This Tutorial shows Basic Functions of MensorGIS. You learn about
importing Data Formats (GML, SHP)
setting View Parameters (Limits, Place Marker)
using Data Schemas (Query, Attributes)
one typical CAD Data Format, the quasi-Standard DXF (Drawing eXchange Format) of AutoCAD (Autodesk);
two typical GIS Data Formats, the quasi-Standard SHP (SHaPe File) of ArcInfo (ESRI) and the standardized GML2 (Geography Markup Language) Format (OGC);
one typical GPS Data Format, the quasi-Standard GPX (GPs eXchange) Format;
one popular ASCII Data Format, the CSV (Comma Separated Values) Format of Excel (MS) and similar Programs - only Import;
one typical Graphical Data Format, the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) Format - only Export;
one proprietary XML Data Format, the openCartoDB (open Cartography DataBase) Format, created specially for MensorGIS Cartography Data Sets;
one proprietary XML Data Format, containing several separated Files, created specially for MensorGIS Project Data Set Storage (*.minfo).
setting the Limits by Zooming (In/Out/Fit);
setting the Limits by Panning (Pan);
setting the Limits by Entering the Limits directly (LL/UR Coords);
setting the Limits by Getting the Limits of a Data Subset (Import Data Set);
setting the Limits by Setting Place Markers (user-defined Points).
to create new Object Classes with user-defined Attributes;
to import Object Classes via standardized XSD (Xml Schema Definition) Format of GML2 (GML Schema);
to import Object Classes via internal XML Schema (*sch.xml);
to assign Object Classes to Geometry Objects (e.g. from CAD);
to edit attributive Information (Edit Function);
to query attributive Information (Attributive Query).
select Color „Red“ (Tool Bar)
select P.Size „3“ (Tool Bar)
Menu „File - Import - GML2“ -> select „SHPcityESRI2x.gml“
Menu „Edit - Texts - Generate from Object Class“ -> Window „Create Text“:
select Object Class „* City“
select Attribute „NAME“
select Color „Red“
select Size „4“
select Layer „1“
press „Create Texts“
close the Window (OK)
Menu „Reference Systems - Import/Export System“ -> Window „Import/Export System“:
select Type „projected“
select Projection „GK(D)“ (Gauss-Krueger)
type in Central Meridian „9“
select Unit „Meter“
select Datum „Bessel/DHDN“
press „Save“
select Color „Cyan“
select Area Hatch „no Hatch“
Menu „File - Import - ShapeFile“ -> select „Lan.shp“
Menu „View - Limits - set“ -> Window „Set Limits“ is shown:
type in new Limits (Degrees):
7.0 (East)
52.0 (North)
10.0 (East)
54.0 (North)
press „Save“
-> an Administratory District near Bremen (Germany) gets displayed
Menu „View - Place Marker - set“
pick any place inside the cyan area -> InputBox „Definition“ is shown
type in a Name for the Place Marker, e.g. „Admin“
press the „OK“ Button to confirm
select Color „Magenta“
select P.Size „4“
Menu „File - Import - ShapeFile“ -> select „hotels.shp“
select Color „Green“
select P.Size „4“
Menu „File - Import - ShapeFile“ -> select „camping.shp“
Menu „View - Place Marker - Zoom To“ -> Window „Set Limits“ is shown
choose the Place Marker's Name you typed from the ComboBox
-> the Limits get displayed
press „Save“
-> the Administratory District including hotels and camping Objects gets displayed
-> but the camping Objects have bad Contrast
select Color „Yellow“ (Tool Bar)
select Object Class „* camping“ (Tool Bar)
Menu „Edit - Color - Color by Object Class“
-> the Camping Objects get yellow
To save Memory MensorGIS restricts the number of Points defining one Area Feature to a certain number.
If Memory is not sufficient, call the „Extras - Set Preferences - Redimensioning“ Menu and change the Area (Feature) References to a higher number.
MensorGIS uses a pre-defined Data Directory; you can change this in the Menu „Extras - Set Preferences - Data Dictionary“.
You may change the Zooming Factor using the Menu „Extras - Set Preferences - Zooming Factor“.
To save your Preferences go to the Menu „Extras - Save Preferences - Export“; here you can create your own Preferences File;
When starting up MensorGIS NOT with Standard Preferences you can select your Preferences File (or later via the Preferences Import).
Menu „Data - Query - by Attibute (attributive)“ -> Window „Attributive Query“ is shown:
at first select Object Class „hotels“ (from clause)
then select Attribute „NAME“ (select clause)
for the WHERE clause:
select Attribute „GEMEINDE“
select Operator „LIKE“
type in „Butjadingen“
press the „Query“
Highlighted Hotels (violett circles)
press „Redraw“ to redraw the Highlights
in Project's /bin/Debug Directory open „Select.html“ to see the Query's result
close the Window (OK)
Menu „Data - Attributes - change“
select a Community/Hotel/Camping Place -> Window „Attributes: Change“ is shown
change an Attribute Value
press „Save“ -> green „Save“ Button says that storage was done
close the Window (OK)
Menu „Data - Schema - Schema Tree View“ -> Window „Schema Tree View“ is shown
expand an Object Class and select an Attribute Name
Remark: for numeric Attribute Values you may enter lower and upper Limits
Menu „File - Save“ -> Window „MensorGIS Output“ is shown
enter a Name (without Extension), e.g "ResultGeneralTutorial"
-> in current Data Dictionary, in case of Standard Preferences \bin\Debug\Data, one Project Info and seven XML Files get created.
Close the Project using Menu „File - New“ -> Answer Question with „Yes“
-> empty new Project like after starting up
You may reload the just saved Project using Menu „File - Open“
Attributive Data make GIS Data from CAD Data.
Its usual to set up a Data Schema containing Object Classes with their Attributes.
The Attributes can have different Data Types (Numeric, Text); for simplification all Attributes of MensorGIS are Texts (Strings).
For the Attributes there may be Restrictions: e.g. a Numeric Area in which they are valid or distinct Textual Terms;
The Object Class Creator and the Schema Tree View of MensorGIS let you enter such Boundaries (Minimum and Maximum Values).
More efficient Implementations use Databases to hold the Data; MensorGIS wants more Transparency to see how it works.
The Shape File Format (*.shp) uses a depreciated Version of the DBase Format (*.dbf) to store the Attributive Data;
In an GML(2) File (*.gml) the Attributive Data are enclosed in the Objects; but there must be a separated Data Schema File (*.xsd).
In GIS Systems the Query of Attributive Data is usually done by SQL (Structured Query Language);
The Attributive Query Window simulates such a SQL Query with all typical Elements:
Select Clause, From Clause, Where Clause, Comparation Operator, Attribute Value, optional second Where Clause via Logical Operator.
MensorGIS Version 1.1.1, 2012/03/29