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Mapping Support

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  1. Gaia GPS is actually what I have been recommending to people. Gaia also lets you download the same hi-res topo scans that Endicott's software lets you download. I know that Gaia is using the "Cal Topo" map tiles that Matt Jacobs produced (from the USGS scans) and is hosting on Amazon's cloud. Either Endicott is also using Matt Jacobs' map tiles or someone in addition to Matt has also processed the hi-res USGS scans into tiles and is hosting them on Amazon's cloud. Joseph
  2. I did take a look at Phil Endecott's Topo Maps app (http://topomapsapp.com/) after seeing it mentioned here. Wow! I am very impressed. From his website it looks like he lets you download to your iDevice the very hi-res topo scans made by the USGS. These are the same scans that Gmap4 calls "t4 Topo High" and IMHO are the best USGS topo maps. I do not know of any other mobile app (Gmap4 is a browser app) that provides such easy access to these topos. Joseph
  3. Joseph: I've tried this with GMap on my iPad but found it very tricky to view/save all of the tiles I want ahead of time. For that specific feature I haven't found anything easier/better/faster than Endecoot's Topo Maps program. I just wish it had other map layers available than the older USGS ones. -Lee Thanks for feedback. Certainly using browser caching to save tiles has disadvantages. On the other hand, if you want to look at Google aerials offline then browser caching is one of the few methods that complies with Google's terms of service. You do need to keep in mind that you need to cache the tiles at the same zoom level that you wish to view them offline.
  4. Gmap4 does exactly what you want. It runs in almost any browser on almost any device (including iPads) and displays high resolution scans of USGS topo maps ("t4 Topo High"). The following link starts Gmap4 and displays the topo map for a random spot in Kentucky. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=37.813141,-84.553528&z=15&t=t4'>http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=37.813141,-84.553528&z=15&t=t4 Use Menu ==> Search to find your own area. Use Menu ==> "Draw and Save" to add waypoints and/or a line to the map and then save your work either as a GPX file or as a "map-in-a-link". Full disclosure time: I am the developer of the Gmap4 software that is showing you the map. This project is part of my way to "pay it forward". Translation: Gmap4 is free for non-commercial use. It is popular with people that enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. Gmap4 can display these types of files: GPX, TPO, KML, KMZ, Google MyMap, and a delimited file format. The Gmap4 homepage has a FAQ, examples, quick start info (on the Help page) and more to quickly get you up to speed. One of the articles on the Help page shows you how to use Gmap4 on your smartphone (or iPad) offline. Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Joseph, the Gmap4 guy Redmond, WA
  5. I have posted here before about Gmap4 which is an enhanced Google map viewer that I developed. Up until this summer I believed that Gmap4 would not work if your mobile browser was offline. I was wrong. If you follow a few simple instructions, many (but not all) of the Gmap4 features will work just fine on a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device when you are offline. Among other things, when you are offline you can: * Look at high resolution topo maps (t4 Topo High) * Look at Google aerials * Look at other basemaps * Look at GIS overlays * Turn on the geolocation feature (Menu ==> My location) and see the map become centered where you are standing * Move and watch the location symbol follow you and the map automatically move as needed * Touch the location symbol and see your coordinates in the current coordinate format * Change the coordinate format * Turn on/off a UTM grid * Turn on/off a USNG grid Yes, you can do all of the above while the browser in your smartphone or tablet is offline. Now let’s pop the hood and see how this works. Any map you see with Gmap4 consists of a bunch of small image files called “tiles” that are stitched together to cover your screen. When you look at a map while you are online, a copy of each image file is saved in the browser’s cache. If you keep the browser tab open that has the Gmap4 map, then you can then go offline and still pan the map over the area for which there are map tiles in the browser’s cache. If you pan too far, the screen will be white. To read plain English instructions that I guarantee you will understand (I don’t know how to write computer babble-speak) please visit the Gmap4 Help page and download the pdf file “How To Use Gmap4 Offline”. Help page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.html From the Help page you can also find the FAQ, examples, a Quick Start guide (also on the Help page) and more. Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  6. The link below starts Gmap4 (I am the developer) and displays a map of the BWCA. In the link you see reference to a txt file. That file designates the data, including GIS layers, that you see on the map. You can download that txt file and look at its contents. This map shows the boundary (GIS data), entry points (KML file #1), portages (KMl file #2) and campsites (txt file) that are open as of June 2013. Click a campsite symbol for the coordinates. You can also zoom in and then click Menu == > Label On/Off. A label holding the coordinates will appear next to each campsite. If you zoom in a bunch then you will see lines and arrows showing the direction the water is flowing (this data looks real nice on the "t4 Topo High" basemap). When the map opens, color infrared aerials are displayed. You can display "1-foot" aerials that have better resolution that Google's aerials. Anything that looks like a space in the link is actually an underline character. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?t=Color_infrared,Water_flow_direction,Boundary&q=https://sites.google.com/site/gmap4files/p/recreation/bwca_campsites.txt For more information about Gmap4, please see the homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  7. Short answer: Use Gmap4 and tell the iPhone uses to search on 47 23.333 9 23.333 Longer answer: Gmap4 is an enhanced Google map viewer. There is nothing to download, nothing to install. It works in most browsers on most devices, including iPhones and iPads. When you open a Gmap4 link with the browser on a mobile device, Gmap4 automatically displays a touch-friendly interface. The following link starts Gmap4 and displays the default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php'>http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php Now touch Menu ==> Search and enter 47 23.333 9 23.333 and touch Go. The map will center at that spot. You can search on most reasonable ways to write either latitude longitude or UTM coordinates. For more info on Gmap4 please see the homepage. There is a 'Quick Start' near the front of the pdf Help file. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4. Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  8. I am the developer of the Gmap4 online map that Dave mentioned. If you open either of the links Dave posted and rightclick on the map then you see a popup that shows the coordinates in various formats, including DD MM.MMMMMM, for the spot you clicked. I made a note of Dave's suggestion that I provide a way that users could choose to have coords displayed as DD MM.MMMMMM in the lower right corner of the screen. That is a reasonable request and I will implement it but no idea when that will happen. Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  9. Gmap4 is software I developed that uses the Google Map API (Application Program Interface). Joseph
  10. Recently Gmap4 was updated to version 4.1 and now includes a unique map-in-a-link feature that is worth mentioning. Anyone can now make a custom map and save their data right in a Gmap4 link. You do not need to save your data in a separate file such as a GPX or KML file. This may be the easiest and faster way for you to make a custom online topographic map. To try out this feature: 1. Click Menu ==> Draw and Save 2. Click the map a few times to set draggable symbols and draw a line 3. Rightclick any symbol and select “Gmap4 display long link” You can copy the link that is displayed, paste it into a new browser address bar, hit enter and your custom map will be displayed. This feature also works on your iPhone, iPad, android and other mobile device. Remember, Gmap4 is a browser app and your browser has to be online. After you tap the screen to set some draggable symbols then tap a symbol and select “Action Menu”. The list of actions include two different ways to save a Gmap4 link that includes your data. More information on this map-in-a-link feature can be found in the following three places. 1. What’s new page Note the tip about deleting the ll and z parameters from your Gmap4 link. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_whats_new.html 2. Example page Scroll down to the section titled “Your map data saved in the Gmap4 link”. The examples range from basic to advanced and give you a quick way to see some of the kinds of maps you can make with this feature. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html 3. Help file You can download the PDF file and search it (control-f) for the section titled “Make a custom map with Gmap4 and save it”. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Joseph, the Gmap4 guy Redmond, WA
  11. Recently Gmap4 was updated to version 4.1 and now includes a unique map-in-a-link feature that is worth mentioning. Anyone can now make a custom map and save their data right in a Gmap4 link. You do not need to save your data in a separate file such as a GPX or KML file. This may be the easiest and faster way for you to make a custom online topographic map. To try out this feature: 1. Click Menu ==> Draw and Save 2. Click the map a few times to set draggable symbols and draw a line 3. Rightclick any symbol and select “Gmap4 display long link” You can copy the link that is displayed, paste it into a new browser address bar, hit enter and your custom map will be displayed. This feature also works on your iPhone, iPad, android and other mobile device. Remember, Gmap4 is a browser app and your browser has to be online. After you tap the screen to set some draggable symbols then tap a symbol and select “Action Menu”. The list of actions include two different ways to save a Gmap4 link that includes your data. More information on this map-in-a-link feature can be found in the following three places. 1. What’s new page Note the tip about deleting the ll and z parameters from your Gmap4 link. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_whats_new.html 2. Example page Scroll down to the section titled “Your map data saved in the Gmap4 link”. The examples range from basic to advanced and give you a quick way to see some of the kinds of maps you can make with this feature. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html 3. Help file You can download the PDF file and search it (control-f) for the section titled “Make a custom map with Gmap4 and save it”. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Joseph, the Gmap4 guy Redmond, WA
  12. In my case the point is to compare the accuracy of my Magellan GPS to my iPhone 4s. Doing this is definitely on my list but I just have not done it yet.
  13. Thanks for the replies. I still have not had a chance to try this myself but when I do I will be comparing my older Meridian GPS to my iPhone 4s.
  14. I an shopping for a used iPhone 4S and in the process have read up on the GPS specs for both the 4S and iPhone 5. iPhone 4S http://www.anandtech.com/show/4971/apple-iphone-4s-review-att-verizon/9 “MDM6610 inside the 4S inherits the same Qualcomm GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Gen8 support, namely GPS and its Russian equivalent, GLONASS. The two can be used in conjunction at the same time and deliver a more reliable 3D fix onboad MDM6610, which is what the 4S does indeed appear to be using. GPS and GLONASS are functionally very similar, and combined support for GPS and GLONASS at the same time is something most modern receivers do now. There are even receivers which support the EU's standard, Galileo, though it isn't completed yet. This time around, Apple is being direct about its inclusion of GLONASS. The GPS inside MDM6610 fully supports standalone mode, and assisted mode from UMTS, GSM, OMA, and gpsOneXTRA.” iPhone 5 http://www.anandtech.com/show/6330/the-iphone-5-review/19 “Like the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 CDMA before it, Apple has gone with the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) leveraging both GPS and Russian GLONASS which lives entirely on the Qualcomm baseband. In the case of the iPhone 4S and 4 CDMA, that was onboard MDM6610 and MDM6600 respectively, both of which implemented Qualcomm's gpsOneGen 8 with GLONASS tier. Going to on-baseband GNSS is really the way of the future, and partially the reason why so many of the WLAN, BT, and FM combos don't include any GNSS themselves (those partners know it as well). In this scheme GNSS simply uses a dedicated port on the transceiver for downconversion, additional filtering (on RTR8600), and then processing on the baseband. The advantage of doing it all here is that often it eliminates the need for another dedicated antenna for GNSS, and also all of the assist and seed information traditionally needed to speed up getting a GPS fix already exists basically for free on the baseband. We're talking about both a basic location seed, precision clock data, in addition to ephemeris. In effect with all this already existing on the baseband, every GPS start is like a hot start.” ... “With MDM9615 now being the baseband inside iPhone 5, not a whole lot changes when it comes to GNSS. MDM9615 implements gpsOneGen 8A instead of just 8, and I dug around to figure out what all has changed in this version. In version 8A Qualcomm has lowered power consumption and increased LTE coexistence with GPS and GLONASS, but otherwise functionality remains the same. MDM9x25 will bring about gpsOneGen 8B with GLONASS, but there aren’t any details about what changes in that particular bump. I spent a lot of time playing with the iPhone 5 GNSS to make sure there aren’t any issues, and although iOS doesn’t expose direct NMEA data, things look to be implemented perfectly. Getting good location data is now even more important given Apple’s first party turn by turn maps solution. Thankfully fix times are fast, and getting a good fix even indoors with just a roof between you and clear sky is still totally possible.” ... "Thus, the Verizon iPhone 4 and 4S this changed to an internal planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) which is extremely common in the smartphone space. The iPhone 5 continues this PIFA and internal choice but redesigns it once more. Apple is required to report gain and output power as part of their FCC filing, and we can see that 2.4 GHz gain is slightly improved on the iPhone 5, while gain on the 5 GHz band varies wildly across the various bands (which have different regulatory constrains)."
  15. Yes CoolCow, I intend to only use benchmarks that are adjusted. I am going to enter the benchmark coordinates into my handheld and hit GOTO. When I find the BM then I am going to stand right there for a minute or so and then look at the distance for the GOTO. That distance will be the amount of error for that test. I posted since I was curious if anyone knows of a site or thread somewhere that has results from people who have done this test.
  16. I have searched through this forum and elsewhere online and come up dry. Surely someone is compiling this info somewhere but I am having a tough time finding it! Here's the concept. Stand right at a benchmark for ~1 minute. You already have a GOTO set, right? Now read off the distance to your waypoint. That is a measure of the inaccuracy of your GPS for this specific test. Of course if you repeat the test at a different time then you will likely get a different result since the satellites will be in a different 'constellation' and atmospheric conditions will have changed. I think this would be a fascinating way to compare the accuracy of any GPS-enabled device. You can even shave the odds by testing when the satellites are in a favorable position: http://satpredictor.navcomtech.com I got interested in this accuracy issue since I am building a system to help people find survey stakes. If anyone knows of a site collecting this info, please point me to it.
  17. Earlier this year ACMEmapper stopped displaying the medium resolution MYTopo maps and went back to displaying the low resolution Terraserver maps (now called Microsoft Research maps). You can still view the MyTopo maps on Gmap4. You can also view the new higher resolution topo maps. The Gmap4 code has been updated to version 3.0. There are two new ‘big’ features that many people will find useful. First, Gmap4 can now display a new set of very high resolution USA topographic maps that (1) are a better quality image than the MyTopo maps, (2) do not have heavy watermarks obscuring part of the map and (3) do not have any ads. The link below displays a basic map of the USA. Zoom in to your favorite area (or use the ‘Search’ feature) then open the menu in the upper right corner and select “t4 Topo High”. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=37.125286,-94.21875&t=m&z=4 You can also set the amount of hill shading you prefer to see on these new maps. Click Menu ==> Hill shading. And there is a new URL parameter (&hillshade=) you can use to set the hill shading in any Gmap4 URLs that you make. A developer in California named Matt (http://CalTopo.com) produced these new topo map tiles from data he obtained from the USGS. Matt is paying out of his pocket to host these new map tiles on Amazon’s cloud service. It is my great hope that the Gmap4 user community taken as a whole will be willing to make sufficient donations to pay its share of Matt’s Amazon bill. The Menu button on the map has a ‘donate’ link. Matt’s high resolution topographic map tiles should cover the states show in green on the following index map. I think the states that are not done yet are FL, LA, MA, MS, NH, RI, SD, VT and WY. http://nationalmap.gov/historical/index.html As the USGS finishes high resolution scans (660 pixels per inch) for the remaining states, Matt will be processing that data into tiles. The Gmap4 ‘Help’ file has more information on these new maps and also instructions for how you can report any problems you discover. Second, Gmap4 now includes a trip planning feature called “Make a map”. You can now click the map to make waypoints, routes and tracks. You can download your work in a GPX file and then upload that information into many handheld GPS units. Of course you can also put your GPX file online and then make a Gmap4 URL to display your file. This feature works worldwide. Gmap4’s implementation of this feature lets you: * Click once and create both a waypoint and routepoint * Edit any data field (including GPS symbol name) that causes information to appear on your GPS screen “Make a map” quick start: 1. Zoom in where you want to do trip planning 2. Set the map view you want 3. Click Menu ==> Make a map 4. Click a few spots on the map. Distance in miles and kilometers is reported in the lower right corner. 5. Right click any point 6. Click “Download GPX file” 7. Right click the URL to the GPX file and save it on your harddrive 8. Load the GPX information into your GPS Each click you just made on the map sets a draggable (click-hold-drag) waypoint and routepoint. This is the Gmap4 default for trip planning. For more information on these features, please visit the Gmap4 homepage and download the current Help file. The sections that describe these new features are marked “(New)” in the table of contents. Gamp4 Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html I welcome your suggestions for improvements and any bug reports. Enjoy! Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  18. The Gmap4 code has been updated to version 3.0. There are two new ‘big’ features that many people will find useful. First, Gmap4 can now display a new set of very high resolution USA topographic maps that (1) are a better quality image than the MyTopo maps, (2) do not have heavy watermarks obscuring part of the map and (3) do not have any ads. The link below displays a basic map of the USA. Zoom in to your favorite area (or use the ‘Search’ feature) then open the menu in the upper right corner and select “t4 Topo High”. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=37.125286,-94.21875&t=m&z=4 You can also set the amount of hill shading you prefer to see on these new maps. Click Menu ==> Hill shading. And there is a new URL parameter (&hillshade=) you can use to set the hill shading in any Gmap4 URLs that you make. A developer in California named Matt (http://CalTopo.com) produced these new topo map tiles from data he obtained from the USGS. Matt is paying out of his pocket to host these new map tiles on Amazon’s cloud service. It is my great hope that the Gmap4 user community taken as a whole will be willing to make sufficient donations to pay its share of Matt’s Amazon bill. The Menu button on the map has a ‘donate’ link. Matt’s high resolution topographic map tiles should cover the states show in green on the following index map. I think the states that are not done yet are FL, LA, MA, MS, NH, RI, SD, VT and WY. http://nationalmap.gov/historical/index.html As the USGS finishes high resolution scans (660 pixels per inch) for the remaining states, Matt will be processing that data into tiles. The Gmap4 ‘Help’ file has more information on these new maps and also instructions for how you can report any problems you discover. Second, Gmap4 now includes a trip planning feature called “Make a map”. You can now click the map to make waypoints, routes and tracks. You can download your work in a GPX file and then upload that information into many handheld GPS units. Of course you can also put your GPX file online and then make a Gmap4 URL to display your file. This feature works worldwide. Gmap4’s implementation of this feature lets you: * Click once and create both a waypoint and routepoint * Edit any data field (including GPS symbol name) that causes information to appear on your GPS screen “Make a map” quick start: 1. Zoom in where you want to do trip planning 2. Set the map view you want 3. Click Menu ==> Make a map 4. Click a few spots on the map. Distance in miles and kilometers is reported in the lower right corner. 5. Right click any point 6. Click “Download GPX file” 7. Right click the URL to the GPX file and save it on your harddrive 8. Load the GPX information into your GPS Each click you just made on the map sets a draggable (click-hold-drag) waypoint and routepoint. This is the Gmap4 default for trip planning. For more information on these features, please visit the Gmap4 homepage and download the current Help file. The sections that describe these new features are marked “(New)” in the table of contents. Gamp4 Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html I welcome your suggestions for improvements and any bug reports. Enjoy! Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  19. The Gmap4 production code is now version 2.3. This is the first version that includes special features for smartphones and other mobile devices. 1. Gmap4 can now find your location on the map. This service will use some or all of: * Your IP address * Cell towers * Wi-fi hotspots * Any GPS chip in your phone or other mobile device Simply open any map in your phone’s browser and then select Menu ==> Findme. You can try this right now on your desktop/laptop just to see how it works. However, your desktop/laptop location will likely not be very accurate since in many cases only your IP address will be used. You can also build Gmap4 URLs that will automatically run the Findme feature when the map opens. Simply include the parameter ‘findme=on’ in the Gmap4 URL. Example: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?findme=on Since Gmap4 uses the Google maps Application Programming Interface (API), this feature only works if your phone’s browser is online to the internet. Also, because Gmap4 is a web application, you do not need to download or install anything in order to use Gmap4 on your phone. To open Gmap4 on your phone: A. Open your phone’s browser. (Remember, that browser has to be online.) B. Do a web search for Gmap4 - the first hit should be the Gmap4 homepage C. Select the link just under the homepage title. That link opens Gmap4 and displays a map of the world. D. Select Menu ==> Findme Of course you can save the Gmap4 URL as a bookmark in your phone’s browser. Gmap4 does not save your location or report it to anyone. For more details, please search the Gmap4 Help file on ‘mobile’. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Here are two links with more information if you are curious how this works: http://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/geolocation/ http://support.google.com/gmm/bin/answer.py?hl=en&cbrank=2&cbid=-13t9fywlvvabr&ctx=cb&answer=39894&src=cb 2. You can turn off the coordinates in the lower right corner Turning off the coordinate display in the lower right will let you see more of the map. You can toggle that display by selecting Menu ==> UTM - LatLng - Off To open Gmap4 with that display already off, include the parameter ‘&coord=off’ in the Gmap4 URL Example: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?findme=on&coord=off 3. Tweaking the mobile interface Gmap4 is not a ‘native’ app for your phone. Instead, the exact same code that runs in the browser on your desktop/laptop also runs in the browser on your phone. Amazing! But this means my options for improving the interface when running on a phone are somewhat limited. What I can do fairly easily is add buttons. However, each button would cover part of the map. Question: Are there any features of Gmap4 important enough that they should have their own buttons? One obvious candidate is the ‘Findme’ feature. Any others? 4. The MyTopo maps now display ads in one corner. That was not my idea! For example, this map shows part of Yellowstone National Park: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=44.461721,-110.832396&z=14&t=t2 The Trimble Company now owns the MyTopo maps. As the 'price' for being allowed to continue displaying the MyTopo maps at no cost, Gmap4 must display Trimble's ad images when the MyTopo maps are on the screen. Joseph, the Gmap4 guy Redmond, WA
  20. The Gmap4 production code is now version 2.3. This is the first version that includes special features for smartphones and other mobile devices. 1. Gmap4 can now find your location on the map. This service will use some or all of: * Your IP address * Cell towers * Wi-fi hotspots * Any GPS chip in your phone or other mobile device Simply open any map in your phone’s browser and then select Menu ==> Findme. You can try this right now on your desktop/laptop just to see how it works. However, your desktop/laptop location will likely not be very accurate since in many cases only your IP address will be used. You can also build Gmap4 URLs that will automatically run the Findme feature when the map opens. Simply include the parameter ‘findme=on’ in the Gmap4 URL. Example: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?findme=on Since Gmap4 uses the Google maps Application Programming Interface (API), this feature only works if your phone’s browser is online to the internet. Also, because Gmap4 is a web application, you do not need to download or install anything in order to use Gmap4 on your phone. To open Gmap4 on your phone: A. Open your phone’s browser. (Remember, that browser has to be online.) B. Do a web search for Gmap4 - the first hit should be the Gmap4 homepage C. Select the link just under the homepage title. That link opens Gmap4 and displays a map of the world. D. Select Menu ==> Findme Of course you can save the Gmap4 URL as a bookmark in your phone’s browser. Gmap4 does not save your location or report it to anyone. For more details, please search the Gmap4 Help file on ‘mobile’. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Here are two links with more information if you are curious how this works: http://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/geolocation/ http://support.google.com/gmm/bin/answer.py?hl=en&cbrank=2&cbid=-13t9fywlvvabr&ctx=cb&answer=39894&src=cb 2. You can turn off the coordinates in the lower right corner Turning off the coordinate display in the lower right will let you see more of the map. You can toggle that display by selecting Menu ==> UTM - LatLng - Off To open Gmap4 with that display already off, include the parameter ‘&coord=off’ in the Gmap4 URL Example: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?findme=on&coord=off 3. Tweaking the mobile interface Gmap4 is not a ‘native’ app for your phone. Instead, the exact same code that runs in the browser on your desktop/laptop also runs in the browser on your phone. Amazing! But this means my options for improving the interface when running on a phone are somewhat limited. What I can do fairly easily is add buttons. However, each button would cover part of the map. Question: Are there any features of Gmap4 important enough that they should have their own buttons? One obvious candidate is the ‘Findme’ feature. Any others? 4. The MyTopo maps now display ads in one corner. That was not my idea! For example, this map shows part of Yellowstone National Park: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=44.461721,-110.832396&z=14&t=t2 The Trimble Company now owns the MyTopo maps. As the 'price' for being allowed to continue displaying the MyTopo maps at no cost, Gmap4 must display Trimble's ad images when the MyTopo maps are on the screen. Joseph, the Gmap4 guy Redmond, WA
  21. Gmap4 has been updated to version 2.2. The full list of changes is posted on the Gmap4 “what's new” page (see hompage link below). Here are some highlights. First, Gmap4 can add labels to Google maps. The labels are built from the waypoint names in your file. Your existing maps will work with this feature, except KMZ files are not yet supported. Labels can be styled with your own HTML and CSS. The following link displays a GPX file that is hosted at Topofusion and displays with labels turned on. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.topofusion.com/GPX/BrianHead-Network.gpx&t=t2&label=on To open Gmap4 with labels turned on, include this parameter in your Gmap4 URL: &label=on To toggle the labels after a map is displayed click Menu ==> Label On/Off You can style the labels with your own HTML and CSS. This label feature works with all the file formats that Gmap4 can read except KMZ files. Label support for KMZ files will be added in a future update. Below is an example of a map I made with fancy labels. Note that (1) each label is clickable and (2) when you shift to an aerial map view then the labels acquire a solid background so the text does not disappear in shadows on the aerials. This map uses a delimited text file that is hosted at Google Sites. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=https://sites.google.com/site/gmap4files/p/delimited/teanaway_peaks_delimited.txt&ll=47.421616,-120.876101&t=t2&z=13&label=on Second, a number of features have been added to the delimited text file format that Gmap4 can display. The section of the Gmap4 Help file titled “Delimited text files - Some details” has been completely re-written and now starts with a series of example maps that will let you rapidly learn the basics. If you want the most control over your map, this is the file format to use. Third, the internet security features of Gmap4 have been enhanced. If you look at a file that causes Gmap4 to display a security-related message on your screen and you think that message is a ‘false positive’, then please go to the Gmap4 contact page and send an email. Include the URL to the map (Menu ==> Show map URL) in your email. Fourth, Gmap4 can now display files that include a '?' character in the URL for the file. For more information please see the Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Enjoy! Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  22. Gmap4 has been updated to version 2.2. The full list of changes is posted on the Gmap4 “what's new” page (see hompage link below). Here are some highlights. First, Gmap4 can add labels to Google maps. The labels are built from the waypoint names in your file. Your existing maps will work with this feature, except KMZ files are not yet supported. Labels can be styled with your own HTML and CSS. The following link displays a GPX file that is hosted at Topofusion and displays with labels turned on. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.topofusion.com/GPX/BrianHead-Network.gpx&t=t2&label=on To open Gmap4 with labels turned on, include this parameter in your Gmap4 URL: &label=on To toggle the labels after a map is displayed click Menu ==> Label On/Off You can style the labels with your own HTML and CSS. This label feature works with all the file formats that Gmap4 can read except KMZ files. Label support for KMZ files will be added in a future update. Below is an example of a map I made with fancy labels. Note that (1) each label is clickable and (2) when you shift to an aerial map view then the labels acquire a solid background so the text does not disappear in shadows on the aerials. This map uses a delimited text file that is hosted at Google Sites. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=https://sites.google.com/site/gmap4files/p/delimited/teanaway_peaks_delimited.txt&ll=47.421616,-120.876101&t=t2&z=13&label=on Second, a number of features have been added to the delimited text file format that Gmap4 can display. The section of the Gmap4 Help file titled “Delimited text files - Some details” has been completely re-written and now starts with a series of example maps that will let you rapidly learn the basics. If you want the most control over your map, this is the file format to use. Third, the internet security features of Gmap4 have been enhanced. If you look at a file that causes Gmap4 to display a security-related message on your screen and you think that message is a ‘false positive’, then please go to the Gmap4 contact page and send an email. Include the URL to the map (Menu ==> Show map URL) in your email. Fourth, Gmap4 can now display files that include a '?' character in the URL for the file. For more information please see the Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Enjoy! Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
  23. Gmap4 has been updated to version 2.1.6 dated September 17, 2011. Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Reminder: Since Gmap4 lives in the cloud (1) you never have to download or install Gmap4 and (2) you are always automatically using the latest version of the code. But if Gmap4 does not seem to work then please clear your browser’s cache and try again. To see the Gmap4 version number you can click Menu ==> About on any map. This update fixes the ‘blank screen’ problem that some users experienced after the September 12th update. If you experienced that problem, then please try Gmap4 again. In order to use the new 3D ‘Earth’ view, your computer system needs to have the Google Earth browser plug-in installed. The Gmap4 code now checks to see if your system already has this plug-in installed. If your computer system does not have this plug-in installed, then you will see a message telling you that and a link to Google where you can download the plug-in if you decide to install it. If you decide to install the plug-in, please follow the instructions in that message. You need a broadband connection and a reasonably modern computer to use the 3D ‘Earth’ view. Also, your security software might ask you to give permission before this plug-in will work. If you decide to not install the plug-in, simply close the message window. You can continue using all the other features of Gmap4 except the ‘Earth’ view.
  24. Gmap4 has been updated to version 2.1.6 dated September 17, 2011. Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Reminder: Since Gmap4 lives in the cloud (1) you never have to download or install Gmap4 and (2) you are always automatically using the latest version of the code. But if Gmap4 does not seem to work then please clear your browser’s cache and try again. To see the Gmap4 version number you can click Menu ==> About on any map. This update fixes the ‘blank screen’ problem that some users experienced after the September 12th update. If you experienced that problem, then please try Gmap4 again. In order to use the new 3D ‘Earth’ view, your computer system needs to have the Google Earth browser plug-in installed. The Gmap4 code now checks to see if your system already has this plug-in installed. If your computer system does not have this plug-in installed, then you will see a message telling you that and a link to Google where you can download the plug-in if you decide to install it. If you decide to install the plug-in, please follow the instructions in that message. You need a broadband connection and a reasonably modern computer to use the 3D ‘Earth’ view. Also, your security software might ask you to give permission before this plug-in will work. If you decide to not install the plug-in, simply close the message window. You can continue using all the other features of Gmap4 except the ‘Earth’ view.
  25. After the September 12th update to Gmap4 I heard from a handful of people that this new version gave them a blank screen and nothing else. For most people the new version worked fine but for an unfortunate few it did not. I want to thank those that spoke up. After all, when things work fine for me, I have no way of knowing that they do not work fine for you unless you tell me. The best way to reach me is to e-mail through my contact page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_contact.html Late today I updated the Gmap4 code. If you click Menu ==> About then you will see the date September 14, 2011 (or later). If you are still having trouble viewing maps with Gmap4, then I have a favor to ask. In addition to updating the code I also put together a short list of easy things that you can try to get the latest version of Gmap4 working on your system. Here’s the favor: Please download the latest copy (dated September 14, 2011) of the ‘Help’ file (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf) and search that file for ‘tips on flying’. Near the end of that section you will see a heading that starts “Background...”. That section gives you a peek under the hood and suggests several easy/quick things you can do to try and get the current version of Gmap4 working on your system. Some of those suggestions have worked for others, so I hope if you are having problems that you take a few minutes and give them a try. And if nothing else works, then the last suggestion gives you a link to the prior version of Gmap4 which does not include the new ‘Earth’ feature which seems to be the source of most of the problems. But since being able to fly over your GPS track (or any other data file) in 3D is easily the coolest feature in Gmap4, I most certainly hope you are able to convince your system to run the current version of Gmap4 so you can waste as much time as I have flying here and there. It’s addictive but - hey - you’ve been warned.
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