====== Convert Data ======

This pages describes the desktop additional tool "Convert". 

{{orbit_desktop:how_to_find.png?25&nolink  |}} [[203:desktop:tools:index|Tools]] > ... > Convert 

===== Concepts =====

"Convert Data" converts any [[203:technology:supported_formats:index|supported resources file]] into another supported resource file, one on one. \\ 
"[[203:desktop:tools:optimize_data|Optimize Data]]" optimizes one or more supported resource files into a single Orbit optimized resource file.

Optimizing mobile mapping images to .omi files can be done using the desktop procedure [[203:desktop_ext:mapping:manage:imagery|Optimize Imagery]]. This procedure is different from the "Optimize data" and "Convert data" tool, in that sense that there is an additional normalization process part of it.

===== Sidebar =====

{{  :170:desktop:tools:tools_convert_pointcloud.png?nolink|}}

=== Data Type ===

One and the same sidebar is used to convert Image, Vector and Point Cloud resources. \\ 
Choose the data type to convert. 

=== Source ===

Set the source file or the source directory. 
  * When activating the option source file, it is possible to drag and drop the resource file inside the entry field.
  * When using a source directory, all supported resource files of the specified data type inside the selected source directory and, optionally, its including subfolders will be converted.
  * For point cloud data, a source crs is required. If available, the CRS value is derived from the resource header or the accompanied [[203:technology:supported_formats:other:ord|Ord file]], else the [[203:technology:core:crs|Map CRS]] will set as default.

=== Target ===

Set the target file when converting a source file, or the target directory when converting a source directory. 

  * The source directory and filename are preset as default target file and directory. 
  * For point cloud data, a target CRS is required. As default the source CRS is preset.
  * Optionally when converting a source directory including all its subfolders, re-create the source directory tree inside the target directory. 
  * Optionally, overwrite existing target files. 
  * Optionally if target a native Orbit storage format, add converted resource to the [[203:desktop:dataset:index|dataset list]] when processing is completed. 

=== Options ===

Filestorage options :

  * Format : Target resource file storage format. 

** Image data **  

Options for Image data only. 

BMP : Bitmap Image \\
See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP_file_format|Wikipedia, BMP file format]].
  * Pixel Size : Number of bits to store one pixel. 8-bit pixel to display 256 colors, 24 to display true colors (16,7 million colors).

GIF :  Graphics Interchange Format \\
See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_Interchange_Format|Wikipedia, GIF]].
  * Interlace : See wikipedia page above > Interlacing.

JPG, JPEG : Joint Photographic Experts Group \\
See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG|Wikipedia, JPEG]].
  * Quality : Set JPG compression quality poor (25), average (50), good (75), excellent (90) or custom. \\ It makes no sense to set target quality higher than quality of source. 

OMI : Orbit MultiResolution Image \\
See [[203:technology:supported_formats:image:omi|]]

<note warning>Converting\optimizing *.jpg files into *.omi requires a lot of memory. For bigger files (in sense of number of pixels, physical size on the disk and compression factor don't influence memory usage) please increase memory allocation for Orbit software (how to do it please see here [[203:desktop:workspace:configurations|]])</note>

TIFF : Tagged Image File Format \\
See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagged_Image_File_Format|Wikipedia, Tagged Image File Format]].
  * Image Type : 
    * Monochrome image : 1 bit/pixel, black or white.
    * Grayscale image : 8 bits/pixel, 256 shades of gray.
    * Truecolor image : 24 bits/pixel, 16M colors.
  * Image Compression : Uncompressed / JPEG
  * File Structure : 
    * Striped : Baseline tiff image file by Strips, slower reading but higher compatibility.
    * Tiled :  Tiff image file by Tiles, faster reading but lower compatibility compatible. 
  * Multiresolution : Option to add multi resolution sub-levels to improve image reading performance. 

\\ \\
** Vector data **

The export storage format must support the dataset structure, see [[203:technology:supported_formats:vector:ovf|Vector Data Structure]]. \\
Options for vector data formats: *.GPX , *.KMZ , *.KML , *.DXF , *.OVF , *.OVT , *.OXF , *.SHP  .\\

\\
** Point Cloud ** 

Options for Point Cloud data, see [[203:technology:supported_formats:pointcloud:opc|]].
  * Ascii source files
  * Strip Attributes
  * Filter points
  * Density

=== Convert ===

Start convert or cancel ongoing process. \\
Converted images are not removed when cancelling.