The Export Global Mapper Package File function allows the user to export any or all of the loaded data to a Global Mapper Package file (.gmp). These files are similar to a Global Mapper Workspace file (.gmw) except package files also include the actual data instead of links. Package files provide an easy way to pass around lots of data between Global Mapper users on different computers with a single self-contained file.
Raster, vector, and elevation data layers can all be exported to a Global Mapper Package using File Menu > Export > Export Global Mapper Package File...
The Global Mapper Package Export Options dialog allows the user to setup the package export. The dialog consists of a Package Options tab, a Simplification tab, a Tiling tab, and an Export Bounds tab.
Package Options
The Package Options tab consists of options allowing the user to select the projection to save the data in, how to handle online streamed data, and other options. These include the Always Maintain Feature Styles option, which specifies that any vector features stored in the package file should explicitly save the styling of that feature, even if they are using the default style for the feature classification. This can make it easier to maintain exact styling when transferring packages between Global Mapper installations.
Coordinate Reference System
In the Coordinate Reference System section, the user can choose the coordinate reference system that will be written into the file.
- Use Currently Selected Workspace Coordinate System - This includes the vertical coordinate system. The workspace coordinate system can be set in the Configure menu.
- Save Data in Geodetic (Lat/Lon) WGS 84 (EPSG 4326) Coordinate System-Coordinates of all layers will be transformed to the geodetic (latitude / longitude) WGS 84 coordinate system (may require a datum transformation if the data or current workspace coordinate system is not based on the WGS 84 datum).
- Keep Original (Native) Coordinate System for Each Layer- Each layer will be saved in its original coordinate reference system.
Previously chosen Coordinate Transformations will be saved in the package file.
Online Layer Export Options
In the Online Layer Export Options section of the panel, select how layers loaded from the Download Online Imagery/Topo/Terrain Maps menu are exported. Most online data provides different levels of detail depending on the zoom level when the request is made to the server. Choose to automatically determine the zoom level, use the highest available level of detail, or use the zoom level currently displayed on the screen. This setting will impact the resulting file size.
Other Options
Raster Layer Format - JPEG2000 images are the default method for imagery in packages. This reduces the file size compared to previous package files that stored imagery in GeoTiff format.
Use Double-Precision Coordinates for vector data setting will store coordinate data for vector features using double precision format, which allows for greater accuracy in the coordinate values (survey level) but greatly increases the file size.
The Discard feature attribute values option will remove all the attributes from all vector data.
When enabled the Always Maintain Feature Styles option will export vector features with their currently displayed styles. When the package file is loaded the feature styles should be maintained.
The Combine Compatible Vector Layers into a Single Layer option causes all vector features with the same native projection to be combined into a single layer within the package file rather than maintaining their original layer structure.
The Embed Images Associated with Picture Points option embed any images associated with a vector feature (like points created from an EXIF JPEG file) in the package file for easy sharing of linked images and use on other systems.
The option to embed the Primary Image Associated with Picture Point will only save the primary linked image to the package file. The primary linked image will be noted with an asterisk (*) in the Link Attribute Handling dialog of the Feature Info Tool.
The option to embed All Image Files Referenced in Feature Attributes will export all linked images using attributes like IMAGE_LINK, LINK, and FILE_LNK_X to the package file.
The Embed Audio option embeds recorded audio notations(s) linked to any vector features being exported. Embedded audio will be stored in the package file allowing it to be shared with the vector features and played on other systems.
Sort Lidar Point Clouds by 2D Location for Faster Display and Analysis reorders the 3D point clouds so that the points are listed in the file in sequential spatial order. This improves the point cloud processing and display speed. Unordered point clouds may be caused by the data acquisition or creation, and are particularly common in photo generated point clouds. The organization can be seen by choosing the Lidar drawing mode of Color Lidar by Point Index.
The Include View Bounds option saves and restores the view bounds/projection to be referred to when loading the GMP into an empty workspace. View Bounds is the extent of data visible or zoom level within the workspace when the GMP is exported.
Simplification
This tab is available with loaded vector data. The Simplification panel allows the user to set up the threshold at which points that don't contribute much to the shape of the vector line and area features being exported are removed in order to generate features with less vertices. By default, all vertices will be kept, but the user can move the slider to the right to get rid of relatively insignificant vertices and realize significant space spacings at the cost of some fidelity.
Tiling
The Tiling panel allows the user to split up the data into regularly spaced tiles on export if desired rather than just exporting a single file.
Export Bounds
The Export Bounds panel allows the user to select what portion of the loaded data they wish to export.