WINGPS 3.96  20-5-97

WINGPS is a program to assist you with your navigational tasks. With WINGPS you can
calculate tracks, distances and positions. You can enter waypoints into a database and these waypoints can be linked to create routes. Waypoints and routes can be plotted on a tracksheet.

When connected to a GPS receiver, WINGPS receives information from the GPS receiver about the current position, track, speed, date and time.  This information is shown by WINGPS in the statusbar at the bottom of the screen. If the tracksheet is activated the current position and the track are also plotted on the tracksheet. It is also possible to let
WINGPS keep a log for you. This log can be accessed with any editor. Waypoints, routes
and tracks can be saved and loaded again.

For test purposes the received data can be written to a testfile. This testfile can then be used
to simulate GPS input when a GPS receiver is not available. Alternatively, WINGPS can
simulate simple GPS input from a start position, on a chosen track and speed.

One of the nicest facilities of WINGPS is the ability to use chartschart. These charts are bitmap scans of original charts which you can make yourself or purchase from some
map merchants. Tracks, routes and waypoints are plotted on the chart by the system.
Additionally, WINGPS provides the facility to draw accurate bearings and fixes directly onto
the chart using your mouse.

All functions in WINGPS are based on Mercator Projection. This applies to the tracksheet,
the chart and the calculations. 

WINGPS is shareware. If you like the program and keep using it, your contribution would
be appreciated. Please send US$50 (or the equivalent in your own currency) to the following
address:

	Jos Verbeek
	Waterborg 171
	1671 NM  Medemblik
	The Netherlands

	Bank : 		ABN-AMRO Bank Medemblik
	Account No.	42.12.99.886
	Postgiro :	3073145

When you register you will receive a registration number which will unlock the full potential of WINGPS.

New features are only accessible to registered users.

A free two month demo licence is available if you would like to evaluate the package before registering for a full licence.

Revision history.

Version 1.1.

First version.

Version 1.2.

You can now draw fixes taken with a compass on the chart.

If the window containing the chart is resized the chart stays at the original location.

From the waypoint window you can show all the waypoints with course and distance from the
current  position.

Version 1.3.

In the chart- and track window you can now use cursor keys as well as the mouse.

New logfiles can be appended to existing logfiles.

From the route window you can show the route with courses and distances between all the
waypoints in the route.

You can show the contents of the logfile on the screen.

When showing waypoints ,routes or log, you can double click on the grid in which the
information is shown. The information will be copied to the clipboard so you can paste it into
an editor or spreadsheet program.

In the waypoint window you can now load and save waypoint databases. In this way you can
make several different waypoint databases. For instance a separate database for each chart.

Version 1.4.

You can now enter positions in degrees only (using the the fractional part of the degrees). For instance a position as 52 30.0 N can be entered as 52.5 N.

You can now save a chart or tracksheet, including the waypoints, routes and tracks which have been drawn on it, as a new BMP file. A tracksheet saved in this way can (after being calibrated again) be used as a chart. It's also possible to make a tracksheet with all the waypoints, save it as a BMP file, and use this in a paint program to draw your own chart, using the waypoints as a reference. And last, you can print your tracksheets using a paint program.

You can choose between three different types of units, nautical miles ,statute miles and kilometers.

Version 1.5.

The current position is shown on the chart and the tracksheet as a red arrow.

The interval at which the current position is plotted on the chart or the tracksheet is ajustable.

You can turn the plotting of a track on the chart or the tracksheet on and off.

RMA and GGA sentences are added to the program.

You can now switch between different units without leaving the program.

Version 1.6.

When opening testfiles a dialog box is displayed where you can enter the name and location  of the testfile.

WINGPS now accepts rectalinear charts.

In the setup you can specify the speed with which test input is to be processed.

In the setup you can specify if the serial communication uses handshaking and the size of the communication buffer.

The scale of the tracksheet can be less then 1 (mile).

Version 1.7.

This version uses a new MSCOMM.VBX (dd. 05-12-93) that solves the problem of loosing the connection with the serial port.

When a new chart is opened, the program will try to center the chart at the current position.

The directory of the bitmap is not saved with the calibration file (.CHT) anymore. Therefore the bitmap and calibration file can be moved to a different direction as long as they stay together in the same directory.

Version 1.8.

WINGPS has now a function to convert waypoint, route and track files to and from the file format used by the Garmin up- and download program written by Peter Aigner (GARMIN.EXE). 
This program can be found on Compuserve (Sailing forum, navigation section). Peter Aigner can be reached at 100012.2021@compuserve.com.

When logging is active, you can enter additional information to the logfile. Old logfiles can't be used with the show log function of version 1.8 anymore.

The user interface of the setup screen has changed. 

Version 1.9.

In the setup you can now specify speed and variation. All courses are shown and can be entered as Magnetic and True. Besides distances the program now also shows the time it takes to travel the distances. If no speed or variation are entered in the setup, the program will use speed and/or variation received from the GPS (if available).

The chart menu has three new options concerning zooming. "Fit in window" will zoom the chart so that its width is the same as the chart window. "Actual size" will return the chart to its original size (the same as zoomfactor 100). "Zoom" gives you the possibility to zoom the chart to any size you want.

In the calculations window you can add the calculated end position to the current waypoint database.

In the waypoint menu there is a new option that will add the current position to the current waypoint database.

The menu has changed. All file functions are grouped together in a File menu. Shortcuts are added to often used functions. The test menu has been integrated with the NMEA menu.

In the file menu there is a new function "Append waypoints". With this function you can read multiple waypoint databases in the program.

In the waypoint window there is a new function "Clear". This function will clear all waypoints in WINGPS.

The same function is added to the route window. Here this function will clear all route information.

In the chart menu there are two new functions. "Position" will try to move the chart so that the current position is in the middle of the screen. "Refresh" plots all waypoints and routes on the chart again (old waypoints and/or routes are not removed).

In the waypoint menu there is a new function "Go to waypoint". This function will show you a window in which you can enter a waypoint. After clicking on start the distance, direction and estimated time to this waypoint are shown. The program also shows the calulated VMG, XTE and the direction to steer.

Version 2.0.

The "Go to waypoint" function now uses a active route if present. After reaching a waypoint you can click on "Next" to proceed to the next waypoint from the route.

Magnetic courses are calulated right ( 0 < and > 360).

GGA sentences from Magellan interpreted right.

Print functions for chart, tracksheet, waypoints and routes.

Anchor watch function.

Version 2.1.

NMEA VTG sentences are now processed too.

Statute miles now works correct.

Saling in the area 180 W - 180 E now works fine.

After changing the decimal point in the international settings, WINGPS can give the error message "illegal function call" when drawing a tracksheet or a chart, or an "overflow" when showing waypoints. This has been solved. WINGPS automatically detects if the decimal point has changed.

The "Goto" function now draws a trackline on the chart or tracksheet when activated.

The XTE and VMG in the Goto window are calculated right when using a route. 

The error message "Unknown user error" during printing (chart or tracksheet) has been solved.

The import routefiles function which imports the files created by Peter Aigner's GARWINDOWN has been changed. It now reads the new routefiles (with route numbers from 1 to 99) as wel as the old routefiles (with route numbers from 1 to 9).

Version 3.0.

WINGPS has become shareware, people who really start to use WINGPS are requested to contribute in the development costs.

Commandline options:
	/w:xxxxxxxx.wp 	loads waypointfile 
	/r:xxxxxxxx.rt  		loads routefile
	/c:xxxxxxxx.cht  	loads chart
	/t			starts with tracksheet on
	/g			starts with communication on

Tracksheet options (Position, Refresh, Draw track, Draw fix) the same as chart options
.
Grid on tracksheet.

Circles on tracksheet and chart.

32-bits version of WINGPS.

Interface (Windows95).

Track trace window.

Overflow when printing waypoints on chart solved.

Track outside tracksheet/chart is now kept.

Multiple select in waypointlist with delete.

Scale, show track, show circles and show grid are saved in GPS.INI.

Zoom factor can be larger.

Grid distance in setup.

Scale tracksheet in units.

Right mousebutton in chart and tracksheet.

Show all NMEA messages in one window.

Version 3.1.

- Alarm in GoTo window can be disabled. 

- Proximity waypoints are now possible. (*)

- UTM coordinates can be used (Check UTM in setup window). (*)

- New calibration calculations give higher accuracy with other datum then WGS84. (*)

Version 3.2.

The error with appended waypointfiles has been solved.

The show waypoints window now also shows the proximity's.

The Show Tracktrace window has the possibility to show the loaded (or imported) track, the waypoints, the routes as well as the current track. Besides this you can now save or print the contents of the Show Tracktrace window. (*)

WINGPS now writes the directories for Charts, Tracks, Routes, Testfiles and Waypoints in GPS.INI. This way you can make separate directpries for the different filetypes. (*)

Folders have been added. You can put serveral charts covering a certain area into a folder. When you load a folder, WINGPS will automatically load the right chart. When you leave a chart WINGPS will load the next chart. (*)

Sound is added. You can have WINGPS say the following messages: (*)
	Welcome message
	Goodbye message
	Anchor alarm message
	Approaching waypoint message
	Entering a proximity message

Bearing in Anchor watch window is correct now.

Zoom percentage in chart window is correct now.

Westerly waypoints got east after loading a chart or tracksheet, this has been corrected.

There is a window now to view the satelite status. This window shows the position of all the satelites in view, their strenght and the HDOP, VDOP and PDOP. (*)

You can now apply for a demo license, with this license you can try the registered features for two months.

Version 3.21.

Statusbar shows GPS and DGPS (if GGA received).

Date and time are from PC's timer if not received by receiver.

Version 3.3

Date/time displayed wrong with testinput, this is solved.

Course/speed calculated wrong from GGA, this is solved.

Folders in show track trace window (*).

Latitudes > 60 degrees allowed (are less accurate).

Show all NMEA messages also shows test input.

Calibrate function accepts larger bitmaps.

SONY IPS-760 PYXIS input accepted too.

Version 3.4

Larger bitmapfiles can be used.

The error message "Illegal function call" sometimes appeared when using circles, this has been solved.

Automatic positioning. In the setup you can choose automatic positioning. In this case the chart and the tracksheet will be repositioned every 10 seconds.

Colors. In the setup you can now adjust the colors for drawing waypoints, tracks, routes an current position. (*)

Height in "Show track trace". The "Show track trace" has an option now to show the height as a line graph. (*) 

You can enter five lines of additional information with each waypoint. (*)

Icons for waypoints. You can assign icons to waypoints. These icons will be shown on the chart and the tracksheet. If you click on a icon on the chart or the tracksheet, the description of the waypoint and the additional information will be shown. The icons to be used have to be present in the WINGPS program directory. You can make your own icons using a icon editor.(*)

When there were a lot of waypoints loaded (> 300). showing the waypoints could crash the system. This has been solved.

When using UTM, the description of the waypoints wasn't saved. This has been solved.

Importing waypoints, routes and trackdata didn't work when the decimal point was a comma. This has been solved.

WINGPS now accepts the following bitmap files:

ART	PFS First Publisher
BMP	Microsoft Windows and OS2 bitmaps
CUT	Dr. Halo
DIB	Microsoft Windows Device Independent Bitmaps
GEM	GEM Raster files (Digital Research)
GIF	Compuserve Graphics Interchange Format
HRZ	Slow Scan Television
IFF	Interchange File Format (Amiga Electronic Arts Deluxe Paint)
IMG	GEM Raster files (Digital Research)
JPG	Joint Photographics Experts Group
LBM	Interchange File Format (Amiga Electronic Arts Deluxe Paint)
MAC	Macintosh Paint
MSP	Microsoft Paint
PCX	ZSoft PC Paintbrush
PIC	Pictor PC Paint
RAS	Sun Raster files
RLE	Run-length Encoded BMP files
TGA	Targa TrueVision Files
TIF	Tagged Image File Format (PC or Mac)
WMF	Windows Meta-files
WPG	Word Perfect Graphics

Version 3.5

In version 3.4 a function was build to load all kinds of bitmap formats. This function didn't perform well on Windows 3.x machines. This version only uses this function with bitmaps other then .BMP or .RLE.

Fixed: 	Error message "Subscript out of range" when editting new waypoints.

Fixed:	Error message "Illegal property value" when starting communication (32-bits only).

Fixed:	Error message "Program performed an illegal operation" when starting simulation (32-bit only).

The arrow as a pointer for the current position has been restored, the arrow now shows the heading.

The icons for waypoints covered the waypoint description on 640x480 screens, this has been solved.

New function: "Show instruments", this functions shows information about wind, speed,  compass and autopilot. The information is showed only when the GPS receiver sends this information. (*)

Version 3.6

When adding new waypoints, the additional information wasn't saved. This has been solved.

In the Windows 95 version, when calibrating large bitmaps you could get an overflow message, this has been solved.

When show track wasn't activated and there were no circles displayed, the current position wasn't updated on the chart or the tracksheet. This has been solved.

Changing the size of the tracksheet when there are icons for waypoints displayed caused an error message "Can't unload within this context", this has been solved.

In the setup window you can now choose between the "old" arrow as a pointer for the current position, or the "new" arrow. The new arrow points in the direction of the heading but isn't always good visible. You cannot change the color of the old arrow.

Version 3.7

After importing proximity waypoints WINGPS produced an error message "Array element 0 doesn't exist" when the proximity waypoints were displayed on the chart.

In the calibration window you can now use cursor keys to move the mouse pointer or the bitmap (like the chart).

In the calibration window the TAB key didn't move in the right order when using UTM coordinates.

The mousepointer in calibration, chart and tracksheet now changes to a hourglass when the program is busy.

You can now use all bitmap formats in the folders.

The name of the logfile couldn't be changed, this has been fixed.

You can now have WINGPS to do datum conversion on the GPS input. (*)

You can create icons to use as a pointer for the current position on the chart or tracksheet.

If a logfile exceeded 200 lines, "Show log" cause a "Out of string space" error.

Running a large testfile at high speed on a slow machine could produce a "Out of string space" error.

WINGPS now "remembers" the name and interval of the last logfile used.

Closing WINGPS when a testfile was running could produce a "Illegal property value".

Version 3.8

Overflow error with large bitmaps fixed.

Version 3.9

Overflow error with large griddistance and circles fixed.

Two new commandline options are added:
/f:ffffffff.eee will load folder ffffffff.eee 
/l:llllllll.eee will start logging with logfile llllllll.eee (or if no filename the default logfile)
Also, if one of the commandline options /c /t or /f are used, the logon screen is skipped.

Folders: With "Show folder" the current position is now shown, also if a chart is loaded, the name of the loaded chart is displayed in red. With the new function "Activate chart" another chart can be made active, this chart will then be loaded automatically.

Show tracktrace: This window now shows the current position.

Version 3.92

Apparent wind is calculated in instruments window. (*)

Instruments now shows calculated trip DMG, CMG and VMG. (*)

Separate program to calculate true wind from apparent en vice versa.

Winddirection and tack course are shown on chart or tracksheet. (*)

Wind in simulation. (*)

Local time and possibility to set PC time.

Version 3.94

British Grid implemented. (*)

Version 3.95

Version 3.96

Lat/long positions are now displayed with 3 decimals. 

Satellite status now displays the status of 12 satellites.

Closing the "Show all messages" window could produce an error, this has been solved.

Closing WINGPS while communication was still on could produce an error, this has been solved.

On slow computers, the processing of NMEA messages could get very slow and sometimes even halted. Now WINGPS will discard messages to keep up with the GPS receiver.

Two new NMEA messages are added, $GPHDM (heading magnetic) and $GPHDT (heading true).

Export of route information produced a wrong file, this has been solved.

The 32-bits version (for Windows95) of WINGPS is now compiled using the new Visual Basic 5. This version runs faster then the previous version which was compiled using Visual Basic 4. This version can now be used as an ActiveX server. The help file for this version has been compiled using a new help compiler and can be used on NT4 as well.

 (*) These new features are only accessible by registered users.

(See the online help for detailed information).

Jos Verbeek
Waterborg 171
1671 NM  Medemblik
The Netherlands

WWW:		http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wingps
INTERNET: 	jverbeek@multiweb.nl