BHD - Alphanumeric Display

Alphanumeric Display

This Display can be configured to show a great many of the parameter values handled by the acquisition software, including various dredging related information.
The text style layout is fully configurable, as is the font itself and the color used for each item. Background color is also changeable.
Display content and layout can be printed and/or stored to file at intervals based on user-definable criteria.

The Generic Display is used for the same purpose and has many more options. As such it may prove more flexible to use than the Alphanumeric which is being phased out.

Create the Display

Take the following steps in order to create an Alphanumeric display.

Go to “Options” on the menu bar of the Controller and select “Displays”, or click on the Displays icon

. This opens the Display Manager.

Click on

to open the Add Display dialog:

Select type “Alpha Numerical Display” and enter a Title name.

Pressing

opens an empty dialog:

......and the first of seven pages of a setup wizard.

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Wizard Pages

When creating this display for the first time a seven page Setup Wizard is employed to select parameters and enter values.
On completion of the wizard, selected items are shown in the Display itself. At that point the properties and font of any item are editable by right clicking on the item and selecting from the context menu.

Alternatively icons in the toolbar can be used to edit the various pages separately.

Command	Description
	Opens the wizard on Page 1. All previously selected items are still there. New items can be added to, and original items deleted from the layout.
	Opens page 7, the Layout page, directly for layout editing/reformatting.
	Open the Fix Printout Settings dialog in which data printing options (what and when) are defined.
	Turns printing on and off.
	Used to manually initiate a printout using the F12 function key.
	Turns the grid on and off. A grid is very useful when manually moving items around using the mouse.
	Used to change the background color.
	Item Properties - modification of item name, location (by row and column numbers), number format, units and multiplication factor. Item Font - modification of font, font style, size, effect (strikeout/underline) and script. Appearance - turn grid on/off and change background color. Secondary Line - there may be occasions when one object is referenced to the main line, and a second line is need as reference for a second object. Use this option to select the secondary line. Import/Export - once completed a layout may be saved to a configuration file which can later be imported when required, so avoiding a repeated setup procedure. Clear all items - does what it says. Layout Items - opens the layout wizard on Page 1.

Page 1 - General Information

Make selections and enter parameter values:

Displayed parameters in this example for line information could differ from that what you see in the dialog, depending on the selected current Main Line type (point/line/route) in the Session Setup .

Click here for a description of each item...

System Time	This can either be the PPS (UTC Pulse Per Second from a GPS receiver) value, or local computer clock time.
Date	Show date according to Windows Regional Settings.
Julian Day	Show date in range of 1 to 365.
Logging Time (UTC)	The time of the fix at which data was recorded. In an Online session this time is the same value as System Time. In Replay this is the System Time valid when the fix was logged.
Fix Number	Current fix number.
Fix Status	Report fix status (Normal).
Next Fix Number	Show the upcoming fix number.
Time to next fix	Number of seconds to next fix at current speed.
Distance to next fix	Distance in survey units.
Fix interval time	Report or calculate current interval in seconds between two latest fixes.
Fix interval distance	Report or calculate current distance between two latest fixes.
Main Line	Pull down menu to select a secondary line. The secondary line is activated as follows: In the Controller go to Settings - Session Setup - Planning - Additional Mainlines. At row 2, under Type, select Line. Under Name select the required line. Under Description enter a description for this secondary line. In the Alpha Numerical Display the items in General Information are listed with reference to this line which is not the main sailing line.
Line/Route name	Show the current Line / Route name.
SOL co-ordinates	Show local co-ordinates of starting point of Line (Start Of Line) in Easting/Northing.
SOS co-ordinates (active section)	If a Route is selected show local co-ordinates of starting point of active section (Start Of Section) of the Route in Easting/Northing.
EOL co-ordinates	Show local coordinates of ending point of Line in Easting/Northing.
EOS co-ordinates (active section)	If a Route is selected show local co-ordinates of ending point of active section of the Route in Easting/Northing.
Length (of active section)	Show Line length or section length of the Route in survey units.
Bearing (of active section)	Show Line bearing or section bearing relative to grid North.
Secondary Route name	Show name of secondary route (sometimes called Additional mainline). This can be used for positioning a second object.
User defined comments	Three fields where comments are made in one text string.
<Select All>	Select all available options.
<Invert All>	De-select all available options. Or deselect all selected options and select all not-selected options.

Click

.

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Page 2 - Steered Node Information

Make selections and enter parameter values:

The Steered Node is selected in the Controller - Computation Settings.
Displayed parameters in this example could differ from that what you see in the dialog, depending on the selected current line type in the Controller - Settings - Session Setup - LinePlanning.
In case the selection is a route, the parameter values are calculated to the beginning or the end of the active section of the route.

Important: Computed parameter values depend to a large extent upon the settings in Computation Settings - Position Filter/Position Results.
For example, the default number of position updates that are used to compute SOG/COG is 5; these values are used in turn to compute the other parameters.
To avoid 'jumps' or slowly changing values that do not reflect reality, it may be necessary to change filtering settings to obtain meaningful values.

Latitude/Longitude formatting is selected on the last page of the wizard (decimal seconds, decimal minutes or decimal degrees).

In this example the Bucket CoG is made the Steered Node so Name, Easting, Northing and Height are selected.

Click here for a description of each item...

Name	Name of the steered node which is selected under Computation Settings. The name displayed is the same as was defined for that node in Database Setup.
Easting	Coordinate in survey datum of last output cycle.
Northing	Coordinate in survey datum of last output cycle.
Height	Height above output datum of last output cycle.
Latitude	Position in local datum of last output cycle.
Longitude	Position in local datum of last output cycle.
Estimated Time to Go	Calculated time to end of recording of current survey Line or Route.
Course over Ground (COG)	Calculated track over ground from last two computation cycles.
Speed Over Ground (SOG)	Calculated speed over ground from last two computation cycles.
Speed Across	Calculated speed perpendicular to current survey line from last two computation cycles.
Speed Along	Calculated speed along the current survey line from last two computation cycles.
Distance to SOL	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to start of Line.
Distance to SOS	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to start of this Section of the Route.
Distance to EOL	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to end of Line.
Distance to EOL	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to end of this Section of the Route.
Distance Offline	Distance in survey units perpendicular to current survey line or route from last output cycle.
Bearing to Sail	Bearing relative to grid north directed to start of line of current survey line or route.
KP	Kilometer Point - Number of units traveled from the start of current survey Line or Route section to last output cycle.

Click

.

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Page 3 - Other Node Information

Make selections and enter parameter values:

You can only select nodes under Available Nodes AFTER selecting which Computation to use from the From drop down list.
You can only select nodes from ONE adjustment. Selecting a node from another adjustment clears the original selection.

In this example nothing is selected.

Easting, Northing, Latitude, Longitude and Height parameters are shown for each selected node.
Other parameters shown for each node depend upon whether a point / single line / route is selected as the Current Line (Controller - Settings - Session Setup - LinePlanning).
All distances are in survey units and all bearings are grid and in degrees.

Click here for a description of each item...

Available nodes	Pane with tree structure of available nodes. Click on + of the object and highlight the required node. Use > to move from Available nodes to Selected nodes pane.
Selected nodes	Pane with list of selected nodes. Use < to move to Available pane. Use << to move all nodes back to Available pane.
From computation	Pull down menu with list of available computations. Select the computation first before selecting a node.
Easting	Coordinate in survey datum of last output cycle.
Northing	Coordinate in survey datum of last output cycle.
Height	Height above output datum of last output cycle.
Name	Name of the steered node as defined in Database Setup.
Time	Time of last output cycle for this node.
Latitude	Position in local datum of last output cycle.
Longitude	Position in local datum of last output cycle.
COG	Calculated track over ground from last two computation cycles.
SOG	Calculated speed over ground from last two computation cycles.
MP	Meter Point - amount of units traveled from the start of current survey line to last output cycle. This option is only available when the current main line is of the type Line.
TtG	Time to Go. Calculated time to end of recording of current survey Line or Route.
DSOL	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to start of line.
DSOS	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to start of this section of the Route.
DEOL	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to end of line.
DEOS	Distance in survey units from last output cycle to end of this section of the Route.
DX	Distance in survey units perpendicular to current survey Line or Route from last output cycle.
BSOL	Bearing relative to grid north directed to start of line of current survey line. This option is only available when the current main line is of the type Line.
KP	Kilometer Point - Number of units traveled from the start of current survey Line or Route section to last output cycle.

Click

.

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Page 4 - Observation Information

Make parameter selections:

For access to dredging related parameters, make sure to select Dredging Sensor and Dredging System observations on this page.

Click here for a description of each item...

Available observations

Pane with tree structure of Available Observations. Click on

of the system and highlight the required observation.
Use > to move an observation from Available to Selected pane.

Selected observations

Pane with list of Selected Observations. Use < to move a single observation back to Available pane.
Use << to move all observations back to Available pane.

Show raw data corrected with C-O's

When checked, apply the C-O values as entered in Database Setup.

Click

.

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Page 5 - Dredging Information

This page is only available when a Dredging System is selected in the Observation Information page above.
If a dredge system with two dredge heads is selected in Database Setup, information for “Head 2” is also available.

Make parameter selections:

General Dredge State	Display whether the vessel is dredging, dumping, sailing, etc.. Status identifiers are setup when defining a Dredging System in the Database Setup program.
Center E, N, H	Easting, Northing and Height of the center of the dredge head.
Deepest E, N, H	Easting, Northing and Height of the cutting point of the dredge head or the point that is closest to the design.
Cutting E, N, H	Easting, Northing and Height of the cutting point of the dredge head or the point that is closest to the design.
Above Design	The height of the cutting point above or beneath the design.
Design State	Shows: "Above" when the cutting point of the dredge head is above the design, "On Target" when the cutting point of the dredge head is on the design, "Over Dredge" when the cutting point of the dredge head is under the design, and "Not Used" in case the dredge head is not located above a design.
PMO Valve Open Time	Not applicable.
Trip Load [tons]	The total weight that is dredged with this dredge tool.
Trip Volume [cubm]	The total volume that is dredged with this dredge tool.
Production [dry tons/sec]	The current production that is achieved with this dredge tool.
Production [In Situ cubm/sec]	The current production that is achieved with this dredge tool based on the In Situ Density. In Situ Density is a material parameter that is set under Session Setup - Dredging - Dumping.

Click

.

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Page 6 - Node Comparison

The calculated differences between two nodes. Values are FROM the Reference Node TO Secondary Node.

This page is perhaps not so useful for a BHD operation. Therefore the following example is just for illustrative purposes.

Click on

to open the Select Nodes to Compare dialog.

Here select the Reference Node and Secondary Node: check boxes for those computed parameters you want to display.

Check those computed parameters to display.

Select the Reference Computation and Node.

Select the Secondary Computation and Node.

Check the box if the secondary position must be skewed to the same time as the primary position.

Comparison parameters (Except dE/dN/dH) must be referenced to a chosen orientation,

whether this is the heading of the object upon which the reference node is located, the CoG of that object, a main line bearing, or a particular set bearing.

Click OK.

Back on Page 6 of the wizard, click

again if other nodes are to be compared.

Otherwise click

.

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Page 7 - Layout

The items selected in the prior six pages are listed in the order they were selected.

Pressing

first is recommended as it ensures an initial readable layout that can be modified more easily.

In the Auto Format Dialog just click OK to start with.

Back on Page 7 of the wizard click

. All the selected parameters are listed in the Alpha Numerical Display dialog:

Click here for a description of all parameters...

Item	Selected info, node or observation.
Label	Identifying header for each item. Enter a name for a description of the selected observation or node calculation.
Row	Screen is divided into rows (vertically). Position of item relative to top of the display. A higher value moves the item down in the display.
Col	Screen is divided into columns (horizontally). Position of item relative to the left side of the display. A higher value moves the item to the right in the window.
Format	Output format of selected item. If the selected item is a number the Places before decimal and Places after decimal can be entered.
Geographical format	For latitude/longitude observations, pull down menu with different geographical formats.
Rotation Reference	For bearing observations, true North or grid North. (Not visible in the Layout window.)
Unit	Output units (meters/feet/seconds/degrees) of selected item. Default is Project Setting which is local survey unit as set in the Database Setup.
Multiplication factor	If selected item is a number a multiplication factor can be enterd here if necessary. (Not visible in the Layout window.)
<Font>	Open MSWindows font page.
<Auto Layout>	Open auto layout window. Option to leave existing fonts, leave existing colours and leave existing format as they are.

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Changing the Layout

Inevitably the initial layout needs modification. Most of the tools are fairly self explanatory and easy to use. An actual example - the display above - may help to clarify some options.

Since you have a working layout after going through the wizard, save the current layout before changing anything using the Import/Export command in the options menu.
That way you can revert if the modifications become messy and you want to start over.
*.LSF files are stored in \Current Project\Support.
As you continue to modify the look of the display re-export periodically to *.lsf files with different names, e.g. Alphanumeric_R1.lsf, Alphanumeric_R2.lsf, Alphanumeric_R3.lsf, etc..

Display Properties

In the Layout page, double click on the name of a listed item to change its display properties.

Double click on an item name to open the Display Properties dialog.
Which parameters are shown in the Display Properties dialog depends on the type of item selected on Page 7.
Location is more efficiently done by dragging and dropping with the mouse in the main display.
Places Before Decimal and Places After Decimal are used primarily to align parameter values on the decimal point.

Modify properties in the Display Properties dialog.

Note that the same Display Properties dialog is accessible by right clicking on an item in the main display and choosing Item Properties.

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Mouse Drag and Drop

Using the left mouse button to drag and drop an item is perhaps the most important tool for editing the layout.
Activating the grid pattern (

) is helpful in placing items.

Left Click on the text of an item, hold the button down and drag to a new location. Release the mouse button.

Quite often items must be 'parked' in temporary locations to free up space for moving another item.
Continue moving items around until you are happy with the layout.
You may also want to modify font and text size so bear that in mind when placing items.
Perhaps some items are deleted and others added.

A revised layout may look something like this before font size changes:

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Font Size and Color

Use the

button in the Layout page or right click on an item name and select Item Font. A standard windows font selection box opens.

To change fonts for multiple items at once use the standard windows SHIFT and CTRL keys to make item selections in the Layout page.

Font Dialog:

In changing font size it may become necessary to move items around again, e.g.

After text size and color modification you might end up with something like this:

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Aligning Data Values

Aligning the decimal points of the data values in the display above would probably improve the presentation somewhat. Do this by right clicking on each item and selecting Item Properties, or use the task bar icon

to open the Layout page. Double clicking on an item opens the Item Properties dialog.

Manipulate the places before and after the decimal point.

An additional option is to use spaces after the item name.

Be warned that the task can be a bit painstaking! And, depending on the font used, you may never achieve an exact alignment!
The best bet for aligning is to use New Courier.

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Data Output & Storage

Options for output of data to printer (hard copy) and/or to file are accessed using the Fix Printout Settings dialog, either from the File menu or by using the task bar icon

.

Determine if you want to output to printer, to file or both.

Using the storage database name is usually a good idea. By default data is stored in the \LogFiles directory of the current project

.

Determine how you want the output to look. For 'All in one row' items (labels and values) are printed in one row, separated by one space character.

Determine how often to output.

Every fix	Output every time a fix is generated. Fix interval is set in Session Settings - Fixing, and can be based on manual, time, distance or an external trigger.
Every refresh rate	Output according to the Refresh Rate set in the View menu.
Manual	Output only when a manual fix is generated by pressing the hotkey F12.
Comment Annotation	Option to edit the user-defined comments on the Manual fix printout.

Turn printing on by pressing the Printing On

icon.

If 'Always ask confirmation before start/stop printing' is checked and the Fix Printout Now

icon is active, a dialog asking for confirmation pops up.

Do not forget to switch on printing

.

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