Hello!
My name is Manuel and this is my firt post. Yupii!!!!
I'm a Portuguese caver that lost his mind and decided to go cave surveying some years ago...
I seek advice from a more experienced and informed group in cave surveying and cave publishing.
What would be the best software workflow to produce printed information (book) about a series of caves? By “best” I mean a fast, good looking result and preferable cheap :) Of course, the programs should be the more compatible as possible.
I know, there isn’t a simple answer. I’m specially fighting about the best way to draw and publish a series of small surveys, with text and photos.
Software work-flow examples:
1. Acquiring data with a handheld computer: Auriga, PocketTopo…
2. Visualization on a desktop PC: Compass, Visual Topo… (I tried Therion and others, but…)
3. Drawing: Inkscape, CorelDraw, Illustrator, AutoCAD…
4. Publishing a flyer, magazine, book: Scribus, InDesign…
I have a little experience with the expensive and complex AutoCAD 2007, but I don’t know how to make a multiple survey publication using this drawing program. Someone else uses AutoCAD for drawing? How can you make a good export to publishing software?
I have experienced the Compass SVG Exporter and Inkscape. Very Good! Unfortunately, it seems that I can’t export more than one view of the cave to one drawing file (projected profile and plan, for example). That would be excellent.
By the way, I tried SVG files in the free publishing software “Scribus” and it worked satisfactory. Someone else uses this program?
Surely many of you have had this difficulties, and endless dilemmas. What do you advice?
Best regards
Manuel