NMPlot User's Guide, Chapter 21: Setting NMPlot Application Options

Application options allow you to customize NMPlot.

The NMPlot Application Options Dialog Box

Most application options are set using the NMPlot Application Options dialog box. To change these options, follow these steps.

1. Choose Application Options from the Options menu. The NMPlot Application Options dialog box appears.

   

2. The left portion of the dialog box displays a list of option categories. One category in this list is always selected. The right portion of the dialog box displays controls that allow you to change the options in the selected category. Select the desired category by clicking on it.

   The Application Options dialog box is a Multiple Page dialog box. See Multiple Page Dialog Boxes for more information.

3. Change the options as desired, then press OK.

Default Datum

Use the Default Datum page of the NMPlot Application Options dialog box to set the default datum.

If the majority of the geographic data that you work with is in a single datum, choose it as the default. Otherwise, set the default to WGS-84.

NMPlot will assume that all geographic data is in the default datum unless you specify otherwise. You will be able to override the default datum where necessary.

See Introduction to Datums for general information on datums. See Datum Control for information about the datum control, which you use to specify the default datum.

Physical Units

Use the Physical Units page of the NMPlot Application Options dialog box to set the units of measurement NMPlot uses to display information.

You can select the units used for:

• Distance - The Distance units are used to display the distance between two points when using the Measurement tool.

• Area - The Area units are used to display contour areas in both the Contour Area and Properties Of Selected Object dialog boxes.

• Graphical Map Scale - These units are used when drawing a graphical map scale on a map. For example, if you select "1 inch = XXX feet" for the units, then the graphical map scale will look similar to the following example.

  

Mouse Location Display Coordinates

Use the Mouse Location Display Coordinates page of the NMPlot Application Options dialog box to set the geographic coordinate system NMPlot uses to display the location of the mouse on the status bar.

Select whether to use the coordinate system of a plot's primary grid, or to specify a global coordinate system used for all plots. If you select a global coordinate system, set the system's options. See Coordinate System Control for more information on setting coordinate system options.

Client-Specific Extensions

Use the Client-Specific Extensions page of the NMPlot Application Options dialog box to configure any extensions installed in your version of NMPlot. Client-specific extensions give NMPlot additional capabilities when working with grids created by specific third-party sources.

The Client-Specific Extensions page lists all installed extensions. Press the Information button to learn more about an extension. Press the Properties button to change an extension's options.

NOISEMAP 7.0 Client-Specific Extension

NOISEMAP is a computer program used to calculate the noise impacts of aircraft operations on the area surrounding an airport. It was developed by the United States Air Force, but is used world-wide for aircraft noise calculations. The NOISEMAP extension to NMPlot lets you interactively run NOISEMAP from within NMPlot. Both grid and point-of-interest calculations can be performed. The extension also allows NMPlot to read NOISEMAP Point-Of-Interest (POI) files.

Requirements

In order to use the NOISEMAP extension to NMPlot, you must have NOISEMAP 7.0 installed on your computer.

Configuring the NOISEMAP 7.0 Extension

To configure the NOISEMAP 7.0 extension, follow these steps.

1. Choose Application Options from the Options menu. The Application Options dialog box appears.

2. Select the Extensions page.

3. Press the Properties button associated with the NOISEMAP 7.0 extension. The NOISEMAP 7.0 Extension Options dialog box appears.

   

4. Type the name and location of the NOISEMAP computer program (i.e., the .EXE file). Press the Browse button , located to the right of the text box, to display the Open File dialog box, which allows you to browse for the file.

   The NOISEMAP computer program will typically have the name NMAP70.EXE.

Performing a NOISEMAP Point-Of-Interest Analysis From Within NMPlot

You can use NMPlot's Point of Interest Computation tool to perform a NOISEMAP point of interest analysis from within NMPlot. See The Point Of Interest Computation Mouse Tool for information on using this tool.

When you use the Point of Interest tool on a NOISEMAP grid, NMPlot will, if necessary, ask you for the name and location of the NOISEMAP run (.RUN) file associated with that grid.

After performing the analysis, NMPlot will display the results, including the ranked flight and static event tables.

Performing a NOISEMAP Grid Calculation From Within NMPlot

You can use NMPlot's Grid Computation tool to perform a NOISEMAP grid calculation from within NMPlot. Typically, you will use this feature to enhance the grid resolution around areas of high noise gradients (for example, near runways and static pads). See The Grid Computation Mouse Tool for information on using the Grid Computation tool.

When you use the Grid Computation tool on a NOISEMAP grid, NMPlot will, if necessary, ask you for the name and location of the NOISEMAP run (.RUN) file associated with that grid.

NOISEMAP Point-Of-Interest (POI) Files

When NMPlot opens a grid file created by NOISEMAP 7.0, it looks for a Point-Of-Interest file that has the same name as the grid file, but with the extension .poi. If a POI file is found, it will be read along with the grid file.

If you display a plot of a NOISEMAP 7.0 grid, and choose to display points of interest, you can click on a point using the Display Properties mouse tool and display a full report on that point, including the ranked flight and static event tables.

Setting New Plot Options

To set the options of new plots created with the New command on the File menu, follow these steps.

1. Create a new plot, or open an existing one.

2. Display the Plot Options dialog box, and set the options as desired.

3. Choose Save As from the File menu. The Save As dialog box is displayed.

4. Navigate to the directory where you installed NMPlot: i.e., the directory where NMPlot.exe is located. Save the plot in this directory with the name Default.nmp.

In the future, when you create a new plot, it will have the same options as Default.nmp. For example, if the background color of the plot in Default.nmp is blue, then all new plots will have a blue background.

Note: