Bob Morphew

Try section 9 of this Tutorial, or download Inno Setup and try to figure out how to use it. I use Inno but was fortunate to be able to use the Tuturial at GPSsledmaps.com which no longer is functional. The end result is an EXE file which auto-installs your transparent map in Mapsource. Bob

Don - that's a great website you have - I could spend hours playing there Bob

I read on one of the map making websites that if you get a mismatch of FID and map ID numbers, then your TYP may work in Mapsource but not on the GPS. Perhaps the best way to test it, is to use a self-installing map that has no user input, that way your friend doesn't need to mess with ToolKit etc. If you don't know how to make auto-install EXE files, send me your MP, IMG and TYP files and I'll quickly convert them to a self installing EXE file. My e-mail is DualSport AT morphew DOT ca. Bob

I read somewhere that a unit that accepts Custom POI's will generally work with TYP files, and the Quest II is OK with POI's. However, the 276C doesn't accept POI's but typ files work fine on it. Guess it's really a matter of trial and error as Garmin will never publish a list. Of course, we could start our own here I've used TYP files on a 60Cx, 60CSx, 276C, Zumo 555, Nuvi 760, and a Nuvi 550 (although the 550 needs to be set to "Walking" mode before the even the custom trails will display). Bob

Apparently the Bluetooth is only in the nuvi 510. The text guidance on the 550 is way better than the TTS on the 760 - much clearer as too many street names are mispronounced and you get fed up with "Main Saint" and "Skyview Doctor" I asked Garmin Tech Support a couple of questions but they ignored the one about the raster map support. I was hoping it would allow satellite images, etc but it's probably tied in with the raster Ordanance Survey Maps that are available in the UK and I think the Oregon is supporting them. It's not an issue for me, but what is an issue is that I recieved the 550 yesterday and have been testing it out. They've done something wierd with the map display. In 3-D mode it looks the same as any other Nuvi, but when you switch to 2-D (N or Track up) the map colours are almost unusable. There's a green background all the backroads are faint gray so you can hardly see them (Detail set at Most). I'm not sure if I tested my custom transparent maps (made from tracklogs, with MapRdit, cGPSmapper, etc) before I upgraded to V3.30 (was at 2.30) but they don't work on the 550 now unless I turn Navigator OFF. Seems they are no longer transparent. They work properly on a 60Cx, Zumo 550, and a Nuvi 760. Anybody use a Nuvi 550 for snowmobile trails (like those from GPSsledmaps) or 'rws' custom atv maps? Thanks Bob

I used the tutorial before the Inno Setup script file page broke (during a site upgrade). I made copies of the script files before it broke but it's not easy to explain how to do it. If you want to e-mail me your img, mp, and TYP (if you use one) files I'll convert it to a self-installing EXE for you. PM me if interested. Bob

I originally had a Garmin Legend and the screen gathered several scratches while riding off-road bikes in the mud, rocks and woods. When I switched to a 60Cx 3 years ago I bought screen protectors but they downgraded the screen visibility so I releuctantly stopped using them. 3 years later I haven't got a single scratch on my 60Cx or the 60CSx I bought used 12 months ago. The screen seems incredibly tough and not in need in protection. Bob

I just ordered a Nuvi 550 from Costco.ca and read a few reviews written last year when it first came out. Some mentioned problems, such as the compass not being able to be set to "course" or "bearing" and not being able to find out what it was, the tracklog features not being well developed, etc. I asked Garmin Tech Support for a list of the upgrades as they do not offer downloadable upgrades with a history page. They only have a Webupdater service with no details. This is what they sent me: Notice that V3.20 added support for RASTER MAPS. I searched/Googled but cannot find any more on this. Anyone have one and can confirm you can load raster maps? I don't see anything about tracklog or compass fixes. Anyone know if tracks can be saved to the SD card like the Zumo 550 or is it just the Active Tracklog in current.gpx like on my nuvi760 (which claims to have tracking functions - but only just). Considering the Nuvi 550 is claimed to be for Auto/Hiking/Cycling/Scooter/Boating with separate Profiles for each, I'd expect the Tracklog to have major functionalty. Bob Legend, 60Cx, 60CSx, Nuvi 760

Doubt it, but it's really easy to find out. Just create several routes in Mapsource (use Route / Duplicate) and then edit them so that's there's 99, 199, 299, 399, etc waypoints in each. Transfer them to your GPS and see which one gives "Too Many Waypoints" error. If no error message, open each route separately and look to see if all the points were transferred. My 60Cx will allow 50 routes with 50 waypoints in each and will do full "Follow Road" autorouting. With 51 waypoints to 250 waypoints you can only do "Off-Road" (Direct) routing. Routes cannot have more than 250 waypoints. Bob P.S. I didn't respond to this question initially as it's easy to find out by just experimenting - and then you at least learn something. Just asking a question and reading the reply doesn't teach much, except, of course, how to be a Manager and delegate the work

How do you do this? Mapsource seems to always default to GDB, even when you have a GPX file open and try to Save it. There is no setting in Preferences for "dafault" file type. Bob

It may be a bit more complex than that. I've noticed that when I'm using "Off-Road" routes on 60CSx on my motorcycle, the compass Arrow points to the next waypoint until I'm 9 seconds away from it and then flips to the next waypoint. I set a data field to "Dist to next" and one to "Time to next" and the distance varies but the time is always at 9 seconds when the arrow flips. This is with "Off Road Transition" set to Auto. You can set the "Route Leg Transition" to Auto, Manual, or Distance so I would presume that there is some calculation involved as to when the GPS decides you've "reached" the current waypoint and changes to point to the next one. This feature isn't really documented and is not easy to find. It's at Menu / Routes / Menu / Off Road Transition. Bob

Sounds like you may have a Card Reader plugged into your PC and when you do a "Find Device" it actually finds many "devices" and you need to click on the Down Arrow on the dropdown list of devices. You may find that the first few "devices" are SD cards or other external drives that Mapsource recognizes as being a potential location for "GPS files". Scroll down the list until you see the GPS name and Serial number, rather than "Drive F:" or something similar. The first time that happened to me I got the same error you mentioned and it took a while to figure out it was the card reader, and not the GPS, that appeared in the "Find Device" box. Bob

It can be done with the Track Edit Tools. Split the track into sections with the Track Divide Tool and delete the part you want to modify. Use the Track Draw Tool to make the new track. Use the Track Join Tool to reconnect the new part to the existing parts. Bob

Mark - 12 months ago I was at the stage you're at with map making. I didn't even know GenTYP existed and I just converted my tracklogs to "roads" using standard Mapsource road symbols. That's OK at first but you'll find it confusing trying to differente between Mapsource features and your custom trails. When I heard about GenTYP, I knew it was the way to go as I wanted my trails to display differently. Cypherman's instructions are OK but it still took a bit of effort to get my first TYP file to work. Now, I just modify a previous one and it's real easy. More descriptive instructions would definitely be helpful. I'll probably write some when I get time. When you are ready to start with GenTYP, I'd suggest you do not try to make custom graphics. I use a 2 pixel wide track with 1 pixel borders and use vaious colour combinations to denote trails types - white/red for snowmobile, brown/green for ATV, green/red for dualsport bike trails, and black/white for single-track dirtbike trails. If you need help getting started just post your questions or PM me. Bob

There was a free download on Garmin (I think) that was called GPSMAP 162/168 Tide Points that installed a "Map" in Mapsource that contained all the Tide information. When it's loaded in my 60CSx I can access Tide information, without it I cannot. I didn't find any Tide data in the basic 60CSx. The file is RecommendedMapSourceUSTidesSoftware.exe but I can't find it on Garmin website. Someone previoiusly posted a link to it and I downloaded it a couple of months ago. Bob

I don't know how the custom map makers would manage without your MapsetToolkit, Cypherman! I didn't upgrade from your V1.32 even though you added more features in newer versions. I had everything working great with MapEdit 1.0.40.4, MapsetToolkit 1.32, your GenTYP 0.93, and Mapsource 6.13.7, so why change? In fact, I just uninstalled Mapsource 6.15.3 tonight and went back to 6.13.7 after testing my custom maps. I thought that Garmin had changed Mapsource 6.14.x so that you MUST use Families and Product=1. Why have you changed Toolkit to allow Products = or > 1 ?? Again, thanks for your great programs and support, Cypherman! Wish you would add a "Donate/PayPal" button to your site. Don't know why you do it all for free Bob

Jack - Use MapsetToolkit to look at the Mapsource maps and see what the FID/Products are. That will tell you what Product 780 is. Bob

I'd guess that Product 780 is NOT a Garmin product. All the Garmin Mapsource maps I have use a Family Number (FID) and use Product=1 (e.g. Topo 2008 is Family=200 and Product=1). If Product 780 is your own custom map, then try installing it as a Family. I haven't fully tested installing custom maps in 6.15.3, but I know that they work with a Product number = 1 and a Family ID with 3 digits (see my post above). Bob UPDATE: I tested 6.15.3 with an old custom map that did NOT have a FID. I installed it as Product=53, and when I started Mapsource I got the message "There is a problem with the Product xxx installation. Please re-install Product xxx and start Mapsource again." Definitely looks like you must uses Families and Product=1 with the new Mapsource.

I'm not planning on running 6.15.3 yet (as Garmin's update performance has been poor lately) but I installed it to test MapsetToolkit with my custom maps. Everything worked perfectly. There was a problem with custom maps that didn't use a Product Code=1 and an "acceptable" Family ID number. I use 3 digit FID's (in the 5xx series), TYP files to customize the "road" colours, and I'm still on the old V1.32 MapsetToolkit. Bob

Glad you persevered, Jack. It also took me a couple of hours to get the first map made - using the tutorial data. Using my own data it took considerably longer, but now (after about 6 mapsets) I can make a new map using several hundred tracklogs in just a couple of minutes. After you get a map done to your liking, just re-open the MP file and "Save As" a different name, then delete the "roads" and use the "File Add" to bring in your new tracks. Most of the settings (zoom levels, bits, etc) will still be there from the original map so there's not much to be done. It's certainly the best solution I've found to working around the 20 track limit. Bob

Sorry, have to disagree on that one. The 60Cx and 60CSx is the GPS of choice in our DualSport bike club. I've been using a 60Cx for 3 years on road and off-road rides and there's nothing else on the market that comes close in features, performance and price. Bob

The tutorial on how to convert tracklogs to maps is here: http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forum/index...showtopic=79939 The process seems quite complicated the first few times you do it but I can now make a custom map from a few hundred tracklogs in a couple of minutes. Give it a try and if you get stuck just ask. Bob

Duplicate

I use Garmin Mapsource for my tracklog management. There doesn't seem to be any limit to the number of tracklogs a file can hold and they are always "sorted by geographical area" as they display on the maps. The tracklogs can be sorted by time/date by clicking on the "Start Time" column header. They are able to be colour-coded individually so you can add more information to the database (e.g. green tracks for hiking trails, brown tracks for bike trails, etc). It's very easy to either download a tracklog from the GPS to an existing file or to cut/paste tracklogs from other files to the master file. Another advantage is that it is relatively easy to take the Mapsource master tracklog file and convert it to a transparent overlay map that can be uploaded to your GPS and will display over existing Topo and Street maps, thus overcoming the 20 tracklog limit on most Garmin GPS. Bob

There's an excellent tutorial on map making AND compiling an InnoSetup script on Ryan Quick's snowmobile website. Check it out here: GPSsledmaps Bob