MSP GEOTRANS 3.7 (Geographic Translator)

Version 3.7 added February 29, 2016. (release notes)

• INTRODUCTION
• SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
• MSP GEOTRANS ASSISTANCE
• MSP GEOTRANS API
• MSP GEOTRANS Terms of Use
• MSP GEOTRANS Users Guide
• MSP GEOTRANS Programmers Guide
• MSP GEOTRANS RSS

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INTRODUCTION ↑

• MSP (Mensuration Services Program) GEOTRANS (Geographic Translator) is an application program which allows you to easily convert geographic coordinates among a wide variety of coordinate systems, map projections, and datums. GEOTRANS runs in Microsoft Windows, and LINUX environments; an Android app is also available that performs a subset of the conversions supported by the Windows and LINUX versions.

  DESKTOP
  
  The user interface of GEOTRANS is similar to that of a calculator.

  To convert a set of coordinates --
  

  • select the coordinate system or map projection, the datum, in which your coordinates are defined
  • enter the source coordinates
  • select the coordinate system or map projection, and the datum, to which you want the coordinates to be converted
  • click on the Convert button--the resulting coordinates will be displayed
  
  
  Because the GEOTRANS application stores your previous selections, you can convert additional coordinate sets from the same source by directly entering the new coordinates and clicking the Convert button. You can change any of the coordinate system, map projection, or datum selections at any time. Currently, there are 25 different coordinate systems, map projections, grids, and coding schemes, and 200+ datums that are supported. GEOTRANS 3.7 adds a user preference where you may choose to display heights either in units of the meter or U.S. Survey foot.

  GEOTRANS can also be used to efficiently batch convert large numbers of coordinates contained in either text files (.txt) or comma separated value files (.csv). The file format consists of a multiline file header defining the coordinate system or map projection and datum of the coordinates contained in the file. Following the header each line contains a single set of coordinates separated by commas. Using the GEOTRANS file processing interface you can: select an existing file of coordinates to be converted; define the coordinate system or map projection, and the datum to which you want to convert the coordinates; and, specify the name and location of the output file that is to be created. GEOTRANS then converts the input file and creates the output file as a single operation.

  Documentation
  

  The full user's manual can be found in the directory ./geotrans3/docs/after downloading and unzipping the file.

  The user's manual describes how to use GEOTRANS to convert coordinates both interactively and via file processing.
  

  • Section 2, Getting Started, describes how to start the GEOTRANS application, perform basic interactive coordinate conversions, and exit the application.
  • Section 3 covers interactive coordinate conversion and datum transformation in more detail.
  • Section 4 describes how to use GEOTRANS file processing capabilities.
  • Section 5 contains reference information, describing all of the windows, controls, menu items, and fields that make up the GEOTRANS user interface, as well as error conditions, and how to access the on-line help subsystem.
  • Section 6 contains a glossary and bibliography.
  • Appendix A contains brief descriptions of the coordinate systems and map projections, datums, and ellipsoids supported by GEOTRANS.

  Mobile App
  

  The MSP GEOTRANS app allows you to convert geographic coordinates among 12 coordinate systems, map projections, grids, and coding schemes and 27 datums. Optionally, the converted point can be plotted on Google Maps. The user interface of the MSP GEOTRANS app consists of several activities, including a convert activity, an activity to manage saved conversion definitions, a mapping activity, an activity to manage user preferences, and a help activity. The core activity is the convert activity.

  To convert coordinates from the convert activity --

  • select the coordinate reference frame and datum in which your coordinates are defined
  • enter any associated parameters
  • enter the coordinates in the upper/left half of the window
  • select the coordinate reference frame and datum to which you want the coordinates to be converted
  • enter any associated parameters, in the lower/right half of the window
  • click on the Convert button, and the resulting coordinates will be displayed in the lower/right half of the window.
  
  
  
  You can convert additional coordinatesets from the same source by just entering the new coordinates and clicking on the Convert button. You can change the coordinate reference frame, datum, or parameter selections at any time. Also, you can reverse the roles of input and output by using the Swap button.

  Defined configuration settings can be saved for later retrieval and use. Any saved conversion configuration can be set as the default to use when the MSP GEOTRANS App first starts.

  After converting a point, the point can be plotted on the map, along with the from or to datums. Once in the map, touching anywhere on the map will give the coordinates for that point in the chosen TO coordinate system. Additionally, the terrain elevation of each point can be displayed.

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SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS ↑

• Windows End-User (Recommended For Most Users)
  
  The Windows End-User version is intended for end-users that operate on a Windows platform. It includes everything necessary to run GEOTRANS (including online help). It does not include the source code. A Windows installer makes the installation easy and it allows the user to create a shortcut to GEOTRANS that can be placed at a specified location.
  
  Windows 7 Users: Download the desired version, double click on the install.exe file, and follow on screen instructions; your computer will be re-booted after installation.

  MSP GeoTrans 32-bit Version for Windows 7:
  

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  Windows 32-bit Self-Installer	143 MB	install.exe	d20336af4ab4660df1796c9786bd501c
  Windows Self Installation	250 KB	Windows_Self_Installation.pdf	5015708052b162ba5ca85bcb2080f3de

  
  MSP GEOTRANS 64-bit Version for Windows 7:
  IMPORTANT: Before downloading the 64-bit version, verify that 64-bit Java is installed on your system, at: C:\Program Files\Java. If you do not have 64-bit Java already installed, then download and install 64-bit Java before downloading MSP GEOTRANS, or instead download and install the 32-bit version of MSP GEOTRANS.
  
  

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  Windows 64-bit Self-Installer	143 MB	install.exe	b9079223999ee6fe492be5fcd5cb3b59
  Windows Self Installation	250 KB	Windows_Self_Installation.pdf	5015708052b162ba5ca85bcb2080f3de

• Linux End-User
  
  The Linux End-User version is intended for end-users that operate on a Linux platform. This version includes everything necessary to run GEOTRANS, including online help. This version does not include source code.

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  Linux User	138 MB	linux_user.tgz	72fce4ea4de9b7ecc90964f82f3b5968
  Linux Installation	54.6 KB	Linux_Installation_Instructions.pdf	d9ccea99c4dec9e7c8bb27e2c7e42628

• Software Developers
  
  The Software Developers version is intended for software developers. This version is available for both Windows and Linux platforms, and includes everything included in the End-Users version plus all of the source code, documentation and a programmer's guide.

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  Windows Developer	149 MB	win_dev.zip	fd2a070fc260ee9e56ff279a071617cc
  Windows Installation Instructions	49 KB	Windows_Installation_Instructions.pdf	25c4fbe809552bb5ea68520a32e3d64f
  Linux Developer	144 MB	linux_dev.tgz	a361fb718ba95a655d45dd93fda1ad95
  Linux Installation	54.6 KB	Linux_Installation_Instructions.pdf	d9ccea99c4dec9e7c8bb27e2c7e42628

• Developer MGRS Only
  
  The Developer MGRS Only version is for software developers who only need the MGRS capability. This version is available for both Windows and Linux platforms, and includes MGRS, UTM, UPS, Transverse Mercator and Polar Stereographic modules, source code and documentation. This version does not include GEOTRANS executables.

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  MGRS Windows	67.8 KB	mgrs.zip	c7c8e24090c959b0ddc7200fb9decaa2
  Windows Installation Instructions	49 KB	Windows_Installation_Instructions.pdf	25c4fbe809552bb5ea68520a32e3d64f
  Linux MGRS	40 KB	mgrs.tgz	e2895bbd409e806f6b5c0768bb86ade0
  Linux Installation	54.6 KB	Linux_Installation_Instructions.pdf	d9ccea99c4dec9e7c8bb27e2c7e42628

• Developer MASTER
  
  The Developer Master version is intended for software developers, and includes the GEOTRANS executables for all platforms, all source code and documentation. The difference between the Windows and Linux master is the zip method.

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  Windows Master	150 MB	master.zip	0e0a10da3bbc71faa5baa47a7f38abe7
  Windows Installation Instructions	49 KB	Windows_Installation_Instructions.pdf	25c4fbe809552bb5ea68520a32e3d64f
  Linux Master	146 MB	master.tgz	11ed84cba46fe8db97993ef20cf3173e
  Linux Installation	54.6 KB	Linux_Installation_Instructions.pdf	d9ccea99c4dec9e7c8bb27e2c7e42628

• MSP GEOTRANS APP
  
  The MSP GEOTRANS app is intended to be installed on Android 2.3 and later OS devices. The MSP GEOTRANS APP is available through the NGA GEOINT APP STORE on the SBU. A GEOINT Online account is required to access the GEOINT APP STORE.
  
  The MSP GEOTRANS app may be downloaded using the link below.

  Download	File Size	Filename	MD5 Checksum
  MSP GEOTRANS APP	10.5 MB	MSPGeoTrans-release.apk	2bb04911d5afdc343f4b530fe9809c60

NOTE:  If the filename is different after downloading, be sure to rename the file for decompression purposes. After downloading one of the MSP GEOTRANS files, you may optionally verify that the downloaded file exactly matches the download file stored on the distribution server by generating an MD5 digest of your downloaded file. The MD5 digest value for your downloaded file must exactly match the MD5 digest published on this web page for the files to be the same.

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MSP GEOTRAN ASSISTANCE ↑

• Having trouble starting GEOTRANS? Here are some suggestions.

If you have installed GEOTRANS and are unable to get it to start (no message given) you may need to download the MS Visual C++ Redistributable Package. This software is normally included on a computer, but system configurations do vary. Please read the instructions for installing GEOTRANS on a NETWORK DRIVE.

MS Visual C++ Redistributable Package for 32-bit user download:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5582

MS Visual C++ Redistributable for 64-bit user download:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14632


NOTE: Java 32-bit and 64-bit may be required to run MSP GEOTRANS. GEOTRANS 3.7 was built using Java JDK 1.8 update 72. The latest releases of Java can be found at Orcale.com.


Should you encounter a Windows Error 2 condition during MSP GEOTRANS install, this error usually occurs because the wrong bit-level for Java was selected. Especially with Java 1.8, the Windows environment variable for PATH is often not set correctly. You may try the following procedure to correct the condition.

1. Right click on Computer and select properties.
2. On the left panel, click on Advanced system settings.
3. At the bottom of the Advanced tab, click on Environment Variables...
4. Under the System variables, select Path and click Edit.
5. Change the Variable values for C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath to C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\<fill in your java version>\bin
6. Click Ok and exit out of the Advanced tab.


• Contact the MSP/GEOTRANS Help Desk

For assistance with MSP GEOTRANS software, including questions about source code, please contact the NGA Enterprise Service Center (ESC) at 800-455-0899 or email MSP_Help@nga.mil (Unclassified content only).

Regards,
The Coordinate Systems Analysis Team (CSAT)
GEOTRANS Project Office

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