GPSxCAD Commands

GPSxCAD provides several new commands to AutoCAD for GPS management. These commands are available from the GPS Menu and at the AutoCAD command line.

GPS_SETUP

GPSxCAD command for setting up the GPS link to AutoCAD.

Test Button - Tests the current setting  for the GPS. If successful NEMA sentences are displayed in list box.
Reset Def. Button - Reset the GPS settings to defaults.
OK Button - Click to save the GPS settings.

Port Setting - Communication port for the GPS.
Baud Rate Setting - The GPS standard is 4800.
Parity Bit Setting - None is the standard GPS setting.
Data Bits - GPS standard is 8.
Stop Bits - GPS standard is 1.

Note: Com Ports are listed in your computers Device Manager. Bluetooth GPS is configured as a serial COM port.

GPS_PROJ

GPSxCAD command for setting up the coordinated projection. GPSxCAD supports the following projections.

• Latitude \ Longitude, NAD83 and NAD27 datums
• Universal Transverse Mercator UTM, NAD83 and NAD27 datums.
• State Plane Projections, NAD83 and NAD27 datums.

To change the projections select from the pull down lists. Click the OK Button to save the coordinate projection settings.

GPS_PT

GPSxCAD adds this command for the entry of 3D points from the GPS receiver. The GPS_PT command displays the current GPS position. The current projection is displayed and can be changed from within this command. The command provides moving map functions, current GPS position is centered in the display.

• Add Point Button - Adds a single 3D point to the drawing at the current GPS position.
• Add Points Button adds a 3D point at set time intervals.
• Zoom In Button - performs a zoom to scale at 2.0x increasing the scale.
• Zoom Out Button - Performs a zoom to scale a 0.5x decreasing the scale.
• Load Elev. Points Button-Loads a DEM as an elevation reference to the drawing.

GPS_PL

GPSxCAD command for the entry of polylines from a GPS. The GPS_PL command displays current GPS position and projection. Command provides moving map functions, current GPS position is centered in the display.

• Adds Vertex Button- Adds a vertex to the polyline at the current GPS position. The vertex is shown as a red point.
• End Polyline Button- Ends the current polyline. If Close is selected from the Open Close Polygon selection the polyline will be closed.
• Start Recording Button- Starts recording polyline vertices at set time intervals.
• Stop Recording Button- Stops the recording of vertex points. The polyline is Closed or if selected in the Open Close Polygon selection.
• Zoom In Button - performs a zoom to scale at 2.0x increasing the scale.
• Zoom Out Button - Performs a zoom to scale a 0.5x decreasing the scale.

GPS_VW

This command displays information from the GPS satellites. The top section displays information on which satellites are in view, the strength of the signal and position in the sky.

The GPS time is displayed for reference. The Fix Quality provides information on status of GPS Fix. Is GPS fix is obtained GPS Fix will be displayed, otherwise Invalid is displayed. DGPS Fix will be displayed when GPS receiver is attached to a Differential GPS receiver and a fix is made.

Horizontal Dilution of Precision is relative estimate of the accuracy of GPS horizontal position fixes. The sliding bar gives a quick approximation of the the HDOP and the numeric value gives a HDOP of the current GPS satellite configuration.

The lower section of the dialog box shows the GPS position information. The scrolling text screen displays the raw data feed from the GPS receiver. The position is shown as Latitude and Longitude. Altitude can be displayed in either Meters or Feet.

GPSxCAD GPS Monitor Commands

GPS_ZC - GPS Monitor provides this AutoCAD command to Zoom and Center the drawing to the current GPS position.

GPS_ZIN- A command to Zoom In to 2x original scale and center the drawing.

GPS_ZOUT- A command to Zoom Out to 1/2 scale and center the drawing.

GPS_LOC- Command to locate the current GPS position on the Map. Command also centers the map at the current GPS position.

GPS_MN

This command loads the GPS Monitor dialog box and provides GPS positions for use in the AutoCAD environment. While running all AutoCAD commands are available.

!PT1 - GPS Monitor sends the current AutoCAD position and stores it in this AutoLISP variable. This point can be accessed from any AutoCAD command such as point, line, polyline, etc. Enter this point at the command line whenever a point is prompted.

Example: Point Command AutoCAD.
Command: Point !PT1

GPS_MNLG

This command loads the GPS Log and Monitor dialog box and similar to GPS Monitor providing positions to the AutoCAD environment when the dialog box is loaded. This command provides 3D data points and supports the use of Enhanced Elevation.

In addition to GPS monitoring this command provides data logging capabilities. The data log output is a comma delineated ASCII text file. The Z values and time are optional they can be added by checking the check box.