ER Mapper Basics

Getting started in ER Mapper

When ERMapper opens you'll get a "tip of the day" and this main program menu box.

Opening Example Algorithms

First, let's open a sample algorithm so you can see how they work. You will see the ERMapper window with two default toolbars. Move the mouse over the upper row of the toolbar until you're on the picture of an open folder; the bottom of the panel should now read "Open Algorithm into Image Window." Click it once.

An image (black) window will open and you'll be asked to find the dataset you want to open. The options in the top row allow you to navigate
History - places that you've been recently (or someone else has)
Special - choose Mark to put the current directory (once you've found yours) into the history file.
Volumes - choose the drive (Q: for example)

We'll start out with the example folder. Usually found at C:\ERMapper\. Oncer there, navigate to the follwoing "algorithm."
--Examples\Data Types\Landsat_TM\greyscale.alg
Note: there may be many types of files that ERMapper can read, and sometimes they are interchangable. Be careful what you open and what you open files into.

.alg files are "algorithms" that spell out how to manipulate data. Algorithms CAN be opened as if they were data (virtual dataset).
.ers files are data files (actually just the header file for a "band interleved by line" binary data file).

You can now see the image in greyscale. I'd like you to learn how to zoom and move around the windows. To do that you'll look at the tutorial pages. Click on the word "Help" in the upper right hand corner of the ER Mapper window, and then choose Tutorial. Start with the 2nd section under chapter 2 called "user interface basics" and skim through to the section on "hands-on exercises." Double click on the book icons to open them. Work through these basics until you're comfortable.

This week you should continue with the exercises through "Enhancing Image Contrast." When you leave ERMapper, it doesn't ask you if you want to save ANYTHING, so save your practice algorithms if you'd like to keep them (to Q:/geolgis/yourname/temp, or E:/temp/yourname)..

back the the Tutorial Page