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OZIEXPLORER  & OCAD 

Updated April 2010

This software works well with a GPS as an aid to mapping with OCAD. A registered version is needed to be able to use it with a GPS. A CE Version is also available which will work with a Palm Computer. Using this an active version of the map could be used adding waypoints as you go and seeing your location at all times A full version would still be needed to set up the map on a normal computer. A summary of the steps involved in using a GPS and OziExplorer in association with a normal computer are as follows:

  1. Produce a bmp or gif version of your draft map in OCAD. (file..export..gif or bmp Both formats are available in OCAD 9 & 10 only bmp in OCAD 7) 
  2. Use the above to produce a new map file in OziExplorer.
  3.  Your map then needs to be calibrated with at least 6 known points reasonably spread across the map. up to 9 can be entered). Given a perfect map theoretically only two points are needed. The addition of more points allows for rotation and skewing of the mapped image.  The exact latitude and longitude of these locations needs to be copied from your GPS using the calibrate function within Oziexplorer. New Hint: Once you have copied two points save the result and then load the rest of your waypoints. Then use the check calibration function in the file menu. This way you can add any additional points you want to use for calibration directly from the waypoint list. (Look out for the small button for doing this!)
  4. Waypoints you then collect in the field can be uploaded from your GPS, saved as a file and then loaded directly into the Ozieexplorer map file you have produced.
  5.  Within OziExplorer choose save map to image file. This produces a bitmap file which can then be loaded as a template within OCAD.

I have found this process very satisfactory using a Garmin Etrex GPS. This unit is economical, rugged and compact. Accuracy to within 4m is possible in ideal conditions and up to 500 waypoints can be stored. A wide range of makes and models are available on the market. It is obviously important that the model you use has the capacity to upload and download data. 

Using Garmin USB GPS units with OziExplorer

a) Using the moving map feature with Vista & Windows 7 can be a bit tricky. This is mainly due to the Spanner Software (works fine with XP), which emulates a com port & is available from Garmin will not install on these operating systems. However this now seems to have been overcome, at least with Windows 7, by doing the  following:

With your GPS

  • Ensure you have the latest Garmin drivers installed on your GPS.
  • Set your GPS to Spanner Mode in settings. This  has the added advantage of ensuring you can see what is happening on your GPS which does not happen on any of the other settings.
  • Set Baud Rate on GPS to 4800

In OziExplorer (for more details go to http://www.oziexplorer3.com/support/oziexplorer/gps/ozi_gps_garmin.html and http://www.oziexplorer3.com/support/oziexplorer/gps/ozi_gps_garmin_support.html )

  • Make sure you have at least Version 3.95.4s or later
  • In OziExplorer Configuration / GPS Tab, select GPS Make = Garmin;  GPS Model = Colorado or Oregon.

The above settings also work with the latest version of Google Earth.

b)To update & download waypoints:

  • The GPS must be attached to your computer as a USB mass storage device (USB Mass Storage Mode) and it will become visible as a disk drive.

  • Data is transferred using the options on the "Garmin" menu.  

  • To transfer data from OziExplorer to the GPS, use the "Save Waypoints / Tracks to GPS" options on the Garmin Menu, to save the data in GPX format to the GPS.

  • To load data from the GPS to OziExplorer, use the "Load Waypoints / Tracks from GPS" option on the Garmin Menu to load the GPX file from the GPS.