Getting the Most Out of OpenCPN

Presented by Sherry McCampbell

s/v Soggy Paws
Version 1.5 (Dec 2015, OpenCPN v4.0)
With Thanks to Terry Sargent s/v Valhalla for v1.3
1
 What is OpenCPN?

• An “open source” (FREE/ donationware)

charting program
• OpenCPN = Open Chart Plotter Navigator
• Now runs on Windows XP-Win 10, Mac,
Linux, and (recently) Android
• Regularly being updated with new features
by cruisers for cruisers
• Download FREE from http://opencpn.org
• Android Version on Google Play ($9.99 for
supported version with updates)

2
SV Soggy Paws Florida
to the Philippines

3
 Topics
• Find the manual
• Adding Charts
• Setting Up GPS and AIS
• Waypoints, Routes, Tracks, and Layers
• Add functionality with plugins
– GRIB Files
– Climatology (route planning / weather patterns)
– Chart downloader
• A quick peek at the Android version

4
 Download OpenCPN for Free
from OpenCPN.org

5
Normal Windows Install—accept all the defaults
 Explore the Toolbar & Find the Manual

Hover your mouse over each icon,

and you will see a “tool tip”

Help: Find the Book icon with the ?

This is the “Help” menu.

6
 Find the manual

Click on the
Help Tab

7
 Find the manual
• The User Manual is installed
on your computer when the
program installs
• Excellent reference manual
• Opens in your default
browser (Firefox, Internet
Explorer, etc)
• YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE
ONLINE
• Can also be found online at
opencpn.org

8
 Adding Charts
Click on ‘Options’ (the ‘wrench’) in the Toolbar

Charts that are already installed

9
 Adding Charts

• Navigate to chart directory

• Select the charts you want to

add

• Click OK

• Adds ALL charts in that folder,

including subdirectories

• Repeat as necessary

• The more charts you load, the

more resources OpenCPN
takes on your system

Supported charts: kap, cap, S57 and S63, CM93v2. Google Earth (kap)
Large section on chart sources and formats in the manual!!!
10
 Adding Charts
Rebuild your chart database

11
 Adding Charts
Wait while the chart database is updated

Sources of Charts
• See long list in Chart Sources section of manual
• Google Earth Charts http://svsoggypaws.com/GECharts
• Crowd-sourced charts http://OpenSeaMap.org
• Cruiser sharing (Legacy Raster and Vector Charts)
• Bottom line: Don’t leave home without an external drive!

12
 Managing Charts
The more charts you load, the longer it takes
Overlapping charts from different sources get confusing (FL/Bahamas)
“Chart Groups” lets you manage groups of charts

13
The Chart Bar

The Chart Bar

14
 The Chart Bar

The Chart Status Bar

Active Raster Charts Inactive Raster Charts Vector Charts

15
 Hovering over a “blob” pops up the chart info
window and shades the chart coverage area red

Most
Detailed
Chart Least
Detailed
Chart

Active Raster Charts Inactive Charts Vector Charts

16
 Creating Chart Groups
Create a Chart Group

17
 Creating Chart Groups
Create a Chart Group

2 3

18
 Creating Chart Groups
Create a Chart Group

19
 Creating Chart Groups
Create a Chart Group

20
 Chart Groups
Using Chart Groups

Right-click on chart
Select appropriate Group

21
 Setting Up a GPS
• Cheap and easy:
– GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver
(Amazon.com $30)
• OpenCPN also
“plays well” with
Garmin devices
• Any NMEA standard
devices

22
 Setting Up a GPS
1

Add Connection button opens a panel in this area of the screen

Need to scroll down to see it
23
 Setting Up a GPS
With your GPS on and plugged in, click this drop-down
OpenCPN will show available com ports

24
For a simple NMEA GPS for position input, that’s all you need to do!
 Setting Up a GPS
Once GPS configured
• GPS Status Panel should show Green
• Boat Icon should show Red

25
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart
• Plug AIS into your computer
– Usually a USB connection, using manufacturer-supplied
cables and drivers
• Setup / Connections / Add Connection just like GPS

26
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart
Just like GPS Setup, Cick the Add Connection button

27
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart
• Select the appropriate Com port
• Set Baud Rate to 38400 (usual default rate for AIS)

28
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart
Once installed and configured – Ships with AIS on your chart!
• Ships at anchor – Yellow with black dot
• Ships underway – Green
• GPS Status Indicator Green Ball

29
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart
Placing your cursor on a ship gives a pop-up information box

30
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart
Right click on target to show AIS Target Data and CPA

See
OpenCPN
Manual for
LOTS more
on AIS in
OpenCPN

31
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart

• Right-click anywhere on chart to

pop up the AIS Target List
• Note details of ships in the list

32
 Getting Your AIS on the Chart

Optional AIS Radar View Plugin

33
Getting Your AIS on the Chart

Options/Ships/AIS Targets
To display optional settings
For AIS

For more help, see the

OpenCPN manual!

34
 Routes
Create a Route

BEGIN BY
SELECTING THE
‘Create Route’
TOOL ON THE
TOOLBAR

THE CURSOR TURNS TO A

‘PENCIL’ SHAPE

35
 Routes
Create a Route
Click the pencil pointer at the desired location to describe a route

36
 Routes
Create a Route
• Continue dropping waypoints (with a click) until you are finished.
• Press the ESC key to stop

37
 Routes
Editing/Viewing a Route

Open the Route Manager

from the toolbar

On the Routes tab,

select the new route
and click Properties

38
 Routes
Editing/Viewing a Route
• Name the route (for future reference)
• Check distances and estimate ETA’s

39
 Routes
Save/Export a Route
• To save a route outside of OpenCPN (for backup, to share with others)
– Highlight route
– Click export
– Save as a file

40
 Routes
Change a Route
• To change a route
– Right click on a point on the route
– Select “Insert Waypoint”

41
 Routes
Change a Route
Place cursor on new waypoint, and drag it where it should be

42
 Routes
Change a Route

If you can’t drag a waypoint, check settings

43
 Tracks
Creating a Track
Click on the Toggle Tracking Icon to activate tracking

44
 Tracks
Creating a Track
Tracking is confirmed by the icon being shaded

45
 Tracks
Creating a Track

46
 Tracks
Saving Tracks

Like routes,
You can rename,
Save offline,
Import, etc

47
 Importing Tracks

Route Manager
• Select Tracks tab Navigate to saved tracks location
• Click on Import Click Open

48
Importing Tracks

49
 Saving Waypoints (Marks)
Shown below is the arrival at an anchorage

50
 Saving Waypoints (Marks)
Zoom in to see where the anchor was dropped

51
 Saving Waypoints (Marks)

RIGHT-CLICK AND CLICK ON ‘Drop Mark (Ctl-M’)

52
 Saving Waypoints (Marks)

A TRIANGLE APPEARS AT THE SELECTED POINT

53
 Changing Waypoints (Marks)

Right-click on the mark

and select ‘Properties’
Or
Double-click on mark

54
 Changing Waypoints (Marks)
The small triangle is difficult to see on most charts
Change waypoint icon to a different icon

55
 Saving Waypoints (Marks)

Select the Anchorage symbol

56
 Changing Waypoints (Marks)

Also change name, and add a short description

57
Changing Waypoints (Marks)

58
 Saving Waypoints (Marks)

Waypoints can be manipulated just like routes and

tracks
• Export to file
• Import from file

Waypoints can also be exported in groups

At the end of a sailing season, export Routes,

Waypoints, Tracks to files

59
 Hiding and Un-Hiding
Routes and Tracks

Hidden
Route

60
 The Power of Layers

• A collection of waypoints, routes, and/or tracks

that can be hidden and un-hidden with one click.
• It is kept separate from your own waypoints,
routes, and tracks
• Temporary layer – lets you “import” data that
stays only until you restart the program
• Permanent layers – Persist until uninstalled
• On the Layers tab of Route Manager

61
Why You Need Layers

62
Lots of Shared Info

63
 Importing Others’ GPX Files
• Just Import
– Intermingles with your routes/tracks/wpts
– Difficult to get rid of
– Eventually impacts performance
• Import as Temporary Layer
– Lets you temporarily load a GPX file
– Can delete the layer in the Layers tab (doesn’t
delete the file) or just close OpenCPN

64
 Importing Others’ GPX Files
On OpenCPN open the Route Manager
and click on the ‘Layers’ tab

Import as
Temporary
Layer

Import into
your data

65
 Exploring OpenCPN – LAYERS

If “List Contents” is not selected, the individual

waypoints, routes, and tracks won’t show in the list

66
For the Geeks: What A GPX File Looks Like

Structured text (XML)

Can edit with Notepad
I use SciTE
Easy to email (zips well)

67
 Permanent Layers

• For layers to be permanently available they must

be manually placed in the OpenCPN data folder

• The location of this folder is dependent on the

operating system …

• But The OpenCPN program helps you find the

location !!

68
 Permanent Layers Location
In the OpenCPN Data Folder (varies by OS)
Open the About tab for exact location

69
 Windows 7-10, it’s in ProgramData
• The ProgramData folder is usually hidden
Go to ‘Tools’ and click on ‘Folder Options …’
• On the ‘View’ tab check the button
‘Show hidden files, folders or Drives’.
• Click ‘OK’
• Only need to do once

70
 Create Layers Folder
It’s only necessary to create this folder once.
All future layer information will be placed in this folder.

Create a new
folder named
Layers in the
OpenCPN Data
folder
71
 Managing Layers Files
• To put a layer in OpenCPN, copy the gpx file to the
Layers folder
– Layers are loaded at startup (must restart OpenCPN)

• Make a shortcut to Layers in the folder where you

manage your saved gpx files

• Move or copy gpx files in and out of OpenCpn/Layers

My Documents / Navigation /GPX Files

• My gpx data (folders by region)
• Others gpx data (folders by region)
72
 Managing Layers Files
• ANY .gpx file can be put in a layer.
This includes routes, tracks, anchorages and other
information that has been saved in the .gpx format.

• Waypoints and routes in a layer are locked and

cannot be changed. This prevents the unplanned
movement of a waypoint while clicking on the screen

• Only files with .gpx will be loaded (temp unload a

layer by renaming .gpy)

• GPX Files within a folder will be loaded as one layer

– MyRoutes.gpx and MyWpts.gpx placed in SoggyPaws folder
will load as layer SoggyPaws
73
 TIPS
To make a complete backup of all your
routes, waypoints, and tracks data,
Copy the entire OpenCPN folder in
ProgramData to a backup drive!

(navobj.xml is the OpenCPN database, moving that file to

the OpenCPN data folder on a new computer will move all
your routes, waypoints, and tracks!)

To share your info with someone else, copy navobj.xml

somewhere else, and rename it Whatever.gpx 74
 Adding Functionality with Plugins
• Plugins: Snap-in functionality to extend basic OpenCPN functionality
• Two plugins built-in: Dashboard and Grib
• Others can be downloaded from OpenCPN site

There are about 20 plugins!

Three we’ll cover here:

GRIB File – View downloaded GRIB files on chart

Chart Downloader - Download charts from within OpenCPN

Climatology - Planning tool, to help visualize weather patterns.

Better data than US Pilot Charts because wx data is updated.

75
 Exploring OpenCPN - Plugins
Downloading Plugins

DOWNLOAD THE DESIRED PLUGIN(S) FROM THE OpenCPN SITE

http://opencpn.org/ocpn/downloadplugins

76
 After Plugin Download
• Close OpenCPN
• Locate the setup file you downloaded
• Run the “setup” file
• Restart OpenCPN
• Enable the Plugin
– Setup / Plugins / Enable

Note: GRIB plugin already included in

OpenCPN 77
Enable Plugin and Set Preferences

78
 Most Plugins Add
a New Icon on the Toolbar

Two new icons… GRIB and Climatology

Chart Downloader adds a new tab on the Charts page

79
 GRIB Plugin

Check
GRIB
Plugin
Preferences

80
 Open GRIB Plugin

Open GRIB Plugin

Open GRIB File

As you move the cursor around the screen,

the data in the box changes
81
RTOFS (Current) Display

82
 Climatology Plugin

• Pilot charts overlaid on your chart

• Updated with RECENT data
• Wind, currents, and tropical storm tracks
• Traditional wind rose display, or wind barbs

83
Climatology for January - Wind

84
Climatology for January - Currents

85
Rough Route Plan

86
Where is a Safe Place to Be In August?

87
Climatology Config Screen

88
Chart Downloader Plugin
To
download
a new
chart area

89
Select Charts by Region

90
 Chart Downloader Weird Error

I don’t know exactly what this means, happens on new selection

91
 Update Chart Catalog

I don’t know exactly what this means, happens on new selection

92
 Download Charts

Charts in
Hawaii
Catalog

Check to
Download

93
Selected Charts Downloading

94
 Note on ENC Charts

• After Download completes, must add charts using the

normal add chart function
• Charts are fully downloaded to your computer and will
stay there, even if you delete them in the Chart
Downloader
• You can update them using the Update function on the
Chart Downloader
• New green bubble at bottom of chart screen

• ENC charts are loaded for viewing as you use them.

(I found this a bit quirky)
95
ENC Chart for Hawaii

96
 Most Plugins Add
a New Icon on the Toolbar

Two new icons… GRIB and Climatology

Chart Downloader adds a new tab on the Charts page

Weather Fax Plugin

Overlays wefax
On your chart

97
Radar Overlay Plugin

Radar Overlay Plugin

For Garmin Radars with
An Ethernet Connection
Overlays radar signal
On chart
98
 Squidio Plugin
sQuidd.io Plugin
Exchange waypoints with
Other cruisers

(Similar in concept to Active Captain) 99

 Weather Routing Plugin

Use GRIB & Climatology Data and boat polars to plan an optimized route 100
 OpenCPN for Android
• Just released in October.
• Install $9.99 version from Google Play
– this is the supported version & will receive automatic updates
– There is a free version for Android, but not supported
• Identical in most respects to Windows version, just on a
tiny screen
• Chart downloader plugin built-in (but pretty quirky on small
phone)

101
Primary screen in Android

Click and hold to right click

• Pops right-click menu (couldn’t get
screen shot)
• All the right click functions
appropriate to where you are right-
clicking

Pinch and un-pinch to zoom in/out

Swipe to move

Click and hold to get toolbar config

screen up (add more tb icons)

102
Options screen in Android
Click on tab to change tabs

Scroll tabs horizontally

Loading charts & GPX files

• Manually move to device
(put on SD card is best)
• Use Charts tab to load charts

Downloading charts
• Use downloader
• Difficult to select chart catalog
(+ too small to select, no zoom)
• Difficult to navigate to Charts
directory on SD Card
• Scoll bars need to be scrolled
on bars, not in window area

103
Navigation Mode screen in Android

104
 OpenCPN for Android
• Difficult to use fully on a phone (maybe better with stylus)
– Difficult to move a waypoint
– Chart Downloader config pop-up too big—unusable
– No esc button
• Probably much better on a tablet
• Still a little buggy
– Crashed when I tried to delete a waypoint—wants a quick click not
a long click on ‘delete’
– Chart Downloader seemed to hang (bad folder selection)
• Not quite ready for Prime Time, but getting there
• No documentation for Android yet
– See Terry’s Sargent’s handout

105
 Questions?

More Info
• Just play with it--NOT on your Nav computer!
• OpenCPN Website / User Manual
• Bigdumboat.com (videos)
• Cruiser’s Forum

A big THANKS to Terry Sargent

http://yachtvalhalla.net

106