Development History

This update includes support for R 2.11, the addition of 9 new commands, and a suite of smaller improvements. The new commands are:

1. copyfeaturedataset: copies a vector dataset (useful for loading data into geodatabases, or creating backups of datasets for instance)
2. deletefeatures: deletes features using a selection statement
3. geom.clip: clips vector features
4. geom.difference: the opposite of clip, this command adds "holes" into a vector dataset
5. geom.splitpolysbylines: splits polgons into fragments based on a line layer
6. generalizeregions: simplifies a thematic raster dataset based on the regiongroup command
7. reclassifyrecords: applies a series of user defined selection statements to classify records
8. field.rename: renames a field
9. field.find: searches a set of fields to find the one with the min/max value

See the help documentation on each command for further details.

[May 2010]

Bugs fixed:

1. isectpolyrst: a bug that occassionally resulted in one cell at the end of each row covered by the polygon being omitted
2. pointdistances: the nearest neighbour output table column headings were reversed, and the 1D output format resulted in the incorrect identification of nearest neighbours
3. documentation: several minor grammatical errors resolved
4. Installer: major revisions to the installer to allow for silent installs, 64-bit OS support, Control Panel removal support, etc.

[March 2010]

Bugs fixed:

1. snappoints: a bug with the spatial filter that caused the tool to fail, and some problems with specifying the output dataset as an existing dataset (although this is not recommended). Also improved the documentation for that tool.
2. extractedge: fixed documentation for this tool
3. isectpntrst: was failing to process more than the first band in multiband images (fixed)
4. pointdistances: the tool was failing when null geometries were encountered - it now ignores null geometries and warns the user when they are detected
5. setparameter(interpretonly): the only way to switch this back to false was to close ArcMap. Now the setparameter command is except from the interpretonly setting.
6. command syntax: GME was failing to interpret commands that did not have a space between parameters. Now it is insensitive to spacing.
7. Interface: there were some issues with quote marks not being added when using the Command Builder tools. Fixed.
8. Interface: add a Get File option to the Command Builder menu
9. isectpolyrst: fixed a problem with polygons that are small relative to the cell size (if the polygon only crossed one cell it could fail to process it correctly). This is now resolved.
10. Installer: have made revisions to the installer for 64-bit installs

[January 2010]

Revised a number of issues based on some detailed feedback from a colleague. Improved several minor issues related to interface operation. Fixed several bugs with tools (primarily arguments to commands that were not being recognized). Further improved the documentation.

[December 2009]

This version constitutes a major improvement over previous beta versions. The changes are focused on the 5 Strategic Commands (see the link near the top of the Commands page) that are now fully enabled. These include: nested for loops, the ability to use R to construct command text (r.eval()), the paste() function, variable assignment, and the which clause. The command interpreter has also been rewritten. One consequence of these changes is that you must now put all text arguments in double quotes - the same syntax as R.

Several commands have also been added, and the installer has been improved to work with 64-bit machines, and to handle updates to GME better.

[December 2009]

This software is still under development. I am currently using this page to document the development of the beta version but upon release this page will only contain information pertaining to the full releases.

Version 0.2 Beta is much closer to a full working release than GME 0.1 Beta was. Many commands have been added, the interface improved, support for the most recent versions of R and StatConn DCOM added, and a lot of testing has occurred. Most of what has been added so far are still the key, simple analytical building blocks that will be used to develop the more sophisticated tools.

My previous comments on the development plan still apply. First, there is still a fair bit of basic functionality to add. This will be the basis of version 0.3 Beta. Next there is a lot of R functionality to add. I have added a few examples of R tools in 0.2 as a proof of concept. But the real power of this software is going to be the link to R. This will form the basis of version 0.3 Beta, which after suitable testing will become version 1.0. Then begins the much longer incremental process of adding more sophisticated functionality and some very powerful new tools which I won't say too much about just yet.

[August 2009]

This software is still under development. I am currently using this page to document the development of the beta version but upon release this page will only contain information pertaining to the full releases.

Version 0.1 Beta contains only a fraction of the commands that the final version will contain. Most of what has been added so far are the key, simple analytical building blocks that will be used to develop the more sophisticated tools.

I intend to develop the project as follows. First, there is still a fair bit of basic functionality to add. This will be the basis of version 0.2 Beta. Next there is a lot of R functionality to add. I have added a couple examples of R tools in 0.1 as a proof of concept. But the real power of this software is going to be the link to R. This will form the basis of version 0.3 Beta, which after suitable testing will become version 1.0.

Then begins the much longer incremental process of adding more sophisticated functionality and some very powerful new tools which I won't say too much about just yet.

[December 2008]