then the tab “Chart Files.” Here, we add a
directory that contains our charts. Press
on the “Add Directories” and navigate to
your chart-directory that your created in
your Desktop, Charts or BSBChart, and
click on it. It should open and display the
downloaded RNC folder. Just pointing
OpenCPN at the correct folder that has
your charts installed is all you need to do.
All that remains is to select it, click “OK,”
and then click the “Apply” button at the
bottom of the “Options” page. OpenCPN
will then process your selection and you
may start using your charts. When you are
finished with your settings click “OK” and
the Options Dialog closes. You may use this
same procedure in the future for updating
charts; just download the chart and replace
it in your file.
START USING YOUR CHARTS
To navigate around, you can click and drag
the chart with your mouse. The cursor
changes to a triangular green arrow near
the edges of the OpenCPN window; left
clicking in this situation, pans the chart in
the direction of the arrow. The scroll wheel
zooms the chart in and out. Left clicking
anywhere centers the view on that position.
Right clicking brings up a menu with useful
actions. Read the User Manual for a full
explanation.
If you are running OpenCPN for the
first time you may see the background
world chart instead of the charts you
installed. That simply means OpenCPN is
pointed at a location that is not on any of
the charts you installed. Click and drag, or
use the arrow keys, to move the viewpoint
to the location of one of your installed
charts as described under “a few hints” in
the User Manual. Look for the rectangular
outlines of the installed charts. An alternative
is to right-click, and then click “Jump
to position.” Enter a location that is within
the perimeters of your entered charts. Single
Chart Mode is the default display mode.
In this mode only one chart at a time will
be displayed. All the information printed
outside the chart proper can be read. To
change to another chart, select and click in
the Chart Selection Bar (blue buttons at the
bottom of the screen).
OpenCPN is a fully functional navigation
program with many capabilities.
The best way for you to learn this software
package is to work through the practice
examples included in this Chapter. The
following section will help you get started
learning this software package and provides
information on most of the features you
need for this course.
MOVING AROUND THE CHARTS
Panning and Centering. It is easy to reposition
and scroll the chart. Left click anywhere
on the chart and the chart will center
itself on the screen at the location you
clicked. By holding down the left click
mouse button while moving the cursor,
you can also reposition the chart.
Zooming In and Out. There are several ways
to zoom in and out. Use the “Zoom” buttons
along the top left side of the screen.
Each time you click, the chart is zoomed in
or out. You can also right-click at the point
on the chart that you want to zoom. Select
scale in or scale out from the drop down
menu.
You can also move the cursor to the
point on the chart that you want to
zoom and press F7 or the + (plus)
key to zoom in and press F8 or the
– (minus key to zoom out. On your
mouse, you can use the scroll wheel
to zoom in or out.
For zooming in smaller steps try:
Ctrl + for fine scale zooming in.
Ctrl – for fine scale zooming out.
Ctrl + scroll wheel, zooming in/out in
small steps.
If you zoom in too much an “Over-
Zoom” warning will appear in the upper
left part of the chart area. This means that
you have zoomed in way too far, and the
program is using the chart at a scale that
was never intended, and is not supported
by the original survey. No new information
will be seen, and the situation is potentially
dangerous as it could give the impression
of increased distance between dangers.\
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