One of the great features in GPS2CAD is it's ability to capture the GPS points at a pre-set interval, and save the points to the point grid, to AutoCAD, or to a Microsoft Access 2000 database.

 

To use the Real Time Capture, first make a connection to the GPS unit, then click on the toolbar button "Real Time" or the drop down menu item:

 

 

The Real Time Capture window will appear:

 

 

 

Provide the requested information:

 

• Interval in minutes - enter the desired interval in minutes (or decimal fractions) that you want to capture the GPS points
• Default Name - enter a default name to use
• Auto Increment Name - checking this box will automatically add a consecutive number to the end of the Name. In most cases, leave this checked
• Default symbol - select the symbol to assign to the captured point. If you're not sure, select "Waypoint"
• Add To Grid - If you want the point to be added (appended) to the current grid, check this box. The point will appear with the coordinate translations and other information 
• Add To ACAD If you want to add the points to Your AutoCAD drawing, make sure to start AutoCAD and begin a drawing. Select the items you want to plot. Plotting points and blocks will provide the same results as plotting from the main grid. However plotting lines will  product line segments, not Lightweight polylines. If you want them as a continuous line, you must convert them to a joined polyline in AutoCAD

        

        * ACAD Zoom Extents after every point

        * ACAD Regen after every point

 

     These two settings are designed to make it easier when capturing and plotting into ACAD on short          time intervals. On occasion, you may be capturing points within seconds of each other, and place            a heavy load on AutoCAD's ability to keep up with the zooms and regens. If this becomes a                   problem, try unchecking these selections until you find a combination of zooms -regens - capture           interval that works  for your setup.

              

• Add to Access - this adds a points to an Access 2000 database. If you want to start a new database, click File New, and if you want to append to an existing database, click File Open. Note that the existing database has a specific structure and must have been created using GPS2CAD. There is a special section on capturing on Access here.

 

Once these selections are made, click Begin to start the capture.

 

The start button will switch to a pause button. Click pause if you need to temporarily pause the capture, or Cancel to stop completely.

 

Here are a few tips about using this feature:

 

You can add points to Grid, ACAD, and Access all at once if you want, or any combination of the three.

 

Try plotting lines in AutoCAD with a very short capture interval (i.e.  0.1 min) and switch to AutoCAD to watch the line grow. If you are stationary at your desk, the resulting plot shows the accuracy of your GPS unit - the shorter the lines, the more accurate.