Thread: Help please on tile selection

@asprin624 + @JmaCWQ + @Magnetron

First, the good news: I found an easy way. For me, "this is the way"

Maptk (maptk.de) is able to produce a gmap format from a large size mapset IMG. Then, either Basecamp, MapInstall or Mapsource can see it, and has not the problem with the zoom. And Both Basecamp and Mapinstall can then create new IMG with the tiles that I need.

I still believe there should be an easier way to solve the issue. On one side, GMaptool has, from my standpoint, an issue in the UI, it is creating an unuseful preview map. But I believe there is space to enhance the available tools to do trim/chops mapset IMGs to custom polygons (or at least squared selection) modifying the tile definition. On the other,
I believe perhaps gmt.exe (from GMaptoo) is able to change zoom of the preview map (that is the problem with the UI). Finally, I believe that I can still find out a command line tool that could fit the bill... But with Maptk I have a workable solution.

@asprin624

You asked me... TL;DR:

I have some Nuvis 2595 LMT (for the cars mostly, but from time to time I use one for hiking - not the best but handly) - one can purchase then pre-owned by $30/25€
Beside I have just ordered a refurbished GPSMAP 66s for hiking and measurements I need to do.

2595 work nicely for my needs, although short of memory...; no hasle with firmwares and able to handle both pre-NT, pseudo-NT as well as NT IMGs, and Unicode. Accepst whatevername.imgs and not only gmapsupp1 etc. Moreover, being all same model, "maintenance" is easy. done one, cloned all.

Regarding the maps, I found that they move the maps more faster the smaller they are. Besides, I can avoid using SDs, prone to malfunction and break. Full CN NTU Europe is bigger that 4GBs, so SD is needed. Garmin splits it either in North+South, East+West, by country, etc. On can trigger to install some countries just filling the main memory with dummy files so that only som MB are free, the ones in with the single countries fit in. Germany is much bigger that France much bigger also that Portugal... On the other hand, I enjoy preparing my trips and hikes, so, smaller files behave better on the PC, and many other open+free utilities are able to handle them. From Garmin I use only Basecamp, to find routes in routable maps. I would not say that I am new to IMGs, I would say that I had never used before MapSource (just Basecamp and some exposure to MapInstall). Garmin sw is a jungle. Some read or write only to GPSr. Other only to gmap. Other to registry installed maps. Have character, some are able to install (tiles) to GPSr while others are not and other is ok with USBs (some versions with a device.xml file inside some others do not need that). So, I limit the use of garmin sw to the strictly necessary.

So, For my needs, I am happy using MapEdit to remove (just for my use) non relevant (for me) features of the maps. For example, human places of less than 100 inhabitants. Garmin maps for example lack good information on city/town inhabitants, OSM is much better. So, at the end I like to prepare small size, customized to my likes, IMGs. MapEdit is a nice and simple enough editor unable to handle big maps, and only outputs mp format. So, one needs to learn how to compile them. Global Mapper, QGis, QMapShack... get very complex. I just need to adjust the maps, not to fully build maps.

Which OSM maps? Well, I tried several. I am not interested either in learning JOSM to start downloading osm or pdf chunks... So, I started looking to ready made IMGs. And, up to know, I settled for more general use with ComputerTeddy ones. Rich in elements (that I reduce to my likes), but not so harsh as garmin ones. Not yet got to delve into topos and countour lines and overlays. Perhaps most of them would be ok once I learn to create TYPs, but, even so far, I am trying to limit how deep I have to go... or how many hours I wish to enjoy/lose playing with maps.

Of course, when have no time, take one of the nuvis and inject it with CN or Computerteddy, not modified. After that, factory reset... And for pure car driving, I am really happy with Garmin CT. I keep the IMG for my country only and the SIDs and Junction files of the european area. That works, you do not need to keep the full Europe North to have SIDs/Junctions working - only speech searches are lost but I do not use voice command either.

So, yes, I could just take one other prepared IMG and go... but I like Computerteddy ones (and it is up to know the only place where I found one prepared for my country) save the view of the rivers, too big and in all zoom levels (but I have already prepared a command line filter that moves it to lower zoom levels only). By the way, I did find in russian forums powerful command line tools to filter mp format, but I am happier with just sed/grep/awk...

So... thank you for youl help!

If any one finds a less effort way, information is welcome!

If/When I find a more efficient way, I will report back.

@Magnetron

Yes, you are right, I have a way!!!


CT