Step-by-step guide for making DiGLE/JiGLE compatible mappacks, via GPSVisualizer.com

Dutch · 05-24-2004

Step-by-step guide for making DiGLE/JiGLE compatible mappacks, via Adam Schneiders GPSVisualizer site.

Please note that there might be copyright issues involved, if you make mappacks via the GPSVisualizer site, and put them up for download on the net.
Therefore this guide is written with the purpose of allowing people to make THEIR OWN MAPPACKS, and not making mappacks to post on websites for download.

Prerequisites :

- A texteditor (Notepad will do, or EDLIN for those so inclined

)
- DiGLE or JiGLE Wigle.net client (http://www.wigle.net).
- Webbrowser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape or whichever brand you prefer.
- A bitmap graphicsprogram supporting the GIF and the PNG file formats, such as PaintShopPro or Photoshop is necessary as well, but if you are running XP, then the MS Paint program can be used, albeit not for the advanced mappack method.
- A latitude/longitude coordinate which will be the center of our map.

There are two methods for doing this, a quick'n'dirty way, which might cover your needs, especially if you only want to make a mappack covering a square of a few kilometers (upto 10 KM or so), and an advanced method, which at least with JiGLE can drill down from a broad overview (1 pixel =< 10 meters) to a very detailed view (1 pixel => 1 meter). I'm in contact with arkasha regarding some snags with the advanced method mappacks when used with the DiGLE client, so this may change, and then I'll post a guide for the advanced method.

So let's start by making a mappack the Quick'n'Dirty way. In this case we'll make a mappack covering the area where "The Others" are going to spend the time during WWWD4. I have received a lat/lon coordinate from him which we will use as the center of the map: N 50.8234450 W 1.2285383.

Step 1:

Open up your internet browser, and point it to the GPSVisualizer site at http://www.gpsvisualizer.com.
Select the Waypoint form for data entry. (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map?form=waypoints)
In the waypoint field on this form, enter the following :

Code:

name,latitude,longitude
CENTER,50.8234450,-1.2285383

Note that the N/S/E/W prefix isn't used, and note also that coordinates in the southern and western hemisphere are prefixed by a -
Change the general map parameters on the form so that the max dimensions are 500 pixels, with a 0 margin, select the "Europe and US : Political map (street level)" as background map, and finally set the "Single point map width" to 10 km.
Then check the "Open in a new window checkbox" and submit the form, by clicking on the "Draw the map" button.

A new browserwindow will open, and display the map which will be our first level map in the mappack.
In this window, rightclick the displayed map and select "Show Source". A window showing the source will open, scroll all the way to the bottom in this window.
Here you can see some debug data, including the lat/lon coordinates which we will need to use later. Make a note of the lat/lon coordinates for the drawing :

Code:

 --><!-- min. alt = 0
 --><!-- max. alt = 0
 --><!-- colorize min = 0
 --><!-- colorize max = 0
 --><!-- colorize range = 0
 --><!-- upper left (data) = 50.868495,-1.2998383
 --><!-- lower right (data) = 50.778395,-1.1572383
 --><!-- upper left (drawing) = 50.868495,-1.2998383
 --><!-- lower right (drawing) = 50.778395,-1.1572383
 --><!-- center = 50.823445,-1.2285383
 --><!-- width,height (pixels) = 499.901,500
 --><!-- width,height (degrees) = 0.1426,0.0901000000000067
 --><!-- scale = 56862, resolution = 20.1 m/pixel
 --><!-- map = http://go.vicinity.com/greenflagapi/...1.228538:56862
 --><!-- phys. map x20 = http://www.demis.nl/mapserver/Reques...ities,Airports
 --><!-- backgrounds = http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/backgro...68495&submit=1
 --><!-- query = bg_map=vicinity&bg_opacity=0.5&border=1&colorize=alt&connect_segments=0&convert_routes=0&delete_js=0&discard_outliers=4&drawing_mode=lines&fader=1&form=waypoints&legend_placement=bottomleft&legend_steps=5&lightness=0.8&localized_name=0&margin=0&max_dimension=500&new_window=1&nudger=0&profile_height=300&profile_x=distance&profile_x_div=4&profile_y=alt&profile_y_div=4&resize=alt&reverse=0&saturation=1.0&scale_length=1%2F2&show_waypoints=2&skip=1&sp_width=10%20km&stroke_width=2&text_size=10&track_desc=0&track_labels=1&units=metric&waypoint_desc=1&waypoint_fill_opacity=0&waypoint_labels=1&waypoint_radius=3&waypoint_stroke_opacity=1&wep_colors=0&wifi_mode=2&
 --><!-- e-mail = 
 --><!--

Select and copy the URL in the line --><!-- map line, and paste it in the adressfield of the mapdisplaying window, to get the gif file. This will be our second level map, with a resolution of 10 meters Page Ranking pixel. Rightclick and save as "the-others-1.gif".

Step 3:

Close the window displaying the map, and return to the GPSvisualizer form. Change the Max dimension to 2000 and click on the "Draw the map" button. Follow the same procedure as previously to save the resulting gif file, this time naming it "the-others-2.gif". This will be our third level map, with a resolution of 5 meters Page Ranking pixel.

Step 4:

To make our final map level with a resolution of 2.5 meters Page Ranking pixel, we need to utilize the localizer feature on the GPSVisualizer site. You may close all the browserwindows except the GPS visualizer form window now, if you feel that it's a bit messy with so many windows open.
In the form window, change the "Max dimension" to 4000, and click the "Draw the map button". As before, a new window will open with the map, this might take some time, depending on your computersystem, and internet connection speed.
When the window has opened and the map has loaded, scroll all the way to the right, and approximately halfway down.
Follow the directions for the GPSVisualizer localizer feature, by rightclicking the link, and downloading the SVG file to your harddisk. Then follow step 2 and click the Localizer link.
Upload the SVG file you just saved and click the "Prepare SVG for off-line" button.
The window will update, and present you with links to the updated SVG file, which we don't need, and the map gif file.
Rightclick the link to the gif file, and save it with a name of "the-others-3.gif", with the other gif files we saved before.

Step 5:

Now we have the map files we need to make the mappack for DiGLE/JiGLE, albeit in the wrong format. Fire up your favourite bitmap graphicsprogram, open each of the GIF files, and save them as PNG files, in the JiGLEMap\maps folder, located in the folder where you have JiGLE or DiGLE installed.

Step 6:

Now we need to make the .mappack file, which tells JiGLE/DiGLE how to interpret the maps.
Open you favourite text editor (Notepad will do), and enter the following in a blank text document:

Code:

shortName=TheOthers-UK
longName=TheOthersWWWD4location-UK

image.0=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-0.png
image.1=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-1.png
image.2=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-2.png
image.3=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-3.png

upperLeftX=50.868495
upperLeftY=-1.2998383
lowerRightX=50.778395
lowerRightY=-1.1572383

The parameters for the upperLeft and lowerRight, are the corresponding lat/lon coordinates, which we saw in debug section of the SVG source file from GPSVisualizer. Thank Adam for making it easy for us.

Save this document in text format with the name "the-others.mappack" in the same folder where you placed the PNG files.

Step 7 - The final step

Now fire up JiGLE or DiGLE, select the Mappack which we just have made, and enjoy :-)

It should look like screenshots in the following posts.

Just my 0.02€'s worth...

Dutch

P.S to "The Others": have zipped the mappack up, and PM'ed it to you. Unpack it in the JiGLEMap/maps folder.

Dutch · 05-24-2004

Screenshot one: Minimum zoom

Dutch · 05-24-2004

Screenshot 2, Level 1 zoom

Dutch · 05-24-2004

Screenshot 3, Level 2 zoom

Dutch · 05-24-2004

Screenshot 4, Level 3 zoom

Dutch · 05-24-2004

Screenshot 5, Level 4 zoom

Dutch · 05-24-2004

And screenshot 5, Maximum zoom

adamschneider · 05-27-2004

There's a much easier way to do this!

You took the trouble to look in the comments in the bottom of an SVG generated by GPS Visualizer, but it seems you didn't notice the "backgrounds" URL in there. If you'd followed that link, it probably would have saved a lot of trouble.

In fact, if you already know the coordinates of the area you want to see, you don't even need to draw a map and dig stuff out of the SVG source! Just go straight to this form: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/backgrounds -- fill in the blanks on the right side and you should be good to go.

You know, Dutch, you could have just asked me if there was a better solution.

Dutch · 05-27-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamschneider

There's a much easier way to do this!

You took the trouble to look in the comments in the bottom of an SVG generated by GPS Visualizer, but it seems you didn't notice the "backgrounds" URL in there. If you'd followed that link, it probably would have saved a lot of trouble.

And NOW he tells me..

Heck I went to the Backgrounds URL in the Debug section, by copying and pasting it. Using it to get the coords to generate the advanced mappack, containing larger than 4000x4000 pixel maps, but never knew there were a form behind it

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamschneider

You know, Dutch, you could have just asked me if there was a better solution.

Heck, I had some fun time using the small grey'uns (said in heavy belgian accent), so it wasn't wasted, but next time I wil be sure to forward a copy of the guide for proofreading and suggestions..

Also, saw that you were relocating, so decided you had enough to keep you occupied, you have already, as stated before by yours truly, gone above and beyond the call of duty in your support of the wardriving community.
Also as said before, your site rocks, and I'm just glad if my guide can help generate some exposure for GPS Visualizer.

Just my 0.02€'s worth...

Dutch

uhtu · 05-27-2004

okay, that rules.

you know what would be really sweet is a <click here and out pops a wigle mappack> thingy.
but it would have to be done on the client, as i assume adam dosen't distribute other people's maps for many of the same reasons we don't over at wigle.net.
i wonder if one could produce an applet or flash widget that would do that.

adamschneider · 05-27-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhtu

you know what would be really sweet is a <click here and out pops a wigle mappack> thingy. but it would have to be done on the client, as i assume adam dosen't distribute other people's maps for many of the same reasons we don't over at wigle.net. i wonder if one could produce an applet or flash widget that would do that.

You're right that I refuse to distribute other site's maps. (I'm nervous enough about this "backgrounds" program that I don't really publicize it very much.)

But I might be able to spit out at least some of the text that one of those "mappack" things needs. Except it could only include the coordinates for one image, I suppose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch

Also, saw that you were relocating, so decided you had enough to keep you occupied

Yeah, but this was something that was already there; I didn't need to lift a finger.

05-24-2004	#1 (permalink)
Dutch Humourless EuroMod. Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: City of Mermaids, Denmark Posts: 6,813	Step-by-step guide for making DiGLE/JiGLE compatible mappacks, via GPSVisualizer.com Step-by-step guide for making DiGLE/JiGLE compatible mappacks, via Adam Schneiders GPSVisualizer site. Please note that there might be copyright issues involved, if you make mappacks via the GPSVisualizer site, and put them up for download on the net. Therefore this guide is written with the purpose of allowing people to make THEIR OWN MAPPACKS, and not making mappacks to post on websites for download. Prerequisites : - A texteditor (Notepad will do, or EDLIN for those so inclined ) - DiGLE or JiGLE Wigle.net client (http://www.wigle.net). - Webbrowser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape or whichever brand you prefer. - A bitmap graphicsprogram supporting the GIF and the PNG file formats, such as PaintShopPro or Photoshop is necessary as well, but if you are running XP, then the MS Paint program can be used, albeit not for the advanced mappack method. - A latitude/longitude coordinate which will be the center of our map. There are two methods for doing this, a quick'n'dirty way, which might cover your needs, especially if you only want to make a mappack covering a square of a few kilometers (upto 10 KM or so), and an advanced method, which at least with JiGLE can drill down from a broad overview (1 pixel =< 10 meters) to a very detailed view (1 pixel => 1 meter). I'm in contact with arkasha regarding some snags with the advanced method mappacks when used with the DiGLE client, so this may change, and then I'll post a guide for the advanced method. So let's start by making a mappack the Quick'n'Dirty way. In this case we'll make a mappack covering the area where "The Others" are going to spend the time during WWWD4. I have received a lat/lon coordinate from him which we will use as the center of the map: N 50.8234450 W 1.2285383. Step 1: Open up your internet browser, and point it to the GPSVisualizer site at http://www.gpsvisualizer.com. Select the Waypoint form for data entry. (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map?form=waypoints) In the waypoint field on this form, enter the following : Code: name,latitude,longitude CENTER,50.8234450,-1.2285383 Note that the N/S/E/W prefix isn't used, and note also that coordinates in the southern and western hemisphere are prefixed by a - Change the general map parameters on the form so that the max dimensions are 500 pixels, with a 0 margin, select the "Europe and US : Political map (street level)" as background map, and finally set the "Single point map width" to 10 km. Then check the "Open in a new window checkbox" and submit the form, by clicking on the "Draw the map" button. A new browserwindow will open, and display the map which will be our first level map in the mappack. In this window, rightclick the displayed map and select "Show Source". A window showing the source will open, scroll all the way to the bottom in this window. Here you can see some debug data, including the lat/lon coordinates which we will need to use later. Make a note of the lat/lon coordinates for the drawing : Code: --><!-- min. alt = 0 --><!-- max. alt = 0 --><!-- colorize min = 0 --><!-- colorize max = 0 --><!-- colorize range = 0 --><!-- upper left (data) = 50.868495,-1.2998383 --><!-- lower right (data) = 50.778395,-1.1572383 --><!-- upper left (drawing) = 50.868495,-1.2998383 --><!-- lower right (drawing) = 50.778395,-1.1572383 --><!-- center = 50.823445,-1.2285383 --><!-- width,height (pixels) = 499.901,500 --><!-- width,height (degrees) = 0.1426,0.0901000000000067 --><!-- scale = 56862, resolution = 20.1 m/pixel --><!-- map = http://go.vicinity.com/greenflagapi/...1.228538:56862 --><!-- phys. map x20 = http://www.demis.nl/mapserver/Reques...ities,Airports --><!-- backgrounds = http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/backgro...68495&submit=1 --><!-- query = bg_map=vicinity&bg_opacity=0.5&border=1&colorize=alt&connect_segments=0&convert_routes=0&delete_js=0&discard_outliers=4&drawing_mode=lines&fader=1&form=waypoints&legend_placement=bottomleft&legend_steps=5&lightness=0.8&localized_name=0&margin=0&max_dimension=500&new_window=1&nudger=0&profile_height=300&profile_x=distance&profile_x_div=4&profile_y=alt&profile_y_div=4&resize=alt&reverse=0&saturation=1.0&scale_length=1%2F2&show_waypoints=2&skip=1&sp_width=10%20km&stroke_width=2&text_size=10&track_desc=0&track_labels=1&units=metric&waypoint_desc=1&waypoint_fill_opacity=0&waypoint_labels=1&waypoint_radius=3&waypoint_stroke_opacity=1&wep_colors=0&wifi_mode=2& --><!-- e-mail = --><!-- Select and copy the URL in the line --><!-- map = and paste that url into the adress field, in the browserwindow displaying the map, then press enter. This will get us raw gif file which we will convert and use as the first level map. It will display in the browser window, so rightclick it, and select "Save picture as..", and save it in a folder of your choice, with the name "the-others-0.gif". This map level will have a resolution of 20.1 meters Page Ranking pixel. Step 2: Close the window displaying the map, and return to the browserwindow containing the GPSVisualizer form. Change the Max dimension to 1000, while leaving all other settings the same, and click the "Draw the map" button again. In the window displaying the map, rightclick, and select "Show source" as before. Again copy the URL in the --><!-- map line, and paste it in the adressfield of the mapdisplaying window, to get the gif file. This will be our second level map, with a resolution of 10 meters Page Ranking pixel. Rightclick and save as "the-others-1.gif". Step 3: Close the window displaying the map, and return to the GPSvisualizer form. Change the Max dimension to 2000 and click on the "Draw the map" button. Follow the same procedure as previously to save the resulting gif file, this time naming it "the-others-2.gif". This will be our third level map, with a resolution of 5 meters Page Ranking pixel. Step 4: To make our final map level with a resolution of 2.5 meters Page Ranking pixel, we need to utilize the localizer feature on the GPSVisualizer site. You may close all the browserwindows except the GPS visualizer form window now, if you feel that it's a bit messy with so many windows open. In the form window, change the "Max dimension" to 4000, and click the "Draw the map button". As before, a new window will open with the map, this might take some time, depending on your computersystem, and internet connection speed. When the window has opened and the map has loaded, scroll all the way to the right, and approximately halfway down. Follow the directions for the GPSVisualizer localizer feature, by rightclicking the link, and downloading the SVG file to your harddisk. Then follow step 2 and click the Localizer link. Upload the SVG file you just saved and click the "Prepare SVG for off-line" button. The window will update, and present you with links to the updated SVG file, which we don't need, and the map gif file. Rightclick the link to the gif file, and save it with a name of "the-others-3.gif", with the other gif files we saved before. Step 5: Now we have the map files we need to make the mappack for DiGLE/JiGLE, albeit in the wrong format. Fire up your favourite bitmap graphicsprogram, open each of the GIF files, and save them as PNG files, in the JiGLEMap\maps folder, located in the folder where you have JiGLE or DiGLE installed. Step 6: Now we need to make the .mappack file, which tells JiGLE/DiGLE how to interpret the maps. Open you favourite text editor (Notepad will do), and enter the following in a blank text document: Code: shortName=TheOthers-UK longName=TheOthersWWWD4location-UK image.0=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-0.png image.1=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-1.png image.2=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-2.png image.3=JiGLEMap/maps/the-others-3.png upperLeftX=50.868495 upperLeftY=-1.2998383 lowerRightX=50.778395 lowerRightY=-1.1572383 The parameters for the upperLeft and lowerRight, are the corresponding lat/lon coordinates, which we saw in debug section of the SVG source file from GPSVisualizer. Thank Adam for making it easy for us. Save this document in text format with the name "the-others.mappack" in the same folder where you placed the PNG files. Step 7 - The final step Now fire up JiGLE or DiGLE, select the Mappack which we just have made, and enjoy :-) It should look like screenshots in the following posts. Just my 0.02€'s worth... Dutch P.S to "The Others": have zipped the mappack up, and PM'ed it to you. Unpack it in the JiGLEMap/maps folder. Last edited by Dutch : 05-24-2004 at 02:02 PM.

05-27-2004	#8 (permalink)
adamschneider Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 38	There's an easier way There's a much easier way to do this! You took the trouble to look in the comments in the bottom of an SVG generated by GPS Visualizer, but it seems you didn't notice the "backgrounds" URL in there. If you'd followed that link, it probably would have saved a lot of trouble. In fact, if you already know the coordinates of the area you want to see, you don't even need to draw a map and dig stuff out of the SVG source! Just go straight to this form: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/backgrounds -- fill in the blanks on the right side and you should be good to go. You know, Dutch, you could have just asked me if there was a better solution. __________________ adamschneider.net gpsvisualizer.com

05-27-2004	#10 (permalink)
uhtu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 17	well.. okay, that rules. you know what would be really sweet is a <click here and out pops a wigle mappack> thingy. but it would have to be done on the client, as i assume adam dosen't distribute other people's maps for many of the same reasons we don't over at wigle.net. i wonder if one could produce an applet or flash widget that would do that.

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