Loading an Existing Map into OCAD

Scenario

• You've been asked to set a park-street course
• Someone has sent you a park-street map in OCAD format or as a graphic
• The rest is up to you (Not really - just ask for help...lots of people are willing to teach/mentor new course setters)

Overview of the Process

• We have produced a blank OCAD map (we've called it "a framework") that you can start with - we've removed all the seldom-used stuff to make it as simple as possible. 
   
• OCAD lets you use an OCAD or graphic (JPG, BMP, GIF etc) as a template. You load the template into the framework as a background to your map and then just drop the start triangle, control circles/numbers and controls descriptions over the top.
   
• When you're happy with your map - you save it and print it out. If you plan to photocopy your map, please be sure to test that the copy coming out of your printer photocopies well - the main issue here is that the background is clear - that there is a clear contrast between what is runnable and what is not.

Here's How...

Download the sample OCAD Framework

This can be obtained from the OCAD pages on the street-O website - just click here

Open OCAD and load the Framework

• Start up OCAD (the instructions assume OCAD 8 - but should be reasonably applicable to other versions)
• Load the sample framework
• Select File > Open   -   the normal Windows a file open dialogue box appears; locate the framework and open it (the file will be called StreetO Course Setting Framework.ocd - look in the directory you saved it to).
• Press Open - the dialogue box disappears and the framework is loaded.
• A brief tour of the framework:
  • This is little more than a 1:10,000 map with many of the bush-orienteering symbols removed
  • We've left:
    • Start triangle (with colour changed to BLACK for good contrast on black and white map)
    • Control Circle (coloured black + dot in the centre)
    • Control Numbers (also black)
    • A couple of Line Types - useful for drawing boxes, dividing lines etc
    • A couple of area fills - to mark areas of your map that you don't want people to go into (e.g. out of bounds or dangerous ground).
    • A selection of text types - of various sizes

Open the supplied StreetO Map as a template

If you want to make map changes, you could open the supplied OCAD file directly; it is, however, much safer to open it as a template. Doing this protects you from inadvertently changing map content/scale in a way that might cause issues when your event is run.

• Select Template > Open from the menu

Opening a JPEG

• If the map is in a format other than OCAD (e.g. Corel, Illustrator, Photoshop), then this is the way to go.
• When opening a bitmap file, OCAD has no information about resolution or orientation of the map.
• The dialogue box below appears to obtain this information
  
   
• If you know the resolution, enter it. If not, enter 300 and press OK.
• The imported template will be displayed on the screen

Opening an OCAD File

• If your streetO coordinator/mapper has provided an OCAD file, things are even easier...just find/select the file provided to you.
• OCAD files contain all of the above information and the file will be displayed immediately.

Viewing the Template File

• Use the toolbar or View > Entire Map to see the complete file that has been loaded
• To place controls with more accuracy use the magnifying glass with the plus sign on it to zoom into the area required

Related Functions

• Placing Controls on the Map
• Moving a Control
• Deleting a Control
• Placing Control Numbers on the Map
• Putting Control Descriptions or Text on the Map
• Deleting unwanted stuff from the map
• Printing the map
• Checking the Scale
• Course Setting Hints