Mapping with a GPS and C#Introduction. This article shall describe a very simple approach to working with a GPS device within the context of a C# application. This article does not address how the GPS device works or everything that can be gleaned from the NEMA 0. GPS devices; rather, the article is intended for those just interested in getting the present position from a GPS and using that point to do something interesting like show you where you are on a map.
Nothing exotic or expensive was used in this project; the GPS source was a provided by my Garmin e. Trex Legend handheld GPS purchased for about $1. GPS but not the high end to be sure). Since my laptop provides no male serial ports, in order to connect the device I needed an adapter; for this I opted to purchase a Belkin Serial Port to USB adapter (an F5. U1. 09) which works great; the cable used to connect the device to a computer was provided with the device. Figure 1: Getting the present position from the GPS.
The show hack is a type of ridden. show hack is solely a form of competition open to various breeds and overseen by the. Another variation on show hack is the Road Hack, a class seen in Canada and in Morgan horse. Check out CCC's in-depth KingsRoad review for the PC to find out if this game is worth buying, renting, or if you should avoid it altogether. Most features can be described using only a small. leading to/from a tertiary road from/to a tertiary road or lower class highway. same rendering as highway=tertiary in mapnik. An open green space for general. Tips to help you do great in English flat classes. HOME : COMMUNITY. An English pleasure class is suitable for all. Bridle Path Hack or Road Hack This is a basic flat class that can also include extended trot and hand.
To make matters more interesting than just outputting present position, I provided the means to map the point directly into Google Maps using the query string accepted on that site populated with the current latitude and longitude of the device. I had published something similar on C# Corner a while back but without the GPS interface provided. Interestingly enough (but not surprising), if you compare the present position of the device as shown on the map versus the physical address when plotted on Google Maps, you will likely note that the GPS position is more accurate than the geocoded physical address. NOTE: In order to retrieve the present position from the GPS device, it is necessary to configure the device to output the NEMA 0. Refer to your owner’s manuals to determine how to set that up with whatever device you may be using. Figure 2: Google Maps showing the plotted present position.
Getting Started. The solution contains a single Windows Forms project called Read. GPS which was written in C#; the application contains two forms (frm. PP. cs, frm. Map. Program. cs file, all of the code necessary to drive the application is contained in those two form classes.
Figure 3: Solution Explorer with the Project Visible. Code: Main Form (frm. PP. cs)All of the code necessary to derive present position from a GPS device is contained in this single form; the form shall be described entirely in this section. The code for this Form class begins with the following: using System. System. Collections. Generic. using System.
Component. Model. System. Data. using System.
Drawing. using System. Text. using System.
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Windows. Forms. using System. IO. Ports. namespace Read. GPS. publicpartialclass frm.
PP : Form. {Following the imports, the declaration of the namespace and the Form class, the next order of business in the application is to declare a collection of member variables requiring form wide scope; these variables are contained in a defined region entitled Member Variables. The declaration of the variables follows: #region Member Variables. Latitude. publicstring Longitude. The form designer contains a single serial port control along with some text boxes used to display present position as latitude and longitude, and two buttons, one of which is used to turn on and off automatic updating of present position and the other which serves to map the present position in Google Maps. The form also contains a timer control used to automatically update the coordinates, and a menu strip control which contains menu options used to change the COM port and to exit the application.
The next block of code in the Form class is the constructor; in this instance, the constructor is used to try to open the serial port given its default configuration as set in the property pages at design time. For some of the properties associated with the control, it might make sense to allow for runtime configuration changes but, aside from the COM port used to attach the device to the computer, the control is properly configured to work with the GPS device; review the settings for the serial port control in the IDE to review the settings applied. Aside from using the wrong port setting, there is little that can go wrong here but if the initial attempt to open the port fails, the constructor will display a message box showing the user the reason for the connection failure. A failure also disables the timer control used to command present position updates and alters the text on the button used to manually disable the update timer.
Constructor. Initialize. Component(). serial. Port. 1. Open(). catch (Exception ex). Message. Box. Show(ex. Message). timer. 1. Enabled = false. button.
Text = "Update". return. Following the constructor, the event handlers used within the application are coded. The first is the timer control’s tick event; this is the heart of the application in terms of getting the latitude and longitude extracted from the NEMA 0. The code first checks to see if the serial port is open and, if it is, it reads the output of the device into a string variable. The string is split on the dollar sign symbol to break it up into a string array with each of the subordinate strings contained in the output. We are looking for a string beginning with GPGGA; this substring contains the latitude and longitude information we are looking for and it is comma delimited. The whole GPGGA section contains other information besides latitude and longitude (such as time of day information, elevation, the number of satellites tracked, etc.).
There are only four parts of the GPGGA section that we want, those sections contain the coordinates and the ordinals defining the position. The rest of the code converts the returned values into decimal degrees and passes them to the latitude and longitude member variables. If we have valid coordinates, the function also enables the button used to map the point into Google Maps. If the values returned are invalid, the form will display GPS Unavailable in the latitude and longitude text boxes.
If the serial port is closed, the latitude and longitude text boxes will be used to display the message COM Port Closed; in either case, the mapping button is also disabled. Tick(object sender, Event. Args e). if (serial. Port. 1. Is. Open).
Port. 1. Read. Existing(). Arr = data. Split('$'). Arr. Length; i++). Temp = str. Arr[i]. Arr = str. Temp. Split(','). Arr[0] == "GPGGA"). Double d. Lat = Convert.
To. Double(line. Arr[2]). Lat = d. Lat / 1. Lat. To. String(). Split('.'). Latitude = line. Arr[3]. To. String() +. To. String() + "." +.
Convert. To. Double(lat[1]) /. To. String("#####"). Double d. Lon = Convert. To. Double(line. Arr[4]).
Lon = d. Lon / 1. Lon. To. String(). Split('.'). Longitude = line. Arr[5]. To. String() +.
To. String() + "." +. Convert. To. Double(lon[1]) /. To. String("#####"). Lat. Text = Latitude. Long. Text = Longitude. Map. It. Enabled = true.
Lat. Text = "GPS Unavailable". Long. Text = "GPS Unavailable". Map. It. Enabled = false.
Lat. Text = "COM Port Closed". Long. Text = "COM Port Closed". Map. It. Enabled = false. The following button click event handler is used to enable or disable the timer used to automatically update the present position value shown in the form.
The click event handler will also alter the text displayed on the button in response to enabling or disabling the timer. Click(object sender, Event. Args e). if (timer. Enabled == true). Enabled = false. timer. Enabled = true. if (button.
Text == "Update"). Text = "Stop Updates".
Text = "Update". }The next bit of code is merely used to exit the application in response to the exit menu option click event. Tool. Strip. Menu. Item_Click(object sender, Event. Args e). this. Dispose(). The following bit of code is used to swap the serial port over to COM1. Strip. Menu. Item. Click(object sender, Event.
Args e). serial. Port. Close(). serial. Port. Port. Name = "COM1". Port. 1. Open(). catch (Exception ex). Message. Box. Show(ex. Message, "COM1").
The following bit of code is used to swap the serial port over to COM2. Strip. Menu. Item.
Click(object sender, Event. Args e). serial. Port. Close(). serial. Port. Port. Name = "COM2". Port. 1. Open(). catch (Exception ex).
Message. Box. Show(ex. Message, "COM2"). The following bit of code is used to swap the serial port over to COM3.
Strip. Menu. Item. Click(object sender, Event. Args e). serial. Port. Close(). serial. Port. Port. Name = "COM3". Port. 1. Open(). catch (Exception ex). Message. Box. Show(ex.
Message, "COM3"). The following bit of code is used to swap the serial port over to COM4. Strip. Menu. Item. Click(object sender, Event. Args e). serial. Port. Close(). serial. Port.
Port. Name = "COM4". Port. 1. Open(). catch (Exception ex). Message. Box. Show(ex. Message, "COM4"). The following bit of code is used to swap the serial port over to COM5. Strip. Menu. Item.
Click(object sender, Event. Args e). serial. Port. Close(). serial. Port. Port. Name = "COM5". Port. 1. Open(). catch (Exception ex). Message. Box. Show(ex.
Message, "COM5"). The next bit of code is used to open up the Map form; the Map form accepts a latitude and longitude as arguments. These arguments are passed to the new form and used to display the current location on the map.
Map. It_Click(object sender, Event. Args e). frm. Map f = new frm. Map(Latitude, Longitude). That wraps up the sum of the code used to communicate with the GPS device and to display the present position latitude and longitude from the NEMA 0.
Code: Map Form (frm. Map. cs)This Form class is used to display the position captured from the GPS device through Google Maps. The form contains only a single Web browser control. The code contained in the class is used to form a query string around the latitude and longitude passed to the form whenever it is instantiated. Once the query string is assembled, the browser is commanded to navigate to the location indicated in that string. The code is pretty simple and it is presented here in its entirety: using System.
System. Collections. Generic. using System. Component. Model. System. Data. using System.
English Flat Classes. Think you’re ready for the show arena? Let Young Rider give you the rundown on some flat (non- jumping) classes that might interest your English horse and some tips on how to shine in the ring. Pleasure classes. In pleasure classes, only the horse is judged.
But this doesn’t mean you should slump over in the saddle and look like a sack of potatoes; it means you should be more aware of what your horse is doing, rather than making sure your equitation is perfect. A pleasure horse should literally be "a pleasure to ride. The most important thing a pleasure horse can have is manners!
He needs to be willing, obedient, and sound. He should get his correct leads when you ask for them and be able to travel in a straight line down the rail — no weaving around here! He should be very safe and "fit” the rider, meaning that a super- tall rider shouldn’t be riding a small pony! An English pleasure class is suitable for all horses that can walk, trot and canter in both directions of the arena.
This class spotlights the horse that moves the most willingly and evenly — he doesn’t have to be the best mover. The English pleasure horse shouldn’t pull on the reins or refuse to go forward. He needs to be quiet, safe and obedient.
You can ride on a loose rein or rein contact in an English pleasure class and not be penalized. Hunter Under Saddle. In this class, your horse walks, trots and canters in both directions around the arena and is judged on how well he moves (his "way of going”) and carries himself at all three gaits.
Though good manners are important, they are not judged as heavily as in a pleasure class. Rein contact is required and horses are judged more on their "type” than in pleasure classes.
Hunter under saddle horses are usually required to hand gallop in groups of eight in one direction of the ring, usually counter- clockwise. Bridle Path Hack or Road Hack.
This is a basic flat class that can also include extended trot and hand galloping in at least one direction around the arena. The judge may also ask for your horse to halt and back up.
Go As You Please. In a "go as you please” class, the horse is judged at a walk and at one other gait. This "other” gait must be the same both ways of the ring. You want to show off your horse’s best gait! English Equitation Equitation classes are a little different. Instead of judging the horse, the judge will judge you and how well you can control your horse–not how well your horse moves.
The main focus is on how you ride, but the judge will notice if your horse runs away with you or if he’s so lazy you have to kick him around the arena. Bad behavior by your horse can cost you a ribbon — even in an equitation class. The judge will focus mainly on your leg position, your upper body position, your posture, your hand position and your overall horsemanship. She’ll also watch to see if you are on the correct trot diagonal and canter lead. The judge will also take into account how promptly your horse responds to your cues and how accurate your movements are.
For example, if you’re asked to trot a figure eight, are both circles even and equal in size? She’ll note how you interact with the other riders and horses in the ring–are you cutting off people or riding too closely to another horse? She’ll also look at how neat and tidy you look. In English equitation you’ll be asked to perform a test. This is simply a challenge to complete in the arena that helps the judge decide which of you in the class deserves to be first. This ridden test can include a change of diagonal, a canter transition (make sure you get the proper lead!) and possibly a halt and a back up.
Ring savvy. In all of these flat classes there are ways to make you and your horse stand out from the crowd. Before you even enter the ring, make sure that you’re clean and presentable, your horse’s mane is laying flat and he has a fresh coat of polish on his hooves.
When you enter the ring, leave enough room between you and the horse in front of you so that the judge has time to look at you and write down your number as you enter, turn and begin to travel down the rail (the arena fence). Hold your head high and smile to show the judge how much you enjoy showing your horse and what a pleasure he is to ride. Always keep a safe distance (at least three horse lengths) between you and the horse in front of you. Try not to get caught on the rail and have a horse on the inside covering you up when you ride by the judge — you want to be sure that she sees you and your fabulous horse!
If your horse is going faster than the horse in front of him, leave enough room to pass him safely and don’t ride up on his rear—he might kick you or your horse. When you’re asked to canter, try to ask for the lead in the corner, where you’re more likely to get the correct lead. If you know your horse has trouble with one lead in particular, really set him up for it and ask strongly. If you do get the wrong lead, immediately bring him back to a trot and ask again. There’s a good chance that the judge didn’t even see you! With only one set of eyes and multiple horses in the class, she can miss quite a few mistakes, so don’t panic if you have a small error, just fix it and continue on like it didn’t even happen.
If you’re doing a test and you pick up the wrong lead, you’ll gain more points with the judge if you stop and try again, rather than continuing around the arena on the wrong lead. By breaking, you show the judge that you know you are on the incorrect lead and you want to get the correct one.
If you get stuck in a traffic jam on the rail, try to get out of it, or avoid it entirely if you can. It is always best to try to stay away from large group of horses, so circle to get away from them. This is called "ring savvy.
Most importantly, if you don’t win or get the placing you feel you deserve, don’t pout and cause a scene. Creating a ruckus is the best way for the judge to remember you – and not in a good way! Congratulate the winners and walk out of the ring. This article first appeared in the July/August 2. Young Rider. Click here to subscribe!