Browsing the Geodetic Datasource

To view the contents of the Geodetic Datasource, you can use the Datasource menu. Each type of object in the datasource has its own entry in the Datasource menu. For example, to browse available coordinate systems, go to Datasource > Coordinate System Definitions.

Users may customize the size of the dialog, the position of the splitter between the Folder and Object panels, and the order and width of the columns displayed for each type of object. Columns may also be hidden by right-clicking on the column header and unchecking them.

Folders

On the left-hand side of the dialog is the Folders list. This list is a typical Windows Explorer style tree view that will organize whichever type of object you are browsing into folders. To explore the sub-folders of a folder, click the triangle to the left to see the folders listed underneath. To see the entries at any particular level of folder, click the folder itself.

With a folder selected, the pane to the right will list the individual objects within the folder.

For more information on creating, renaming, rearranging and deleting folders, see Working with Folders.

Objects

When browsing the available objects under a given folder, entries loaded from the main Datasource are read-only and shown in black text with a lock icon beside them, while entries from the Custom parameter file are shown in blue and do not have a lock icon beside them.

The individual objects can be selected and the parameters of those objects viewed by double-clicking the object in the right hand pane. If the object is read-only you will only be able to view the parameters, and will not be able to change them. You may, however, make an editable copy of it.

Objects that have been deprecated will be marked with a yellow warning sign. Deprecated objects will only be displayed if the 'Show deprecated datasource objects' checkbox has been checked in the Datasource Filters tab of the Administrative Settings dialog.

Objects that are not currently usable for some reason (i.e. transformations that rely on grid shift files not currently available) will be marked with a red exclamation point. If not also locked, these objects will be editable but may only be saved if the edits make the object usable. In other words, you will not be allowed to save an unusable object.

The Display Name is stored as part of the view, and thus may be altered even for objects that are otherwise read-only. A given object may have only one Display Name.

Several actions can be performed by right-clicking on the Details Pane and using the resulting context menu. With the context menu, it is possible to add new objects, as well as delete, rename, edit, and copy existing objects.

Note: When browsing through the datasource some objects may be flagged with a red exclamation point symbol. These objects are incomplete definitions. The Geographic Calculator includes a number of datum transformation definitions that require supplementary data files to function properly. Some of these include horizontal datum transformations and geoid models. These objects cannot be used until the supplementary files are added. Some of these are available at our website (http://www.bluemarblegeo.com), while others are proprietary and must be purchased or requested from a specific government agency.

Searching for Objects

To enable Searching you must have a folder selected that is not *All*, *Recent* or *Search History*. This will activate the Search fields at the bottom of the dialog. In the image above, for example, the "North America" folder is currently selected, so the user may search within that folder.

To perform a search type in the string to search for. Search is performed on each word, or can also be split using the delimiters comma, period, colon, tab, underscore (",", ".", ":", tab, "_"). You can also use quotes surrounding multiple words or characters to perform an exact match.

Optionally use the dropdown list to select which value to search in. Click the Search button to initiate the search.

If matches are found, they will be displayed under a new folder named after the search conditions, under the main Search History folder. If you wish to re-run the search at a later time simply click on the appropriate Search folder. Only the five most recent searches will be displayed in this folder.

If you wish to go to a specific matching object in its true location, right-click and select Open Containing Folder. Note that if an object is displayed in multiple locations (in multiple folders) it may display more than once in the results of the search.

If you wish to clear out your search history, you may right-click on the main Search History folder and select Clear Search History.

Recently Used Objects

The master folder for each object type includes a special folder that contains the most recently used objects of that type. If you pick a particular object for use it will be added to the Recent list (if it is not already there).

If you wish to clear out your recent object history, you may right-click on the main Recent folder and select Clear Recent Object History.

If you wish to go to a specific recently used object in its true location, right-click and select Open Containing Folder.

Note: If an object is displayed in multiple locations (in multiple folders) it may display more than once in the list of recently used objects.