yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
Cheers, Blaustein

A BIG THANK YOU, Blaustein, for your amazing work on this app! You've done a great job since taking over from Andy!

Everything is peachy on my HTC Wizard (Qtek 9100), Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition, processor underclocked to 143MHz from 195MHz with BatteryStatus Today-Plugin (16 hrs of battery life), with Nokia LD3W Bluetooth GPS.

I've got one function request:

One big ass fullscreen compass when operating in Track2Follow mode.

Just like the functionality in other apps, this compass always points to the direction of the preset track. I suggest that what the compass should point to exactly would be about 100 m in front of the actual position, so that one could anticipate an oncoming slight or abrupt turn. If you can't use units of measure, next waypoint in the track could work aswell.

This is the only feature that's missing from this amazing tool compared to some of the other top notch payable products.

With this feature implemented, GCC would be a million miles in front of the competitors!

I'd love to use this feature in my mtb rides. Here's a clip from my last ride:

http://bit.ly/kc73H4

Thanks again for your hard efforts!

Cheers from Transylvania,

Silviu
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] xheretic:
I've got exactly SAME problem like you and don't know how to fix it :(

My device is Samsung i8000...maybe there is a problem :)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
Reply to post Nr. 1474 (silviontz)

OK. By using the "Mobile Atlas Creator" I made a map file having an extension .osz.

When unzipped it contains quite a few numerical folders and subfolders which contain crops of maps in .png format. What is next? What do I do with them and how these maps can be added to the "GPS Cycle Computer" program, if they should be added there?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
Great, you're almost done. Copy the files to your Memory Card, open GCC, select the folder containing all the numerical folders and, voilla, you have one working map. Fiddle around with the settings of GCC, there are quite a few extras in there.

Cheers!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
Thank you for your time once more.

How do I select the folder with the numerical folders and maps through the GCC program? Please be more specific because I'm a bit lost...
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
I now realise a was too vague in my explanation, apologies.

Assuming you've copied the the folder containing numerical folders to your Memory Card (let's call the folder "Maps"), open up GCC.

On the first screen of GCC, tap the left button (a square comprised of 12 rectangles), tap Options, tap Set maps files location, browse to your Maps folder (not the numerical folders, but the folder containing them all) and tap the right icon (the open folder).

One last thing: in Settings, under the Map screen tab, refer to the multi maps dropdown menu. I use multi maps, x1 zoom. Play with the other options, you may prefer another setting.

This is all for setting up your map.

What you may want to do next is tap Set input/output files location (under Options) to set up the folder where you want GCC to save your tracks and/or from where to load the track for Track2Follow mode.

Everything I've said is listed under the Help menu, so do take a look, the help file is your friend.

Hope I've answered some of your questions.

Cheers from Transylvania!

s.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
Blaustein, for some reason, when going into Options and tapping Set input/output files location, I get an error stating:

Value does not fall within the expected range.

img1

img2

img3

Thanks!

s.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
Thank you my friend.

I guess that the last instruction (the one about tracks) is optional.

I also assume that in order to get the maps shown up, you have to

have a GPS connection.

Is that so, or I'm still in a mess?

Cheers from Athens!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
The map should show up even if there's no GPS present.

Open GCC, tap the left button, tap Map. If it's not working, you might have not compiled the map properly.

s.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
Are you sure the maps should be in .png format?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
Definitely .png. Also, make sure you have Mobile Trail Explorer format selected before compiling.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
OK. I'll start the whole thing from the very beginning.

By the way, I see that inside the GpsCycleComputer\Program Files, where the GCC is installed, there is a subfolder, the "Maps", which contain a text file, the "Maps_folder.txt", which says: "This folder is for *.jpg maps."

What does this mean and what kind of relation could this have with *png maps?

That's why I'm asking, since the Mobile Trail Explorer output format is definitely *png.

In any case I still cannot see any map, no mutter whether I have a GPS connection or not!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
Provided you compiled the .png maps and selected the Maps folder from Options, everything should be in order.

One last thing, though: you may not see the map because you may not be exactly over the place for where you have the map. Without GPS fix, this might happen. So try a whole world map, zoomed out as far as possible, and also, zoom out in GCC.

Good luck!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
Thanks a lot again. I'll give it a try and I'll let you know.

New Edit: You are right! I was not within the area of the map. When I'm over the place of the map, the latter shows up.

One more thing: On second try to make a new map, a file "MTEFileCache" is formed and the relevant *.osz file cannot be found! What is going on?

Thank you once more for your time.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi Silviu,

great video clip! I'm right now coming from a one week mountain bike trip in the mountains of Austria :-)

I will lift this rudimentary navigation feature to a higher priority on my todo list.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi Silviu, do you have some special characters in any path name?

Try to rename GpsCycleComputer.dat (660B). Then all options are set to default and a new GpsCycleComputer.dat will be created. Are there new entries in GpsCycleComputer.txt or GpsCycleComputer.log?

Klaus

PS: thank you for your patient assistance for helpless users.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] soter:
Originally Posted by silviontz View Post

Provided you compiled the .png maps and selected the Maps folder from Options, everything should be in order.

One last thing, though: you may not see the map because you may not be exactly over the place for where you have the map. Without GPS fix, this might happen. So try a whole world map, zoomed out as far as possible, and also, zoom out in GCC.

Good luck!

You are right! I was not within the area of the map. When I'm over the place of the map, the latter shows up.

One more thing: On second try to make a new map, a file "MTEFileCache" is formed and the relevant *.osz file cannot be found! What is going on?

Thank you once more for your time.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
GCC don't supports this format. Please select atlas format "OSMTracker tile storage". This creates a directory structure. In the top most diroctory (name of map) are the zoom levels 0 to 18 and beneath the x and y coordinates. You must copy the whole tree to your mobile device.

Please read the readme.htm section "10. Maps".

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] silviontz:
Blaustein, I had no time to check out the error details.

Until I do, here's something to look at, this weekend's ride. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txXG5fw0eYc&feature=player_embedded#at=228 .
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
new beta release 4.8beta1

Hallo friends of GCC

I have decided to release a new beta version.

Main new feature is the possibility to add audio notes to waypoints. A .wav file is created with the name of the track extended by a number. The filename is stored as waypoint in the track. I would like to hear if this feature is useful and the link in the waypoint is practical, or how it could be made better.

Additional improvements:

- improved calculation of altitude gain (affects also old tracks)

- improved GPX file support to read files from http://openrouteservice.org

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] jaco-82:
When we starting add waypoint by holding screen in map view, there is no audio options. Audio navigation's keys are bit to small. New function will very useful.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi jaco,

thanks for the bug report (context menu). Attached the fix.

The audio navigation keys is the standard control of windows voice recorder. I can't change them. But in most cases you don't need them. Recording starts automatically by pressing "Audio" and it stops by pressing anywhere on the screen. If you press "OK" the dialog is dismissed at the same time.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] fdgdfgsss:
Hi, Blaustein, and thank you for your work! I was in vacation so now I can to try this future.

There is one bug: in exported gpx file, name of audio file is in <name> tag, but it must be in <link> tag, like this:

<wpt lat="XXX" lon="YYY"><ele>ZZZ</ele><time>2011-06-27T16:13:19Z</time><name>any name of WP</name><link href="110627_1613_02.wav" /></wpt>

So in some map editors this waypoint will shows like icon. By clicking on it editor plays this audio note, so we can edit map simle and fast.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi fdgdfgsss :-)

thank you for the example. I didn't know how to realize it.

Attached the beta3.

Remark: If the name of the waypoint is left blank it will be also the name of the audio file.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] fdgdfgsss:
Hi! :)

Looks like audio note starts recording by pressing on "Audio" and stops by tap at any place on screen, but coordinates of waypoint fixed when i pressing "OK" (not when I tap at any screen to stop recording). Another reason of shift of some waypoints I can't see.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Yes, you are completely right. Coordinates are taken at the moment you press OK.

Would it be better to take the coordinates at the moment you press the button "Add Waypoint" or select from context menu?

When selecting in map from context menu, I am thinking about to take the coordinates from the cursor position rather than the GPS-position. What do you think about such a feature? Must it be chooseable to use GPS or cursor position?

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] fdgdfgsss:
Blaustein, I see 3 different ways:

0. Don't implement coordinates of cursor position at all. Choosing context menu we have GPS coordinates in WP.

1. Make additional button on bottom of the map screen. Tap on it loads "Add waypoint" dialog, and WP get GPS coordinates at button pressing. When loading WP dialog from context menu, WP get cursor position.

2. Context menu have 2 "Add WP" strings: "Add WP with GPS coordinates" and "Add WP with cursor coordinates". I think it's not good by usability reasons.

And if we choose cursor coordinates, if we don't close WP dialog by OK or Cancel button, only first WP creates with cursor coordinates, all next WP have GPS coordinates of begin of record point, until we close WP window.

I think, additional button to fast create WP on map screen can be usefull, because it is difficult to press and hold finger on screen until context menu loads, and then find target menu string and aim to it when you riding. :) But additional button changes interface... maybe, show or hide this button from options?

And will be good, if "Audio", OK or Cancel buttons be bigger, than now. ;)

Thank you and sorry for my bad english %)
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi fdgdfgsss,

Waypoint is only created when you press OK. If you press Cancel no WP is created and the audio file is deleted (if one was recorded). If you stop audio recording and start again (without pressing OK), the audio file will be overwritten.

The WP gets the coordinates at the moment you press OK.

Alternate way to add a WP (more finger friendly):

- long click (or double click) on the left button.

- in menu page press "Add Waypoint"

Attached version 4.8beta4 with minor changes in audio recording (delete file at Cancel; bigger buttons).

Additionally bugfix: when logging at 00:00 UTC time in some cases a wrong point far away was recorded.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] SQueal:
GPS Cycle computer

Hi

I am new to this program as have recently gotten into cycling and it is the perfect tool. However I have struggled with putting the maps onto my phone. I have read many of the articles and seen various ways of doing it.

I would like to make a suggestion that the program could support *.qct files, a friend has a program on his anroid phone that is called mmtracker, it supports this file format which you can buy the ordenance survey maps (memory map) for your area. They are much larger and are more detailed.

Thanks again.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi SQueal,

I recommend the free tool "Mobile Atlas Creator". You can download maps from many free map sources including OpenStreetMap and GoogleHybrid. Choose the region and zoom levels you need. If you use photography data (Google sat or hybrid); I recommend conversion to .jpg (85%), because .png don't compress good on this data.

Then create an atlas in format "OSMTracker tile storage", this is a directory structure which you copy to your device. In GCC set the maps directory to the top folder of this map.

.qct looks interesting, but I think it is to much effort to implement at the moment, because it uses its own data compression and complicated meta data. I plan to implement a simpler format compatible to runGPS which uses only one file for a map.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] womisa:
Hi @Blaustein,

I think the atlas format MOBAC "MBTiles SQLite" would also be good for GPSCycleComputer .....

What do you think about it???

Achim
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi Achim,

as the name implies this affords a SQLite data base engine. But this is absolutely unnecessary, it only creates much overhead in code and execution time. The RunGPS format is very native and optimised for very fast access and supports huge data collections >2GB.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
new beta release 4.8beta5

Hi fans,

I want to distribute a new beta release.

New features:

- compass in main screen can be configured to show "north" (device must be held up in direction of movement)

- new Navigation arrow shows direction to follow T2F (100m ahead) - either in map or fullscreen in new navigation screen. In navigation screen the distance to destination is displayed or the shortest distance to T2F (if it is more than 100m). In context menu the navigation direction can be reversed to follow the T2F in the opposite direction.

I am looking forward to your feedback and suggestions to improve the new navigation feature.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] macquest:
GCC has no instructions on loading maps

Hi, hope you don't get upset if I ask a question here. The topic has more than 115 pages and parts of it were on navmi and not gcc. I want to load maps, and tried to find instructions. The google code page did not have any instructions in FAQ. It would be a great help to add an FAQ with detailed instructions (one example). OSM has so many selections of exporting and JPEG doesn't include gps data in it or does it? How will the gps know where you are in the jpeg image map file?

I have loaded GCC and it runs, but have no map. The gps works too. I want to test it out. Looks promising. I tried to export from OpenStreetMap, and sometimes it would not export. I tried 2 different maps: map.osm and map.jpg, both in the "maps" directory for GCC. Still "no map" in gcc. I changed the name to "map.jpeg", still no map in gcc. The map files were in the required format, and in the required directory. No map found? What is wrong. Please give good instructions. Do they need a particular name? How does gcc find the right map? JPEG or JPG, does it matter? I exported with Mapnik to JPG.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
GCC has no instructions on loading maps

Hi macquest,

GCC has all instructions inside trough the "Help" button (?). This opens the file "Readme.htm".

You can copy this file from your device back to your desktop computer for better readability (or extract it directly from the .cab). But you are right, I should include this documentation in the project page of google code.

Chapter 10 is about maps. 10.1 - 10.3 are about general jpg maps. For each jpg file there must exist a calibration file with the same name which includes the geographical calibration data.

This was the beginning of maps in GCC, but I think this methods are rather tedious. I recommend chapter 10.4 about "Open Street Map" type maps. This type of map is a directory structure with many small .png (or .jpg) files, whereas the directory name and the file name specify the geographical place.

I recommend the free tool "Mobile Atlas Creator". You can download maps from many free map sources including OpenStreetMap and GoogleHybrid. Choose the region and zoom levels you need. If you use photography data (Google sat or hybrid); I recommend conversion to .jpg (85%).

I hope this helps. If you have further questions, which are not answered in readme.htm, feel free to ask here.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] macquest:
got a map to load with GPS

Found it. Could put a link to that file in your FAQ too. Would save some people some confusion. Note that there is either an error with your implementation of kml files or there is an error in Google Earth with their saving of kml files. GCC does not like kml files saved from Google Earth. You must save to kmz then change the name to zip, unzip, then change the name to kml. Also, both the map file and the kml file must be read/write. Why do you need to write to the image map file and to the kml data file?

Does Mobile Atlas Creator provide the photography data? I would like to use photography data like you see from Google Earth. Will MAC get tiles from GE?

I'm getting "Error -3, Com port hang ups". It looks like this happens when the GPS is running and I select the menu. Then, even after closing and exiting the application, the COM port is locked up. I think this is an error in your application? If that happens while using it, then no GPS! Please help with a solution for this.

Pocket PC with MSCF v3.5

Have not tested yet with live GPS data. Thanks, have loaded some maps and did get the GPS to view on the map.

* Please allow color change of the Triangular icon for the GPS signal. Some colors do not show well with photography data, and are hard to see at a glance. Purple, red, orange, etc like you allow color changes for the dots and tracks.

* Please allow selecting option of NO LOG at all even with 1 sec GPS updates.

Have not used the waypoints yet, so please excuse my question on this. I would like to be able to set waypoints with just a quick button press. And, to be able to use for hiking to get back to camp. Do not need directions to return to waypoint, but selecting a bright color for the waypoint icon would be helpful.

So far, looks great. Thanks for the application.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] maxxx333:
Very Nice Prog.

Works Very well

Thanks Very Much
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Can you help me please? The kml files are only a few bytes ASCII. What is the difference between the direct exported kml and the kmz unzipped? There should be none.

I do not need to write. But noone ever had a problem with this. I will check if I can open the files only for reading.

Yes (Google Maps).

Never heared about such probs. I need more details (all settings in GPS, which com port, MobileDevice, Operating system, do you use a port splitter..). How can you have probs with com port when you never had tested it with live GPS?????

Colors can be changed in options - map screen - "Track" and "Track2f". This also affects the corresponding triangular arrow.

Just don't start a log. Only switch on the GPS (with the right button in main screen). But without a log you can't add a waypoint. Just start a short log, add the waypoint, stop, and load this track as "Track2Follow". Then the waypoint should be displayed and even the Navigation arrow directs you to this short track.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] zdendalos:
Missing few things

Hi,

I must say - this is really good work! Only few things I miss:

1) chance to change compass arrow in main view to letters (N, NW, NWW, SE, etc...) - this could have a look like a car compass

2) chance to download map base from google maps and chance to download this without having to be GPS fixed (for example - I want to go somewhere without GSM signal, so I want to download map base for this area from internet at home before). There could be a button for download maps directly in map view and chance to download multiple zoom levels (like in GPS Sport Tracker 1.9.1 - also good soft, excellent map base from google maps, but unstable soft for tracking a way)

3) chance to place a waypoint by one tap on place in a map for navigate to

4) create the way by draw with stylus directly to the map for navigate in track2follow (this is really good thing!) - maybe this thing is available now, but I don't know how to do this

Yet I must really thank you for a job well done!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Missing few things

Hi,

1. I don't understand what you want. Only the optical view of the compass? In latest version (4.8) you can configure the compass to show North.

2. I recommend to use "Mobile Atlas Creator" to download maps (also google). See readme.htm 10.4.

3. This is also a wish of mine. I will realize it in the near future.

4. This is a bit more complicated. Perhaps you can use google maps or some other tool to create a track and transfer it via gpx file to gcc.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
new beta release 4.9beta1

Hello,

here is a new beta version. Main improvements:

- speed up reading files for "Track2Follow"

- speed up reading GPX files and make it compatible to XML syntax (now compatible to GPX files from crossingways)

- in GPX export the track can be separated in segments when logging has gaps (Pause) of more than 10s (enable in Kml/Gpx options)

- when automatic OSM map download is enabled, the visible map tiles can be forced to reload by context menue

- Navigation commands (in first step only as text in map)

Please check if you have problems with loading gpx files as track2follow.

Report problems and comments here.

Klaus
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] zdendalos:
Thanks for quick reply! ;)

1) I mean something like that - see attachment! There could be shown letters or numbers of degrees of direction. I know about the option "Compass show North", but the letters are better for reading while cycling or driving car.

2) I have read readme and try Mobile Atlas Creator too, but more user friendly is to simple download the area in GCC, without using a computer - for example by wi-fi at home, or in restaurants, etc. It's just observation. I understand that it is not easy to implement immediately. I recommend to look at the GPS Sport Tracker. There is a good solution.

3) I look forward to!

4) I'll try it!
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] Blaustein:
Hi Zdendalos,

1. Is this really important for you?

2. At the moment you can browse the map (without GPS fix) and the necessary map tiles will be downloaded. You can specify a custom server in osm_server.txt but I don't know if it works with google. If you want to download with your mobile, I recommend a little tool "PDATileManager". You can customize it to make it work with google maps (although it is not allowed).

Klaus