[aprssig] APRSdos using MAPquest maps?

[Robert Bruninga]

One more coment on making a MAPquest BMP translator for APRSdos
is that I was unable to read a 24 bit .BMP because they appear
to have binary EOF data in them which wont let me fully read
the files in QBASIC.  If someone wants to change the INPUT
routines in DRAWMQST.EXE to get around that problem, then that 
is the major step towards a one-step process.  Bob

>>> bruninga at usna.edu 06/27/06 5:48 PM >>>
Followup on the APRSdos use of .BMP maps:
1) they are not pretty, since they can only be translated to 640/350 pixels
2) I havent written the integration code yet, and am so busy, I might
not get around to it anytime soon.
3) The source code link for this simple drawing routine in QBasic 
in the last email wont work, because it needs to be in upper case:

http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/DRAWMQST.BAS 

I am hoping someone that is good with QBASIC might want
to diddle to better automate this process, especially the
color translation.  THis will only be worthwhile if
1) We can automate the color translation process to
    the way APRSdos does map colors.
2) MAPquest maps are always consistent, meaning that
   we get the colors translated properly into APRSdos colors
   and they (mapquest) dont change anything.
etc...   Bob

>>> bruninga at usna.edu 06/27/06 5:14 PM >>>
Today in an idle moment, I wondered about adding .BMP maps
to APRSdos.  After about an hour, I have it working at the
16 color level.

I wonder if this is worthwhile.  This lets anyone make maps
of their area easily just like the other programs do.  The maps
wont zoom other than blowing up the pixels, but it would
at least be something.

I wrote a quick drawing routine so that APRSdos usrs can see
what it would look like and can tell me if this is worth the trouble.
The lettering on the maps does not translate well... mostly
gyberish, but maybe passable.

The steps are as follows:
1 - download the MAPQUEST map you want
2 - RIght clck and select COPY
3 - edit-paste into PAINT
4 - use the paint bucket to change all water to CYAN
5 - safe the file as a 16 color BMP (with an 8 byte file name)
6 - run my DRAWMQST.EXE to see what it will look like in APRSdos


download the program "drawmqst.tmp" and change the 
extension to a .EXE file and run it.  The source is available
as the .BAS file if anyone wants to figure out how to better translate
down to th 16 colors.  It would be nice to do it all in one step
and not have to use PAINT to change the colors and truncate
to 16 colors.

http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/drawmqst.tmp 
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/drawmqst.bas 

Anyway, just a thought.  This would still run on any old
PC or laptop down to a 386...

WARNING:  Do not waste any time making many maps, 
because if we do do this, I am sure there will be a final
way that is slightly better, and so I do not want to waste
your time with a false start...

de Wb4APR, Bob



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