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Excel2FV Tutorial

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Purpose of Excel2FV Many agencies produce point lists of different data (target lists, force locations, etc.) in either Excel or delimited text format. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Excel2FV Tutorial

1
(No Transcript)
2
Purpose of Excel2FV

Many agencies produce point lists of different
data (target lists, force locations, etc.) in
either Excel or delimited text format.
You can manually enter that data into FalconView
or let the Excel2FV tool do the work for you.

CAUTION The tool is NOT certified. Verify your
results!
3
Getting Started

The Excel2FV.doc file is the program and runs the
program by using an embedded macro.
PFPS Update Tool must be installed!

Ensure you Macro Security is set to Medium.
Excel2FV uses Macros to run the Visual Basic
code.
Go to Tools gt Macro gt Security and ensure the
setting is Medium.

4
Enable Macros

Open the Excel2FV.doc to run the program.
You must Enable Macros for the program to run.
If you dont get this window then check your
security setting
It should be set to Medium.

5
Run Macro

Click the Convert Excel or Text File box to run
the program for Excel and text files.
Local Points
Drawing Files
For C2PC files, only a Drawing file can be
created.

Click HERE to go to C2PC slides.
6
FalconView must be open.

Select the Import Type
Local Point database or Drawing file
Click the Source button and browse for the file
you want to convert.
Default format is an .xls file, but you
can also choose a tab delimited
text file.
Select the Destination (Save
location) of the .lpt file.

Once the .xls file is read, the number of
columns will automatically adjust in the program
to match the Excel file.

Select the Coordinate Format your file is in.

Cardinal direction (N/S or E/W) can be at either
the beginning or end of numeric value.
N45 15.6 W112 04.2
4515.6N 11204.2W
4515.6N11204.2W
MGRS

Specify what data is in each column.
Use the dropdown to match ID, Lat-Long,
Description, etc.
Use Comments as the designation for all
non-specific fields.
Select Comment for your column that represents
your Groups.
We will specify the Groups using the Set Filters
button.

8
Setting Filters

Click the Set Filters button to specify your
groups.
In the Filter Column dropdown, select
the column number that contains your
groups.
Enter the Filter Text you want to filter by and
the group name (Point Group) you want to assign
it.
See next 2 slides for specifics on this.
Click Done! to apply and close.

9
Filtering

The data you are working with might only contain
descriptions of points and not actual group
names.
By filtering for specific text within that
Description column you can designate specific
groups.

Ex. All items in Comment 1 column that contain
the text red (Redding, Stored, etc.) would be
assigned to the Red group.

There is a hierarchy of filtering based on the
Filter number (1, 2, 3).
Ex. If your second filter was store, then the
comment stored would also be assigned to the
Red group because that filter was applied first.

10
Filtering

You can search for several different strings by
separating them with commas.
i.e. Church, Mosque, Synagogue will group any
record containing any of the three strings.

You can do searches that are limited to the start
of a string using the character.
i.e. A search for 74 will find 74556 but not
56474. Similarly, searching for 74 will
search for records that end with 74 only.

The Auto Filter button will automatically fill in
your filter fields based on all the different
names it finds within the designated column.
Works for the first 1000 points.

11
Filtering

Use the Reset Filters, Groups, and Icons buttons
to return those field values back to the default
ones.
The Done! button will apply all settings and
close the window.
Clicking on the in the top, right corner
will do the same thing.

12
Save Open Settings

Data thats distributed on a regular basis will
almost always stick with the same format.
Use the Save Import Settings to save your
settings for filters, column format, and
coordinate format.
Files get saved as .t2l files.
.t2l Text 2 Local Point original program.
Use the Open Saved Settings to open previously
saved .t2l files.

13
Create!

Click the Create! button to create the .lpt
file.
You will get this message.
If you have multiple Excel sheets or documents
open, ensure the one that contains the points is
the top-most one.
Click OK.

Import Summary Window
Will tell you how many points were imported into
the new .lpt file, how many failed, and how many
were skipped.

14
Verify Your Data!

Open PFPS Database Admin
Go to File gt Local Database gt Set Active
Database
At the DBA32 window, select Yes to change to new
database.

Select the .lpt file you just created
Browse if saved to another location.
Highlight a group and select Edit.
Verify point data, check for incorrect Lat/Longs,
etc.
Repeat for remaining Groups.

15
Display Points in FalconView

Open Overlay Options in FalconView.
Go to Local Points Tab.
Check the Group Names you want to display on
the map.
Default is none checked.
Adjust Display Threshold as desired.
Check the Local Points On box and click OK to
display points on map.

16
Converting Drawing Files

This function will create small drawing objects
at the points.
The process of selecting a Source, Destination,
and designating columns remains the same as with
Local Points.
C2PC files (.mgc) are converted using the next
process.

Choose from many different shapes, colors, and
fill types.
A small circle designates the center of the
object.
With Plot CenterPoint checked.

Drawing specific settings get applied.
Fill Pattern, Symbol Size, Symbol Type and Color
Symbol Color and Type only apply if no match is
found under Set Filters.
Click Set Filters to set specifics for each Group.

Set Filter Text, Symbol Type, and Color for each
Group.
Click Done! when ready.
Save settings in main GUI.
Save Import Settings

19
Drawing File Overrides

You can designate a column that will be used to
override the drawing defaults or import settings.
Column can contain any or all characteristics of
the object to override.
5NM green pentagon crosshatch in the designated
column will override all defaults with these
parameters.
If you just Yellow crosshatch the default size
and shape will be used and only the color and
fill characteristics will be modified.

Override parameters can be entered in any order.
If multiple entries are present (blue 5NM green),
then the last one (green) will be used.

Click Create! to generate the drawing file.
When complete you will be asked if you want to
open the new file in FalconView.
Will launch FVW if not already open.

21
Draw File Areas

If you have multiple Lat/Longs or MGRS
coordinates in the same cell an area will be
generated.
Also works with Lat/Longs in separate columns.
Ex. If you have a Lat/Long cell with 3
coordinates a triangle will be created.

22
Using Highlighter Fill

Be cautious when using Highlighter to fill the
drawing areas, especially if processing a large
number of points.
There is a substantial loss in performance when
highlighter is used.

23
Local Point Manager

Allows you to move or copy groups between Local
Point files.
Keeps your Local Point icons and links intact.
PFPS Database Admin does not.
Changes are applied immediately.
No save button.

Use the Change button to select a current Local
Point file.
The New button is used to create a new Local
Point file.
Use the arrow buttons to copy individual groups
or all groups. The Move button will move the
group from one file to the other.
Number of point and links transferred will be
displayed each time an arrow button is selected.
The Rename button is used to rename groups that
are highlighted.

25
Converting C2PC Files

You now have the option of converting C2PC Magic
(.mgc) files or C2PC Threat Export files.

26
C2PC Magic Files

The GUI is very straightforward.
Select your Source
(.mgc file)

The Destination will fill in automatically based
on the name and Save Location window selection.

If you want to use anything other than the
default settings in FalconView drawings, check
and set the 4 Font Overrides settings.
Size
Fore Color
Back Color
Box Style

Click the Convert File! button when ready.

Click HERE to go to go back to Run Macro slide.
28
C2PC Threat Export Files

You will need to run C2PC and save the threat
file as an .mdb file.
Select this file as you Source.
Enter a Destination for the resulting FalconView
.thr (or Drawing) file.
Click Convert File!
Use the Geo Filtering to crop the .mdb file.

29
Convert OC-135 INS Route

The OC-135s Litton INS points are converted into
a Local Point file.
Helps you to rapidly create a route or display
points in FalconView.
Select the OC-135s INS log file (.ins) as your
Source.
Click Import Points!

30
JSTARS Mission Report Converter

Translates the JSTARS Mission Reports into a
Drawing file.
Save the JSTARS mission report Word document as a
text file then use this tool to import all the
JSTARS mission reports as a FalconView drawing
file.

31
Any Questions???
Questions or Comments to paul.hastert_at_pentagon.af.
mil or paul.hastert_at_af.pentagon.smil.mil or
Pablo_at_mc130.com or paul.hastert_at_psab.af.smil.mil
(please send example files if any problems are
found)

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