Eye4Software Hydromagic

  Hydrographic Survey Software


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ODEC files

ODEC files are very similar to NMEA0183 sentences, but they are used to store binary data as well. This format is used by SyQwest to encode bathymetric data. You can now use the raw data import wizard to use the data in Hydromagic Survey, or use the data in Hydromagic Dredging (after processing the raw data and generating a matrix file from the soundings).

  $PNTI,103,M,5,0,0,0,0,15,0,G,*16
  $PNTI,105,O,1,60,0,8,31,4835,0,I,*1A
  $PNTI,171,10/13/05,09:41:17,0.40,*0E
  $PNTI,111,I,1,03675,0,0060,0000,03296,[binary data]
  $PNTI,151,10/13/05,09:41:17.13, 43.098412967,-76.212088367,  0.0, 0.0,*30
  $PNTI,111,I,2,00000,0,0060,0000,03296,[binary data]
  $PNTI,151,10/13/05,09:41:17.19, 43.098412550,-76.212090467,  0.0, 0.0,*3C
  $PNTI,111,I,1,03675,0,0060,0000,03296,[binary data]
  $PNTI,151,10/13/05,09:41:17.24, 43.098412550,-76.212090467,  0.0, 0.0,*32
  
Example ODEC data file


Starting the raw data import wizard

All file formats which Hydromagic is able to convert to proprietary raw data files, can be imported through the "Import Data Wizard". To start the wizard, right-click the "Raw Data" folder in the "Project Explorer" and select the 'Import Data Wizard...' option:

The Import Data Wizard can be launched from the Project Explorer
The "Import Data Wizard" can be launched from the "Project Explorer".


Select file format

The first page of the wizard allows you to set the format of the file(s) we wish to import. Since this tutorial is about importing ODEC data files, we select the 'ODEC Files (*.odc)' option from the drop-down list.

Select the ODEC files format from the dropdown list
Select the "ODEC files" format from the dropdown list.


Select file(s) to import

In the second page of the wizard you can select which files to import. Click the 'Browse...' button to select the folder on your computer where the files are stored. After changing the folder the file list is reloaded, and you can use the check boxes to select one or more file(s) to import at a time.

Select file(s) to import
Select the file(s) to import. You can import multiple files at a time.


Import options

Since the draft is not (always) stored within the ODC file, you have the possibility to set the transducer draft in the "Advanced Settings" page:

From the Advanced Settings page you can set the transducer offset or static draft
From the "Advanced Settings" page you can set the transducer offset or static draft.


When the format has been selected and the file(s) have been selected, you can start the import process by clicking the 'Finish' button on the last page of the wizard.

The file currently processed is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the screen and the wizard shows a message box stating 'File(s) successfully imported as raw data file(s)' as soon as the process has completed. Click 'OK' to close the dialog and the imported files will be centered in the map view (only when they contain position data). After importing raw data files, you can download a background map of the covered survey area using the built-in map downloading tool.

After clicking the Finish button, the import process will start
After clicking the "Finish" button, the import process will start.


Checking the imported raw data file(s)

When the import has completed, you can right-click the generated raw data files, and select "Analyze Data..." to inspect the imported values and timestamps. When the import did not complete successfully, you can refer to the "Processing" tab of the activity view for more details on the error shown.