Discover the Ultimate Geoprocessing Toolbox!
All the advanced features you need in a low-cost, unbelievably
versatile program
There
has never been a more comprehensive, powerful, all-in-one
software solution that provides an easy-to-use and intuitive
user interface for digitizing, geographic referencing, reprojection,
tiling, and mosaicking. Didger solves the problem of combining
data files in different coordinate systems, by providing extensive
tools to transform the data into one cohesive coordinate system.
You can use Didger to precisely convert paper maps, graphs,
aerial photographs, or any other plotted information into
a versatile digital format that you can use with other software.
Didger can create new maps from the ground up or edit any
map, drawing, image, or data set imported into it.
We have
compiled a list of the top new features in Didger 4. This
list is only a small sampling of the new features added to
Didger 4.
One
Project Type!
Import all your data and perform all the functions necessary
in one easy-to-use project. Didger has been streamlined so
you can do all your work in one project type without the need
for tedious exporting and importing!
User
Interface Enhancements!
Didger has been redesigned to make it even easier and faster
to use! Changes in properties can be seen immediately on the
screen after they are made, you can change the visibility
of individual objects with the click of a button, and the
enhanced Layer Manager allows all options to be quickly accessible.
You can customize the toolbars and menus, and choose from
6 different application appearances!
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The
user interface has been completely redesigned to
make it as easy as possible to access your layers
and edit your objects! The Layer Manager has been
enhanced with a new toolbar, the Property Inspector
allows you to make edits to object properties and
see the results immediately in the plot window,
and you can change the display units of your project
with just a few clicks in the Coordinate Manager!
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Automatically
Vectorize Your Image!
Save time and headaches by letting Didger do your meticulous
polyline and polygon digitizing! With just a few clicks, Didger
will accurately and effortlessly digitize your image for you.

A contour map was scanned, saved as a grayscale image,
and imported into Didger 4 (left).
The image was automatically vectorized to red polylines (right).
Free
USGS TerraServer Topo Map and Aerial Photograph Imagery!
Didger 4 includes the astounding ability to link directly
to the USGS TerraServer database and download satellite imagery
and topographic maps of the United States free of charge!
Simply select the area of interest and the images are imported
directly into your project and automatically georeferenced!
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Automatically download and import georeferenced
aerial photographs and topographic maps from the
USGS TerraServer database directly into your Didger
project! Simply select the location and import!
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New
Versatile Image Calibration!
There are more ways than ever to import and calibrate your
images. Calibrate an image either by entering coordinates
manually or by simply clicking on points in your existing
project! Alternatively, you can import the image un-referenced
so you can move it around your project with your mouse! Your
images have never looked so good!
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We
have streamlined the image calibration procedure
so that it is more intuitive and faster than ever
to calibrate your images. You can choose to calibrate
an image based off three or more points that you
can enter, or you can simply tie points in your
image to locations in your current project!
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Large
Image Handling and MrSID Compatibility!
Didger 4 contains the most sophisticated and advanced image
handling routines so you do not run out of memory when working
with large image files! Importing multiple images and creating
large mosaics and coverages is a snap. You even have the
option to directly import MrSID files, making it even easier
to work with large images!
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Create and export large image coverages easily
with Didger 4! Improved memory handling
gives you the most control when using many large
images at once. In this example, seventeen USGS
Digital Ortho Quarter Quads (DOQQs) were overlaid.
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Wrapped
Polylines for Digitzing Well Logs!
Digitize your entire well log in one step, including the
wrapped portions! Didger gives you the power to digitize
logs that have curves off scale!
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Easily digitize wrapped polylines from well
logs! With a press of a button, you can toggle
between two different scales.
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More
Attributes for Your Data!
Import and export all of your data! Didger now supports up
to 256 data attributes per object to give you even more control
of your data.
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Create up to 256 attribute fields and name them
anything you wish and for your Didger project! Specify
any of the attribute fields to be the Z-level field
for exporting to Surfer or to a 3D DXF or SHP file.
You can even save the attribute definitions to a
file for use in other projects!
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Surfer
Compatibility!
Now it is easy to see your maps the way you want them! Automatically
digitize contour or other 3D data in Didger and send them
directly into Surfer with a click of a button to change contour
properties, overlay with 3D terrain surfaces, DEM files, or
other 3D imagery. Didger also makes it easy to directly convert
the projection Surfer GRD or DEM files, so you can have all
your maps in the same coordinate system in Surfer!

Digitize your information, recording the Z value and automatically
create colorful contour,
image, or shaded relief maps in Surfer!
Easily
and Consistently Format All Objects On A Layer!
Set the drawing properties in any layer to be based on a keyword
or numeric range found in one of your ID fields! Now you do
not have to go through the time consuming process of repeatedly
selecting or creating certain objects and assigning the same
properties to them. It has never been this easy to create
consistent looking projects!
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Choose
to format all objects on any selected layer the
same way! In the example above, all objects will
be formatted based on their Primary ID value.
All objects with a Primary ID of “forested areas”
will be formatted using the fill, line, and symbol
properties shown to the right. Just select the
Primary ID in the list on the left and choose
properties for that group of items on the right.
You can add or remove items from the list on the
left, or you can have Didger automatically create
the list! Save the formatting specifications to
a file for use with other projects!
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New
Fill Patterns and Line Styles!
Create your project exactly the way you want! Fill areas with
one of the new picture or USGS fill patterns, use one of the
many new line styles.

Customize your project by choosing one of over 150
new line styles and/or one of over 230 new fill patterns!
Convert
a Polyline to a Polygon with a Shared Border!
Easily create a polygon with a shared border! Simply draw
the first polygon, then use a polyline to define the next
polygon. Use the “Polyline to a Polygon with Shared Border”
command to convert the polyline to a second polygon! The shared
border will be automatically created.

Easily convert a polyline to a polygon with a shared border
to another polygon!
| Additional
New Features |
| Import/Export
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- Import/Export
3D DXF files
- Import
LAS files
- Import
grid files (DEM, DTED, GRD, HDR) as point data
- Import
MrSID and ECW
- Export
multi-line LAS files
- Export
in HTM format with working hyperlinks
- Export
in PDF format
- Export
projected data in Lat/Long units
- Specify
DPI of exported GeoTIFFs
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| Image
Options |
- Extract
Image Region retains georeferencing
- Replace
pixel colors on an image
- Resize
an imported image
- Mosaic
images into a single image
- New
image processing techniques (Edge Detection, Image
Thinning, Image Erosion and Dilation)
- Reduce
the number of colors in an image
- Convert
an image to black and white
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| Tools
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- Create
Intersection Points
- Convex
Hull
- Divide
Polygons
- Difference
of Polygons
- Convert
a set of points to a polyline, and vice versa
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| New
Object Type |
- Spline
polylines
- Spline
polygons
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| Editing
Options |
- Assign
elevations to a range of polyline objects
- Set
attributes by assigning new data attributes by selecting
the objects
- Block
select
- Rotate
vector and text objects
- Align
functions
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| Calibration/Projections
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-
Save
and load calibration points to/from a data file
-
Save
and load projection settings to/from a GSR file
-
New
projections and datums
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| Other
Enhancements |
- Zoom
and scroll the plot window while digitizing
- The
Coordinate Conversion dialog has some new capabilities
to define a new destination coordinate system
- Improved
selection handling
- Select
from a list a different digitizing cursor shapes
and colors
- Enhanced
graticule and grid settings
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| And
many more! |
Uses
for Didger
Start
processing your data quickly and accurately with Didger. Some
applications for Didger include:
- digitizing
points, polylines, and polygons, such as oil and gas wells,
monitoring wells, wireline logs, graphs, contour lines,
aerial photographs, satellite images, seismic lines, roads,
property boundaries, buildings, sample locations, faults,
rock formations, vegetation boundaries, and animal habitats
- calculating
areas of polygons, such as watershed or lake areas
- calculating
lengths of polylines, such as shorelines, roads, streams,
or migratory routes
- georeferencing
and/or mosaicking aerial photos or scanned images
- converting
the projection of scanned images, vector files, data files,
or Surfer GRD or DEM files
- overlaying
vector, data, and image files to create a complete map
- and
much more!
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Didger makes it easy to quickly extract the data
you need from images. Import an image, such as a
USGS Digital Raster Graphic, and Didger can automatically
pick out and digitize the contour lines in seconds
(digitized in yellow above). Assign elevations to
the contours and with just a few clicks import the
contour data directly into Surfer as a colorful
and customizable contour map, ready to overlay or
combine with other data.
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Digitize any map, graph, aerial photo, site map,
or printed image regardless of size using any Wintab
compatible tablet, or scan it in and digitize it
onscreen! For example, import and calibrate a scanned
image of a well log and digitize the log information,
including any wrapped portions of the log! Easily
export the digitized data to an LAS file.
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Mosaic multiple large USGS Digital Ortho Quarter
Quads (DOQQs) and overlay them with other imported
information, such as hydrography (blue) and road
(orange) data. Reproject files on import so all
your data is in one cohesive coordinate system.
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Georeference images in Didger and digitize information
directly on the image. Change the projection of
the entire project and add graticule lines to ensure
your data is presented at its best. Digitized data
can be exported to all industry standard vector
files such as SHP, MIF and DXF.
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Digitizing
Options
The process
of creating new digital information often starts with a paper
map, graph or log, or a digital image such as an aerial photo,
satellite imagery or scanned paper map. Didger provides an
easy and complete solution to digitize vector data from your
source documents and files by using a powerful set of manual
and automatic tools. You can digitize text, points, polylines,
polygons, rectangles, circles, spline areas, spline polylines,
and wrapped polylines. Didger supports four ways to digitize
information:
1.
Full Automatic Digitizing! Didger supports advanced
raster to vector conversion for automated map digitizing!
This means that one command will automatically convert your
scanned map, image, or drawing to vector formats quickly and
at high quality. This eliminates the need for slow and inaccurate
manual digitizing of detailed lines – let Didger do it for
you! The lines and polygons are extracted and displayed right
on top of the image for you to verify and edit. Didger also
boasts a full line of preprocessing options for finer control
over the vectorization process so you can get the best possible
results!

A georeferenced USGS Digital Raster Graphic was imported
into Didger 4 (left).
The contour lines were detected and automatically vectorized
to red polylines (right).
2.
Manual Onscreen Digitizing! You can perform
onscreen digitizing using an imported vector file or imported
image file. Performing heads-up digitizing has never been
easier. You simply draw the object on the screen using your
mouse. You can zoom in and out, or pan the screen while digitizing
so you can always see clearly what you want to digitize.

In this example, the boundary of the Modoc Plateau
in Northern California being digitized in blue from a
calibrated raster image of the geology of California.
3.
Tablet Digitizing! You can digitize hard copy
documents using any Wintab32 compatible digitizing tablet.
Nearly all digitizing tablets work with Didger. Simply put
the document on the tablet, step through the intuitive Tablet
Calibration Wizard to define a coordinate system, and you
are ready to go!

You can digitize paper documents with a
digitizing tablet and a puck or stylus.
4.
GPS Digitizing! Any NMEA compatible GPS device
connected to your computer's serial port can be used as a
digitizing device in Didger. Once the GPS is set up to communicate
with Didger, you can begin digitizing over any map. Use the
GPS for a "moving map" effect to automatically move
the map as you travel. You can use your GPS unit to digitize
your position, well locations, fence lines, roads, streams,
drainage lines, tree lines, crop boundaries, sample locations,
trails, or track your route real-time directly onto your map!
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Digitize points, polylines, and polygons with
your GPS unit! View your current elevation, see
the current position of the satellites that are
being used for a lock, display the raw data being
sent from the GPS, and set the GPS input datum in
the GPS Commander dialog box.
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Versatility
Compatibility!
Didger 4 is tremendously flexible. Didger supports over 40
import file formats and exports in over 25 file formats to
make sure you can import and export your data in the formats
you need. Create large coverages easily by importing several
vector, data, or image files into one project. The files will
align according to their coordinate systems. Import or export
multi-line LAS files, export as a PDF file, or export as an
HTM file with working hyperlinks to publish your maps on the
web for browsing by anyone.
Object
Editing! We know creating and editing data is
very important to you, so we have made every effort to make
it as easy and efficient as possible! Change color, line styles,
fill patterns, symbol size, and font properties with just
a few clicks. Polylines can be created, moved, joined, resampled,
split, removed, trimmed, colored, and labeled. Closed polygons
are formed easily from existing polylines with the polygon
editing tools. Convert points to polylines, polylines to polygons,
and vice versa. Each object has its own invisibility control,
so you can create any type of map, showing only the data you
want without actually removing data from your project. You
can also assure you have all the information you need by creating
up to 256 identification attributes per object!
Layers!
Keep your project organized by importing and creating data
for different themes onto different layers! Didger’s Layer
Manager makes managing the layers easy – including moving
objects between layers, renaming the layer, turning the layer
on or off, and locking the layer so that you cannot accidentally
edit or move items on that layer. Data editing and handling
is easier than ever!
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Organize your data easily by separating components
onto different layers. The Layer Manager makes accessing
and editing layer properties easy!
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Working
with Images
Images
are powerful visualization tools, whether they are aerial
photographs, scanned geologic maps, or company logos. Didger
makes working with images simple and uncomplicated.
TerraServer
images! Didger 4 includes the astounding ability
to link directly to the USGS TerraServer database and download
satellite imagery and topographic maps free of charge! Simply
select the area of interest and the images are imported into
your project and automatically georeferenced!
Tremendous
flexibility when importing images! Whether you
import one image, or mosaic multiple images together,Didger
makes it easy for you. You can import georeferenced images
that are imported automatically in the correct locations,
you can import images which you can georeference upon import,
or you can import images which you can drag and drop anywhere
in your project. For example, you can import georeferenced
TerraServer images of your project area directly into Didger,
combine it with some new aerial photography that you georeferenced
in Didger, and then add a company logo or small reference
map and place it in the corner of the project.
Clip
your images! Didger offers more options than
ever to clip your images to the extents you need. Import multiple
adjacent USGS DRG files and automatically clip off the collars
to seamlessly view the entire map. You can also simply draw
a polygon and clip your image(s) to that polygon. If you make
a mistake, or want to see the entire image again, you can
always remove the clipping. If your image is very large and
you only need a small portion of it, you can permanently crop
the image.

Two adjacent USGS DRG files were imported into Didger and
a polygon outlining the area of
interest was digitized on top in blue (left). The collars
were clipped from the DRGs
and the images were clipped again to the polygon (right).
Powerful
Image Processing! There are many useful image-editing
tools available in Didger to use on an imported image. You
can select up to 256 colors to be transparent in an image
so you can view objects behind the image, change a selected
color to any other selected color, convert the color depth
of an image, change the number of colors in an image, sharpen
images to emphasize details and aid in restoring them to a
more enhanced state, “blur” the image so that major details
are seen more easily and background noise and other anomalies
are removed, filter the image to help accentuate spatial details,
and adjust the contrast, brightness, and saturation of the
image to fine tune the visibility of the image. You can also
convert an image to grayscale or black and white, which is
useful when the file size is very large because these color
modes reduce the memory overhead and allows the program to
process information more quickly.
Large
image handling and MrSID compatibility! Improved
technology is making large image files increasingly common.
Didger 4 contains the most sophisticated and advanced image
handling routines to import and export large image. Didger
also allows direct import of MrSID files, making it even easier
to work with large images!
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Import high resolution MrSID files seamlessly
into Didger! In this example, four 1-meter
resolution MrSID files were imported. Utilization
of the image includes identifying areas obscured
by trees or vegetation that require additional field
survey, digitizing the centerlines of roads, property
boundaries, etc., and exporting to a DXF or geo-referenced
image file to be used by other software for flight
planning and target placement.
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Create and export large image coverages easily!
In this example, seventeen USGS Digital Ortho
Quarter Quads (DOQQs) were overlaid, ready to be
digitized or overlaid with other vector data.
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Easy
Image Georeferencing
Didger’s
fast and easy georeferencing process makes it possible to
rapidly convert un-referenced images and scanned paper documents
to real world coordinate systems (e.g., UTM, State Plane,
Latitude/Longitude) for use in Didger or other GIS programs.
Use a
set of control points or point locations in your existing
project to georeference a new image. Simply pick three or
more points on the image, assign coordinates to those points,
assign a projection and datum if applicable, and import! If
you don’t know the coordinates of any points on the image
but you know where in the project the image is supposed to
be, you can simply choose points on the image and tie them
to the corresponding locations in your existing project! It’s
that simple!

Registering an image has never been easier! Simply enter
the calibration points,
click on the image and it is ready to load into your project!
Didger
also gives you more options than ever to make sure the georeferencing
of your image is of the highest quality! You can choose one
of 10 spatial transformation methods to give you the most
precise georereferencing possible. Didger automatically calculates
and reports the root-mean-square (RMS) error value for immediate
evaluation of the georeferencing accuracy. When the georeferenced
image is loaded into your project, the image is warped to
eliminate any distortion, so that the georeferencing matches
the calibration exactly! There’s no better way to georeference
your images!
Once an
image is georeferenced and loaded into Didger, you can overlay
it with other spatial data, digitize information from it,
tile it with other georeferenced images, or export it to a
georeferenced image format for use in other programs. Didger
imports and exports industry standard GeoTIFF, Blue Marble
RSF, Golden Software GSR, ESRI PRJ, and ESRI World (TFW, JGW)
referencing files.
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A georeferenced satellite image was overlaid
with a data file of sample locations and vector
files of roads and contours.
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Didger is not just for maps! Digitize any plotted
information, such as graphs or well logs, from a
digitzing tablet or scanned image. For example,
the six curves in the above scanned graph were digitized
in green, ready for export!
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Vector
Based Maps and Data Files
With Didger
you can import a variety of vector based maps and data files
in many formats. Create large coverages easily by importing
several vector or data files into one project. The files will
align according to their coordinate systems. Digitize new
features onto an existing vector plot from your digitizing
tablet and map, or digitize onscreen. Change line styles,
object IDs, and add labels to objects with ease. Even import
different files onto separate layers!
If the
files are projected and contain different projection information,
they will be converted to the projection of the first imported
file using a datum transformation. You can also convert vector
or data files from one projection to another.

This graphic shows three vector files and a data file imported
into Didger in the Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area projection.
Map
Projections, Datums and Coordinate Conversion Options
Didger
makes it easy to assign or change the projection and/or datum
of your data, vector, or image files from one coordinate system
to another. For example, in a few simple steps you can convert
latitude/longitude data to State Plane data, State Plane data
to UTM data, or convert your data from NAD27 to NAD83. You
can import multiple data sets into your current Didger project
and Didger converts the projection of the files automatically
during import to match that of the current project; or, you
can convert the projection of data sets individually, save
them in the new projection, and use them in other applications.
It has never been this easy to seamlessly combine all your
information.
Didger
supports 29 popular projections and allows you to specify
settings for each projection appropriate to your data set.
Didger’s datum dictionary contains the definitions of over
250 datums used around the world. You can even create your
own custom datum and add it to the datum list! When defining
a custom datum, you can select one of 56 ellipsoid definitions
or define your own ellipsoid, and choose between Molodensky
and Bursa Wolfe datum transformation methods. Save projection
parameters and custom datum settings to a file and load it
the next time you want to use the same settings! This saves
you time so you don’t have to keep manually entering the same
settings for each project.
In addition
to projection and datum transformations, Didger can also convert
coordinates of vector and data files by utilizing either a
math or georeference operation. If you just want to shift
your data coordinates by 50 meters, simply use the math operation
to add 50 meters to all the coordinates in your project. You
can add, subtract, multiple, and divide your X and/or Y coordinates
using any constant value. Alternatively, if you know real
world coordinates of specific points in your vector files,
you can use the advanced georeferencing operation. Simply
click on the source location, enter the destination coordinates,
and Didger’s georeferencing methods will convert the current
project into the new coordinate system. It’s that easy!
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Create stunning world maps in a variety of projections
to convey your information easily. The graphic above
uses the Equidistant Conic projection.
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Surfer
Compatible
Now it
is easy to see your maps the way you want them! Automatically
digitize contour or other 3D data in Didger and send them
directly into Surfer with a click of a button to change contour
properties, overlay with 3D terrain surfaces, DEM files, or
other 3D imagery. Didger also makes it easy to directly convert
the projection Surfer GRD or DEM files, so you can have all
your maps in the same coordinate system in Surfer!

Digitize your information, recording the Z value and automatically
create colorful contour,
image, or shaded relief maps in Surfer!
Advanced
Editing Features
- Convert
the coordinates of your entire project.
- Set
individual objects to be visible/invisible.
- Thin
and smooth objects.
- Reshape
objects by adjusting individual nodes.
- Resample,
connect, break or trim polylines.
- Convert
polygons to polylines and vice versa.
- Convert
points to polylines and vice versa.
- Break
polylines at intersections.
- Create
points at each polyline and/or polygon intersection.
- Convert
a polyline to a polygon with a shared border.
- Create
a polygon by automatically tracing around the outside of
a group of overlapping or adjacent polygons.
- Create
a polygon from the common area of selected polygons.
- Subtract
the overlapping portions of selected polygons.
- Divide
a polygon with a polyline.
- Create
a new polygon that surrounds all selected objects.
- Create
polygons by locator or by ID.
- Snap
polylines together.
- Snap
undershoot or trim overshoot polylines.
- Remove
duplicate objects or polylines by length.
- Combine,
split, and/or reverse islands and lakes.
- Customize
objects with full line, symbol, fill and font libraries.
- Rotate
objects.
Import
and Export Formats
Many sophisticated
import and export filters come with Didger, simplifying the
transfer of your data and images to and from your other applications.
Spatially
Referenced formats: GeoTIFF, TFW, PRJ, GSR, RSF
Import
formats: BLN, BMP, BNA, CLP, CSV, DAT, DCX, DXF, 3D DXF,
DDF, DEM, DLG, DTED, E00, ECW, EMF, EPS, Georeferenced TIF,
GIF, GRD, GSB, GSI, HDR, JPG, LAS, LGO, LGS, MIF, PCT, PCX,
PLT, PNG, SID, SHP, SLK, TIF, TGA, TXT, W??, WMF, WPG, XLS
Export
formats: BLN, BMP, BNA, CLP, CGM, DAT, DCX, DXF, 3D DXF,
EMF, EPS, Georeferenced TIF, GIF, GSB, GSI, HTM, JPG, LAS,
MIF, PCT, PCX, PDF, PNG, SHP, TGA, TIF, WMF, WPG
Important
News about Digitizing Tablets
Nearly
all digitizing tablets work with Didger. If you already have
a tablet, Didger requires a 32-bit WinTab compliant digitizing
tablet driver, available from most tablet manufactures (for
no charge) or from third party vendors.
If you
don’t currently own a tablet, you shouldn’t be discouraged.
The price of new, high-resolution digitizing tablets is astonishingly
low. And with Didger’s capabilities, large maps are easily
digitized in a single project so even smaller tablets work
quite well.
- Windows
2000, XP, Vista, and higher
- 100
MB of free hard disk space
- 512
MB RAM minimum, 1 GB or higher recommended for large images
- 1024
x 768 x 16-bit color minimum monitor resolution
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