GE-Path for Google Earth

Freeware

GE-Path received 100% CLEAN award on DownloadRoute.com

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GE-Path: Make Path for GoogleEarth Free

Freeware

v 1.4.4a

01-August-2009

This is the very same 1.4.4 version of 15 february 2009.

If you already have the application (1.4.4) running in your machine no need to update
Only the installer bug was fixed

Compatible with Google Earth version 5.0

Features

Read kml file saved by Google Earth

Link the placemarks (simple or arrowed lines)

Add sequential numbers and/or append the coordinates to the placemark's names

Calculate distances between placemarks

Calculate route (bearing) to the next placemark

Add distances, routes and/or coordinates to the placemarks description

Draw horizontal and/or vertical grids (equally spaced or not)

Draw regular polygons around placemarks

Calculate path's length/perimeter

Calculate the area delimited by several placemarks (or by path waypoints)

Save the resulting kml file and export it to Google Earth

Save data as txt (comma delimited)(v 1.3.0)

Copy from clipboard(v 1.3.0)

Export data to Excel(v 1.3.0)

Directly input edit data(v 1.3.0)

Sort and edit data(v 1.3.0)

Fill polygon(v 1.3.0)

Choose line width for path and polygon(v 1.4.0)

Automatic set (and restore on exit) the decimal separator (if necessary)(v 1.4.0)

Use of altitude for place names/icons, path and polygons(v 1.4.0)

Compatible with Google Earth version 4 (v 1.4.1)

Fixed bug for small area calculation (v 1.4.3)

Compatible with Google Earth version 5 (v 1.4.4)

Fixed ecGrid.ocx installer bug (v 1.4.4a)

The users of GoogleEarth Plus and Pro could also use it to calculate area and/or
total path distance from saved Path files (kml)

AREA FIX
The previous versions of GE-Path have a bug in the calculation of the surface's area, for small areas. This bug came from the use of a single algorithm (spherical polygons) to calculate areas of any size. The present version continue to use this algorithm for large areas calculation and made available also another algorithm for small area calculations, based on the conversion of the coordinates to UTM system . Now you choose the method: Small for areas smaller then 1000 ha (2500 acres) and Large for larger areas.

See also Technical Specifications (Area and Distance error specifications)

Download the full installer of GE-Path 1.4.4a (2900 k)
(unzip the file in a temporary folder and run setup.exe)

The bug in the installer of the application is fixed in this version (2.2.2a) thanks to the contribution of John Davies

If the installer fails to register the ecGrid.ocx control, please register it with Register Dll Tool

If you have already installed the previous version you can download only the updated executable and the help file. Unpack in the application directory and update your shortcuts.

Download updated executable 1.4.4 (73 k)

Requires vb6 runtimes and

Download previous version (GE-Path 1.4.3)

Use it just for fun.

Take a look in the Help File (gepath1_4_3.chm) (408k)

Support, bugs report / comment / suggest

Version history

Version 1.4.4a   01/08/2009
   -Installer bug fixed
Version 1.4.4   15/02/2009

   -Compatible with Google Earth 5.0

Version 1.4.3   15/08/2008
   -Fixed small areas calculation
Version 1.4.2   25/08/2007
   -Minor bugs removal
Version 1.4.1   14/06/2006
-Compatible with GE version 4 (Beta)
Version 1.4.0    24/05/2006
-Choose line width for path and polygon
-Automatic set (and restore on exit) the decimal separator (if necessary)
-Use of altitude for place names/icons, path and polygons
Version 1.3.0    19/04/2006
    - make regular polygons
    - fill polygons
    - save and read text files
    - copy from and export to Excel
   - input data directly into de application
    - sort and edit data
    - preserve accents in place names and descriptions
   - new interface
Version 1.2.03    02/03/2006
    - help file included
    - read Path file
    - option to remove placemark's names and icon
    - presents the input file name
    - added minimize button
Version 1.2.02   05/02/2006
    - fixed LookAt tag
    - few error handling routines added
Quick start
1. Create a folder in GE and create, move or copy your place marks there, or create a Path file (GE-Plus and Pro).
2. Save it as KML file;
3. Open the file with GE-Path;
4. Choose your options and click in 'Run';
5. Choose a file name when prompted and save it.

Screen

Download this sample (.kmz)

Calculate area and perimeter

Thanks to Terry Pinnell for the input Path file

Please report bugs / comment / suggest

Technical Specification

Distance

We created, in Google Earth, 22 placemarks with distances from each other ranging from 3.500 km to 6 meters. With the ruler tool, in GE, we made careful measurements. Then we have compared these measurements with the ones made with GE-Path, as presented in the figure below. You can download the Excel file with the data (coordinates and distances) presented here (The area data is also included) . You can download also the kml file with the placemarks used.

Up to 1,000 km the distance error in GE-Path is almost zero. In 3,500 km the error increases to -1% which corresponds to 35 km.

Area

We have choosen, around the world, six areas with size ranging from 200 square meters to more than 1 million square kilometers. We got the actual size of each area from information available in the internet. Each area was then measured with GE-Path. The error (%) is the difference between the actual area and the measured area divided by the actual area and multiplied by 100. You can download the Excel file with the data presented here (the distance data is also included) and the kml file with the areas coordinates.

The error ranges from -1% to 1% well distributed around the zero error line and seems to be due to the localization of the polygons (placemarks) in Google Earth.

R.Sgrillo
Cocoa Research Center (CEPLAC/CEPEC)
Ilheus, Bahia
Brasil