I'm writing an article on the Kon-Tiki expedition.
The article will look much like this [1] earlier
article I did. It is in Swedish, but you get the
picture. It is not scientific or anything and what
I need is a couple of simple but clear maps: Peru,
Polynesia, and so.

I'm a CLI, LaTeX, gnuplot etc. user so it would be
cool to have a program to produce simple maps, and not
just for this article God willing.

I've heard about and installed gmt (Generic Mapping
Tools) for my Debian which seems to be exactly what
I need, but I failed to find a simple example to
execute, and the examples I did find I couldn't
execute, as I only found the scripts, not the
data files!

Even tho probably gmt is great I'm not dead set on
using that in particular.

What I would like to to is, for example, one puts in
a file that one wants a black and white PNG not bigger
than some size, showing the Pacific Ocean including
Hawaii and Easter Island, and then the program outputs
the map.

TIA :)

[1] http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/articles/latex/everest.pdf

--
underground experts united .... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573
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On 2016-03-21 18:25, Emanuel Berg wrote:

I'm writing an article on the Kon-Tiki expedition.
The article will look much like this [1] earlier
article I did. It is in Swedish, but you get the
picture. It is not scientific or anything and what
I need is a couple of simple but clear maps: Peru,
Polynesia, and so.

I'm a CLI, LaTeX, gnuplot etc. user so it would be
cool to have a program to produce simple maps, and not
just for this article God willing.

I've heard about and installed gmt (Generic Mapping
Tools) for my Debian which seems to be exactly what
I need, but I failed to find a simple example to
execute, and the examples I did find I couldn't
execute, as I only found the scripts, not the
data files!

Even tho probably gmt is great I'm not dead set on
using that in particular.

What I would like to to is, for example, one puts in
a file that one wants a black and white PNG not bigger
than some size, showing the Pacific Ocean including
Hawaii and Easter Island, and then the program outputs
the map.

Screen shot from Google Maps not good enough? You can de-saturate it in Photoshop or Gimp or whatever.


--
"But I am somehow extraordinarily lucky, for a guy with shitty luck."
..Harrison Ford, Rolling Stone - 2015-12-02

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Alan Browne <[email protected]>
writes:

Screen shot from Google Maps not good enough?
You can de-saturate it in Photoshop or Gimp
or whatever.

It is good enough in terms of quality but not the
enjoyment of work. I know it is possible to do the way
I do it, so I'm gonna keep looking...

--
underground experts united .... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573
Emacs Gnus Blogomatic ......... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/blogomatic
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In article <[email protected]>,
Emanuel Berg <[email protected]> wrote:

Alan Browne <[email protected]>
writes:

Screen shot from Google Maps not good enough?
You can de-saturate it in Photoshop or Gimp
or whatever.

It is good enough in terms of quality but not the
enjoyment of work. I know it is possible to do the way
I do it, so I'm gonna keep looking...

You can get vector representations of just about any place on earth from
Open Street Map.

<http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=5/51.500/-0.100>

You'll have to do some work to figure out how to get what you need, but
it's probably the best open-source map data that's available.

Isaac

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isw <[email protected]> writes:

You can get vector representations of just about any
place on earth from Open Street Map.

<http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=5/51.500/-0.100>

You'll have to do some work to figure out how to get
what you need, but it's probably the best
open-source map data that's available.

I found the following packs by searching for
"openstreetmap":

p openstreetmap-carto - Setup for standard OpenStreetMap Mapnik styl
p openstreetmap-carto-common - standard OpenStreetMap Mapnik stylesheet
i openstreetmap-client - OpenStreetMap client for the GNOME Desktop
p openstreetmap-map-icons-classic - Collection of map icons (classic set)
p openstreetmap-map-icons-scalable - Collection of map icons (scalable set)
p openstreetmap-map-icons-square - Collection of map icons (square set)

openstreetmap-client is all GUI. Might as well use
Google Earth.

Or do you mean I should use the data with GMT?

--
underground experts united .... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573
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I did it! :)

Here is the command to get Fatu Hiva!

gmt pscoast -R-138.75/-138.55/-10.6/-10.4 -JM6i -Pc \
-Ba0.33/a0.33/WeSn -S0/100/200 -Ggray -Dh \
-W0.1 > fatu-hiva.ps

The result (the PNG after convert(1)):

http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.png
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.ps

Still, not much of a map tho... I'll have to figure
out how to add the villages... and mountains... and
moais... and aku-akus!

But it is possible, just like I knew that it would be! :)

--
underground experts united .... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573
Emacs Gnus Blogomatic ......... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/blogomatic
- so far: 19 Blogomatic articles -

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On 2016-03-24 17:37, Emanuel Berg wrote:

I did it! :)

Here is the command to get Fatu Hiva!

gmt pscoast -R-138.75/-138.55/-10.6/-10.4 -JM6i -Pc \
-Ba0.33/a0.33/WeSn -S0/100/200 -Ggray -Dh \
-W0.1 > fatu-hiva.ps

The result (the PNG after convert(1)):

http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.png
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.ps

Still, not much of a map tho... I'll have to figure
out how to add the villages... and mountains... and
moais... and aku-akus!

But it is possible, just like I knew that it would be! :)

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/10%C2%B033'36.0%22S+138%C2%B034'12.0%22W/@-10.4932872,-138.6811578,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Is much better.

as is

https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?from=w%20138%2034%20%2C%20s%2010%2033#map=13/-10.4972/-138.6631

Much easier to use what others have done than to start from scratch.


--
"But I am somehow extraordinarily lucky, for a guy with shitty luck."
..Harrison Ford, Rolling Stone - 2015-12-02

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Alan Browne <[email protected]>
writes:

The result (the PNG after convert(1)):
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.png
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.ps
Still, not much of a map tho... I'll have to figure
out how to add the villages... and mountains... and
moais... and aku-akus! But it is possible, just
like I knew that it would be! :)

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/10%C2%B033'36.0%22S+138%C2%B034'12.0%22W/@-10.4932872,-138.6811578,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Is much better.

as is

https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?from=w%20138%2034%20%2C%20s%2010%2033#map=13/-10.4972/-138.6631

Day one is not about comparing quality to others who
have spent years on their work.

Day one is getting your foot thru the door to see if
you can bend it open. If you can, with time and very
enjoyable effort, you will be able to open the door,
*any* door, with as little effort and as much elegance
as anyone else. At that point you'll be at a position
of power and options.

That's the whole thing. Because day one using Emacs
and Gnus a kid can do more and better with Word and
his Hotmail account!

I'm now printing the GMT manual which is several
hundred pages long. There is an endless, uh, "world"
to rediscover!

Much easier to use what others have done than to
start from scratch.

Indeed, the short-ears also thought it was much easier
to wait on their backs on the beach for the coconuts
to fall down, and they had no understanding whatsoever
of the long-ears with their relentless work on them
silly stone statues...

--
underground experts united .... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573
Emacs Gnus Blogomatic ......... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/blogomatic
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On 2016-03-26 14:54, Emanuel Berg wrote:

Alan Browne <[email protected]>
writes:

The result (the PNG after convert(1)):
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.png
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.ps
Still, not much of a map tho... I'll have to figure
out how to add the villages... and mountains... and
moais... and aku-akus! But it is possible, just
like I knew that it would be! :)

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/10%C2%B033'36.0%22S+138%C2%B034'12.0%22W/@-10.4932872,-138.6811578,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Is much better.

as is

https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?from=w%20138%2034%20%2C%20s%2010%2033#map=13/-10.4972/-138.6631

Day one is not about comparing quality to others who
have spent years on their work.

One doesn't waste time on things solved (and usually better so) by others.

Day one is getting your foot thru the door to see if

<loopy fantasy talk deleted>

You're wasting your time. I have nothing against using or making my own
tools. Indeed I write all sorts of s/w for my needs (personal and
business), but only because it is unique to my needs. I don't re-invent
what has already been done. That is wasteful.

--
"But I am somehow extraordinarily lucky, for a guy with shitty luck."
..Harrison Ford, Rolling Stone - 2015-12-02

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On 2016-03-27 09:17, Richard Owlett wrote:

You're wasting your time. I have nothing against using or making
my own tools. Indeed I write all sorts of s/w for my needs
(personal and business), but only because it is unique to my
needs. I don't re-invent what has already been done. That is
wasteful.

Careful, I suspect you just agreed with him, motivation wise ;)

Not at all. He wants to re-invent what others have done quite well.

His primary goal is to write a historical paper. Getting side tracked
on s/w techniques to generate maps appears to me to be a distraction
from his goal. Were he writing a paper on generating maps that would be another kettle of fish.

--
"But I am somehow extraordinarily lucky, for a guy with shitty luck."
..Harrison Ford, Rolling Stone - 2015-12-02

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On 3/26/2016 4:44 PM, Alan Browne who may wish to have
"Everything that can be invented has been invented." attributed
to him wrote:

On 2016-03-26 14:54, Emanuel Berg wrote:

Alan Browne <[email protected]>
writes:

The result (the PNG after convert(1)):
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.png
http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.ps
Still, not much of a map tho... I'll have to figure
out how to add the villages... and mountains... and
moais... and aku-akus! But it is possible, just
like I knew that it would be! :)

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/10%C2%B033'36.0%22S+138%C2%B034'12.0%22W/@-10.4932872,-138.6811578,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0


Is much better.

as is

https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?from=w%20138%2034%20%2C%20s%2010%2033#map=13/-10.4972/-138.6631

Day one is not about comparing quality to others who
have spent years on their work.

One doesn't waste time on things solved (and usually better so)
by others.

But has the *RELEVANT* problem been solved?
I would think that it can be taken as FACT that neither Google
nor OSM were found satisfactory by Mr. Berg. This interpretation
is supported by him expending time and effort pursuing
suggestions others have made.

I suspect the phrasing of his chosen subject line, "Linux CLI
program to output simple maps" is significant. I find the use of
"CLI" and "simple" significant.

Google and OSM interfaces are as about as Gooey as they come (pun
intended;)
I don't what metric he has in mind for "simple".

When he got no response on a Linux group, I suggested posting
here as likely having more people interested in cartography, a
field for which my extensive knowledge approaches the null set.

I didn't refer him to the plethora of "how to ask a question"
sites as I couldn't think of relevant questions he should be
answering.

I think there are two questions we should ask him.
1. Why did he explicitly ask foe a "CLI program"?
2. The possibly more subtle question is "What does simple mean TO
HIM?"

Day one is getting your foot thru the door to see if

<loopy fantasy talk deleted>

You're wasting your time. I have nothing against using or making
my own tools. Indeed I write all sorts of s/w for my needs
(personal and business), but only because it is unique to my
needs. I don't re-invent what has already been done. That is
wasteful.

Careful, I suspect you just agreed with him, motivation wise ;)

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Alan Browne <[email protected]>
writes:

Careful, I suspect you just agreed with him,
motivation wise ;)

Not at all. He wants to re-invent what others have
done quite well.

Well, I'm not exactly re-inventing anything but at
this point trying to use the GMT software which seems
to be incredibly powerful but also with a flat
learning curve.

But that is often something good in the end, just like
Emacs, Gnus, LaTeX, gnuplot, and such programs with
hefty manuals (or bookshelfs) to come with them...

Here is the Fatu Hiva map at its present state:

http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/pics/fatu-hiva.png

Here is the script that generates it:

http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/conf/.zsh/map

As you see, this allows you to create a map exactly to
your liking, including the color of the sea - #006994,
sea blue. Also note the Swedish "Stilla havet"
(meaning the Pacific Ocean) - you should know even in
very professional publications in Sweden today, maps
are often in Anglo-American even if the book is not!
So I'm already better in that respect.

Only, it would feel better if GMT could put the labels
there automatically, and I know it can, only at this
point I did it manually with convert because
I couldn't make it happen with GMT and I wanted to see
how it would look...

Now, I don't hide that I'm a perfectionist and that
I enjoy fiddling for hours with such details, *but*
I actually don't like to do it more than once.
When I get Fatu Hiva right, God willing, I hope to do
considerably less work on Hiva Oe and any other island
or map I'd like. At that point, optimally it is only
a matter of making a copy of the zsh function,
renaming it, changing the coordinates and labels, and
getting the new island with minimal work to it!

An example of this principle is actually the very
articles I write. Here is the Mount Everest article:

http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/articles/latex/everest.pdf

With that article, I spent *weeks* with the LaTeX and
Biblatex and everything in between. But now, take
a look at the Kon-Tiki article (which is done, save
for the maps) -

http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/articles/kon-tiki/kon-tiki.pdf

You see? Almost identical design but this time I just
yanked the new text from a text file into the existing
LaTeX, did some adjustments, and compiled!

His primary goal is to write a historical paper.
Getting side tracked on s/w techniques to generate
maps appears to me to be a distraction from his
goal. Were he writing a paper on generating maps
that would be another kettle of fish.

Well, actually, I hope to write *tons* of these kind
of articles because they are very appreciated - to
have a program that could generate just about any map
from my fingertips would be a dream! Also maps are not
only geographical but can also show temperature,
underwater currents, you name it. It would just be an
awesome thing to have!

--
underground experts united .... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573
Emacs Gnus Blogomatic ......... http://user.it.uu.se/~embe8573/blogomatic
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