2 Nat'l. Geographic Software Questions.

[Neil]

Q. 1
I made myself a lat/long ruler just for fun and using a paper map created a 5 waypoint rte.
Now I'm at the computer and my WP's seem accurate to about 0.1 mi. which considering the ruler was drawn onto a piece of paper and placed over the ADK trail map is not bad.
Does it matter what datum I use if I stick to lat/long? I experimented switching from NAD 27 to NAD 83 and the yellow dot was at the exact same spot regardless.
Now I want to enter the 5 WP's into the computer and save the rte. and the .tpo file. Do I have to use the View-coord. locater function, enter the lat/long and then place symbols over the yellow dot that shows up on the screen? I find the symbols rather large and obtrusive. Finally, do I use the rte tool to draw the rte. from symbol to symbol? Is that the best way when you have a series of WP's?
Here are the WP's as pulled from the map:

74 1.90W 44 9.05N
74 2.10W 44 9.60N
74 2.20W 44 10.25N
74 2.00W 44 10.5N
74 1.75W 44 1.75N
Q2. I saved a map a few maps with rts. drawn in and now when I open them my software displays map level one of Kansas. I have to move the map and change scales to get to my saved map. How do I fix that? And while I'm at it how do I get the software to open without the overview maps being displayed?

[lumberzac]

Q. 1
I made myself a lat/long ruler just for fun and using a paper map created a 5 waypoint rte.
Now I'm at the computer and my WP's seem accurate to about 0.1 mi. which considering the ruler was drawn onto a piece of paper and placed over the ADK trail map is not bad.
Does it matter what datum I use if I stick to lat/long? I experimented switching from NAD 27 to NAD 83 and the yellow dot was at the exact same spot regardless.
Now I want to enter the 5 WP's into the computer and save the rte. and the .tpo file. Do I have to use the View-coord. locater function, enter the lat/long and then place symbols over the yellow dot that shows up on the screen? I find the symbols rather large and obtrusive. Finally, do I use the rte tool to draw the rte. from symbol to symbol? Is that the best way when you have a series of WP's?
Here are the WP's as pulled from the map:

74 1.90W 44 9.05N
74 2.10W 44 9.60N
74 2.20W 44 10.25N
74 2.00W 44 10.5N
74 1.75W 44 1.75N

When entering the waypoints make sure the datums match between the paper map and computer map (note: I normally use UTM coordinates and datum maters, I would imagine that lat/long would be the same). When you switch datums in the Topo software it automatically updates you waypoint data to the new datum. In other words it will change the coordinates of the waypoint so it stays in the same location on the map. I believe there is a tool that will link the waypoints to form a path (I don’t have topo on this computer, so I can’t remember the tool name.)

Q2. I saved a map a few maps with rts. drawn in and now when I open them my software displays map level one of Kansas. I have to move the map and change scales to get to my saved map. How do I fix that? And while I'm at it how do I get the software to open without the overview maps being displayed?

I haven’t figured that one out myself.

[redhawk]

A1. When you change the datum in the softwarem the location should not change, the coordianate numbers should. The datum should match whatever other item you are using. If you are using a USGS Map, then in most cases the datum is NAD27, whatever the info says on the map. You could input data taken from a map at NAD27 for instance, input it into the software, change to WGS84 and transfer it to the GPS. The important thing is what datum the maps in the gps are in.

You can "connect the dots" with the route tool which is fine. remember however that if you eventually transfer a "route" to a gps, it transfers the waypoints. I also suggest that you switch to UTM as opposed to lat/long....

A2. Use the "note" function. Make a note at a waypoint in your area. When you load the file, it will show in a section to the right of the maps. Just double click the note and it will take you there.

Also,
Print pout the help file...It's really a manual in .pdf form.

[Neil]

Also,
Print pout the help file...It's really a manual in .pdf form.

Why would I bother to do a thing like that? I've got you!

[JJW]

> Originally Posted by Neil
> Q2. I saved a map a few maps with rts. drawn in
> and now when I open them my software displays
> map level one of Kansas.
> I have to move the map and change scales to get
> to my saved map.
> How do I fix that?


I do not know what version of NG TOPO! that you have,
so this reply may not be useful.
I may be off-base on what your question it too.

1.Open up the file/map with saved routes drawn in.
2.Zoom in on levels untill the detail you want is shown (text,tracks,etc...)
3.Right click on the detail, track, object or text.
4.A menu box opens up.
5.Left click on "display on" pick all levels or just some levels.

> And while I'm at it how do I get the software
> to open without the overview maps being displayed?

H'mmmm I think my NG TOPO! always starts at level one.

I upgraded to the newer version that I did not like.
I uninstalled it and went back to using an older version.
I'm not at my home computer, so I do not know what versions I run.
NG TOPO! that I have are: Pennsylvania and NorthEastern USA

GoodLuck,
John

[lumberzac]

Why would I bother to do a thing like that? I've got you!

Real men don't need directions.

[redhawk]

Why would I bother to do a thing like that? I've got you!

The manual is a hell of a lot cheaper to use!

"I've got you"? You're starting to sounf like Sonny and Cher!

[redhawk]

I upgraded to the newer version that I did not like.
I uninstalled it and went back to using an older version.
I'm not at my home computer, so I do not know what versions I run.
NG TOPO! that I have are: Pennsylvania and NorthEastern USA

GoodLuck,
John

John. If you started off with a version of Topo prior to 2.7.7 the format of the earlier files on the cd's do not work correctly with 3.4.3.

I had the same problem (even though I had upgraded to 2.7.7 on line).
I ended up paying $24.00 and they sent me the whole new version of 3.4.3 which I like much better.

Under 2.7.7 you could use the "bookmark" tool to make an easy "goto" the area and waypoint you wanted to start with. That has been relaced with the "not" tool in 3,4.3 which allows you to associate a graphic or a ling onlinr or link to a file on your computer or just make a text note.

ver 3.4.3 opens up without having to choose a .tpo file to start with. Then loading the .tpo file you want will show the "notes" on the left of the screen and double clicking will take you to the map section the note is in at the resolution you want. Plus your wayoint info is now saved directly into the .tpo file. you no longer have to deal with the .tpg files.

[Neil]

The manual is a hell of a lot cheaper to use!

Yeah, I guess your right. No spelling mistakes either.

[redhawk]

Yeah, I guess your right. No spelling mistakes either.

Hmmm....Evidently you haven't read any instruction manuals in the last few years, especially those printed in China.

Speaking of spelling, I was driving up to Indian Lake on Wednesday on 30 North and there was a big sign on one of the dirt roads/trails between Speculator and Indian Lake that said:

"Road Closed, do to logging"

[redhawk]

Yeah, I guess your right. No spelling mistakes either.

And those are typos.

My fingers are slower then my brain and I am sometimes dyslectic when I type.

And btw we spell color, color, not colour

[Neil]

New Question

I read the help file and got this far.
I downloaded a tracklog composed of 800 waypoints from someone's Allen hike. Using the GPS tool I managed to get the route onto the map and it looks good except for one thing. There is a thick ribbon of illegible waypoint data has unfurled itself across my map. How do I fix this?

[Rivet]

Turn off waypoint labels

[redhawk]

I read the help file and got this far.
I downloaded a tracklog composed of 800 waypoints from someone's Allen hike. Using the GPS tool I managed to get the route onto the map and it looks good except for one thing. There is a thick ribbon of illegible waypoint data has unfurled itself across my map. How do I fix this?

Sell it to the museum of Modern Art.

Rivets right. You have the option of showing the waypoint labels, Just the co-ordinates or nothing but the markers.

If you want you can also use the view menu to show the list of waypoint labels and you can select and delete however many you want to thin out the route.

I have never imported a text file that I downloaded into Topo! so I don't know what the options are. I know that if you import from a GPS, you have two choices for "tracks":

1. Make a waypoint for each track
or
2. To make a freehand route for each continuous track.

If importing a file gives you the same options, then i would say to choose #2.

The tracks with all the waypoints are a Godsend when Bushwhacking or repeating yours or someone elses route, but a pain when seen in the topos software.

SO just turn them off in the preferences menu. They're still there if you want to export them into a gps.