Polyface mesh to polylines)
GT_CH3D2D : (Polyline Tools - Convert 3D-to-2D polylines)
GT_CH2D3D : (Polyline Tools - Convert 2D-to-3D polylines)
GT_XP_RETDADT: (Miscellaneous Tools - Explode objects, retain Xdata and object data)
GT_REPNBLK : (Block Tools - Replace Blocks)

All of the above commands have been enhanced to retain both extended entity data and object table data while entities are transformed from source to target.

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Important note: While all of GeoTools commands are tested quite extensively before they are released, it is humanely impossible to test-run it under every different data type or operating environment. In the event that you notice any GeoTools command not functioning as expected, please bring it to our notice asap. We will attend to it and fix the problem as soon as possible.

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Thank you for your continued support. As always, we welcome feedback at all times.
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Four Dimension Technologies
C-616, Natasha Golf View
[ Off Airport Road ]
No. 2, New Ring Road
Domlur Layout
Bangalore - 560 071
India
Phone : +91-80-25353090
TeleFax: +91-80-41147616
Residence : +91-80-25931032 (for urgent enquiries only)

e-mail: rakesh.rao@4d-technologies.com
Web  : http://www.4d-technologies.com