Re: MapSource Topo 2008 downloading maps question

Ted Edwards wrote:
<snip>
I use eCS (OS/2) for most of my computing and Windoze for only a few things such as MapSource so I simply disconnect from the network when running anything other than Google Earth.

BTW, downloading the card from eCS, I see a root directory containing all the daily track logs and a GARMIN subdirectory containing one file, GMAPSUPP.IMG. Interestingly, this file is 1527.2MB compared to MapSource's claim that my 1783 maps take up 1542.2MB of my 2GB card. I suspect that the IMG file on the card is all the maps glued together and that is what takes up most of the time.

eCS and OS/2? Almost time to move up to Windows ME, no? Just joking of course, I'm stuck at Windows 2000 Pro for now, not sure when or if I'll get much beyond that.

The gmappsupp.img file is the compiled (if that is the right word for the process) supplemental map image file that is created and uploaded by MapSource as part of the process of adding supplemental maps to a Garmin. That folder and filename is the default for all Garmins and, as far as I know, it is the only location and name that the Garmin software will use.

The newer units with preloaded mapping will have their mapping in another file with a similar (but different) *.img name and it is on the root if I remember right.

If they contain mapping that requires an unlock code, the gmapsupp.img files will only work on the GPS receiver with the correct Unit I.D.

The gmapsupp.img files can be copied off of the GPS and saved for later use. Doing that is generally faster than recreating the file again. If you want to put multiple gmapsupp.img files on a memory card you can do that by changing their names to avoid a conflict. Using another device (like a PDA) that allows naming and re-naming files will let you manage the use of multiple files. You'll be able to change one name to gmapsupp.img and that is the file you will be able to see and use.

The reason someone might want to have multiple files is that the software in the GPS receivers will not recognize more than 2025 map segments (maps as selected in MapSource). That is the limiting factor on the amount of mapping that can be contained in one gmapsupp.img file.

U.S. Topo has 6,000-odd segments in it, that is generally the only Garmin mapping product that will cause you to run into the 2025 limit. If you are trying to make gmapsupp.img files with maps from multiple products and with a large number of map segments, you are more likely to exceed the 2025 maps limit before you run out of room on a microSD card.

For the handhelds, microSD cards more than 2GB in size are of limited usefulness. You can put a lot of stuff on them but the 2025 maps limit will usually rear its head before the card is near full.

The nuvis and other models that are also mp3 file players can store large numbers of mp3 files and will make more use of cards above 2 GB in size. The more mp3 files you have on those the slower they are at startup because they have to read the card and build a catalog of the mp3 files at each startup.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
.

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