STS Satloc Quick Reference Guide

This guide will allow you to perform the basic functions of viewing and editing the files associated with the Satloc system. Be sure to refer to the Satloc MapStar Operators Manual for more detailed information. For references to longitude/latitude formats, see Guide for Converting Lat/Lon Coordinates located on this server.

  1. Start MAPSTAR software:
    Change to the directory where the MAPSTAR.EXE program is located: CD \SATLOC\MAPSTAR. Start the Mapstar program: MAPSTAR.
  2. Select one or more .LOG files:
    Navigate through directories with ".." to go up one level, [dirname] to go down one level. Select .LOG files with the <Enter> key or left mouse button, accept .LOG files with <Esc> key or right mouse key.
  3. Replay the .LOG file:
    From the Satloc screen, push the button to start replay. Pressing doubles the replay speed for each press; maximum speed 16 times normal. Pressing the square button stops the replay (resume with or ) and returns .LOG to the beginning. Press the DISPLAY button on top menu bar to change view: ZOOM OUT to locate plane, ZOOM IN to enlarge view.
  1. Start MAPSTAR software:
    Change to the directory where the MAPSTAR.EXE program is located: CD \SATLOC\MAPSTAR. Start the Mapstar program: MAPSTAR.
  2. Select .LOG file (if desired):
    See above as to how to load and view .LOG files. Press the <Esc> key or right mouse button to skip loading .LOG files. Select a .JOB file to open from the MAIN menu, press TOOLS, then press OPEN JOB. Navigate to the directory containing .JOB files, using ".." to go up one level, [dirname] to go down one level. Select .JOB file by pressing the <Enter> key. Type "1" followed by the <Enter> key to load from hard drive.
  3. Display treatment boundary:
    Press the SHOW ALL button to zoom in on the treatment boundary. Use the ZOOM IN/ ZOOM OUT buttons of the DISPLAY menu to adjust the view of the treatment block.
  4. View the coordinates of the treatment block:
    Press the POLYGONS button. Select the block of interest by pushing the EDIT # button (where # = the .polygon id). (If the computer beeps and the treatment block disappears, press ACCEPT and then EDIT # again.) Press the SHOW button to display the lat/lon coordinates. Pressing the DECIMAL button in the OPTIONS submenu of the DISPLAY menu will toggle the format between degrees-decimal-degrees (D.d) and degrees-minutes-decimal-minutes (DM.m).

Use a text editor to edit the .JOB file. Use MS-DOS EDIT, EDLIN or MS-Windows 3.1/95 NOTEPAD to edit a .JOB file. Using a word processor (e.g. MS-Word or WordPerfect) can add formatting information that renders the file unusable.

File Contents:
Line 1: Job ID and Label.
Line 2: Version information for MAPSTAR.
Line 3: Polygon ID and label. There is one line type 3 for each polygon in the job.
Line 4: Polygon type; inclusive, exclusive, or open. There is one type 4 line for every polygon.
Line 5: Block corner coordinate. Coordinates must be in degrees-decimal-degrees. Precede longitude with "-" sign to indicate a west coordinate.
NOTE: There are as many line type 5's as there are block corners.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open .JOB file:
    Follow steps in "Viewing .JOB Files" to open .JOB file.
  2. Change the Coordinates of a Vertex:
    Press the CHANGE VTX button. Use the mouse to choose a vertex or type the number of the vertex, followed by the <Enter> key. Enter the coordinates of the vertex's new location. Enter the latitude, a comma, and then the longitude. Enter the coordinates in either degrees-decimal-degrees (D.d) or degrees-minutes-decimal-minutes (DM.m).
  3. Add a vertex:
    Press the ADD VERTEX button. Enter the coordinates of the vertex's location. Enter the latitude, a comma, and then the longitude. Enter the coordinates in either degrees-decimal-degrees (D.d) or degrees-minutes-decimal-minutes (DM.m). When finished adding vertices, press the <Esc> key.
  4. Insert a vertex:
    Press the CHANGE VTX button. Use the mouse to choose a vertex to begin adding from. Enter the coordinates of the new vertex's location. Enter the latitude, a comma, and then the longitude. Enter the coordinates in either degrees-decimal-degrees (D.d) or degrees-minutes-decimal-minutes (DM.m). The vertex numbers will be re-numbered after any vertices are added.
  5. Delete a vertex:
    Press the DEL VERTEX button. Use the mouse to select the vertex or vertices to remove. Press the <Esc> key to end deleting. The vertex numbers will be re-numbered as vertices are deleted.
  6. Save changes:
    Press the ACCEPT button, then the EXIT button. Press the SAVE button to save changes. Confirm save by typing "Y" and pressing <Enter>. Save to the hard disk by choosing "1" when prompted. Press <Enter> to complete the save process.

Create a new .JOB File:

  1. Start MAPSTAR software:
    Change to the directory where the MAPSTAR.EXE program is located: CD \SATLOC\MAPSTAR. Start the Mapstar program: MAPSTAR.
  2. Load .LOG file (if desired):
    See above as to how to load and view .LOG files. Press the <Esc> key or right mouse button to skip loading .LOG files.
  3. Start a new .JOB file:
    From the MAIN menu, press TOOLS, then press NEW JOB. Type the new job ID (1-500), followed by the <Enter> key. Type "1" followed by the <Enter> key to load waypoints from the hard disk. Type the job label followed by <Enter>. The label can be any alpha-numeric string up to 8 characters in length.
  4. Enter block information:
    Press POLYGONS. There will be no polygons available, so press ADD POLYGON. Type the polygon ID (1-9999) followed by <Enter>. Type the polygon label (up to 8 characters), then press the <Enter> key.
  5. Enter block corners:
    Press the ADD VERTEX button. Enter the coordinates of the vertex's location. Enter the latitude, a comma, and then the longitude. Enter the coordinates in either degrees-decimal-degrees (D.d) or degrees-minutes-decimal-minutes (DM.m). Continue to add as many corners as necessary. When finished adding vertices, press the <Esc> key to close the polygon.
  6. Save .JOB file:
    Press the ACCEPT button, then the EXIT button. Press the SAVE button to save changes. Confirm save by typing "Y" and pressing <Enter>. Save to the hard disk by choosing "1" when prompted. Press <Enter> to complete the save process.
  7. Making changes:
    Follow the steps in "Editing a .JOB file" to make changes.