Map for Garmin 60CSX (Kauai)

[tonry]

I love Boyd's map of Kauai, I use it all the time for hiking in Kokee.  However, on my GPS 60CSX the lower case characters render as dots.  My understanding is that is because the names use the 255 character extended ASCII set and/or some sort of internationalization flag is set when the map is created.  Is there any chance of making a version that will work with the 60CSX?  Maybe change the flag (if such exists) or swapping a backtick "`" for a "left single quote" <91>?

[popej]

Do you mean this map: https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/239/ ?
This map isn't compatible with 60CSx, so your problem is connected with some other map in GPS, but I can't guess which.

You can try to change all labels to upper case in the real map from your 60CSx with GMapTool:
http://www.gmaptool.eu/en/content/label-style

Actually this won't work for the map from the link above, since it is a raster map, where all labels are a part of a jpg picture.

And I suggest to try my map of Hawaii:
http://www.gmaptool.eu/en/content/usa-hawaii-osm-topo-routable

[Boyd]

Popej is right (as usual!). That map is a raster image and not compatible with your 60csx.

The problem with lower case characters in third party maps on the 60csx and other old devices is well-known. I also have a 60csx and spent some time awhile ago looking at this but did not find a solution. The only partial fix is (as Popej suggests) is to convert the labels to all upper-case. This is normally something  that the mapmaker needs to do, but gmaptool is another possibility.

Interestingly, if you make a map will all upper-case names, newer Garmin devices will automatically convert them back to mixed case (capitalizing the first letter of the name and changing the others to lowercase). The creates mixed results - it won't let you use acronyms that are all uppercase. For example, "Wildlife Management Area" is usually abbreviated as "WMA" but there is no way to make this work properly on a new Garmin device. It will automatically convert it to "Wma" no matter what you do! 

[tonry]

Thanks, guys.  My 60csx is definitely using the map from Boyd, maps/view/239, it's an obvious change from the previous map and it's the only one in the unit.  Apart from the dots in the labels it works very well.

I've done a bit of looking at the binary map image using various unix tools and I can see all the strings for the text, so I may just do an upper case replacement of lower case (and ascii-256) characters as you suggest.  If the characters are really raster maps this won't work, but I do think it should work.

The 60csx is really an excellent GPS and my budget does not permit updating it, but I was hoping that the binary map could be remade from the source in a way that allows the 60csx to render all the labels properly.

Again, thanks for the advice.

[Boyd]

This map? http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/239/

Sorry, there is NO WAY you could be using that map on a 60csx. It is a raster image in the form of a .kmz file consisting of multiple .jpg files. This file will simply be ignored by the 60csx.

I don't doubt that you have some kind of Garmin map of Hawaii, but it is definitely not this one.

[tonry]

Oh gosh, you are right...  Sorry!  Wait a bit while I figure out what the heck I have and where I got it.

It's called "hawaii_map.img", I guess it's maps/view/42.   I think I used basecamp to do the install thing on hitopo_install.exe and although I've found basecamp to be pretty useless for making maps, it did create the img file.  I then added it using gmt to an old USA topo called "us_topo.img" I bought for the Garmin years ago.  I apologize for all the confusion, too much multitasking.

I'm really not skilled at all with this windows installer stuff - it really confuses me.  On the other hand, writing a C program to identify strings in a binary, remove extended ASCII, and change them to upper case, that's easy.

[Boyd]

I think I used basecamp to do the install thing on hitopo_install.exe and although I've found basecamp to be pretty useless for making maps, it did create the img file.  I then added it using gmt to an old USA topo called "us_topo.img"

Trying to understand what you are saying here... You don't use Basecamp "to do the install thing". And since Basecasmp cannot (and is not intended to) "make maps", of course it is useless for that.

All you should need to do is double-click the .exe file and the map should be installed in a way that allows Basecamp to access it. This is described in step 3 of the tutorial here: https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-open-maps-in-garmin-basecamp/

"Making maps" is an involved process that involves a number of steps and special software. Basecamp is only used to view maps and manage your personal data (waypoints, routes and tracks). Another Garmin program, MapInstall, is used to send maps to your GPS.

Personally I would not use Basecamp with an old device such as the 60csx. That GPS was designed to work with Garmin's older software, Mapsource. It will do everything you need for your 60csx,

[tonry]

Well, I clearly should have done some homework before starting this thread.  I'm obviously confused about a lot of things.

Somehow I got a map from gpsfiledepot (I now suspect maps/view/42) and did something or other with basecamp on a windows machine.  I could not succeed in combining it with my US topo on the 60csx for reasons that I now understand, not realizing that I needed mapsource, nor that a version was available from gpsfiledepot that would run on Windows 7.  However, somehow I did manage to get the map into basecamp and somehow got it out in img format.  How I did this is a complete mystery - perhaps I even succeeded in loading it on the 60csx and then renamed it off of the SD card.  Then, turning to a linux machine, I used gmt to combine it with my existing US topo, making a gmapsupp.img, and I've been happy ever since, except for the dots.  Getting old sucks, but at least I can still hike.  Apologies for all the confusion.

[Boyd]

If you use Mapsource, the instructions for installing maps are found in this tutorial: https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/#mapsource

If you want to install more than one map, the key is found in step #8,

"Repeat steps 2 through 7 for any other maps you want to load at the same time "

This will create a single gmapsupp.img file that contains multiple maps. What is GMT? gmaptool?

There is no version of Mapsource "available from gpsfiledepot". It is a proprietary Garmin program. You can download it here: http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209

It runs fine on Windows 7, however if you don't already have a version on your computer you will get an error when you try to install. The solution for this is to run GMTK *before* you install Mapsource: http://www.javawa.nl/gmtk_en.html

Regardless, it sounds like you have it working. Popej's suggestion for fixing the capitalization problem sounds good, although I have not tried this myself. He is the author of gmaptool and really knows this stuff!

[tonry]

OK, I'm happy.  Thanks a lot for the help, guys.

[Red90]

There is a lot of confusing information given above.  You "can" install maps from Basecamp.  It simply opens Mapinstall for you.  There is no problem using Mapinstall to combine and load maps to a 60csx.  There is no need to use Mapsource.  Basecamp works perfectly fine.

There must have just been some error performed when using Mapinstall and this should be easily addressed.