gdal_translate problem (wha' happen?)

[RJPugh]

Hello, trackers. I'm experimenting with my new copy of TrainzDEM, and I've hit a snag. Not with TranzDEM (that appears to be running just fine!), but with gdal_translate.

I think I forgot to do something, because I'm not getting any results from this utility. I downloaded the package of binaries and set them up according to the included readme and ran the batch file that was included.

Since Windows 8 is rather draconian about what can be run from where, I copied my geo.pdf to the directory where gdal_translate was located, and entered this from a CLI:

.\gdal_translate -of jpeg -co "worldfile=yes" PA_Erie_North_20100617_TM_geo.pdf PA_Erie_North_geo.jpg

(I found these instructions in another thread.)

Nothing happened. The CLI curser vanished for a moment, suggesting that the computer was doing something heavy, but when it stopped, there was no JPG. I ran a full search of my entire computer, and it wasn't anywhere to be found. That suggests to me that the image was never created.



Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, did you find a way around it? Did I make a mistake in the initial command?

Thanks in advance.


Richard Pugh

 

[Jerker]

G'dat RJPugh,

I was under the impression, Richard, that the GDAL utility, when being used in association with TransDEM, was 'run', automatically, as a "sub-routine", seamlessly from within TransDEM, itself, as consequence of which, there are special instructions for the installation of it in the TransDEM documentation (geophil, the creator of TransDEM, may correct me if I am wrong, here). Have you followed those instructions and the methods advised by "the good doctor" for it's use with TransDEM?....

Jerker {}

 

[RJPugh]

Oops. Ah, yes, it does appear to be doing that. I didn't recognize what was going on until well after my initial post. Sorry folks. My bad.



I did the tutorial where map information is harvested from a source like Google maps, and when all was said and done I had the beginnings of a route for the region I was using as a test. So at some point GDAL, or something equivalent, was utilized. I can see that the layout idea I have will take a LONG time to build using this procedure. What's more my sample map is a real mess, and probably not suitable for building a layout on. But my objective was to learn the software, not create the perfect baseboard.

With all of this being said, anyone who is new to TrainzDEM should not only do the tutorials, but hold off on questions until after you're done at least the three core ones. Most questions will be answered along the way. People warned me about the learning curve on this program, and it's like a 20% grade! But I can already see that it's worth the trouble. So for all you frustrated newbies, hang in there.

 

[Jerker]

G'day RJPugh,

...I am "gratified" to see that, to a certain extent, at least, Richard, your problems have been solved...


...ALL HAIL TransDEM...

...ALL HAIL "Herr Doktor"...

..I note, too, that your advice is imminently applicable although I also know that in far too many cases, it's wisdom will go unheeded. It has long been a favourite tenet of mine to say that; "...when all else fails, RTFM (which should have been done in the first place)..."...but that, too, goes unheeded far too often...

Jerker {}