Open Street Mapping

[John B]

I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.

Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.

The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.

Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)

John

[i***@googlemail.com]

Post by John B
I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.
Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.
The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.
Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)
John

John,
Are you aware of http://www.oziexplorer.com/ I've used it for many
years. I share your view of Basecamp (and Mapsource before it was just
as bad)
Oziexplorer can use your own scanned maps and , in experimental form,
Internet maps of which one is OSM.
I like it and consider it well worth its cost but would have to admit
its development is rather slow these days.....and there may be more
modern alternatives of which I am unaware
Please reply to group - email address is not monitored
Ian

[John B]

Post by i***@googlemail.com

Post by John B
I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.
Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.
The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.
Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)
John

John,
Are you aware of http://www.oziexplorer.com/ I've used it for many
years. I share your view of Basecamp (and Mapsource before it was just
as bad)
Oziexplorer can use your own scanned maps and , in experimental form,
Internet maps of which one is OSM.
I like it and consider it well worth its cost but would have to admit
its development is rather slow these days.....and there may be more
modern alternatives of which I am unaware
Please reply to group - email address is not monitored
Ian

Thanks for that,Ian. I can't find a specific reference to OSM mapping
but it does mention 'Garmin' maps so perhaps it could use the same maps
that you download for Basecamp.

It appears to be quite pricey but does have a trial version. I imagine
this will be time-limited and so I may leave it until after Hogmanay
(and its aftermath) before installing it and giving it a whirl..;-)

Thanks again
John

[i***@googlemail.com]

Post by John B
Thanks for that,Ian. I can't find a specific reference to OSM mapping
but it does mention 'Garmin' maps so perhaps it could use the same maps
that you download for Basecamp.
It appears to be quite pricey but does have a trial version. I imagine
this will be time-limited and so I may leave it until after Hogmanay
(and its aftermath) before installing it and giving it a whirl..;-)
Thanks again
John

Well, I'm having to try and check my ailing memory here......

I do not think that you can use 'Garmin' maps within Oziexplorer.
Although there is some software which can allegedly convert, I've
never got a satisfactory result from it.

http://www.oziexplorer3.com/eng/osm.html refers to the use of
Openstreetmaps and states you can try it with the trial version (but
not the Shareware Demo)

Now, the trial version is very crippled in that you cannot save
waypoints/routes, transfer to your GPS or save a calibrated map. To do
those things you need the Shareware Demo version. But with that
version you cannot try the Internet maps. The writer is (very
reasonably) trying to stop anyone using the software effectively
without paying.

I know Oziexplorer works in the same way as you have already seen that
Viking and Quo do - i.e. downloads tiles to a cache for use offline if
required. Unfortunately, I don't know how to ensure that a sufficient
area at a sufficient level of detail for your needs, remains in the
cache.

Good luck in your hunt and Happy Hogmanay

Please reply to group - email address is not monitored
Ian

[nemo]

Post by John B
I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.
Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.
The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.
Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)
John

Mapyx Quo is the one that I use, does all the things you mention and
it's free.
<http://www.mapyx.com/quo/>

Here's how to get OSM for Quo:
<http://www.dabblersguide.com/index.php?page=mapyx-quo>

[John B]

Post by nemo

Post by John B
I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.
Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.
The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.
Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)
John

Mapyx Quo is the one that I use, does all the things you mention and
it's free.
<http://www.mapyx.com/quo/>
<http://www.dabblersguide.com/index.php?page=mapyx-quo>

Many thanks. I installed it and had a quick play with OSM Cycle Map.
This seems fine but it's pulling the map tiles from the server as they
are required, rather than downloading a complete version for, say, the UK.

One of the main reasons I'm looking at this issue is so that I can have
the mapping available on my netbook when we don't have an internet
connection, for example on holiday in France or Spain or wherever.

That's not to say that it can't be done, though, but I'm a bit pushed
for time over Hogmanay to investigate further. Do you think that this is
possible with Quo or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[nemo]

Post by John B

Post by nemo

Post by John B
I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.
Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.
The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.
Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)
John

Mapyx Quo is the one that I use, does all the things you mention and
it's free.
<http://www.mapyx.com/quo/>
<http://www.dabblersguide.com/index.php?page=mapyx-quo>

Many thanks. I installed it and had a quick play with OSM Cycle Map.
This seems fine but it's pulling the map tiles from the server as they
are required, rather than downloading a complete version for, say, the UK.
One of the main reasons I'm looking at this issue is so that I can have
the mapping available on my netbook when we don't have an internet
connection, for example on holiday in France or Spain or wherever.
That's not to say that it can't be done, though, but I'm a bit pushed
for time over Hogmanay to investigate further. Do you think that this is
possible with Quo or am I barking up the wrong tree?

I purchased the OS maps I need and these are downloaded as files and
work offline. Similarly I have the whole UK OSM on my Garmin Dakota GPS
working offline.

Others have asked how to use OSM offline with Quo. Here are some hints
from the Quo support forum at http://forum.mapyx.com/default.asp

"Quo v2 caches OSM tiles. So when you are using OSM maps online in Quo
v2 go to your locations and zooms and Quo v2 will save tiles to disk.
When you are not online go to Explorer window, tab Loaded Maps and
select OSM map from the list and change it's property 02. Offline Mode
to Yes. This means that Quo v2 will only look for cached tiles and will
not try to download them online. Of course you need to have tiles on the
disk first so really make sure you will cover all your locations and
zooms before going offline.
Also note that cached tiles can be deleted (or added if you have the
same OSM png tiles format). Go to Edit > Preferences, tab Internet and
check where your Temporary Download Folder is located. Open this folder
with Windows Explorer and then open subfolder osm. Inside are cached tiles."

[John B]

Post by nemo

Post by John B

Post by nemo

Post by John B
I've been contributing a few local paths and trails to the Open Street
Map project and am happy to do what I can to support it. While there are
good apps that use OSM mapping on my (Android) phone, I haven't yet
found software that will do an equivalent job on my Win7 PC/netbook.
Garmin's Basecamp is free but, IMO, quite an abysmal piece of software
for a whole host of reasons; not least being the way it renders the
maps. I've tried Viking but, unless I'm missing something, it will only
work offline with the tiles it's already downloaded and saved.
The ability to use offline maps - for example in IMG format or whatever
- would be essential. A facility to import/export GPX files - tracks and
geocaches - would be good as well.
Any suggestions welcome, and I'll add my good wishes to the folks here
for a peaceful New Year...;-)
John

Mapyx Quo is the one that I use, does all the things you mention and
it's free.
<http://www.mapyx.com/quo/>
<http://www.dabblersguide.com/index.php?page=mapyx-quo>

Many thanks. I installed it and had a quick play with OSM Cycle Map.
This seems fine but it's pulling the map tiles from the server as they
are required, rather than downloading a complete version for, say, the UK.
One of the main reasons I'm looking at this issue is so that I can have
the mapping available on my netbook when we don't have an internet
connection, for example on holiday in France or Spain or wherever.
That's not to say that it can't be done, though, but I'm a bit pushed
for time over Hogmanay to investigate further. Do you think that this is
possible with Quo or am I barking up the wrong tree?

I purchased the OS maps I need and these are downloaded as files and
work offline. Similarly I have the whole UK OSM on my Garmin Dakota GPS
working offline.
Others have asked how to use OSM offline with Quo. Here are some hints
from the Quo support forum at http://forum.mapyx.com/default.asp
"Quo v2 caches OSM tiles. So when you are using OSM maps online in Quo
v2 go to your locations and zooms and Quo v2 will save tiles to disk.
When you are not online go to Explorer window, tab Loaded Maps and
select OSM map from the list and change it's property 02. Offline Mode
to Yes. This means that Quo v2 will only look for cached tiles and will
not try to download them online. Of course you need to have tiles on the
disk first so really make sure you will cover all your locations and
zooms before going offline.
Also note that cached tiles can be deleted (or added if you have the
same OSM png tiles format). Go to Edit > Preferences, tab Internet and
check where your Temporary Download Folder is located. Open this folder
with Windows Explorer and then open subfolder osm. Inside are cached tiles."

Exactly so. I have a Dakota as well and, although using OSM mapping on
it can be a tad clunky, you can have a single file covering, for
example, the whole of the UK and happily use it offline.

It does seem extraordinary that - so far, at least - I haven't been able
to find an equivalent sensible option to use on a PC...

...the search continues...;-)