Excel2FV Tutorial

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(No Transcript)
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Purpose of Excel2FV

• Many agencies produce point lists of different
  data (target lists, force locations, etc.) in
  either Excel or delimited text format.
• You can manually enter that data into FalconView
  or let the Excel2FV tool do the work for you.

CAUTION The tool is NOT certified. Verify your
results!
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Getting Started

• The Excel2FV.doc file is the program and runs the
  program by using an embedded macro.
• PFPS Update Tool must be installed!

• Ensure you Macro Security is set to Medium.
• Excel2FV uses Macros to run the Visual Basic
  code.
• Go to Tools gt Macro gt Security and ensure the
  setting is Medium.

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Enable Macros

• Open the Excel2FV.doc to run the program.
• You must Enable Macros for the program to run.
• If you dont get this window then check your
  security setting
• It should be set to Medium.

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Run Macro

• Click the Convert Excel or Text File box to run
  the program for Excel and text files.
• Local Points
• Drawing Files
• For C2PC files, only a Drawing file can be
  created.

Click HERE to go to C2PC slides.
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FalconView must be open.

• Select the Import Type
• Local Point database or Drawing file
• Click the Source button and browse for the file
  you want to convert.
• Default format is an .xls file, but you
  can also choose a tab delimited
  text file.
• Select the Destination (Save
  location) of the .lpt file.

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• Once the .xls file is read, the number of
  columns will automatically adjust in the program
  to match the Excel file.

• Select the Coordinate Format your file is in.

• Cardinal direction (N/S or E/W) can be at either
  the beginning or end of numeric value.
• N45 15.6 W112 04.2
• 4515.6N 11204.2W
• 4515.6N11204.2W
• MGRS

• Specify what data is in each column.
• Use the dropdown to match ID, Lat-Long,
  Description, etc.
• Use Comments as the designation for all
  non-specific fields.
• Select Comment for your column that represents
  your Groups.
• We will specify the Groups using the Set Filters
  button.

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Setting Filters

• Click the Set Filters button to specify your
  groups.
• In the Filter Column dropdown, select
  the column number that contains your
  groups.
• Enter the Filter Text you want to filter by and
  the group name (Point Group) you want to assign
  it.
• See next 2 slides for specifics on this.
• Click Done! to apply and close.

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Filtering

• The data you are working with might only contain
  descriptions of points and not actual group
  names.
• By filtering for specific text within that
  Description column you can designate specific
  groups.

• Ex. All items in Comment 1 column that contain
  the text red (Redding, Stored, etc.) would be
  assigned to the Red group.

• There is a hierarchy of filtering based on the
  Filter number (1, 2, 3).
• Ex. If your second filter was store, then the
  comment stored would also be assigned to the
  Red group because that filter was applied first.

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Filtering

• You can search for several different strings by
  separating them with commas.
• i.e. Church, Mosque, Synagogue will group any
  record containing any of the three strings.

• You can do searches that are limited to the start
  of a string using the character.
• i.e. A search for 74 will find 74556 but not
  56474. Similarly, searching for 74 will
  search for records that end with 74 only.

• The Auto Filter button will automatically fill in
  your filter fields based on all the different
  names it finds within the designated column.
• Works for the first 1000 points.

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Filtering

• Use the Reset Filters, Groups, and Icons buttons
  to return those field values back to the default
  ones.
• The Done! button will apply all settings and
  close the window.
• Clicking on the in the top, right corner
  will do the same thing.

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Save Open Settings

• Data thats distributed on a regular basis will
  almost always stick with the same format.
• Use the Save Import Settings to save your
  settings for filters, column format, and
  coordinate format.
• Files get saved as .t2l files.
• .t2l Text 2 Local Point original program.
• Use the Open Saved Settings to open previously
  saved .t2l files.

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Create!

• Click the Create! button to create the .lpt
  file.
• You will get this message.
• If you have multiple Excel sheets or documents
  open, ensure the one that contains the points is
  the top-most one.
• Click OK.

• Import Summary Window
• Will tell you how many points were imported into
  the new .lpt file, how many failed, and how many
  were skipped.

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Verify Your Data!

• Open PFPS Database Admin
• Go to File gt Local Database gt Set Active
  Database
• At the DBA32 window, select Yes to change to new
  database.

• Select the .lpt file you just created
• Browse if saved to another location.
• Highlight a group and select Edit.
• Verify point data, check for incorrect Lat/Longs,
  etc.
• Repeat for remaining Groups.

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Display Points in FalconView

• Open Overlay Options in FalconView.
• Go to Local Points Tab.
• Check the Group Names you want to display on
  the map.
• Default is none checked.
• Adjust Display Threshold as desired.
• Check the Local Points On box and click OK to
  display points on map.

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Converting Drawing Files

• This function will create small drawing objects
  at the points.
• The process of selecting a Source, Destination,
  and designating columns remains the same as with
  Local Points.
• C2PC files (.mgc) are converted using the next
  process.

• Choose from many different shapes, colors, and
  fill types.
• A small circle designates the center of the
  object.
• With Plot CenterPoint checked.

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• Drawing specific settings get applied.
• Fill Pattern, Symbol Size, Symbol Type and Color
• Symbol Color and Type only apply if no match is
  found under Set Filters.
• Click Set Filters to set specifics for each Group.

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• Set Filter Text, Symbol Type, and Color for each
  Group.
• Click Done! when ready.
• Save settings in main GUI.
• Save Import Settings

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Drawing File Overrides

• You can designate a column that will be used to
  override the drawing defaults or import settings.
• Column can contain any or all characteristics of
  the object to override.
• 5NM green pentagon crosshatch in the designated
  column will override all defaults with these
  parameters.
• If you just Yellow crosshatch the default size
  and shape will be used and only the color and
  fill characteristics will be modified.

• Override parameters can be entered in any order.
  If multiple entries are present (blue 5NM green),
  then the last one (green) will be used.

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• Click Create! to generate the drawing file.
• When complete you will be asked if you want to
  open the new file in FalconView.
• Will launch FVW if not already open.

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Draw File Areas

• If you have multiple Lat/Longs or MGRS
  coordinates in the same cell an area will be
  generated.
• Also works with Lat/Longs in separate columns.
• Ex. If you have a Lat/Long cell with 3
  coordinates a triangle will be created.

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Using Highlighter Fill

• Be cautious when using Highlighter to fill the
  drawing areas, especially if processing a large
  number of points.
• There is a substantial loss in performance when
  highlighter is used.

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Local Point Manager

• Allows you to move or copy groups between Local
  Point files.
• Keeps your Local Point icons and links intact.
• PFPS Database Admin does not.
• Changes are applied immediately.
• No save button.

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• Use the Change button to select a current Local
  Point file.
• The New button is used to create a new Local
  Point file.
• Use the arrow buttons to copy individual groups
  or all groups. The Move button will move the
  group from one file to the other.
• Number of point and links transferred will be
  displayed each time an arrow button is selected.
• The Rename button is used to rename groups that
  are highlighted.

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Converting C2PC Files

• You now have the option of converting C2PC Magic
  (.mgc) files or C2PC Threat Export files.

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C2PC Magic Files

• The GUI is very straightforward.
• Select your Source
• (.mgc file)

• The Destination will fill in automatically based
  on the name and Save Location window selection.

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• If you want to use anything other than the
  default settings in FalconView drawings, check
  and set the 4 Font Overrides settings.
• Size
• Fore Color
• Back Color
• Box Style

• Click the Convert File! button when ready.

Click HERE to go to go back to Run Macro slide.
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C2PC Threat Export Files

• You will need to run C2PC and save the threat
  file as an .mdb file.
• Select this file as you Source.
• Enter a Destination for the resulting FalconView
  .thr (or Drawing) file.
• Click Convert File!
• Use the Geo Filtering to crop the .mdb file.

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Convert OC-135 INS Route

• The OC-135s Litton INS points are converted into
  a Local Point file.
• Helps you to rapidly create a route or display
  points in FalconView.
• Select the OC-135s INS log file (.ins) as your
  Source.
• Click Import Points!

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JSTARS Mission Report Converter

• Translates the JSTARS Mission Reports into a
  Drawing file.
• Save the JSTARS mission report Word document as a
  text file then use this tool to import all the
  JSTARS mission reports as a FalconView drawing
  file.

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Any Questions???
Questions or Comments to paul.hastert_at_pentagon.af.
mil or paul.hastert_at_af.pentagon.smil.mil or
Pablo_at_mc130.com or paul.hastert_at_psab.af.smil.mil
(please send example files if any problems are
found)