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Jon Eaton Jul 25th 2010, 12:22am |
For a while now I have been writing extensions for a vector graphics programme called Inkscape to enable it to be suitable platform for the production of Orienteering maps to various IOF specifications. Inkscape is a FREE, cross-platform Open Source vector graphics editor distributed under a free software licence designed to provide capabilities similar to Adobe Illustrator. Inkscape is under active development, with new features being added regularly by a thriving user and developer community using open, community-oriented development. More information on Inkscape can be found at http://www.inkscape.org/. The current stable version of Inkscape can be downloaded from SourceForge.net at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/inkscape/. The official Inkscape manual is available on line at: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/. These extensions provide Inkscape with the the capability, together with the innate capabilities of Inkscape, to create the full symbol set of ISOM:2000, ISSOM:2007 and the new (but slightly schizophrenic) ISMTBOM:2010. The O-scape extensions are now available on SourceForge.net at: https://sourceforge.net/projects/o-scape/files/. Being FREE, Inkscape and the O-scape extensions will enable individuals and small clubs to create maps where they were previously unable to afford the software required. This is the first release of the O-scape extensions and is, as such, untested in the real world (although I've tested each extension as much as possible - I'm about half way through producing a 1:4000 urban map of larger than A3). Therefore, I would appreciate feedback of any comments that you may have and that may improve the operation and performance of the extensions. Inkscape can produce a PNG file that can be used with Condes or Purple Pen for course setting. Simple instructions are currently provided to get people started using Inkscape and the O-scape extensions and one of my next set of tasks is to write a comprehensive manual. p.s. I would like to hear about the first events to be held on maps created using Inkscape and the O-scape extensions. |
Ben Plowman Jul 26th 2010, 11:53pm |
Hi, I'm trying to use this on a mac, but getting the error The fantastic lxml wrapper for libxml2 is required by inkex.py and therefore this extension. Please download and install the latest version from http://cheeseshop.python.org/pypi/lxml/, or install it through your package manager by a command like: sudo apt-get install python-lxml when trying to use the extensions. I've tried to install whatever it is that the message is talking about but it still doesn't seem to work. Any ideas? Or is this far more complicated than I realise. Also, do you have any non-copyrighted map files that I could try out with? Cheers, |
Jon Eaton Jul 27th 2010, 8:26pm |
I'm using Vista, so have little knowledge of Mac installations. I have, though, searched the Inkscape forum for this problem and turned up the following post, which I hope helps -- http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4131 . I'm afraid that I've no map files that you could use. The way to start is to decide where it is that you want to map and then collect available source information. I've used information from Google Earth / Google Maps, Streetmap.com (OS 1:25K maps) and Elgin. You can copy tiles from Streetmap whilst you'll need to printscreen and stitch together tiles Elgin. Each image can then be copied into a separate layer and resized to the map scale and rotated to correct for current magnetic declination. Rotate using the Object -- Transform -- Rotate command from the menu. Current declination can be found using the webapp at http://www.threelittlemaids.co.uk/magdec/index1.html . Google is aligned to True North whilst the OS data at Streetmap.com and Elgin are aligned to the UK Grid. If you're Uni-based then you may be able to get access to data through the Edina Digimap system -- http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/ . |
John Houlihan Moderator Aug 1st 2010, 9:55am |
Hi Jonathan, this is very interesting although I haven't had any time to look at it and I am also Mac based. The first use for this would be MBO Score using OS base mapping, we could then ensure the use of standard symbols and improve the quality of event maps. The planners would only need to over lay symbols since OS map based score events use Grid North and will continue to do so. Ben, let me know when you get it up and running, I might have a chance to have a go later this week. thanks guys. |
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