Lowrance MapCreate 6 - Manuals

3 How MapCreate Works You'll be making maps faster if you understand the hoops MapCreatemust jump through to cram a high detail map into your GPS unit. First of all, those CDs you just purchased contain a whole bunch of raw computerized cartography data. There are several hundred files of digitalmap...

4 File Formats & Functions Well, now you know what makes MapCreate tick. You may be ready toskip forward to where we explain how our text formatting makes themanual easy to skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use ThisManual" on page 10. But, if you want to pick up an extra tip o...

8 The amount of development in an area is something you can't control. For example, one square mile of city streets will make a largerfile than one square mile of wilderness with a few hiking trails. The amount of territory you include in a map is a major factor. The more square miles or acres you i...

9 Mapping Detail: There's more here than meets the eye. The Custom Map Files you make with MapCreate contain more mappingdetail than what is visible on your computer screen. Your MapCreate 6-compatible GPS unit takes full advantage of this extra information. Find Highway Exit Services For example, m...

10 At left, an iFINDER GPS screen showing a POI pop-up name box. At right, you can call up a page of information on the POI, and the GPS unit can lead you to the POI's location. Find an Address You won't see addresses on your computer map, either. But when theMapCreate information is loaded into you...

12 For example, if the manual says "choose C REATE W AYPOINT ," it means to run the Create Waypoint command. You can choose commands byclicking the mouse pointer on the menus or toolbar buttons, or bypressing the appropriate hot key or shortcut key on the keyboard. Commands are sometimes des...

14 program will not operate correctly if you choose to modify an existing installation. To uninstall MapCreate, use the standard Windows A DD /R EMOVE P ROGRAMS function. (For more information on Windows uninstall, open your Windows Help file and search for the phrase"Removing Programs.") Fo...

15 3. Type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the drive letter for your CD-ROM) Type the setup command directory path and file name. 4. Click OK to begin installation. NOTE: If you are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, youmay receive an error message if you are not logged on withadministrator pr...

18 I. If you choose custom setup to install all files to your hard drive, you will be prompted to insert the second CD. On some computers the message may ask for "Disk 3." Just ignore the statement, insert the USA-East CD (disc 2) and click OK to continue the setup. 6. When the installation ...

19 commercial CD cleaner or ethyl alcohol to remove fingerprints and dirt.Do not leave your discs in direct sunlight or in a hot, humid location. Starting MapCreate (Easy Mode and Advanced Mode) MapCreate 6.2 includes both an easy mode called MapSelect and anadvanced mode called MapCreate. Both mode...

20 To add a direct shortcut to your desktop: Right-click and drag the desired icon to your desktop, then release themouse button. When you do so, a selection list will pop up asking you whatyou wish to do. Choose C REATE S HORTCUT ( S ) H ERE . A copy of the icon will now appear on your desktop, and...

21 Section 3: Working With MapCreate Easy Mode Quick Start Reference If you're really in a hurry, this summary will tell you how to work MapCreate's easy mode, MapSelect. (If you haven't installed theprogram yet, see those instructions on page 13. Before you start, makesure your MMC card reader is i...

22 Advanced Mode Quick Start Reference If you have some computer experience and want to do more with yourmapping software, this 10-step summary will get you started withMapCreate's advanced mode. For detailed explanations, read throughthe lessons in this section. Before you start, make sure your MMC...

23 Starting MapCreate If you installed the Typical or Compact version of MapCreate, make surethe CD-ROM for the area you intend to use is in the CD-ROM drive. NOTES: • For MapCreate 5 owners: If you have both MapCreate 5 andMapCreate 6 installed on your computer and run the programsfrom the CD, be s...

24 Or, you can start the program by double-clicking the AppSelect icon in the MapCreate program group window. You'll see a screen that looks like this below, asking you to choosewhich mode you want to use. Choose MapSelect to quickly and easilysave custom maps of pre-defined areas to your MMC. Choos...

25 MapSelect opening screen. MapSelect is designed for simplicity, and requires little in the way ofdirections. The maps are pre-drawn, and you just point, click and save.For MapSelect operation instructions, see the Easy Mode Quick StartReference on page 21 or refer to the separate MapSelect Instru...

28 Master Map window shows a rectangle map border around Lake Eufaula, along with a route, waypoints and event marker icons. The Zoom Range is 50, which indicates that it's 50 miles across the map. Tips: • You can use the Print Master Map command to print what'sdisplayed in the window. This lets you...

29 Pop-up Tool Tip box. When the cross-hair pointer hovers over the visible wreck symbol, a red border surrounds the symbol and the tip box appears. This wrecked vessel is the "Three Brothers." Main Menu MapCreate's main menu is similar to that of other Windows programs.It consists of the Fi...

30 MapCreate 6.2 main menu and toolbar. The numbering below corresponds to the numbers in the figure above,and describes the toolbar buttons: 1. Center Master Map: centers the map on the point you click 2. New GPS Data File: opens a new map with no GPS data 3. New Map Border File: opens a new map wi...

32 Waypoint List Window Icon List Window This window shows the event marker icons on the Master Map in a textlist format. The symbol, symbol label, latitude and longitude are listed.Except for the symbol label, these elements can be edited either on theMaster Map or in the list window. To edit, righ...

33 Route List Window Route Waypoint List Window (This is not shown when the program starts for the first time; a routemust be created first. With the Route List window open, double-click onthe route name to open the Route Waypoint List window.) This windowshows the waypoints that make up a route on ...

34 Trail List Window This window uses a text list format to show trails (imported from yourGPS) that are displayed on the Master Map. The name, number ofpoints in the trail, origin (starting point's latitude and longitude) andtrail number are listed. To open this window click V IEW | T RAIL L IST . ...

35 Center Master Map You can instantly move any location on the map to the window's center with the Center Master Map command. To center the map, click the C ENTER M ASTER M AP cross-hair button at the left end of the toolbar. The mouse pointer turns into a cross-hair. Now click on the part of the M...

36 The other most common method uses the Zoom-In and Zoom-Outbuttons, which are located at the bottom right corner of the MasterMap. Zooming in lets you see less territory, but more detail. Zoomingout lets you see more territory, but less detail. Zoom Out, Zoom In buttons, with Zoom Range Window. 1....

37 Click and drag to draw a Map Border around Corpus Christi Bay area. 4. When the green border surrounds the desired area, release themouse button. 5. To stop the command, click the C ENTER M ASTER M AP button. If you are satisfied with this map and want to finish processing it foruse in your GPS u...

38 2. If needed, click the Zoom In or Zoom Out buttons so you can see theentire area that you want to draw a map border around. 3. Click the C REATE M AP B ORDERS button, and your mouse pointer becomes a pencil. 4. Move the mouse pointer to where you want your corridor map tobegin. 5. Click and rele...

39 7. Now move the mouse pointer offat an angle, in the new directionneeded to follow the irregularterrain. You'll see that the activecorridor border box now rotatesaround the last anchor point youset. This lets you move off in anydirection, with the new segment ofthe corridor attached to the previo...

40 Save Map Border File dialog box. 2. Type a name in the File Name text box and click S AVE . That's all there is to it. The file was placed in the "data" sub-folderlocated within the MapCreate folder on your hard drive. You can nowstart another map border (click N EW M AP B ORDER F ILE but...

41 Lowrance or Eagle GPS unit. Here's how: (Refer as needed to theToolbar figure on page 30.) 1. Open a Map Border File by clicking the O PEN M AP B ORDER F ILE button. 2. Click the C REATE C USTOM M AP button. A progress dialog box will appear while MapCreate extracts the necessary information and ...

42 NOTE: After a map has been "built," the Custom Map File size alsoappears in the status bar at the lower left corner of the MapCreatescreen. The status bar also tells you whether or not a custom mapfile has been built and saved. Map not built message, left, and map file size message, right...

43 to hit the road, but if you'd like to add a little GPS navigationinformation to your unit, read the following lessons. Creating a Waypoint Waypoints are the building blocks of GPS navigation. A waypoint issimply an electronic "address," based on the latitude and longitude of aposition on ...

44 Create a waypoint: First, find the location on the Master Map. The longer arrow shows the location of a public hunting area parking lot. Move the pointer arrow tip over the location (left) and click to create the waypoint. The waypoint appears (right) with the default waypoint symbol and name, bo...

45 Waypoint and Edit Waypoint in the online Command Reference section. If this is all the GPS information you need for now, skip ahead to thelesson "Saving a GPS Data File" on page 50. But, if you want to addicons or a route, check out the next two lessons. Creating an Icon Icons are graphic...

46 Create an icon: First, find the location on the Master Map. The bottom arrow shows the location of a public boat ramp on this river. Move the pointer arrow tip over the location (left) and click to create the icon. The icon appears (right) with the default waypoint symbol but no name. To change t...

47 If you don't want to plan a route this trip, skip ahead to the lesson"Saving a GPS Data File" on page 50. But don't forget, planning a routeis one of MapCreate's coolest capabilities. If you're ready for some realnavigating with routes, read on. Creating a Route A route is a series of way...

48 Tip: As you move along your intended course, you may need to pan theMaster Map and periodically zoom in and out to see where to placeroute waypoints, and where you are going next. The pan and zoombuttons will always work, even when the Create Route command isactive. This way, you don't have to tu...

49 along your intended route and click to create additional routewaypoints as needed. Basically, you will set a new waypoint every timeyou need to change direction. 6. To close the Create Route command, right-click or press Esc . Finished route with six waypoints. Notice the straight line-of-sight l...

50 • In a hurry? You can erase a route by deleting each waypoint, oneafter the other. Click the C ENTER M ASTER M AP button, then move the cross-hair pointer over a route waypoint and right-click. In the pop-up menu, click the D ELETE W AYPOINT command. MapCreate erases the waypoint and the magenta ...

51 MapCreate and return another day. To open this GPS Data File lateron, just click the O PEN GPS D ATA F ILE button and select the file name (and it's location) from the list. Open GPS Data File dialog box. Now you're ready to load that GPS Data File into your GPS unit. Referto your GPS unit's manu...

53 You can save this as a Map Border File and then create a Custom MapFile. (Click the S AVE M AP B ORDERS button…then click the C REATE C USTOM M AP button.) Tip: You can control the width of any corridor map. Click V IEW | M AP D ISPLAY O PTIONS , and the Map Display Options dialog box appears. Ma...

54 Creating a Route From a Trail A trail is a line drawn on the map by your GPS unit as you travel. It's arecord of the path you've taken, showing where you've been. Thisfeature is also called a plot trail. In the field, the trail will extend fromyour present position back to where you began recordi...

55 This example shows a portion of Trail 2, recorded during a business trip from Afton, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri. The trail appears as a green line on the Master Map. It follows Interstate 44 to Carthage, Missouri, then Highway 71 north toward Kansas City. For easier viewing, roads, highway...

56 MapCreate converts the green trail line into a magenta route line withred waypoints. It does this by transforming thousands of position pointsin the trail to 25 route waypoints. See the illustration below, showingthe trail and route before and after the command is performed. Trail segment through...

57 Appendix 1: MapCreate Command List Complete documentation on all MapCreate commands is available inthe program's online Help File. To access Help and its CommandReference section, press F1. An example entry from the CommandReference (for the Help Command) appears at the end of this command list. ...

58 Help Topics Command Menu: H ELP Submenu: n/aMenu Command: H ELP T OPICS Menu Command Sequence: H ELP |H ELP T OPICS Hot Key Sequence: Alt+H|H Shortcut Key(s): F1 Toolbar button: n/a The Help Topics command opens the on-line Help system in yourdefault web browser. Our help information is in HTML f...

59 3. In the F IND WHAT : box, type the term , phrase or command you are looking for, adjust any options such as up or down, then click F IND N EXT . Search a Help document for the term "map border." Netscape 6 browser: 1. Click somewhere on the help page you intend to search. This makessure...

61 Appendix 2: Map Category List This list contains the different categories of mapping informationavailable in MapCreate 6. These categories and their subcategories canbe turned off or on. Only those categories turned on (displayed in theMaster Map) will be included in Custom Map Files for your GPS...

63 Appendix 3: MapCreate 6 Symbol Key MapCreate 6 contains hundreds of mapping symbols used to representitems ranging from geographic features to commercial Points ofInterest (POI). The following list displays these symbols and the nameof the item the symbol represents. Interstate Highway U.S. Highw...

67 Appendix 4: Considerations When Planning Highway Routes Tips on Making Better Routes for Highway Navigation How you make a highway route depends on your type of travel and whether you prefer to use the GPS unit's compass rose screen, the mapscreen or both for navigation. These factors determine h...

72 DATABASES LIMITED WARRANTY "We", "our", or "us" refers to LEI Extras, a division of Lowrance Electronics,Inc., the manufacturer of this product. "You" or "your" refers to the first personwho purchases the product as a consumer item for personal, family, orh...

74 How to Obtain Service… …in the USA: We back your investment in quality products with quick, expert service.If you're in the United States and you have technical, return or repairquestions, please contact the Factory Customer Service Department.Before any product can be returned, you must call cus...

Accessory Ordering Informationfor all countries LEI Extras  , Inc. is the accessory source for sonar and GPS products manufactured by Lowrance Electronics and Eagle Electronics. To orderMapCreate and GPS accessories such as computer cables, MMC cardsor MMC card readers, please contact: 1) Your loca...