Preparation and creation of digital classifier

Creating process of the digital classifier starts from preparatory works, during execution of which you define view, base scale and assignment of digital map, for which classifier is created, list of created conventional symbols, their style, list of the characteristics, division onto layers, way of coding and so on.

There are standard classifiers of the topographic information: for maps and plans of scale 1: 500 - 1: 10000 and for maps of scale 1: 25000 - 1: 1000000. These classifiers can be used as a base at definition of objects structure, image of conventional symbols appropriate to them, way of objects coding and their characteristics. At creating of digital maps and plans special-purpose (navigation ones, geologic ones, design ones, tourist ones etc.) for identification of species of conventional symbols it is recommended to use appropriate paper maps.

Digital classifiers are stored in RSC format or archived in RSCZ format. The technology for creating the RSC classifier is described in the document «Applied tasks. Editor of classifier».

The following information should be collected as an execution result of preparatory works:

For description of  map layers (segments):

- layer name, any unique value;

- alias (short name) of the layer (up to 32 characters);

- key (16 characters), any unique value;

- unique number of layer (from 1 up to 256);

- order (priority) at displaying on the screen, plotter etc. (from 0 up to 255 - first layer will be covered by subsequent layers).

For description of map objects:

- object name;

- alias (short name) of the object (up to 32 characters);

- key (up to 32 characters), any unique value;

- classification code of the object (11 signs);

- type of localization (line, polygon, point, title, vector, mixed);

- layer number;

- digitizing direction;

- scalable (dependence of the object's image from a scale);

- visibility boundaries of object (in a scale range);

- list of the mandatory semantic characteristics;

- list of the optional semantic characteristics;

- list of the characteristics, value of which one influences onto style of the object at its displaying, and ranges of values giving one style;

- samples of conventional symbols, appropriate to the object.

Editing external view.

For description of semantic characteristics:

• Semantics name (up to 32 characters);

• Key (up to 16 characters);

• Classification code of the characteristic (from 1 up to 65535);

• Type of value. The following types are available:

— Character string — Text field of arbitrary length (names, descriptions, comments).

— Numeric value — Integer or real number (height, width, area, etc.).

— Object reference — Stores the identifier (ID) of another map/layer object.

— Passport file name — Reference to a map passport file (usually *.map).

— Text file name — Reference to a text file (*.txt).

— Graphic file name (BMP, JPG, PNG) — Path to a raster image.

— Classifier code (dictionary) — Value from a system dictionary/classifier.

— Registered file type name — Reference to a file in the system.

— Date — Field for storing a date (DD.MM.YYYY).

— Angular value (rad.) — Numeric value in radians (e.g., azimuth).

— Time — Storage of time (HH:MM:SS).

— Font — Attribute specifying a font (typeface, size, and style).

— Color — Color as a code (RGB).

— Programmable formula — Code/formula executed in the system (script).

— Character formula — Formula that calculates a text value.

— Numeric formula — Formula that calculates a numeric result.

— GUID — Unique global identifier.

— Reference to a folder with files — Path to a directory on the disk.

• Unit of measurement (7 characters);

• Minimum, maximum, and default values of the characteristic - common for all objects;

• Repeatability attribute of the characteristic (if it can have multiple values for one object).

For description of the classifier of semantic characteristics values:

- classification code of the characteristic (from 1 up to 65535);

- classification code of the characteristic's value (from 1 up to 65535);

- value of characteristic (up to 32 characters).

For the description of palette:

- color;

- palettes name.

For description of used fonts:

- fonts name;

- codepages.