From a64dfab6e6b437ec193c8b112c988e4fb46e9076 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dirk Hohndel
In order to develop Subsurface in a way that serves its users in the best possible way, +it is important to have some user information. Upon launching Subsurface +after using this software for a week or so, a one-box user survey pops up. It is entirely +optional and the user controls what, if any, data are sent to the Subsurface development +team. Any data that the user chooses to send is extremely useful, and will only be +used to steer future development and to customise the software to fit the needs of +the Subsurface users. If one completes the survey, or clicks the option not to +be asked again, that should be the last communication of this nature one receives. +However, if one’s diving and/or subsurface habits change and one wishes to provide +another survey, this can be done by launching Subsurface with the --survey option on the +command line.
The Subsurface window is usually divided into four panels with a Main Menu (File Import Log View Filter Help) at the top of the window (for Windows @@ -532,7 +548,7 @@ following sections, the procedures to create a new logbook will be described.
Select File → New Logbook from the main menu. All existing dive data are cleared so that new information can be added. If there are unsaved data in an @@ -541,7 +557,7 @@ saved before a new logbook is created.
There are several ways in which dive information can be added to a logbook:
-Import dive information from another data base or file format. This is -discussed in more detail below. +Import dive information from another database or file format. If you +have kept your dive logs with other log software, these logs can often +be imported to subsurface. This is discussed in more detail below.
This is usually the approach for dives without a dive computer. The basic record of information within Subsurface is a dive. The most important information in a simple dive logbook usually includes dive type, date, time, duration, @@ -586,12 +603,14 @@ in the figure below. Each of these tabs will now be explained for data entry.
When one edits a field in Dive notes or Equipment panels, Subsurface enters Editing Mode, +indicated by the message in the blue box at the top of the Dive Notes panel. This message is +displayed in all the panels under Dive notes and Equipment when in Editing Mode.
This panel contains the date, time and place information for a particular dive, environmental conditions, co-divers and buddies, as well as some descriptive -information. The message in a blue box at the top of the panel indicates that -the dive is being edited. If one clicks on the Dive Notes tab, the following +information. If one clicks on the Dive Notes tab, the following fields are visible:
Air and water temperatures: the air and water temperatures during the dive can be typed directly on the fields to the right of the Start time. Temperature units are not needed, as they will be automatically supplied by Subsurface. Only the numerical value must be -typed by the user (The units selected in the Preferences +typed by the user (the units selected in the Preferences will determine whether metric or imperial units are used).
Location: Here the name of the dive site can be entered, e.g. "Tihany, Lake Balaton, @@ -690,17 +710,9 @@ Dive Notes panel:
The Equipment tab allows the user to enter information about the type of -cylinder and gas used, as well as the weights used for a dive. The message in a -blue -box at the top of the panel:
indicates that the dive is being edited. This is a highly interactive part of +cylinder and gas used, as well as the weights used for a dive. This is a highly interactive part of Subsurface and the information on cylinders and gases (entered here) affects the behaviour of the dive profile (top right-hand panel).
The + button at the top right allows the user to add more cylinders for this dive. The dark dustbin icon on the left allows one to delete information for a -particular cylinder.
Start by selecting a cylinder type on the left-hand side of the table. To select a cylinder, click in the Type box. This brings up a button that can be used to display a dropdown list of cylinders:
The drop-down list can be used to select the cylinder type used @@ -786,7 +800,7 @@ with two types of weights: integrated and a weight belt:
The Dive Profile (a graphical representation of the depth of the dive as a function of time) is indicated in the panel on the top right hand of the Subsurface window. When a dive is manually added to a logbook, Subsurface @@ -805,14 +819,14 @@ that the cursor represents are indicated at the top of the black information box Preference settings. The dive profile itself comprises several line segments demarcated by waypoints (white dots on the profile, as shown above). The default dive depth is 15 m. -If the dive depth was 21 m then the user needs to drag the appropriate waypoints -downwards to represent 21 m. To add a waypoint, double-click on +If the dive depth was 20 m then the user needs to drag the appropriate waypoints +downwards to represent 20 m. To add a waypoint, double-click on any line segment. To move an additional waypoint, drag it. To remove this waypoint, right-click on it and choose "Remove this point" from the context menu. The user needs to drag the waypoints to represent an accurate time duration for the dive. Below is a dive profile that represents a dive -to 21 m for 31 min, followed by a 5 minute safety stop at 5 m.
The information entered in the Dive Notes tab, the Equipment tab as well as the Dive Profile can now be saved in the user’s logbook by using the two buttons @@ -856,9 +870,9 @@ once more to save the logbook with the new dive(s).
The use of dive computers allows the collection of a large amount of information about each dive, e.g. a detailed record of depth, duration, rates of ascent/descent @@ -1048,7 +1062,8 @@ must be charged or replaced.
Is the connecting cable faulty? Does the cable work perfectly using other -software? Has it worked before, or is this the first time the cable is being used? +software? Has it worked before, or is this the first time the cable is being used? Are the contacts +on the dive computer and the cable clean?
It may be necessary to distinguish between different dive computers used to upload dive logs to Subsurface. For instance if one’s partner’s dive computer is the same make and model as one’s own and dive logs are uploaded from both dive computers @@ -1117,7 +1132,7 @@ show the nickname for that particular device instead of the model name, allowing easy identification of devices.
The information from the dive computer is not complete and more details must be added in order to have a fuller record of the dives. To do this, @@ -1125,12 +1140,12 @@ the Dive Notes and the Equipment tabs on the t Subsurface window should be used.
The date and time of the dive, gas mixture and (often) water temperature is shown as obtained from the dive computer, but the user needs to add some additional information by hand in order to have a more complete dive record. If the contents of this tab is changed or edited in any way, the message in a blue box at -the top of the panel indicates that the dive is being edited. If the user +the top of the panel indicates that the dive is being edited. If one clicks on the Dive Notes tab, the following fields are visible:
Air/water temperatures: Air and water temperatures during the dive are shown in these fields to the right of the Start time. Many dive computers supply water temperature information and this field may therefore not require further -editing. If -editing is required, only a value is required, the units of temperature will be +editing. If air temperature is not provided by the dive computer, the first temperature reading +might be used for the air temperature. Generally this is close enough to the real air temperature as +the change in the temperature sensor reading is quite slow to follow the changes in the environment. +If editing is required, only a value is required, the units of temperature will be automatically supplied by Subsurface (according to the Preferences, metric or imperial units will be used).
Location: In this field one should type in text that describes the site where the dive was performed, e.g. "Tihany, Lake Balaton, Hungary". Auto completion of location names will -make this easier when a user frequently dives at the same sites.
Coordinates: The geographic coordinates of the dive site should be entered here. These can come from three sources:
The Equipment tab allows one to enter information about the type of cylinder and gas used as well as the weights used for the dive. The message in a blue box at the top of the panel:
In most cases Subsurface obtains the gas used from the dive computer and automatically inserts the gas composition(% oxygen) in the table. The + button at the top right allows the user to add more cylinders for this dive. The dark -dustbin icon on the left allows the deletion of information for a cylinder.
The user should start by selecting a cylinder type on the left-hand side of the table. To select a cylinder, the cylinder type box should be clicked. This brings up a list button that can be used to display a dropdown list of cylinders:
The drop-down list can then be used to select the cylinder type that was used @@ -1277,7 +1296,7 @@ automatically be shown in the dialogue.
Next one must indicate the starting pressure and the ending pressure of the specified gas during the dive. The unit of pressure (metric/imperial) corresponds to the settings chosen in the Preferences.
Finally, the user must provide the gas mixture used. If air was used, the +
Finally, provide the gas mixture used. If air was used, the value of 21% can be entered or this field can be left blank. If nitrox or trimix were used, their percentages of oxygen and/or helium should be entered. Any inappropriate fields should be left empty. After typing the @@ -1329,7 +1348,7 @@ with two types of weights: integrated as well as a weight belt:
Many divers wish to annotate their dives with text that indicate particular events during the dive, e.g. "Saw dolphins", or "Released surface bouy". This is easily done:
The information entered in the Dive Notes tab and the Equipment tab can be saved by using the @@ -1380,7 +1399,7 @@ that the new data should be saved.
If a user has been diving for some time, it is possible that several dives were logged using other dive log software. This information does not need retyping because these dive logs can probably be @@ -1391,7 +1410,7 @@ user has to export the logbook(s) to an intermediate format so that they can then be imported by Subsurface. Currently, Subsurface supports importing CSV log files from several sources. -APD LogViewer, XP5 and Sensus files are +APD LogViewer, XP5, Sensus and Seabear files are preconfigured, but because the import is flexible, users can configure their own imports. Manually kept log files (e.g. in spreadsheet) can also be imported by @@ -1403,13 +1422,16 @@ import the logbooks first into a webservice like divelogs.de and then i them from there with Subsurface, as divelogs.de supports a few additional logbook formats that Subsurface currently cannot parse.
When importing dives, Subsurface tries to detect multiple records for +
If the format of other software is supported natively on Subsurface, it should be sufficient to select +either Import→Import log files or File→Open log file. Subsurface supports the data formats +of many dive computers, including Suunto and Shearwater. When importing dives, Subsurface +tries to detect multiple records for the same dive and merges the information as best as it can. If there are no time zone issues (or other reasons that would cause the beginning time of the dives to be significantly different) Subsurface will not create duplicate entries.
Importing dives from other software is performed through a universal interface that is activated by selecting Import from the Main Menu, then clicking on Import Log Files. This brings up the dialogue A below.
Since Mares utilise proprietary Windows software not compatible with multi-platform applications, these dive logs cannot be directly imported into @@ -1480,7 +1502,7 @@ account in www.divelogs.de, log into that web site, then select Import Logbook → Dive Organiser from the menu on the left hand side. The instructions must be carefully followed to transfer the dive information -(in .sdf format) from the Dive Organiser data base to www.divelogs.de. +(in .sdf format) from the Dive Organiser database to www.divelogs.de.
The import of dive information from divelogs.de is simple, using a single dialogue box. The Import→Import form Divelogs.de option should be selected from the Main Menu. This @@ -1511,7 +1533,7 @@ success status is indicated (see figure on the right [B], below
Sometimes dive computers export dive information as files with comma-separated values (.CSV). For example, the APD Inspiration and Evolution closed circuit rebreather (CCR) systems export dive information in a CSV @@ -1604,7 +1626,7 @@ the image. After completing the column specification, select the OK but and the dive will be imported and listed in the Dive List tab of Subsurface.
If one keeps dive logs in a spreadsheet, there is an option to import those dives as well. Spreadsheet data, exported as a CSV file, can be imported to Subsurface. When importing manually @@ -1670,7 +1692,7 @@ appear in the Dive List area of Subsurface.
Using the Subsurface Companion App on an Android device with a GPS, the coordinates for the diving location can be automatically passed to the Subsurface @@ -1679,7 +1701,7 @@ a dedicated Internet-based file server. Subsurface, in turn, can collec the localities from the file server.
To do this:
@@ -1699,7 +1721,7 @@ or from
On first use the app has three options:
Download dive(s) from a dive computer or enter them manually into Subsurface before obtaining the GPS coordinates from the server. The download dialog can be reached via Ctrl+G or from the Subsurface Main Menu Import @@ -2025,13 +2047,13 @@ especially on a dive trip with many dives and dive locations.
Many (if not most) divers take a camera with them and take photographs during a dive. One would like to associate each photograph with a specific dive. Subsurface allows one to load photos into a dive. Photos are superimposed on the dive profile, from where they can be viewed.
Left-lick on a dive or on a group of dives on the dive list. Then right-click on this dive or group of dives and choose the option Load Images:
In order to view the photos added to a dive, activate the show-photos button in the tool bar to the left of the dive profile:
After the images have been loaded, they also appear in the Photos tab of the Dive Notes panel. -They also appear as tiny icons on the dive profile at the appropriate -positions reflecting the time each photograph was taken. See below:
After the images have been loaded, they appear in two places:
+the Photos tab of the Dive Notes panel. +
++as tiny icons (stubs) on the dive profile at the appropriate positions reflecting the time + each photograph was taken. See below: +
+If one clicks on the thumbnail, then a full size -photo is shown overlaid onto the Subsurface window. This allows good viewing of -the photographs that have been added. See below:
Clicking on the thumbnail brings up a full size +photo overlaid on the Subsurface window. This allows good viewing of +the photographs that have been added (see the image below). Note that the thumbnail +has a small dustbin icon in the bottom right hand corner (see image above). If one selects +the dustbin, the image is removed from the dive. Therefore some care +is required when clicking on a thumbnail. Images +can also be deleted using the Photos tab (see text below).
Photographs associated with a dive are shown as thumbnails in the Photos tab of the Dive Notes +panel. Photos taken in rapid succession during a dive (therefore sometimes with large +overlap on the dive profile) can easily be accessed in the Photos tab. This tab serves as +a tool for individually accessing the photos of a dive, while the stubs on the dive profile +give an indication of when during a dive a photo was taken. By single-clicking on a thumbnail in +the Photos panel, a photo is selected. By double-clicking a thumbnail, the full-sized image is +shown, overlaying the Subsurface window. A photo can be deleted from the Photos panel by selecting +it (single-click) and then by pressing the Del key on the keyboard. This removes the photo both +from the Photos tab as well as the dive profile.
Most underwater photographers store their photos on an external drive. If such a drive can be mapped +(almost always the case) the photos can be directly accessed by Subsurface. This facilitates the interaction +between Subsurface and an external repository of photos. When associating a dive profile with photos from an +external drive, the normal procedure of selection and synchronisation (see text above) is used. +However, after the external drive has been disconnected, Subsurface cannot access these photos any more. +If the display of photos is activated (using the toolbox to the left of the Dive Profile), the +program only shows a small white dot where each photo should be on the dive profile. +In addition the Photos tab only shows the file names of the photos. This is normal behaviour. +If, later, the external drive with the photos is connected again, the photos can be seen in the normal way.
The Dive Info tab gives some summary information about a particular dive that has been selected in the Dive List. Useful information here includes the surface interval before the dive, the maximum and mean depths of the dive, the @@ -2159,7 +2220,7 @@ Users should refer to Appendix D for more informa
The Stats tab gives summary statistics for more than one dive, assuming that more than one dive has been selected in the Dive List using the standard Ctrl-click or Shift-click of the mouse. If only one @@ -2171,7 +2232,7 @@ water temperature and surface air consumption (SAC). It also shows the depth of shallowest and deepest dives of those selected.
The context menu for the Dive Profile is accessed by right-clicking while the mouse cursor is over the Dive Profile panel. The menu allows the creation of Bookmarks or Gas Change Event markers other than the ones that might have been @@ -2435,7 +2496,7 @@ marker or to allow all markers of that type to be hidden. Hidden events can be restored to view by selecting Unhide all events from the context menu.
The Information box displays a large range of information pertaining to the dive profile. Normally the Information Box is located to the top left of the Dive Profile panel. If the mouse points outside of the Dive Profile panel, then @@ -2531,10 +2592,10 @@ air diving at a depth equalling the END.
Many actions within Subsurface are dependent on a context menu used mostly to manipulate groups of dives. The context menu is found by selecting a dive or a group of dives and then right-clicking.
The context menu is used in many manipulations described below.
Many divers have long dive lists and it may be difficult to locate all the dives at a particular site. By pressing Ctl-F on the keyboard, a text box is opened at the top left hand of the Dive List. Type the name of a dive site in this text box and the Dive List is immediately filtered to @@ -2567,7 +2628,7 @@ show only the dives for that site.
Dives are normally numbered incrementally from non-recent dives (low sequence numbers) to recent dives (having the highest sequence numbers). The numbering of the dives is not always consistent. For instance, when non-recent dives are @@ -2580,7 +2641,7 @@ Completing this operation results in new sequence numbers (based on date/time) for the dives in the Dive List panel.
For regular divers, the dive list can rapidly become very long. Subsurface can group dives into trips. It performs this by grouping dives that have date/times that are not separated in time by more than two days, thus creating @@ -2597,7 +2658,7 @@ having to scan a long lists of dives. In order to group the dives in a dive list (from the Main Menu) users must select Log → Autogroup. The Dive List panel now shows only the titles for the trips.
Normally, in the dive list, minimal information is included in the trip title. More information about a trip can be added by selecting its trip title from the Dive List. This shows a Trip Notes tab in the Dive Notes panel. Here @@ -2611,26 +2672,26 @@ tab. The trip title in the Dive List panel should now reflect s edited information.
Once the dives have been grouped into trips, users can expand one or more trips by clicking the arrow-head on the left of each trip title. This expands the selected trip, revealing the individual dives performed during the trip.
If a user right-clicks after selecting a particular trip in the dive list, the resulting context menu allows several possibilities to expand or collapse dives within trips. This includes expanding all trips, collapsing all trips and collapsing all trips except the selected one.
By right-clicking on a selected trip title in the Dive List panel, a context menu shows up that allows the merging of trips by either merging of the selected trip with the trip below or with the trip above.
If a trip includes five dives, the user can split this trip into two trips (trip 1: top 3 dives; trip 2: bottom 2 dives) by selecting and right-clicking the top three dives. The resulting context menu allows the user to create a new trip by @@ -2647,9 +2708,9 @@ the completed action on the right (B):
Dives can be permanently deleted from the dive log by selecting and right-clicking them to bring up the context menu, and then selecting Delete dive(s). Typically this would apply to a case where a user wishes to delete @@ -2657,7 +2718,7 @@ workshop calibration dives of the dive computer or dives of extremely short duration.
Users can unlink dives from the trip to which they belong. In order to do this, select and right-click the relevant dives to bring up the context menu. Then select the option Remove dive(s) @@ -2665,7 +2726,7 @@ from trip. The dive(s) now appear immediately above the trip to which they belonged.
Selected dives can be moved from the trip to which they belong and placed within the trip immediately above the currently active trip. To do this, select and right-click @@ -2673,7 +2734,7 @@ the dive(s) to bring up the context menu, and then select Add dive(s) to immediately above.
Sometimes it is necessary to adjust the start time of a dive. This may apply to situations where dives are performed in different time zones or when the dive computer has an erroneous time. In order to do this, user must select and right-click @@ -2685,7 +2746,7 @@ time option indicating whether the time adjustment should be forwards or backwards.
Sometimes a dive is briefly interrupted, e.g. if a diver returns to the surface for a few minutes, resulting in two or more dives being recorded by the dive computer and appearing as different dives in the Dive List panel. Users can @@ -2704,7 +2765,7 @@ below shows the depth profile of two such dives that were merged:
The export function can be reached by selecting File → Export, which brings up the Export dialog. This dialog always gives two options: save ALL dives, or save only @@ -2798,7 +2859,7 @@ instance www.divelogs.de.
For each diver, dive log information is highly important. Not only is it a record of diving activities for one’s own pleasure, but it is important information required @@ -2820,10 +2881,17 @@ files on the Dropbox servers to be seen as a local folder on one’s desktop
Currently there are no costs involved for this service. In this -case, one can store one’s dive log on Dropbox in a totally seamless way: a dive log in -one’s Dropbox folder can be opened and saved directly by Subsurface and it can -be accessed from any place with Internet access. Dropbox (Windows, Mac +
The Dropbox program creates a copy of the Dropbox Internet Cloud content on one’s +desktop computer. When the computer is connected to the Internet, the Internet +content is automatically updated. Therefore both the Open and Save of dive logs are done +using the local copy of the dive log in the local Dropbox folder, so there’s no need +for a direct internet connection. If the local copy is modified, e.g. by adding a dive, +the remote copy in the Dropbox server in the Cloud will be automatically updated whenever +Internet access is available.
In this way a dive log in +one’s Dropbox folder can be accessed seamlessly from the Internet and can +be accessed from any place with Internet access. Currently there are no costs +involved for this service. Dropbox (Windows, Mac and Linux) can be installed by accessing the Install Page on the Dropbox website . Alternatively one can use Dropbox as a mechanism to backup one’s dive log. To @@ -2831,16 +2899,13 @@ Store a dive log in the Cloud, select File→Save as from the S navigate to the Dropbox folder and select the Save button. To access the dive log in the Cloud, select File→Open Logbook from the Subsurface main menu and navigate to the dive log file in the Dropbox folder and select the -Open button. -Both options Open and Save are done on the local copy of the dive log saved -on one’s computer’s folder Dropbox, so there’s no need of direct internet -conexion. If the local copy is modified, e.g. adding a dive, the copy in the -Dropbox server in the Cloud will be automatically updated when connecting to -the internet.
Several paid services exist on the Internet (e.g. Google, Amazon) where the same +process could be used for the Cloud-based storage of dive logs.
Subsurface provides a simple interface to print a whole dive log or only a few selected dives, including dive profiles and other contextual information.
What gas partial pressure information is required on the dive profile? Users should select -the appropriate information from the Main Menu: File→Preferences→Graph. +the appropriate toggle-buttons on the button bar to the left of the Dive Profile panel.
Several paid services exist on the Internet (e.g. Google, Amazon) where the same -process could be used for the Cloud-based storage of dive logs.
There are several settings within Subsurface that the user can specify. These are found when selecting File→Preferences. The settings are performed in @@ -2945,7 +3008,7 @@ operate on the same principles: the user must specify the settings that are to b these changes are saved using the Apply button. After applying all the new settings users can then leave the settings panel by selecting OK.
There are several settings in the Defaults panel:
Choose a language that Subsurface will use.
This panel facilitates communication between Subsurface and data sources on the Internet.
Dive planning is an advanced feature of Subsurface, accessible by selecting Log → Plan Dive from the main menu. It allows calculation of nitrogen load during a dive by using the Bühlmann ZH-L16 algorithm with the addition of gradient factors as @@ -3195,7 +3258,7 @@ this feature.
Like the Subsurface dive log, the planner screen is divided into several sections (see image below). The setup parameters for a dive are entered into the several sections on the left hand side of the screen. The setup is divided into several sections: Available Gases, Rates, Planning, Gas Options and Dive Notes.
The dive planner comprises two parts: constructing a dive plan and evaluating that dive plan. To perform dive planning, perform these steps:
The planning is performed in three stages:
On the bottom right of the dive planner, under Dive Plan Details, the exact details of the dive plan are provided. These details may be modified by checking any of the options under the Dive Notes section of the dive planner, immediately to the left @@ -3408,7 +3471,7 @@ time to get to that level. However, if the Display transition in deco o the transitions are shown separately from the segment durations at a particular level.
Selecting the Print button in the planner allows printing of the Dive Plan Details for wet notes. Alternatively one can cut and paste the Dive Plan Details for inclusion in a text file or word processing document.
Repetitive dives can easily be planned if the dates and start times of the repetitive dive set is specified appropriately in the top left-hand Start Time field. Subsurface @@ -3441,13 +3504,13 @@ planner: the planner takes into account the configuration in the highlighted div
This section describes the functions and operation of the items in the Main Menu of Subsurface. Several of the items below are links to sections of this manual dealing with the appropriate operations.
@@ -3468,8 +3531,7 @@ logbook to open.
-Save as: - Save the current logbook or the currently selected dives within -the present logbook under a different file name. +Save as - Save the current logbook under a different file name.
@@ -3530,7 +3592,7 @@ from www.Divelogs.de.
@@ -3556,13 +3618,13 @@ trips.
-Edit Device Names - Edit the names of dive computers to facilitate your logs. +Edit Device Names - Edit the names of dive computers to facilitate your logs.
@@ -3614,7 +3676,7 @@ years.
@@ -3624,7 +3686,7 @@ years.
@@ -3692,7 +3754,7 @@ On a Mac users sometimes have to manually hunt for the correct
- 12.2. How to Find the Device Name for USB devices and set its write permission+13.2. How to Find the Device Name for USB devices and set its write permission
|