In this blog we show you how to save not-smoothed contours in a separate .ocd file and load it as background map to improve performance and interaction.

Introduction

OCAD offers great possibilites for generating useful outputs from LiDAR data, as we recently noted in a blog post. A key feature is the generation of smoothed and not-smoothed contour lines.

Unlike relief shading or vegetation maps, OCAD does not generate raster background maps for contours; instead, it generates vector objects that you can edit and that are saved directly in the map file.

When generating not-smoothed contours, the file size can quickly increase. This may lead to display delays if you want to show or hide the contours. Additionally, exchanging data with the OCAD App will become more cumbersome.

Therefore, it can be a good idea to save not-smoothed contours in a separate .ocd file and load it as background map.

Step-by-step instructions

• Select the not-smoothed contour symbols in the symbol box (use the CTRL-key to select multiple symbols at once) and export them to a new .ocd file with the Map > Export Objects by Selected Symbols function.

• After exporting, right-click the selected symbols in the symbol box and Delete them. You will be asked to delete the assigned objects as well, what you need to confirm.

• Now only the smoothed contours are left in our map file, which you can Reshape were needed.

• Go to menu Background Map > Open to open the exported not-smoothed contours as a background map.

• Run the Optimize/Repair command in the Map menu to reduce the file size.

Advantages

• Not-smoothed contours can be shown or hidden more quickly in OCAD Desktop and in the OCAD App.
• The transparency of not-smoothed contours can be easily adjusted.
• Not-smoothed contours are always in the background and do not obscure other map objects.
• File size is significantly reduced.
  PS: You find more tips to reduce the file size in this blog post.