GPS4PPC v2.0

[Erel]

GPS4PPC is a convenient tool with several navigation related utilities.
Version 2.00 is a complete rewrite and it uses features that were not available before.
The main changes are:
- Code was separated into several modules.
- Completely new "modern" user interface.
- The GPS data is read with the GPSDriver instead of the serial port. Note that the GPS functionality is supported on WM5 or newer devices.
- The GPS screen shows the distance and direction to a target.

Here are some screen shots:



The code is attached. You can use this code freely in your application.
You are also welcomed to expand GPS4PPC and add new features.

Please feel free to ask any question about the code.
The setup file can be downloaded here: www.basic4ppc.com/files/GPS4PPC.zip

I want to thank Ariel who did most of the design and helped with the code.

The compass images are by courtesy of Marcelo Novaes de Oliveira - "KDEWolf" - mnovaes.eu is Marcelo Novaes de Oliveira (KDEWolf) website / mnovaes@gmail.com

[wm.chatman]

Hi Erel

let me be the first to say this: this is a very big change and surley also a much better UI. Respect Sir! I have not tried the new UI yet, but will do so shortly.

Best regards

William

[markbarrett_1]

Hi Erel,

I have to agree this package is now pretty awesome.

I'm not sure how you intend to work in additional features (and I'm happy to help out - though my coding style is well lets say linux command line hacking style :-) so its probably not good application code).

Here goes.

1) For UTM measurements it would be nice to include an option to have an option for 6 digit references (it currently displays 13 digit references). That way you can directly relate your current position to a typographical map, without having to drop the appropriate digits from the 13 digit reference (to get a 6 digit reference you drop the leading digit AND the last two digits from the easting - you drop the two leading digits AND the last two digits from the northing
2) A recording function so that you can track your location every x seconds (x definable) and then export it out in google earth kml format - I notice on another forum thread this library has recently become available (this is very handy for bush fire fighting to figure out quickly how big a fire actually was rather than guessing, by driving around it and get all the GPS points of the fire boundary).
3) A function like in gpslog to turn off the automatic backlight diming.

Cheers.

M

[Erel]

These are nice features you describe.
I hope that the code is now simple enough and will allow other developers to add new features and post their updated versions.

[wm.chatman]

Dir Erel

Q: From what I found out the App does not function on the desktop IDE?
Only for the Device.

[Erel]

It runs properly on the desktop, but without the GPS functionality.
You can replace the GPSDriver with agraham's GPSSerial library and then it will work on the desktop as well (note that on some devices the virtual serial port is less stable than working directly with the driver).

[wm.chatman]

Originally Posted by Erel

It runs properly on the desktop, but without the GPS functionality.
You can replace the GPSDriver with agraham's GPSSerial library and then it will work on the desktop as well (note that on some devices the virtual serial port is less stable than working directly with the driver).

oh, oh, I better keep using the GPSDriver then, if the virtual serial port is less stable.
Thx

[markbarrett_1]

Hi,

Attached is the first of the new features talked about above. I've added a new Grid type called Topo 6 Digit (the best description I could think of) and I think I've found all the places where I need to fix up the code where Grid changes are in the code.

Are the Datum selection windows supposed to be scrollable? The Australian Datum was too far down in the file to be displayed (to work around this in the first instance I just moved the entry in the datum file).

Again I ask how are we going to be doing version control? If somebody is going to be working on the scrolling issue above and I start working on a record function then how are we going to sync code?

Cheers.

M

[Erel]

All the selections are done with the bList control. This control is scrollable. Just drag the screen with your finger or pen.

I agree about the source control.
I'm not familiar enough with open source hosting. I will look into it and see how it can be done. Advices will be appreciated.
Currently when you upload your changes please only upload the modified files (usually the source code).

[markbarrett_1]

Hi,

The apple iphone paradigm....No worries.

Sorry no expert here on source code control, but its something we'll need to figure out and follow.

Cheers.

M