MICRODEM

We will be using MICRODEM, written by Prof. Guth, as our GIS program.

In the labs, the program will be in the c:\microdem  directory.  There should be an icon on the desktop (or you can create one).

You can install the program in your room (available at http://www.usna.edu/Users/oceano/pguth/website/microdemdown.htm ), where it will be in the c:\microdem directory.  This has worked every semester so far, so if you are having problems with this, contact the instructor.

The program version number will be on the top of the title bar, and on the splash screen.  The first 3 numbers will be the date the program was compiled, reverse order like 2009.8.26.x.  You should get a new version of the program and its help file before every lab, because both will probably be updated at least weekly (to fix problems, add capabilities, or improve the help file).  To update:

• In both the lab and on the computer in your room, the directory with the MICRODEM program will have another program called "update_microdem" which will allow you to download both the program executable and the help file from the USNA web site. You can actually call this program from the "File, Tools" menu choice inside MICRODEM.  This option will also be used to download data files for the labs, and the data will automatically be placed where the program can find it.
• You can also try the "File, Tools" menu choice, which can update the program, the help file, and download lab data files.

MICRODEM is a standard Windows program:

• It has a large help file.  There are three ways to find things in the help file:
  • Using the table of contents.  This was a logical organization for the person who created the help file, but different people will have different ideas on how to organize information.
  • The Index, which lists topics alphabetically.  The author of the help file has to put words into the index, and use the same terms you would.
  • Search, which lets you look for any words in the file.
• Icons have a hint describing them, which appears below them when you hover over them.
• The status bar on the bottom of the screen has:
  • What the computer is doing at the moment, and what input it is waiting for, in the leftmost panel.
  • The coordinates of your current cursor position.
• Right clicking on any window should bring up a menu with relevant choices.
• You can copy any window's contents to the clipboard, using an icon, a right click, or the File menu.
• The Window menu lets you tile, cascade, or see a list of open windows.  This can be helpful when you have a lot of windows open.
• The menu options change depending on the type of window that is active (which will have a dark title bar).