Mapping Support

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.

I just promoted Gmap4 version 2.1.4 from testing into production. Some of the new features are described below. For a full list of the changes in this version please see http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_whats_new.html Remember, Gmap4 lives in the cloud and does not require you to download or install anything. Anytime you view a map with Gmap4, you automatically will be using the most recent version. The big news is that you can now strap on a personal jet pack and fly around in 3D anywhere in the world. (The Gmap4 ‘Search’ feature is a useful way to zip you to the spot where you wish to begin flying.) You can fly at low altitude over any map that has a GPS track and see the world in 3D. No sweat, no bug bites, no blisters. All you have to do is download the Gmap4 ‘Help’ pdf file dated September 12, 2011 or more recent and search for ‘Tips for flying’. Anyone can quicky and easily learn to fly with just a mouse by taking a quick trip through flight school by reading those tips. Those tips will show you how to fly over the John Muir Trail in California starting from the summit of Mt. Whitney. Gmap4 ‘Help’ file: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf In addition, the ‘directions’ feature has been re-written. Right-click the map and then click either ‘Direction from here’ or ‘Direction to here’. After the route appears, you can drag it to make changes. You can build a Gmap4 URL that will open with the directions panel displayed and the destination filled in. This will be useful for helping people obtain directions to a meeting spot. Search the Gmap4 Help file for ‘Tips for using directions’. Also, information on how to donate has been added to the ‘Action’ menu and the Gmap4 website. Enjoy!

I just promoted Gmap4 version 2.1.4 from testing into production. Some of the new features are described below. For a full list of the changes in this version please see http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_whats_new.html Remember, Gmap4 lives in the cloud and does not require you to download or install anything. Anytime you view a map with Gmap4, you automatically will be using the most recent version. The big news is that you can now strap on a personal jet pack and fly around in 3D anywhere in the world. (The Gmap4 ‘Search’ feature is a useful way to zip you to the spot where you wish to begin flying.) You can fly at low altitude over any map that has a GPS track and see the world in 3D. No sweat, no bug bites, no blisters. All you have to do is download the Gmap4 ‘Help’ pdf file dated September 12, 2011 or more recent and search for ‘Tips for flying’. Anyone can quicky and easily learn to fly with just a mouse by taking a quick trip through flight school by reading those tips. Those tips will show you how to fly over the John Muir Trail in California starting from the summit of Mt. Whitney. Gmap4 ‘Help’ file: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf In addition, the ‘directions’ feature has been re-written. Right-click the map and then click either ‘Direction from here’ or ‘Direction to here’. After the route appears, you can drag it to make changes. You can build a Gmap4 URL that will open with the directions panel displayed and the destination filled in. This will be useful for helping people obtain directions to a meeting spot. Search the Gmap4 Help file for ‘Tips for using directions’. Also, information on how to donate has been added to the ‘Action’ menu and the Gmap4 website. Enjoy!

Thanks for the kind words. I looked at your map - you've been busy! Also, I clicked a marker and noticed that the long text blew past the bottom of the balloon. I wish I could do something about that but alas I cannot. The max size of the balloon is determined by Google and they have not provided for a scroll bar. And since you are an LSU sorta person, check out this flood related map. Click the "i" symbol near the upper middle for some fascinating background (which you likely already know). To turn the symbol labels on/off click Menu ==> Labels On/Off. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=https://sites.google.com/site/gmap4files/p/news/mississippi_course_change.txt&ll=30.417887,-91.201416&t=h&z=9&label=on

I just promoted Gmap4 from version 1 to version 2. Little reason: I added support for viewing the set of topo maps that used to be known as Terraserver and now are known as Microsoft Research Maps. Click the map type button in the far upper right and select “US Topo”. You can really see the quality difference compared to the MyTopo maps. The US Topo maps often load a bit slow. Part of the reason is that each map tile must be re-projected on-the-fly in order to match the map projection used by Google Maps. I added support for these maps in case they show old (abandoned?) trails that are not on the MyTopo maps. Big reason: This update introduces a new text file format that makes it super easy to produce maps. For a quick look, scroll down a bit on the Examples page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html This new file format is so easy that middle school students can quickly learn how to produce maps. Maps can include: * Many different kinds of symbols (i.e. markers/icons) * Lines of any color and any width * Balloons that appear when symbols are clicked * Links in the balloons * Clickable photo thumbnails in the balloons * And more Did I mention that this is truly easy? For the details, you can search the Help file on ‘delimited’. Or just go to page 32 in the 5-6-2011 version of the Help file. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Enjoy. Joseph

I just promoted Gmap4 from version 1 to version 2. Little reason: I added support for viewing the set of topo maps that used to be known as Terraserver and now are known as Microsoft Research Maps. Click the map type button in the far upper right and select “US Topo”. You can really see the quality difference compared to the MyTopo maps. The US Topo maps often load a bit slow. Part of the reason is that each map tile must be re-projected on-the-fly in order to match the map projection used by Google Maps. I added support for these maps in case they show old (abandoned?) trails that are not on the MyTopo maps. Big reason: This update introduces a new text file format that makes it super easy to produce maps. For a quick look, scroll down a bit on the Examples page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html This new file format is so easy that middle school students can quickly learn how to produce maps. Maps can include: * Many different kinds of symbols (i.e. markers/icons) * Lines of any color and any width * Balloons that appear when symbols are clicked * Links in the balloons * Clickable photo thumbnails in the balloons * And more Did I mention that this is truly easy? For the details, you can search the Help file on ‘delimited’. Or just go to page 32 in the 5-6-2011 version of the Help file. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Enjoy. Joseph

Gmap4 has been updated to version 1.9.1 dated January 17, 2011. This version adds support for UTM coordinate grids. All UTM support in Gmap4 uses the WGS84 datum. This UTM support works worldwide. For more info on UTM coordinates see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Transverse_Mercator_coordinate_system (Pay back time: When you visit other outdoor-related forums, please do a search and see if Gmap4 has been mentioned. If not, it would just take a moment for you to pass the word along. Also, are you doing the social network thing? Consider saying something nice about Gmap4.) Here’s a map of Grand Canyon Village with a UTM grid. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=36.059592,-112.139836&t=t2&z=14&coord=utm To toggle UTM support on and off, click Menu ==> UTM On/Off. If UTM is ‘on’ then Gmap4 gives you UTM information in three ways: 1. A UTM grid is displayed. This UTM grid is displayed on both the MyTopo topographic maps (USA and Canada) and the standard views (aerial, etc) provided by Google Maps. 2. The lower right corner of the screen will always show the UTM zone and UTM coordinates for both the cursor and map center. 3. You can get the UTM zone and coordinates for any point on the map by right-clicking that point. Things to keep in mind You can build you own map links by using URL parameters. If you want your map to appear on the user’s screen and already have UTM turned on, then add this URL parameter: &coord=utm Here is a comparison: With UTM on http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml&t=t2&coord=utm'>http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml&t=t2&coord=utm With UTM off (default) http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml&t=t2 If you zoom out far enough then you will not see a UTM grid. Instead you will only see vertical red lines which mark the edges of the UTM zones. UTM grid lines that are near the edge of their zone often appear curved when displayed using the map projection used by Google Maps. The grid lines in the adjoining zone will curve in the opposite direction. For example, the next map is centered near Lake Tahoe. The red line marks the edge of adjoining UTM zones. Double click each side of the red line (this changes the map center) and watch the UTM grid lines change. The grid lines are calculated based on the UTM zone that contains the center of the map. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.115536,-120.208437&t=m&z=8&coord=utm Some MyTopo topographic maps already have a UTM grid printed on them. Caution! Some of those printed grids are based on the older datum NAD27. Those older grids will have a uniform offset from the grid displayed by Gmap4 which is based on datum WGS84 . For example: Here is a map showing part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area in Washington State where the MyTopo maps have a UTM grid based on the WGS84 datum. Click Menu ==> UTM On/Off and you will see the faint UTM grid printed on the map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=47.47229,-120.80588&t=t2&z=14&coord=utm By contrast, here is a map showing part of the Yosemite Valley area in California, where the MyTopo maps have a UTM grid based on NAD27. Note the uniform offset between the two sets of grid lines. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=37.736733,-119.568449&t=t2&z=14&coord=utm Usually (but not always) the different zoom levels use a different scale for the UTM grid. To learn the grid scale, compare the cursor coordinates (lower right corner) as you point to adjacent grid lines. If you want to know the zoom level, right click the map. Maps with UTM grid lines can be printed. File ==> Print Preview If you know of any other map viewing software that can display the MyTopo topographic maps along with a UTM grid, I would enjoy knowing about it. Future UTM improvements There are different methods for putting labels on the grid lines. I am pondering what will work best. Another possible improvement is to let the user change the line width, color and/or spacing. Other ideas? Next Gmap4 update Bad news: The ‘Search’ feature of Gmap4 no longer works very well for placenames. This feature uses Google’s ‘geocoding’ service on the backend. OK, I admit it. Gmap4 was pushing the envelope in its use of that service. Whoops - Google pushed back. Guess who won? I will add a second search tool that is designed to work well with placenames. Good news: The existing ‘Search’ feature of Gmap4 still works fine for searching on (1) anything related to addresses including names of many settlements that no longer exist and (2) any reasonable way to write a latitude/longitude pair. Finally, if you find Gmap4 to be useful I hope you can take a moment and do some ‘pay-back’ by letting other people know about it. Enjoy! Joseph - Gmap4 author

Gmap4 has been updated to version 1.9.1 dated January 17, 2011. This version adds support for UTM coordinate grids. All UTM support in Gmap4 uses the WGS84 datum. This UTM support works worldwide. For more info on UTM coordinates see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Transverse_Mercator_coordinate_system (Pay back time: When you visit other outdoor-related forums, please do a search and see if Gmap4 has been mentioned. If not, it would just take a moment for you to pass the word along. Also, are you doing the social network thing? Consider saying something nice about Gmap4.) Here’s a map of Grand Canyon Village with a UTM grid. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=36.059592,-112.139836&t=t2&z=14&coord=utm To toggle UTM support on and off, click Menu ==> UTM On/Off. If UTM is ‘on’ then Gmap4 gives you UTM information in three ways: 1. A UTM grid is displayed. This UTM grid is displayed on both the MyTopo topographic maps (USA and Canada) and the standard views (aerial, etc) provided by Google Maps. 2. The lower right corner of the screen will always show the UTM zone and UTM coordinates for both the cursor and map center. 3. You can get the UTM zone and coordinates for any point on the map by right-clicking that point. Things to keep in mind You can build you own map links by using URL parameters. If you want your map to appear on the user’s screen and already have UTM turned on, then add this URL parameter: &coord=utm Here is a comparison: With UTM on http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml&t=t2&coord=utm'>http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml&t=t2&coord=utm With UTM off (default) http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml&t=t2 If you zoom out far enough then you will not see a UTM grid. Instead you will only see vertical red lines which mark the edges of the UTM zones. UTM grid lines that are near the edge of their zone often appear curved when displayed using the map projection used by Google Maps. The grid lines in the adjoining zone will curve in the opposite direction. For example, the next map is centered near Lake Tahoe. The red line marks the edge of adjoining UTM zones. Double click each side of the red line (this changes the map center) and watch the UTM grid lines change. The grid lines are calculated based on the UTM zone that contains the center of the map. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.115536,-120.208437&t=m&z=8&coord=utm Some MyTopo topographic maps already have a UTM grid printed on them. Caution! Some of those printed grids are based on the older datum NAD27. Those older grids will have a uniform offset from the grid displayed by Gmap4 which is based on datum WGS84 . For example: Here is a map showing part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area in Washington State where the MyTopo maps have a UTM grid based on the WGS84 datum. Click Menu ==> UTM On/Off and you will see the faint UTM grid printed on the map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=47.47229,-120.80588&t=t2&z=14&coord=utm By contrast, here is a map showing part of the Yosemite Valley area in California, where the MyTopo maps have a UTM grid based on NAD27. Note the uniform offset between the two sets of grid lines. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=37.736733,-119.568449&t=t2&z=14&coord=utm Usually (but not always) the different zoom levels use a different scale for the UTM grid. To learn the grid scale, compare the cursor coordinates (lower right corner) as you point to adjacent grid lines. If you want to know the zoom level, right click the map. Maps with UTM grid lines can be printed. File ==> Print Preview If you know of any other map viewing software that can display the MyTopo topographic maps along with a UTM grid, I would enjoy knowing about it. Future UTM improvements There are different methods for putting labels on the grid lines. I am pondering what will work best. Another possible improvement is to let the user change the line width, color and/or spacing. Other ideas? Next Gmap4 update Bad news: The ‘Search’ feature of Gmap4 no longer works very well for placenames. This feature uses Google’s ‘geocoding’ service on the backend. OK, I admit it. Gmap4 was pushing the envelope in its use of that service. Whoops - Google pushed back. Guess who won? I will add a second search tool that is designed to work well with placenames. Good news: The existing ‘Search’ feature of Gmap4 still works fine for searching on (1) anything related to addresses including names of many settlements that no longer exist and (2) any reasonable way to write a latitude/longitude pair. Finally, if you find Gmap4 to be useful I hope you can take a moment and do some ‘pay-back’ by letting other people know about it. Enjoy! Joseph - Gmap4 author

Gmap4 has been updated to version 1.8.3 The present-day magnetic declination for the map center is now always displayed in the lower right corner. This value is produced using software from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/IAGA/vmod/igrf.html combined with data from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/back.shtml. Since the magnetic declination is always changing, the older value printed on maps can be wrong by several degrees. I also updated my links page to show (1) reviews of Gmap4 and (2) sites that are already using Gmap4 to produce online interactive maps. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_links.html Finally, if you are interested in the search feature and/or print feature, please check the ‘Help’ file (and use the Table of Contents) to be sure you have seen the most recent info on those features. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf The link below will display a world map. To test-drive the search feature click Menu==>Search. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.259207,-16.760195&t=t1&z=2 Enjoy, Joseph - Gmap4 author

Thanks for the kind words and suggestion. I always welcome ideas for enhancements and have added yours to the list. Meanwhile, I just recently added the current magnetic declination to each map. In order to display that info Gmap4 uses software from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/IAGA/vmod/igrf.html combined with data from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/back.shtml. Thanks to NOAA staffer Manoj C. Nair for pointing me in the right direction. Magnetic declination is always changing. If you compare the Gmap4 value to the declination stated on any printed map, then you may be surprised to discover how out-of-date the map value has become. For example, the 1965 topographic map for Stevens Pass, WA states that the declination is 22 degrees. However, the current declination is 16 degrees 36 minutes as seen here: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=47.745587,-121.089151&t=t2&z=15 Remember, if you are facing due north and the declination is positive, then magnetic north is to your right. Conversely, if you are facing due north and the declination is negative, then magnetic north is to your left.

I suspect that benchmark hunters sometimes have a set of coordinates and they would like to see that spot on the best map available. If you have any type of coordinates (DMS, DM, D) then this tip shows how you can display that spot on a detailed topographic map. The link below will open a map of the USA. Click Menu==>Search. Enter your coordinates using any reasonable latitude/longitude format and click Search+Mark. To see the detailed topographic map, click Terrain==>MyTopo. USA map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.658774,-96.561542&t=t1&z=4 The map is presented by Gmap4 which is a 100% free enhanced Google Map viewer. The Gmap4 homepage has examples, a change log and detailed Help file: Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Enjoy, Joseph Elfelt - Gmap4 author

Gmap4 has been upgraded to version 1.8.2 The search feature is now much more user friendly. Also, you can now search on geocache coordinates (degrees and decimal minutes) as well as all other reasonable ways to write a latitude/longitude pair. This means you can search on geocache coordinates and see the results on the MyTopo topographic map. These topo maps have (1) better quality and (2) more current data (for a lot of USFS and BLM areas) than the Terraserver topo maps that Garmin is now dishing out. Do your own comparison. Get the lat,lng for a USA spot on a Terraserver map and then search Gmap4 (Menu==>Search) on that lat,lng. Below is a world map you can search on. After doing your search then click Terrain==>MyTopo to see the topo map. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.259207,-16.760195&t=t1&z=2 Enjoy, Joseph - Gmap4 author

Earlier this week I posted an update to Gmap4. There is now a search feature. Click Menu ==> Search I've been getting feedback on this new feature and will be tweaking the way it works to make it more user friendly. One thing I am going to add is the ability to search on coordinates expressed as dd mm.mmm (degrees and decimal minutes). World map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...mp;t=t1&z=2

Yesterday I posted version 1.8.1 of Gmap4. New things include: Search (Click Menu ==> Search) Place one icon on the map via a URL parameter (&icon=) Print via your browser Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Check out the menu links for: What’s new Examples Help Search the Help file on “(New)” to find details on the new stuff. To the best of my knowledge the Search - List feature is unique to Gmap4. Enjoy, Joseph

Gmap4 gives you a full screen view of the topographic maps that are supplied by the MyTopo Company. Here's the homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Right-click anywhere for coordinates. The homepage has a link in the menu bar titled "Examples". You might want to check that out.

Do you have any .TPO files from the National Geographic TOPO software? Gmap4 version 1.7.x can now display those files. Often the topographic maps displayed by Gmap4 (provided at no cost by www.MyTopo.com) will be superior and/or more current than the NG topographic maps displayed by the TOPO software. You do need to place your TPO or other data file online before it can be displayed by Gmap4. The easiest/fastest way to place a TPO file online is via Google Sites (free). Don’t be shy. You will find hand-holding-step-by-step instructions in the Gmap4 Help file. Here is the general recipe for building a URL to display a TPO file with Gmap4 (do not include the quotes, this is not a real link): 'http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?t=t2&q=htpp://url_to_your_file.tpo' Below is a link to the Gmap4 homepage. Check out the 'Examples' button and Quick Start section of the 'Help' file. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Enjoy, Joseph

Do you have any .TPO files from the National Geographic TOPO software? Gmap4 version 1.7.x can now display those files. Often the topographic maps displayed by Gmap4 (provided at no cost by www.MyTopo.com) will be superior and/or more current than the NG topographic maps displayed by the TOPO software. You do need to place your TPO or other data file online before it can be displayed by Gmap4. The easiest/fastest way to place a TPO file online is via Google Sites (free). Don’t be shy. You will find hand-holding-step-by-step instructions in the Gmap4 Help file. Here is the general recipe for building a URL to display a TPO file with Gmap4 (do not include the quotes, this is not a real link): 'http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?t=t2&q=htpp://url_to_your_file.tpo' Below is a link to the Gmap4 homepage. Check out the 'Examples' button and Quick Start section of the 'Help' file. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html...om/p/gmap4.html Enjoy, Joseph

Gmap4 version 1.5.012 has just been posted. This free software adds detailed topographic maps (USA and Canada) to Google Maps and lets you view your GPS data on those maps. Since this software runs entirely online, there is nothing to buy, nothing to download, nothing to install. When you use Gmap4 you should now see “6-26-2010 Update” in the lower left corner of your screen. If you click Actions ==> About, then it should say Version 1.5.012. If you do not see those things, then please clear your browser’s cache and try again. This update (among other things) restores the ability to place your GPS data (KML and GPX files) online as Google Documents. This feature advances state-of-the-art for Google Documents and is unique to Gmap4. To see the full list of what is new or changed, go to the Gmap4 homepage and click What’s New. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Updated pdf ‘Help’ file with clickable links: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Here is a sample map that includes information from three data files: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...p;t=t1&z=11 Enjoy, Joseph Elfelt

Gmap4 version 1.5.012 has just been posted. This free software adds detailed topographic maps (USA and Canada) to Google Maps and lets you view your GPS data on those maps. Since this software runs entirely online, there is nothing to buy, nothing to download, nothing to install. When you use Gmap4 you should now see “6-26-2010 Update” in the lower left corner of your screen. If you click Actions ==> About, then it should say Version 1.5.012. If you do not see those things, then please clear your browser’s cache and try again. This update (among other things) restores the ability to place your GPS data (KML and GPX files) online as Google Documents. This feature advances state-of-the-art for Google Documents and is unique to Gmap4. To see the full list of what is new or changed, go to the Gmap4 homepage and click What’s New. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Updated pdf ‘Help’ file with clickable links: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Here is a sample map that includes information from three data files: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=google,0AUba9Qv1W8-rZGQzd2I0cmRfNDZkM3c3em5kNA&ll=47.382544,-120.917587&t=t1&z=11 Enjoy, Joseph Elfelt

Gmap4 now has a website. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html

The Gmap4 map viewer now has a detailed help file. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf Please take a look at the Quick Start section to get an idea of the kinds of things Gmap4 can help you do. The topographic maps available via Gmap4 cover the USA at 1:24,000 (same as 7.5ʺ quad) and Canada at 1:50,000. Below is a link to a map of the USA-Canada. Just zoom in on something that you want to see and when you find it then click the MyTopo button in order to see a detailed topographic map for that spot: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...amp;z=4&t=m You can look at anything if you know the latitude/longitude. Mt. Rushmore: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...7015,-103.45087 Yellowstone - Old Faithful: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...832396&z=14 What - You mean you don’t know the latitude/longitude for Pocket Lake, in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Oregon? (A very neat spot BTW) Not a problem. Search using POGM (Plain Old Google Maps). When you find that which you seek: Point to it ==> Right click ==> What’s Here? ==> Copy the latitude/longitude from the map search window. Then paste that latitude/longitude onto the end of a command to launch gmap4: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...716,-117.274332 These topos are from the MyTopo (http://www.mytopo.com/) company. They scan the paper topographic maps and make their money by selling custom topo maps that you design. While there are not many websites (yet) displaying topographic maps from MyTopo, there are numerous sites that display topographic maps from Terraserver. If you are curious, here is how you can compare the onscreen quality: 1. Make your browser full screen. 2. In one browser tab, display the MyTopo Yellowstone - Old Faithful map from the above link. 3. Open another browser tab and go to http://mapper.acme.com/. 4. Enter these coords 45.174716,-117.274332 in the ACME search window and click Find. 5. Adjust the ACME zoom control so the tab is on the 4th crossbar from the top. 6. Click the ACME ‘Topo’ button to display the Terraserver maps. The MyTopo and Terraserver maps should now have the same center and be the same scale. You can flip back and forth between your two browser tabs and compare the quality.

Splashy, Sorry for the confusion. If you are referring to the stuff on my website, that business never got off the ground and likely never will. In general, realtors these days have very little interest in spending any money. I seriously need to re-do my website. However all my spare time right now is going into working on a 'help' file (i.e. user manual) for gmap4. I live near Seattle, hike in the Cascade Mts., and post trip reports (TRs) in a hiking forum. It is common in this forum for trip reports to include a jpg showing a snip from a topo map and a GPS track. Heck, I've posted those myself. A couple months ago I got to wondering why we were using jpg maps in our TRs instead of interactive maps. After searching extensively I concluded there was no mapping service that we could use in our TRs that met these criteria: Free Full screen No ads High quality topo maps Display GPS data from one person Thus was born gmap4. Instead of being a tool to promote any business, it is a tool to aid and abet social networking among people that like to hike, climb, bike, geocache, etc and also like to blab online about their latest adventure. Those blabs can now include a link to an interactive map with the GPS track of the person doing the blabbing. And personally, I think that a map that is ‘live’ is a lot more interesting than a static jpg map. Now with all that said, your comment is a perceptive one since, yes, there is more to the story. I produced gmap4 because I wanted to (see above), had the technical wherewithal, and am trying to get on Google’s radar screen prior to applying for work at their Kirkland, Washington offices. Irrespective of whether or not I get on the Google team, I intend to maintain gmap4 as a free service. Here's a snip from the 'help' file I'm writing: "Gmap 4 runs full screen, has no ads, and is 100% free. It is produced and maintained by its author as a public service and a small way to ‘pay it forward’ to honor those who have provided its author with kindness and help in the past." Wish me luck. Joseph

I would love to see a link to one of your maps. Could you post one please? That would help me do a better job of pointing out any special features of gmap4. Joseph

I also stated an earlier thread on the same topic here: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=236746 If you have not heard about the gmap4 map viewer, please start by looking at the above thread. But that earlier thread has a poor title which I cannot edit. For that reason, I am starting this new thread. Below is the latest news about the gmap4 map viewer. Please make any future posts regarding gmap4 in this thread. Thanks - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I just finished testing the latest update to gmap4 and it is now ‘live’. Recall that: 1. Gmap4 can read both GPX and KML files. 2. You have to place your file online before gmap4 can read it. New feature: Gmap4 can now read GPX/txt files that Google is hosting online (for free) as Google documents. The previous version of gmap4 could read KML/txt files that were online as Google documents. You should now see version 1.2.074 in the lower left corner. If not, please clear your browser cache and try again. Since you have to place your data online in order to view it with gmap4, why not let Google host your files for free? Here are improved instructions for placing your KML and GPX files online as Google documents. 1. Get a Google account. It’s free. 2. Change the extension on your file so it ends in txt. Change: my_hike.gpx to my_hike.txt 3. Connect to Google documents and login. http://docs.google.com/ 4. Click the “upload” button and upload the “txt” file. 5. Go back to the file screen and select this new file by checking its box. 6. Click Share ==> See who has access. 7. In the lower left corner of the popup make sure it says “People can view this item without signing in.” If necessary change the setting so this message appears. TIP: Create a folder and “share” it for viewing by anybody. Then any file you upload into that folder will automatically have the correct “share” setting. WARNING: One of the options under the “Share” button says “Get the link to share...” Don’t go there. Gmap4 does not use any info from that link. 8. With the box in front of your new file still checked, click: More actions ==> Publish 9. Check the box that says “Automatically re-publish when changes are made”. You will be asked if you want to publish your file. Agree. 10. Soon after you agree, Google will display a message similar to this: “Your document is publicly viewable at: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dd3wb4rd_27ccdx2cfr” Of course the id code for your file will be different. Copy the id code for your file. You are now ready to launch gmap4 and view the data in your KML or GPX file. Enter the following into your browser bar but replace the xxxxxxxx with your file id code. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?q=google,xxxxxxxx You can include this link in emails, websites, trip reports, etc Here is an example of the correct way to launch gmap4 when your data file is hosted online as a Google document: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?...b4rd_18dv5zkmdb My next task is to finish writing a ‘help’ file so there is decent documentation for gmap4. Enjoy Joseph Elfelt