updated: 4-Sep-2009
Copan for Windows
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the menu items disabled?
When you install Copan for the first time, most of the functionality is disabled unless
- you have a binary key file, CopanKey.bin, which (since version 09.06) is automatically stored in your Copan program folder by the installer,
- you correctly entered the password, which was sent by e-mail, and
- the key file and password are matching, i.e., they are for the same release/version.
See § Installing or Updating for more details.
The usual reason for any item or button being disabled is that, under the current conditions, that item or button is not appropriate.
Thus, if you do not have a coordfile open, many menu items (e.g., List Points) are not applicable and not enabled.
Or, if you have a coordfile open but with less than an appropriate number of points in it, most Calculation menu items (e.g., COGO) are not applicable and not enabled.
2. When will Copan have drawing capabilities?
On our in-house version of Copan, we currently have the ability to export symbolized drawings to AutoCAD DWG files.
Also, we
are working on a Copan drawing module that will have many useful CAD functions, independent of AutoCAD.
When a CAD version of Copan is released, some time in 2009, we will be charging the public for it.
However, the free version of Copan will remain free and will continue to evolve.
3. How can I do curve calculations?
The Mobile versions of Copan — for Palm OS and for Pocket PC — have curve calculators where you can enter any suitable combinations of circular curve parameters and calculate dependent parameters, but Copan for Windows does not.
You can, however, use the Map Checks
or Map Traverses modules to calculate curve parameters if you have the direction (or bearing) and distance from the beginning of curve in to the centre of curve, and the direction out from the centre to the end of curve. The arc distance, chord distance, and arc angle will be calculated.
See § Traversing Curves on how to define curves along a map traverse.
4. How can I delete, renumber, or edit a group of points at once?
You can do simple mass editing of points via
CoordFile | Bulk Edit...
(See § Bulk Point Editing.)
For sophisticated editing, the best way is to export
the coordfile from Copan to an Ascii file,
edit the Ascii file in an editor or spreadsheet,
then, back in Copan, create a new coordfile and import
the edited Ascii file.
(See § Import and Export.)
Geometric transformations of points en masse can be done via CoordFile | Transform Coords...
(See § Coordinate Transformations.)
5. Why won't my space-delimited text file import?
If you try to import a space-delimited file and Copan crashes or complains, it probably isn't really a space-delimited file!
If there are a number of spaces separating each non-empty field,
then the file is not space-delimited.
Whatever the delimiter character is, there can be only one delimiter separating each non-empty field.
If the columns of data are aligned such that it is possible to draw a straight vertical line between each column,
then it is a fixed-format file.
To import such a file, choose the Fixed Format option and enter the Start and Width values for each field.
(The imaginary straight vertical lines indicate the start positions.)
An alternative solution may be to use a spreadsheet, which is much more sophisticated at interpreting fixed-format files.
If the file successfully imports into a spreadsheet, save it in comma- or tab-delimited text format,
then import it back into Copan.
6. How can I assist UGL in developing or promoting Copan?
Thank you for considering it! Here are some things you could do:
- Give us a short
testimonial on our Copan web page
and, if you like, get a link back to your site.
- Submit a short review to a
software downloads site where Copan is listed.
- Post a favorable comment to a
geomatics or engineering resources web site where Copan or UGL is listed.
- Write a review of Copan for your local or national engineering or geomatics magazine or newsletter.
You know which one is right for you. True, it'll take some time, but your name and company will also get some recognition.
Check with the magazine or newsletter first to see if it's appropriate.
- Help us develop Copan tutorial materials.
Do you have teaching tendencies? Send us some sample problems, tutorial notes, or data files relating to the use of Copan.
- Help support Copan usage in another language.
Maybe you can translate the User Manual or offer to moderate a Copan forum?
updated: 4-Sep-2009