About Echocoastline

Echocoastline is a utility program that converts map files into the MapInfo Data Interchange Format (.mif). The resulting files can be displayed in cruise track windows in Echoview, see Adding map and Waypoint files to cruise track windows.

This page covers:

Warning

Echocoastline is not a navigational tool. Any map files created using Echocoastline show indicative positions of coastlines only, and do not show or indicate navigational hazards.

Installing Echocoastline

Echocoastline is supplied on the Myriax Echoview CD or is available for download from the Echoview website. Echocoastline will not be installed during compact or typical installation. Echocoastline has its own installation script.

If you did a custom installation of Echoview from the Echoview CD, Echocoastline can be accessed from your Start menu.

Note: Echocoastline must be installed into the same directory as Echoview.exe and Echoview.chm for access to help files.

Using Echocoastline

Complete the following steps to convert a source file to a .mif file:

  1. In the Input file area, in the Filename box, enter or choose the source file.

  2. In the Datum box, select the datum (the latitude/longitude coordinate system) used to generate the source file.
    Note:

  3. mapgen (*.dat) files that were created using the procedure below were created using the WGS 84 datum

  4. if you do not know which datum was used, select Other/unknown

  1. In the Output file area, in the Filename box, enter the name of the mif file.
    Note:     Echocoastline will add the .mif file extension automatically.

  2. In the Color box, select the color in which lines and fills should be displayed.

  3. In the Fill box, select the fill pattern.

  4. Click Convert.

Note: Source files may contain both open and closed polygons. Fill is only applied to closed polygons. As a result, some mif files may not contain the fills you expect.

Echocoastline source files

Echocoastline supports the following source files.

Source

File format

Download procedure

Digital Chart of the World (DCW)

Polygon point generated (*pts.txt)

Complete the following steps to obtain source files in this format:

  1. Go to a Digitial Chart of the World internet site.

  2. On the world map, click the region that contains the area for which you wish to download a map file.

  3. Select the area for which you wish to download a map file.

  4. Click Continue.

  5. Click Download Points.

  6. Right-click the Download link and then click Save target as...

  7. Save the file.

Note: An open source Digital Chart of the World internet site is: http://geodata.tufts.edu/

National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)

Mapgen (*.dat)

Complete the following steps to obtain source files in this format:

  1. Go to http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/shorelines/shorelines.html.

  2. Click Coastline extractor.

  3. In the Coastline data base box, click World vector shoreline (designed for 1:250,000).
    Note:     This uses the WGS 84 datum.

  4. In the Compression method for extracted ASCII data box, select None or a supported zip format.

  5. In the Coast Format options box, click Mapgen.

  6. In the Coast Preview options box, click No preview.

  7. Click SUBMIT - Extract the Coastline File.

  8. Right-click the Download link and then click Save target as...

  9. Save the file.

See also

Map files
Adding map and waypoint files cruise track windows

Echoview Help file 5.2.21 for Echoview 5.2.55 Monday 21st May 2012

Please report any errors or omissions to support@echoview.com.