Available terrain databases and recommended folder names:
The V-Soft Communications 03 arc-second terrain database comes on a CD ROM. It is recommended that this U.S.G.S. terrain elevation database should be installed to a drive of your choice in a folder called "V-Soft\3sec". The new NED 03 second database usually resides in a NED03 folder. The 30 meter NED terrain elevation database can have its own folder. The 03 arc-second Alaska data should be set up within a folder called "V-Soft\Alaska03". The new NED Alaskan 03-arc second terrain elevation database can be installed in a NED03 folder.
The 30 second NGDC terrain should be installed to a folder called "V-Soft\VSData." The 30 second Canadian/Mexican or NW quadrant world data must be placed in a subfolder called NW. This folder can be located within any main folder of the users choice. (Note also that the folder above the "NW" folder must contain the indexing file called "g30info.dat" and that the database is only accessible through the :direct access" method.)
For 3 arc-second world satellite terrain (SRTM) use a folder called SRTM at the location of your choice.
Choose a radio button that represents the digital terrain database you are using. We recommend the use of the at least the three arc-second terrain database over the 30 arc-second for all paths due to the better resolution.
Use the "North" radio button for doing studies in the upper half of the American hemisphere. Use "South" for studies south of the equator. The "East" button can be used for locations in the Eastern hemisphere. The "West" button is used for locations in the western hemisphere including Asia.
Click "Shade Terrain" to cause the terrain on the screen and printed graph to be shaded.
The 0-9 scroll button adjusts the graph line thickness. Some times the graph looks too thin when the plot is sent to Adobe Acrobat, so in these cause you should use a higher setting on the Draw Width scroll.
Click the "Save" button to save the location of the drive to your computer's registry.
For each terrain database in use there will be an associated VTD server. These servers must be located within the same folder to which PLOTPATH has been installed. For new users these servers will be installed with the PLOTPATH installation. Older PLOTPATH installations will require upgrading the PLOTPATH.EXE and adding the VTD servers to the operating folder.
The TEST button can be used to test whether a given terrain database is operating properly. Just click the button. If the access routine it working properly you will see "OK" in the text box next to the button. If you see "Not OK" you will need to check to see whether your paths to the databases are valid and whether you have the correct VTD file installed. There are also warning messages the program will display when it does not have access to the correct terrain.