ActiveMap
ActiveMap is an ActiveX / OCX for viewing landscapes in real-time, and is suitable for use with Delphi, Visual Basic, and similar development systems. It is also web-aware and can be embedded in HTML for viewing with IE4 and controlled by javascript or vbscript.
ActiveMap displays a TIN surface, which may be overlayed with a texture image. TIN files can be created with GIS software, including our own Visual Explorer. ActiveMap requires OpenGL to be installed to run - this should already be present on most computers, but if necessary the download the dlls and copy them to your windows system directory.
The OCX included with the demo program is restricted and may only view the lomond.tin or tatra.tin files. The unrestricted applet costs UK£120 /US$199 and can be ordered from WoolleySoft at http:\\www.woolleysoft.co.uk.. Order forms are attached in UK Pounds or US Dollars.
The source code for the demonstration program is included. Before use the ActiveMap ocx must be registered on your system. A short batch program is included to do this or enter regsrv32 /s ActiveMap.ocx on the command line from the directory where you unzipped the ActiveMap.zip file.
Properties and Methods available are
| Properties | |
| BackgroundColor | Background color. Used for sky if ShowHorizon is true, otherwise used for all background. |
| CameraPosition | Camera position in x:y:z format (i.e. 10:5:-10) |
| DisplayControls | Boolean. Determines if inbuilt manipulation controls are shown (if false developers can provide their own via the CameraPosition and TargetPosition properties) |
| GroundColor | Color used for ground if ShowHorizon is true |
| HeightScale | Scaling factor applied to vertical values |
| HorizonColor | Color used for mist. Also used for horizon fade if ShowHorizon is true |
| LightAlt | Altitude value for light source (in degrees) |
| LightAz | Azimuth value for light source (in degrees) |
| Mist Level | Mist level. |
| Overlay | Overlay file to be used (a valid file must always be supplied). May be in bmp or jpg format |
| Render | Render mode. One of 'TEXTURE' - texture mapped from overlay file, 'TRACK' - color tracked from overlay file or 'FLAT' - no surface modification applied. |
| ShadeTexture | Boolean. Apply shading to texture when Render = 'TEXTURE' (preshaded overlays may be better with shading turned off) |
| ShowHorizon | Boolean. If false then display solid single colour as background, otherwise created sky-horizon-ground gradient effect. |
| TargetPosition | Position of target in x:y:z format. |
| TIN | TIN file describing landscape |
| Methods | |
| ExecGLUpdate | Executes a repaint. Apply after moving target or camera. |
| ExecGLRedraw | Executes a full redraw. Required after resetting light. Slower than ExecGLUpdate |
| ExecGLRestart | Restarts render. Required after resetting TIN or overlay file. |