iGPSGIS II updated for iOS 17 compatibility

A few users reported issues with setting up a grid for an Area Feature while using an iPhone running iOS 17.1.1. Release 1.2.0 of iGPSGIS II has fixed the problems with iOS 17 compatibility. It is now available for download from the Apple App Store.

About backing up data files

When asked whether a iCMTGIS PRO TestFlight tester backed up his data files, he replied, “I did buy the program awhile back, do I still need to save the files?” (He is using the app with his Juniper systems Geode.)

It is always a good idea to save the data files to your PC from time to time, as some glitches either in the app, in the iOS or in the device itself (such as low battery power) could result in a crash that corrupts the data files. The procedure is outlined in an earlier blog post: https://icmtgis.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/back-up-your-job-data-to-pc/

To be on the safe side, some users also save a back-up copy of their job data on the device itself. You would use the “SAVE AS” function to save the data under a different file name. Beware, though, that after doing so, you should open the original data file to continue working with it. Otherwise, any newly added data would be saved to the back-up file. To check into which file you are currently working with, select MENU > Job > Current Job to see the file name displayed.

Have a Happy New Year!

CMT iOS apps choking on iOS 17.1.1

A Deed Calls & Stakeout user reported crashes after he updated his iPad devices to iOS 17.1.1.

We found out that the new iOS messes up the keyboard calls in our apps. We are looking into this issue. Thank you for your patience.

iGPSGIS II still shows a small offset between Map and Features

After updating iGPSGIS II to version 1.1.9, and lengthening the session time for the nodes of a Static Area Feature, a customer wrote: “… the data looks better, but still a little south and west on my iphone screen.”

It turned out that the datum in the app was set to NAD 27 CONUS, while the built-in Apple Map uses LLA WGS 84. The issue was resolved after the customer selected WGS 84 as the datum.

Our later GPS/GIS data collection apps don’t have this issue as they are able to perform a datum conversion if Map is called when the datum selected is not WGS 84.

If the coordinate system selected is not LLA, then the app will display an error message and close the Map.

How to update an app on an iPhone device

A new iGPSGIS II app user wrote: “not seeing the version 1.1.9 update in the app….i see it listed in “what’s new/version history”. so what is my simple process of adding the update?”

Please exit the app so all jobs are closed.

It is advisable to first copy all of your data files to your PC, including the configuration file (<app>.cfg, for example, igpsgis2.cfg) and any user-defined spatial reference system files (user_dat.sys, user_cor.sys and user_pla.sys). This will allow you to restore the data files in case they get damaged during the update.

Then, call up the App Store on your iPhone device. In the search box, enter “igpsgis ii” (or the name of your app). Tap on the displayed app name, and then tap on the Update icon. Tap on Open to run the app.

iGPSGIS II updated to version 1.1.9

This update is important for users of newer models of the Apple iPhone and iPad devices. The various different screen sizes of these devices caused a few issues with our apps:

1) Misalignment of the Features with the built-in Apple Map
2) Length displayed in Map View label being different from that reported under Feature Properties, when using a user-defined coordinate system

We’re pleased to inform you that these problems have been fixed in iGPSGIS II version 1.1.9.

How do I add a logo and seal to a map made with PC GIS X?

If you have already created a plot by using the Preview/Plot tool in PC-GIS X, then in the Plot Preview screen select the Shape Tools icon and then click on the Image tool (at the upper-right corner). Then, you can draw a rubber-band box in the Plot Preview and PC-GIS X will prompt you to select the desired image file, such as your logo file. Repeat for the seal file.

You can see a short description of the tools available in Plot Preview by calling up the Online Manual under Help and entering “Plot Preview” in the search box and then selecting “Plot Preview Tool Bar”.

How to acquire PC-GIS X for producing maps from GPS field data

“I have purchased the iCMTGIS PRO app. I am also interested in acquiring PC GIS X to use for receiving PMP files from ICMT GIS pro via icloud to produce maps. Let me know what I need to do next.”

iCMTGIS PRO is a self-contained GPS/GIS data collection and mapping software app. Many users would also like to work with the field data on their PC and produce a presentable map complete with the north arrow, scale bar, company logo and Topic layer keys. PC-GIS X is compatible with iCMTGIS PRO, iCMTGIS III, Forester GPS GIS III and Farming GPS GIS II. The PC software compatible with iCMTGIS II, iGPS GIS II, Forester GPS GIS II, Farming GPS GIS II, Wetland – Stakeout and Utility Data Collection is PC-GIS 9.

We offer the PC-GIS software license to our iOS app customers at the discounted software download price of US$231 each. We provide a special steep discount for high school, community college and university students

If you would like to make the payment via PAYPAL, we will ask PAYPAL to email a bill to you. If you are in the USA and would like to send a check to us, please mail the check to:

Corvallis Microtechnology, Inc.
3910 SW 53rd Street
Corvallis, OR 97333

Thank you.

You could view our free GPS/GIS data collection and mapping training videos on YouTube to get an idea of how the PC-GIS software works. These videos can be easily accessed via this playlist link.

The material dealing with the PC-GIS software starts with Video 17.

Can iGPSGIS II combine a static area with a dynamic area?

“So, say if i am mapping a harvested area with no straight lines using dynamic area feature and then come to a property line that is straight, i need to cut off dynamic feature and save a static point on the property line, walk down the property line and save another static point, and then go back to gathering dynamic points for rest of the edge of the harvested area.”

iGPSGIS II does not provide a function to collect a static line/area and a dynamic line/area together as one Line/Area Feature.

If there is just one single straight line segment, you could collect the dynamic portion of the area perimeter by walking the long way from one end point of the straight line segment to the other end, and then end the Area Feature. iGPSGIS II will automatically join the ends together to form the area.

If you have the PC-GPS 9 or the PC-GIS X software program, then there are other workarounds. For example, you could start collecting the perimeter as a Line Feature in dynamic mode, stop the data collection, and collect a static Line for the line segment that you encounter; then, stop the static line after the end point has been recorded, and then collect the next dynamic segment as a new line. After copying the job files to PC-GPS 9 or PC-GIS X, you can use the Utilities/Join function to stitch the lines together to form an Area Feature.

How can I tell if iCMTGIS PRO is using the Trimble R1, or the iPad built-in GPS?

(This is an updated version of an older article that we posted in 2014.)

The iOS devices can only work with GPS receivers approved by Apple.

iCMTGIS PRO is able to get the NMEA data stream directly from a few external GPS receivers, such as the EOS Arrow Gold, the Geneq SXBlue Platinum, Bad Elf GPS and Dual XGPS-150A. For other compatible GPS receivers, it gets the data from the iOS Location Service. All of our other apps only obtain GPS data from the Location Service of the iOS device.

To use the external GPS, make sure you have turned on Location Services under Privacy. Also, on the Location Services page, find iCMTGIS PRO and turn the switch on to make Location Service available for this app. (Do this for the app you are using, such as iCMTGIS II, iGPSGIS II, Utility Data Collection, Stakeout iCMT, Farming GPS GIS, Forester GPS GIS, etc.)

For iOS devices with built-in GPS, how would one know if the app is using the external GPS or the built-in GPS?

The short answer is: Your iOS device will serve the GPS data from the external GPS (such as the Trimble R1) when the internal GPS is not actively being used.

Not to leave you in the fog, here is the long answer:

1. To make use of GPS, Location Service must be turned on under Settings and also turned on for the specific app you are using.
2. The iOS device will automatically use the internal GPS if you turn on GPS within an app while no external GPS is connected.
3. When any app is using the internal GPS, iOS cannot work with an external GPS connected to the device.
4. Therefore, to make use of the connected external GPS, you will want to turn off GPS from all running GPS apps (including the one you are actively using) then turn on GPS within the app you are actively using.
5. It will also help to turn on Airplane mode then turn on Bluetooth and make sure Location Service is active for the app. Then, the next time you turn on Airplane mode, Bluetooth will not be automatically turned off. In newer devices, Bluetooth will not be automatically turned off when you turn on Airplane mode.
6. When Bluetooth connection is lost, then iOS uses the internal GPS. This could happen randomly.

Usually, the first time you turn on GPS in the app, the device will connect with the external GPS. So to make sure the device is connected with the external GPS, turn off GPS (from the menu bar of the app such as iCMTGIS PRO) then turn it on again. Or, reconnect the Bluetooth GPS. The status maybe shown as “Connected”, but just tap on it to make it reconnect again.

What to do about ” is not compatible with this iPad”?

As an iOS update or a newer model iPhone/iPad device becomes available, third-party apps typically must also be updated for compatibility. Unfortunately, the updated app may no longer be compatible with the older device and iOS version.

If you’ve previously purchased an older version of the third-party app and wish to reload it on an older iPad device, you could try the following procedure to see if you will be able to download an older version of the app that is compatible with the older device.

1. Sign in to the App Store with the Apple ID that you used for purchasing the app.
2. Tap the Purchased tab to see the list of apps that you have purchased.
3. Tap the app name and then tap the download icon.
4. You will be asked if you want to download an older version of the app.
5. Confirm by tapping on Download.
6. After the app has been installed, check to make sure that it will run properly on your device.

iPhone + iGPSGIS II as replacement for Windows Mobile GPS data collector

“I have PCGPS 9 running on windows 10, but my old Asus hand held is caput. So I need some way to collect and display data and images in the field. I do have an I-phone. You mentioned an app that would work on my i-phone as a data collector. Could you send the name of the app. Thank you.”

The iGPSGIS II app provides GPS/GIS data collection functions and you can open the saved Job files (*.pmp) in your PC-GPS 09 software. It uses the same format for Feature Lists as PC-GPS 09.

You can download a copy of the manual for this app from

http://cmtinc.com/technical_support/MANUALS/

The file name is: iGPSGIS II Manual.pdf

iGPSGIS II costs $44.99 to download from the Apple APP Store.

iGPSGIS II uses the Apple Map by default. It cannot load *.tif background maps, but it can load *.pim images that you prepare using PC-GPS 09.

iGPSGIS II provides the ability to collect property Feature data (roads, streams, houses, etc.) using GPS. The built-in GPS of the iPhone is not that great, though. Users usually get an iOS-compatible external Bluetooth GPS receiver to pair with the iPhone. The Dual XGPS-A and Bad Elf GPS claim 2 – 5 meters real-time accuracy.

How to delete the Shapefiles from a job in the CMT GPS/GIS app?

Shapefiles contain Features. When you import the Shapefiles, the Features are added to the Job. You can highlight an unwanted Feature and use the Delete Feature tool to delete it. To delete a Topic layer, first select that layer from the Topic View panel, and then select Topic Menu > Delete Topic. This will delete all the Features on that Topic layer.

If you want to remove a set of Shapefiles from the device, then you will need to connect to iTunes to delete the Shapefiles.

Use a Feature List to capture soil profiles while recording soil sampling points

“I currently use EOS Arrow 100 and Gold in conjunction with iCMTGIS Pro in the field and PCGISX in the office. I primarily collect soil boring points. I would like to ask if there is a recommended companion application or form for me to log the soil data. I would like to enter soil profiles that relate to the collected points. I love iCMTGIS Pro but the data lines are limited for the number of characters. I am looking for something a little more robust to capture soil profiles while in the field.”

You could set up a Feature List containing a Point Topic for the sample points. For this Point Topic, add the built-in Attributes for the coordinates as well as the Attributes Depth1, Type1, Depth1, Type2, etc.
Then, each record in Sheet View will be in this format:

Feature ID Latitude Longitude Depth1 Type1 Depth2 Type2 Depth3 Type3 Depth4 Type4 . . .

You could add the Date as well, if you wish.

The built-in Attribute fields will be automatically filled in by the app.

The data in Sheet View can be exported to an Excel file.

Please watch our Training Video 5 and Video 9 to see how to create a Feature List and how to use it for data collection.

Free Online CMT GPS/GIS Training Videos on Youtube

Starting this month, we will be posting a series of the CMT GPS/GIS data collection and mapping training videos on youtube so everyone can watch them for free. If you subscribe to our channel and activate the bell, you will be notified when a new video is posted. You can also enjoy a deep discount when you purchase our PC software products.

The videos provide some background knowledge about GPS and GIS as well as details of how to use the various functions in our iOS app and the PC mapping software. These will be particular helpful for first-time GPS/GIS users as well as community college instructors and students.

The videos will be placed on the play list, the link to which is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeOCfAif-4Y&list=PLCH7FJZgPEDxGws_opfVmjCnFHbEsz61J