GvSIGinnovations

Testing and criticizing gvSIG 1.9

Recently it was announced the 1.9 version of gvSIG in alpha version, after being tested I decided to leave some impressions before forgetting them:

Download

Es Possible to go down both a version with prerequisites, which weighs 103 MB for Windows and 116 MB for Linux. This is a good alternative in case you do not have a 1.3 installation, in case you have a working installation you can download the version without prerequisites that goes for 80MB.

The 1.9 version of the code is also available.

 

Installation

I downloaded the version without prerequisites and it has happened to me that the installation hangs me with the message:

Java.io.FileNotFoundException: C: Documents and settings ...

Apparently this happens because some properties have to be assigned to Java, these could be from rights to the signing of the death certificate, so as not to complicate myself better I uninstalled the imageexisting versions. Then when I run the installation again, I ask you to check if there are any requirements and that installs the right version of Java ... then everything went smoothly.

When I installed it, I did not create the icon on the desktop, nor the start menu (although I think you asked me if I want, and I said yes), so I had to create the shortcut where it is installed.

 

C: Program FilesgvSIG_1.9_alphabingvsig.exe

For this, “copy” the file, then “paste shortcut”

Execution

When I opened an existing project, I had a blasphemous message, apparently because of the type of projection ... but I don't think it's a permanent error.

Coordinate operation error: + proj = tmerc + lat_0 = 0.0 + lon_0 = -3.0 + k = 0.9996 + x_0 = 500000.0 + y_0 = 0.0 + ellps = intl + units = m to + proj = tmerc + lat_0 = 0.0 + lon_0 = - 87.0 + k = 0.9996 + x_0 = 500000.0 + y_0 = 0.0 + ellps = WGS84 + datum = WGS84 + units = m:

It also seems to me that now it consumes more resources, the process feels a bit slow, in this regard they have announced that there will be improvements in terms of architecture ... and they must have already considered it.

imageWe can assume that this version will give a lot of itself, since more functionalities are being integrated little by little and is taking maturity.

It is understood that this is a trial version, and that we will soon have the stable version gvSIG 2, by then the doubts that are coming to the mailing lists will be resolved ... in passing, some simple vainities such as this character badly placed there.

image Among the best features, of which I mentioned something above, is the one-click sextant inclusion. There's a lot in here, from raster to vector data conversion to hydrological analysis.

But in addition to this is also:

-Inclusion of TIN to create triangulation meshes ... I suppose you can work contours (... 3D analysis)

Tools for network analysis (… nertwork analysis)

Tools to convert raster to vector (… arc scan)

Inclusion of topology

 

... among many others, which we will have time to talk about

 

Appearance ... a lot to do

What they have done is a good advance, but I particularly believe that an iconography course would be good for graphic designers because we must remember that they are “icons” and as such they must lead to something, maintaining graphic cleanliness and corporate identity.

Making icons requires criteria beyond making highly complex drawings in Corel Draw and then using Gimp to turn them into 64×64 figures. The use of shadows, brightness and gradients should be questioned in buttons that should barely take a click, simplifying more and investing time in icons for "on mouse over" could be a good bet.

image

I insist, it is not that the designer shows off with great works of art turned into figurines, we must recognize that little by little we have been having better graphic capabilities since the archaic ones created with 8x zoom paint brush but we must not abuse and pervert the original concept of "icon"

 

Here are some examples

 

image

It's a plane, no, a bird, no; is… The command line

... j *, as I could not imagine ... if it seems ... it seems ... it seems?

 

image

A printer, a war tank ... failed, Is the history

what happened ... do not see what the microfilming symbol stored inside a cryptograph looks like.

image

 

In general the icons seem to be very dark, with very strong linear edges and lack uniformity, see the spline with respect to the other creation objects. Nor has it been thought about how they will look as a screen with higher resolution and therefore smaller size is used.

 

imageThere are times when it is preferable to resemble the accepted conventions, such as “undo” and “redo” than to do these navigation arrows… *xtrax, and with an orange border…

Like the computer development, in which the functionalities are added to a general design, the iconography must take into account an identity ... if not, it will look like a Christmas tree to which figurines have been hanging without basic criteria such as harmony, symmetry or movement

 

 

 

But well, welcome is all the good that this version promises.

 

Golgi Alvarez

Writer, researcher, specialist in Land Management Models. He has participated in the conceptualization and implementation of models such as: National Property Administration System SINAP in Honduras, Management Model of Joint Municipalities in Honduras, Integrated Cadastre-Registry Management Model in Nicaragua, Territory Administration System SAT in Colombia . Editor of the Geofumadas knowledge blog since 2007 and creator of the AulaGEO Academy that includes more than 100 courses on GIS - CAD - BIM - Digital Twins topics.

Related Articles

7 Comments

  1. I do not know, I do not have ubuntu, but I suppose it refers to what we do in windows when creating a custom theme for windows.

  2. Hello Friends

    Gostaria to know how to connect duas linhas no gvsig (no AutoCAD exists precision command).

  3. I had the same problem as Luis and after turning off all the graphics effects it works.

  4. I installed the 1.1.2 version (from the 1.1 onwards) and also the 1.9 in Ubuntu 9.1 Karmic and they simply pass these things:

    1. The "launcher" on the desktop does not work or do not believe it.
    2. The windows do not scale so even the Project Manager window does not expand.
    3. There are windows that only show the widget and none of the content.

    What will it be and how will it be solved?

    PS I am using COMPIZ on the graphical interface.

    Thank you.

  5. Thanks for stopping by and putting up with an ironic day… it's not always pleasant.
    We will keep an eye on system improvements and as soon as possible we will promote it because it will certainly become an invaluable tool as its use becomes widespread.

    a greeting.

    : P sorry for the sarcasm.

  6. We take note of all your comments and hope to improve on these aspects. Of course, it is one of the aspects that the project has taken care of less, so a work group has now been set up within the project to study the usability and style of the application.

    Some things you commented on have their reason for being, for example the command line icon is quite standard, in fact is the one that uses gnome / ubuntu to launch the terminal. Other things, such as non-uniformity of icons, is to mix new with old ones - something that we must correct for the future -, etc.

    Thank you for trying the new alpha and commenting on your impressions!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Back to top button