Routable transparent map

[mapy]

Hello,

After spending many hours working on this I am asking for help.

I am trying to create a transparent routable hiking trail map that would overlay on top of any topo / road map.

I created my map in GPSmapedit and I am using MapTk to compile my files. No matter what I did it would not route. Finally I found out that when set to "Y - Transparent map without background object" it will simply not route. Changing to "N - Not a transparent map" works fine but of course I can't see any other maps.

BUT - there is a 3rd choice - "S - Transparent map with transparent background". In this mode the map will route but it will still cover any other maps within its boundary.

So my question is - is it possible to make the background somehow fully transparent in S mode, in order to overlay my map over other maps ? Or is there another way to achieve a routing transparent map?

thanks so much in advance!

[Boyd]

I have never worked with that kind of map, but would guess it's simply a matter of creating a transparent custom type for the background polygon (0x4b). Go here: http://ati.land.cz/gps/typdecomp/editor.cgi

Click create > Create a completely new TYP file
Fill in product & family ID as needed to match your mapset
Click add new polygon
Choose 4b from type and subtype
Choose 1 from drawing order
Choose 14 day+night 1 color transparent bitmap from color mode
Click save
Click download TYP file

Now use this tutorial to install in mapsource: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-.img-files-into-mapsource-with-mapsettoolkit/

If you don't want to install in mapsource, you may be able to get it to work using SendMap20, which is a free download here: http://cgpsmapper.com/buy.htm

Just drag the .typ and .img file(s) to Sendmap20 and either send to the GPS or save as a gmapsupp.img file on your computer.

[Seldom]

Why would you want to have two routable maps enabled?  I suspect that there might be conflicts, like selecting which map to route from.  That's why I've made all my routable maps non-transparent and including all the data I think is needed in a single map.

[popej]

No matter what I did it would not route. Finally I found out that when set to "Y - Transparent map without background object" it will simply not route. Changing to "N - Not a transparent map" works fine but of course I can't see any other maps.

Have you checked your map in GPS?
Mapsource and BaseCamp won't route on transparent map but it should work in GPS.

[Horse Rider]

I make all my maps routable including the trails but I agree with Seldom and include everything in a single non-transparent  map.  One trick I did find is that if you want a routable transparent map of just hiking trails, horse trails etc. I use "Y" in gpsmapedit but when you use MSTK to install into Basecamp in the box for "Transparent" leave as "Default".  If you set that to "Yes" it will not route in Basecamp but it will route when sent to your GPS. Hope this helps. 

[Red90]

My transparent maps are routable and work fine.  With "newer" devices you can not have two routable maps in the same location turned on or you get a routing error.  They work fine as long as the other map is not routable.  It works well and is nice to route on the trails.

And as stated above, this only works on the GPS.  It will not work on the computer.

As an aside, back in the day, multiple routable maps would work fine together.

http://albertatrailmaps.ca/

[mapy]

wow, thanks for so many replies. I did try it in GPS and it would not route when set to Y, only N or S would route.

The reason I am doing a transparent routable map because it's only hiking trails in my area. I do not want to get myself into a huge project of building topo and road layers when there are already many quality maps out there. Now free Colorado TOPO maps available on this website are not routable so it's no big deal. But Garmin Topo 24k southwest IS routable so yes, that would be 2 routable maps on top of each other.

My current unit is 60csx with Oregon on preorder.

red90: so you are saying it should work on 60csx but will not work on Oregon ?

[mapy]

gosh I am so confused

So apparently the maps will not route in my 60csx no matter what I am doing. They will route just fine in Mapsource (unless it's set to Y transparent).

Now I am compiling them by using MapTK.

When I tried the demo personal version of cgpsmapper I was able to create routing transparent maps that worked on my GPS. The problem is that I don't own the full version and MapTK is free. I also find it easier to mess with TYP files in MapTK and the general creation process seems much more straighforward.

Does anyone have experience with using MapTK Specifically?

thanks!

[Horse Rider]

I don't know anything about MapTK.  I use personal cgpsmapper to compile routable.  Your 60csx is capable of routing.  I have not made any transparent maps in quite a while except for one I'm doing now of the Appalachian Trail.  So far I have it from Springer Mt Ga to the northern border of Va and it along with 17 other transparent maps are on my computer and all will route in Mapsource/Basecamp. If they have an 0x4B background, then I use "S" but a lot of them I did not use a background object and I use "Y".  When sent to any of my gps they will route and they do not cover up any other map I have enabled.  The trick to making them route in Basecamp as I said earlier is to set the "Transparent" box in MSTK to "Default" and not "Yes".  This all works for me, your mileage may vary.

[popej]

I have checked that MapTK creates routing information when using option Y or S for transparency. Option S gives maps routable in Mapsource. Option Y gives maps routable in my 60CSx, but simulation of navigation has gone weird, I haven't investigate further.

If you prepare img for GPS in Mapsource, then there is an option on maps tab, to exclude routing information. Maybe you have used it?

[mapy]

MapTK requires 0x4b background object for routable maps. I did follow the instructions posted here to create a transparent TYP for 0x4b and it did work from that point of view but I can't route.

As I posted last night, after I even set the map type to non-transparent it would not route in my 60csx but it does route just fine in mapsource. It basically doesn't recognize the road as an object. When I try to create route it says "No roads near starting point"

I was hoping there was someone with MapTK exprience that could maybe look at my file and see what's wrong. I offer my maps for free on my website and it sucks that even after paying for personal cgpsmapper it shows the logo on the map,

thanks for all the help so far!

[Boyd]

it sucks that even after paying for personal cgpsmapper it shows the logo on the map

Use the online TYP editor and add a new point of type 0x0b with the extended labels option. Choose no label (invisible) from the font styles dropdown.

As for the rest.... sorry, no clue.

[Red90]

I'm not sure what you are doing....  I use "Y" for the transparent setting and use cgpsmapper to compile.

My header info:

Code Select Expand

; Generated by GPSMapEdit 1.1.75.2

[IMG ID]
ID=16999991
Name=Southern Alberta Trail Maps 1.22
Preprocess=F
TreSize=1200
TreMargin=0.00000
RgnLimit=1024
Transparent=Y
POIIndex=Y
POINumberFirst=N
POIZipFirst=N
MG=Y
Routing=Y
Copyright=Southern Alberta Area Trail Maps: Non-commercial, personal use only|contact: [email protected]
Levels=5
Level0=24
Level1=23
Level2=21
Level3=19
Level4=17
Zoom0=0
Zoom1=1
Zoom2=2
Zoom3=3
Zoom4=4

[mapy]

boyd: yeah I actually did that, it just feels kinda shady Plus you still technically need to purchase the personal version

red90: like I said, I am pretty sure at this point the issue is with MapTK, it seems to be working when I compile with cgpsmapper. Once question though - for cgpsmapper I was following Rotweiler's Routing guide (http://www.cgpsmapper.com/download/RotweilersAuto-routingGuide.pdf) and it requires creating  .shp files with routing information and then compiling build.mp. Is that the how you compile your map or is there an easier way ?

[Red90]

Once question though - for cgpsmapper I was following Rotweiler's Routing guide (http://www.cgpsmapper.com/download/RotweilersAuto-routingGuide.pdf) and it requires creating  .shp files with routing information and then compiling build.mp. Is that the how you compile your map or is there an easier way ?

No, all my routing information has been created within GPSMapedit.