=============================================================================

This is file readme.txt, and was last updated 2/21/95

=============================================================================

Thank you for downloading my demonstration map!  This file is intended
to tell you a little about the mapping services that I provide for the
oil and gas industry, and what you are looking at in both the DWG and DXF 
files that are included in this zip.

=============================================================================

                              =================
                              Table of Contents
                              =================

1. Overview

2. Drawing File Layout and Features
   2.1 Layers
   2.2 Colors
   2.3 Linetypes
   2.4 Symbols
   2.5 Well Data
   2.6 Available Coordinate Systems

3. Other Products / Services
   3.1 C++ Coordinate Conversion Library
   3.2 Programming

4. Pricing, Ordering Information, and How To Get In Touch With Me

5. What is coming next?


=============================================================================
1.  Overview
=============================================================================
  
  The Texas Railroad Commission some time ago began a program to make 
  map data available in a digital format.  The data includes an array of
  information that is useful to the oil and gas industry including well 
  locations for flowing wells, dry holes, plugged oil and gas wells, 
  injection wells, and others; block and section boundaries with section 
  numbers and abstract information; as well as ground data such as roads,
  city boundaries, water features and the like.

  This is great, but it doesn't do a lot of good for the majority of 
  normal users because this data is useless unless properly processed in
  order to convert the data into a format that a specific package (like 
  AutoCAD) can read.  That is what I have done.

  The following files should have been unzipped into your directory after
  running pkunzip:
     
      readme.txt       <---   this file!
      3397414.dwg      <---   ACAD drawing file for Callisburg Quadrangle
      3397414.dxf      <---   DXF file for Callisburg Quadrangle
      symbol.dwg       <---   Drawing file describing what symbols mean

  Please feel free to distribute any of the files in this download to 
  anyone you want.  If you just so happen to be doing work in the Callisburg
  Quadrangle (in Cooke Co., TX) and would like to use this in a presentation 
  (or any other way for that matter) feel free to do that as well.  I want 
  you to feel absolutely unhindered to use this data as you feel necessary,
  even if profit on your part is involved.

=============================================================================
2.  Drawing File Layout and Features
=============================================================================
   
   2.1  Layers
     There are quite a few layers in these maps, and it may take a little
     time to get used to them.  Below is not a list of every layer and what
     is included on those layers; rather, it is a list that shows what the
     abbreviations stand for when found in a layer name.

       A (as first character in most layer names) - Annotation layer (text)

       ABS - abstract
       AIR - airports, runways
       BGL - block, grant, or league
       BLK - block
       CEM - cemeteries
       COUN - county
       CR - creek
       GOV - government
       HWY - highway
       LK - lake
       OFF - offshore
       OV - overlap
       RIV - river
       RR - railroad
       SEC - section
       ST - state
       SUB - subdivision
       SURV - survey

     For example, the layer ABGL would indicate first of all that it is an
     annotation (text) layer, and that on that layer you would expect to find
     annotation for blocks, grants, and/or leagues.  On the layer ARR you
     would expect to find annotation for railroads.  The layer WELLS has 
     well symbols and well information (if the API data file has been
     linked when the map was created).  The example map included in the zip
     has wells and well information.


   2.2  Colors
     Coloring of map features is determined by document OGA094, available
     from the Texas Railroad Commission.  Below is a table that generally 
     describes what color you should expect to see associated with certain 
     map features.  Please note that the list is a general outline; it is 
     not intended to be all inclusive.

       BLACK       State, county, and national political boundaries
                   State and county annotation
                   Block, survey, section, and overlap survey boundaries
                   Block, survey, section, and overlap annotation
                   Dam structures
                   Unimproved and light duty roads
                   Railroads, ship channels, and some highways
                   All wells and most symbols
                   Directional drill lines

       BLUE        All information that is offshore (except three league line)
                   Rivers, canals, lakes, and creeks
                   Original course of creek under a now existing lake

       RED         City boundaries
                   Offshore - three league line
                   City, town, and major city boundary annotation
                   Heavy/medium duty roads
                   Highway annotation
                   State highway 3 and 4 digit symbols
                   Interstate highway symbols
                   Radioactive symbol

       GREEN       Parks and Military Reservations
                   Government land annotation
                   Cemetery annotation, boundaries, and symbols
                   Airport runways and annotation

       YELLOW      All subdivision lines and annotation

       PURPLE      Quadrangle borders
       (MAGENTA)

   2.3  Linetypes
     Every effort has been made to adhere closely to what the RRC intended
     linetypes to look like, even though most of these linetypes are not
     directly supported by ACAD itself.  Because of this, certain lines
     (roads on ROAD_HM for example) are not continuous lines to ACAD; they
     are made up of multiple (individual) line segments.

   2.4  Symbols
     Please take a moment to look at the file symbol.dwg, and it will be
     able to do more justice than I can in a text file of describing what
     the symbols in the drawing mean.

   2.5  Well Data
     Two levels of well information exist from the RRC.  The first is
     simply well locations and symbols, which comes in the regular digital 
     map file.  The second level includes information such as API number, 
     lease name, operator name, total depth, block, survey, section 
     information, as well as other information.  The example map has not only 
     the well locations and symbols displayed but also the information that 
     is available in the API data file.  This is something to keep in mind, 
     because without the API data file, there would be absolutely no text 
     information beside each well.  If you require this extra information, 
     request it when you order the maps, because setup fees will kill you if 
     it is made in two separate orders!

   2.6  Available Coordinate Systems
     I can accommodate all coordinate systems and projections that are
     commonly used.  This includes the NAD 1927 and NAD 1983 earth models;
     units in meters, feet, or international feet; and state plane or UTM
     coordinate systems.  The map in your possession is NAD 1927, Texas North
     Central State Plane Zone (TX 4202), U.S. feet.


=============================================================================
3. Other Products / Services
=============================================================================
   3.1  C++ Coordinate Conversion Library
     I am currently in the process of writing a coordinate conversion
     library that can be linked into C++ programs.  It will support 
     conversion from the popular earth models NAD 1927 and NAD 1983, and
     will convert between the popular coordinate systems (Geographic,
     UTM, and State Plane).  I have put a completion date on it in times
     past, but I am beyond that now.  It will be done when it will be done!
     It will be available for around $50.00, and it will work with the most
     popular compilers (Microsoft, Borland, Watcom, and Zortech).  The C++ 
     interface should make it VERY easy to learn and use.

   3.2  Programming
     What can I say?  I'm an avid programmer, and have taken on some pretty
     meaty tasks in my years of programming in C and C++.  I can write code
     for DOS, 32-bit DOS, Windows, and OS/2.  I can do most types of 
     programming, from application design to data acquisition, presentation,
     and processing.  I have worked with serial and HPIB data acquisition.

=============================================================================
4. Pricing, Ordering Information, and How To Get In Touch With Me
=============================================================================
  Pricing is the cost of the data from the RRC plus $25.00 per quad if
  the API data file is NOT linked, $35.00 per quad if the API data file is
  linked.  As a rough guideline, 4-6 quads will cost anywhere from $250 - 
  $450, and is highly dependant on how much the RRC decides their data is
  worth.

  Internet e-mail address:
       scottman@onramp.net

  USPS address:
       Scott D. Maness (Owner)
       MidTex Mapping Services Co.
       1032 Crestview Dr.
       Cedar Hill, TX  75104
       (214) 291-6561

  www homepage:
       <pending> (haven't set it up yet!)



=============================================================================
5. What is coming next?
=============================================================================
  This question is wide open, really.  There are some things that I want to
  try, it's just a question of how fast that I can get to them, and if folks
  really have a need for what I can perform.  For example, the USGS offers 
  digital data on a 1"=2000' scale in much the same way as the RRC is doing.  
  The quad data should overlay.  This in mind, it would be possible to 
  incorporate USGS data into these RRC maps, such as additional roads, 
  topographic information, hydrography, and whatever other information is
  included therein.  Is there a use for this?  It seems to me there would
  be, but as yet I don't know exactly what everybody needs, as this is a
  relatively new development on my part.  (I was approached with this project
  from an oil man near Houston, TX, and spent about 9 months developing
  the code to process these data files.)  So, if you can use digital 
  information from topographic maps, let me know!

  Something else that I would like to do is write and AutoCAD ADS
  application that would give users added abilities in accessing the API
  data (if it is included in the drawing) such as printing, comparing to
  other wells, formatting well information for word processors, spreadsheets,
  etc.

  Additionally, I would like to investigate the possibility of writing an
  ADS application that would turn plines into linetypes that are not 
  supported directly by AutoCAD, such as the road linetype in the example
  drawing file 3397414.DWG.

  The bottom line is that my future developments depend on you, or in other
  words, what your needs are.  I am an individual that is always looking for 
  new things to develop.  Approach me with and idea, and if it seems like it 
  is worth doing, I'll write it.  You can be my guinea pig, and if it works, 
  it's yours, as long as you let me have copyrights to the product to 
  reproduce and sell.


  Enjoy!

  Scott Maness
