What's New in Didger 2?

New! On-Screen Digitizing

This is the most significant upgrade to Didger 2. Many of our Didger 1 users requested the ability to digitize points, polylines, and polygons on top of a bitmap image. Didger 2 supports importing a bitmap or scanning an image directly from any supported TWAIN compatible device. Performing "heads-up" digitizing has never been easier. Didger 2 has all the functionality necessary to geo-reference the bitmap image to a real world coordinate system using one of four geo-referencing methods. Once the image has been geo-referenced, Didger 2 allows you to digitize points, polylines, and polygons with ease. This method is nearly identical to Didger 1.0's tablet digitizing feature.

Sophisticated digitizing options allow you to digitize features on your bitmap images on-screen. For example, digitize these contour lines, recording the elevation information as the Primary ID, and export the data as an ASCII XYZ data file. Use the XYZ data in Surfer 7 to create a grid file and re-create your contour map or perform grid calculations.

New! Geo-referencing

New geo-reference methods include an enhanced Affine transformation algorithm. This was the base algorithm used in Didger 1 for tablet calibration. Didger 2 also includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order polynomial functions. Not only can the methods be used for calibration, but also to convert imported vector files from one coordinate system to another .

New! Printing Capability

Didger 2 supports full map printing functionality. You can print your map at the scale digitized to verify the accuracy of the newly digitized data. Using Didger 2, you can create stunning maps to put into reports and documents.

New! Map Projections

Map projections are now supported in Didger 2! This amazing new feature allows you to specify map projection parameters when performing bitmap or tablet calibration. Didger 2 also supports converting vector data from one map projection coordinate system to another. Using the new vector file import routines, files can be converted from UTM to Lat/Long coordinates with simple mouse clicks. Map projections and coordinate systems supported include Universal Transverse Mercator, Albers Equal Area, Orthographic, Stereographic, and State Plane.

There are 21 supported projection systems in Didger 2, allowing you to customize the presentation of your data. You can also change the Standard Parallels to create a map from a North Pole perspective (right map). The left map uses the Robinson-Sterling projection and the right map uses the Stereographic projection.

New! Import Vector Files

At the request of our loyal users, we have added the capability to import vector files. Didger 2 supports all of the Golden Software supported file formats plus many others, including SHP, MIF, E00, BLN, BNA, SDTS Topological Vector Profiles, and DXF. Dider 2 allows you to import several vector files. The files will align according to their coordinate systems. If they have different projection systems, they can be converted into the projection of the first file using datum and projection transformations.

Import and overlay vector files such as SDTS Topological Vector Profiles. The example above shows the roadways and waterways of California.

New! Advanced Editing Functions

Didger 1 users requested an easier way to create polygons from polyline segments. We have responded by adding a new tool for creating polygons by a polygon marker. After digitizing your linked and snapped polyline segments, simply create polygon marker objects in the center of the newly digitized polyline segments. Once the polygon marker has been digitized, one click of the mouse will automatically begin the process of creating the polygons from the polyline segments.

Other new features include creating line intersections, snapping undershoot polylines, trimming overshoot polylines, and creating complex polygons.

Didger 2 also includes new methods for smoothing and thinning polyline and polygon segments. One method includes applying a spline fit to the object and having the ability to specify the tension factor and the number of new vertices to create.

Another highly requested feature that is now implemented in Didger 2 is the ability to resample polyline objects at specific intervals. This is a particular editing function geared toward the well log digitizer. Once the line object has been digitized, you can specify the beginning and ending value, as well as the sample interval to create the new resampled line.

Use Didger 2 to resample your well logs. Resampling the original well log (solid line) at a 5-meter interval created the resampled well log (dotted line). Resample your data to specific intervals and export it for use in other applications.

New! Layer Manager

Managing data within Didger has never been easier. Didger 2 has the ability to create layers and manage the visibility and editing capability of objects on different layers.

Make layers editable or not editable, visible or invisible using the Layer Manager.

New! Import/Export Format

Didger 2 supports many more import and export filters to aid in transferring data from one application to another. The list below includes the import and export formats available in Didger 2.

Spatially Referenced Import and Export Formats:
    GeoTIFF, TFW, RSF.

Vector Import Formats:
    GSB, BNA, DLG, LGO, LGS, DXF, PLT, BLN, CLP, WMF, SHP, MIF,
    DDF, E00.

Raster Import Formats:
    TIF, BMP, TGA, PCX, GIF, WPG, DCX, EPS, JPG, PNG.

Point Data Import Formats:
    DAT, CSV, TXT.

Export Formats:
    SHP, MIF, BNA, EMF, DAT, DXF, BLN, GIF, CGM, WMF, CLP, TIF,
    BMP, TGA, PCX, WPG, PNG, JPG, PCT, DCX.

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