ware functions necessary to complete the
task at hand will be specifically explained,
and OpenCPN has comprehensive online
help systems.
Now, we will work with OpenCPN software
while covering:
1. Basic program familiarization
2. Chart selection for inland and coastal
operations planning
3. Data file importation
4. Waypoint and route creation
As we introduce the functions of the
software and packages, it is important that
you try the examples and exercises on your
computer as you read the text. Also, software
developers are constantly changing
and updating their programs; the instructions
that follow were developed for the
version of software that was available at the
time this was written. You may find minor
differences in the performance of the programs
in newer versions.
OpenCPN
Advanced marine navigation starts here.
We will introduce the recreational boater
and professional skipper to software used
to marry charts, GPS and software to
make boating safer and more fun. We have
stressed earlier in the course the value of
Rescue 21 and your interface of GPS and
the VHF radio. Use of OpenCPN takes you
to the next step of determining a safe and
comfortable route for your boating excursions,
then interfacing that track with GPS
to enjoy an actual voyage.
Getting started with OpenCPN consists of
3 basic steps:
1. Installing OpenCPN
2. Installing charts to be read by
Open CPN
3. (OPTIONAL) Setting up GPS to “talk”
to your computer and OpenCPN
TIP: as you become familiar with the
program, you will want to explore the
Basic and Advanced Features section of
the on-line User Manual to really gain an
appreciation of what the program offers.
The manual also presents various tips that
will help you with the installation. If you
are an Apple user and receive a message
that it cannot be opened, read the section
“How to open an app from an unidentified
developer and exempt it from Gatekeeper”
in the Apple document www.support.apple.
com/ kb/ht5290 .
Installing OpenCPN
Installing OpenCPN begins with typing
www.opencpn.org/ocpn/download into your
internet browser, then follow the download
instructions. When the Download
Open-CPN page opens, you can select the
software to download based on your personal
computer’s operating system. On the
left side of the page, you may also want to
identify and open the on-line User Manual.
This is the documentation for the Open-
CPN 4.0 stable release.
The next step after downloading
OpenCPN is launching the program. At the
top of the page, click on the “?” and then
the Help tab to access the User’s Manual.
Except for the table of contents, links in
italic are internal to this document. Other
links will need an internet connection.
The installed documentation will open
in your default browser. There have been
some problems using Internet Explorer to
open the User Manual directly from the
program. You may want to change to Google
Chrome or Firefox. If you do not want
to change browsers, you should make the
User Manual a favorite on your computer
and access it directly on the Internet. Also
at the bottom of the OpenCPN download
page, you may download user documentation
to save to your computer and view
later without Internet connection.
TIP: this software is free to all users; however,
the continued development of the software
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/ht5290
/download
/ht5290