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Main
Date: 31 Aug 2006 21:58:26
From: Steve Sr.
Subject: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Hello,
I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
maps and cue sheets.
My only experience so far has been Microsoft's Streets and Trips which
I find to be slightly better than nothing. This program appears to be
built around it telling you where to go rather than the other way
around. To get it ot route where you want it to you have to drop
breadcrumb "destinations" to guide it for your chosen route.
Another annoying characteristic is it seems to know only street
addresses so that if you try to put a destination bread crumb at a
road intersection the directions tell you to go to that address which
may or may not exist.
Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
Thanks,
Steve
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Date: 05 Sep 2006 11:48:22
From: nash
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
>Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps? <
I use Gmaps Pedometer or Google Maps
Gmaps Pedometer
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/
Just remember to switch to print view to get the route to come out on
your printout(Google Maps). Satellite view would give you a cool
preview of what you are about to do.
Also, you can use this site to calculate calories burned roughly after
Google calculates the km. riden.
Calorie Calculator
http://www.stevenscreek.com/goodies/calories.html
All are free. :)
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Date: 04 Sep 2006 08:52:29
From: David L. Johnson
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets -
|
On Sun, 03 Sep 2006 23:32:06 -0700, Terry Morse wrote:
> Steve Sr. wrote:
>
>> I have seen some routes for local rides done with Topo USA and
>> was hoping that this might be the answer. But it sounds like the user
>> interface has some issues.
>
> I use Topo USA all the time to build route sheets and profiles. It
> works fine, once you get used to the less-than-standard interface.
If what you want is priily a way to generate accurate cue sheets, then
try http://www.routeslip.com/ . The routes are all stored on the server,
which may or may not be a good thing, but to generate a cue sheet you just
click on the map. Make notes at each turn. Mileage and profile are
generated automatically. I've been trying out some of my regular rides,
and it works very well.
Ideally, I'd like a cross between this and the old MapBlast, before MS
took it over and ruined it. MapBlast would also generate little maps of
turns. The idea would be to have a cue sheet with trickier turns mapped
out.
--
David L. Johnson
__o
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Date: 03 Sep 2006 19:06:00
From: Dirtroadie
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Steve Sr. wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
> maps and cue sheets.
Take a look at:
topofusion.com
If nothing else, you can play with the demo version to see whether it
might suit your needs.
DR
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Date: 03 Sep 2006 16:40:16
From: Steve Sr.
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:58:26 -0400, Steve Sr. <Nospam@nospam.com >
wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
>maps and cue sheets.
>
>My only experience so far has been Microsoft's Streets and Trips which
>I find to be slightly better than nothing. This program appears to be
>built around it telling you where to go rather than the other way
>around. To get it ot route where you want it to you have to drop
>breadcrumb "destinations" to guide it for your chosen route.
>
>Another annoying characteristic is it seems to know only street
>addresses so that if you try to put a destination bread crumb at a
>road intersection the directions tell you to go to that address which
>may or may not exist.
>
>Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Steve
Thanks for everyones suggestions. I guess I should have mentioned that
I don't have a GPS or high speeed internet. This rules out a lot of
the suggestions as Google Maps, etc. won't work on dialup. It always
leaves out blocks of the map.
I was hoping that there would be something better than Streets and
Trips. I have seen some routes for local rides done with Topo USA and
was hoping that this might be the answer. But it sounds like the user
interface has some issues. Streets and Trips also has some user
interface issues which makes it even harder to use since there is no
written documentation and you have to extract everything out of the
help file.
Steve
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Date: 03 Sep 2006 23:32:06
From: Terry Morse
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Steve Sr. wrote:
> I have seen some routes for local rides done with Topo USA and
> was hoping that this might be the answer. But it sounds like the user
> interface has some issues.
I use Topo USA all the time to build route sheets and profiles. It
works fine, once you get used to the less-than-standard interface.
--
terry morse - Undiscovered Country Tours - http://udctours.com
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Date: 05 Sep 2006 17:09:24
From: arnold
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
In article <tmorse-879E3B.23320103092006@news.covad.net >,
Terry Morse <tmorse@spamcop.net > wrote:
>I use Topo USA all the time to build route sheets and profiles. It
>works fine, once you get used to the less-than-standard interface.
I really don't mind the GUI for Delorme Topo USA. What I hate about this
program are:
1. maps are unreadable when printed out (much worse than Google maps)
2. cumulative elevation gain number is extremely inaccurate (up to 100% wrong)
3. redrawing the map (after scrolling or resizing) is extremely slow
4. printed route directions are very confusing and sometimes inaccurate
(compared to Google or Yahoo driving directions)
The only reason I tolerate DeLorme Topo is that the elevation profile feature
is very useful when planning routes (as long as you ignore the cumulative
elevation gain number).
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Date: 01 Sep 2006 18:12:11
From: Chicago Paddling-Fishing
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
In rec.bicycles.misc Steve Sr. <Nospam@nospam.com > wrote:
: Hello,
: I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
: maps and cue sheets.
: My only experience so far has been Microsoft's Streets and Trips which
: I find to be slightly better than nothing. This program appears to be
: built around it telling you where to go rather than the other way
: around. To get it ot route where you want it to you have to drop
: breadcrumb "destinations" to guide it for your chosen route.
: Another annoying characteristic is it seems to know only street
: addresses so that if you try to put a destination bread crumb at a
: road intersection the directions tell you to go to that address which
: may or may not exist.
: Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
For a recent scout bike trip, we rode it first, uploaded points out of my
Garmin, then used GPSBabble to convert it into Sporttracks. Sporttracks
laid out the route nicely along with distances.
http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/
--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)
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Date: 10 Sep 2006 22:19:19
From: Chris Z The Wheelman
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets -
|
I've been using DeLorme and have found it quite useful (I copy paste the
route data into a special Word doc that I've developed).
However be warned, the total elevation gain is usually off by a
considerable amount (I multiply what DeLorme claims by 0.6) and the
mileage accuracy suffers on really twisty roads, like those in the
mountains because (I assume) the "roads" are measured by vector points,
not their true course.
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
My web Site:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
To E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
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Date: 01 Sep 2006 13:40:12
From: Bill Cotton
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
"Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:h64ff2ta437e9f73mcgrlccl7m15eniq59@4ax.com...
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
> maps and cue sheets.
>
> Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
I have use Delorme maps in the pass. Now I use MapSource. Howto is here.
http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm Samples of cuesheet made in
this method are here
http://www.billcotton.com/Bill%20cotton%20cue%20sheets.htm
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Date: 03 Sep 2006 16:29:54
From: Steve Sr.
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
On Fri, 1 Sep 2006 13:40:12 -0400, "Bill Cotton"
<Billcotton@comcast.net > wrote:
>
>"Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
>news:h64ff2ta437e9f73mcgrlccl7m15eniq59@4ax.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
>> maps and cue sheets.
>>
>> Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Steve
>I have use Delorme maps in the pass. Now I use MapSource. Howto is here.
>http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm Samples of cuesheet made in
>this method are here
>http://www.billcotton.com/Bill%20cotton%20cue%20sheets.htm
Bill,
So what is mapsource? A program? A web site? I didn't see it on your
above mentioned page. Could you please provide a link?
Thanks,
Steve
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Date: 03 Sep 2006 21:45:32
From: Bill Cotton
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
"Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:hkemf257dsghn4pp1j94dgmee448mida0d@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 1 Sep 2006 13:40:12 -0400, "Bill Cotton"
> <Billcotton@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
>>news:h64ff2ta437e9f73mcgrlccl7m15eniq59@4ax.com...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
>>> maps and cue sheets.
>>>
>>> Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Steve
>>I have use Delorme maps in the pass. Now I use MapSource. Howto is here.
>>http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm Samples of cuesheet made in
>>this method are here
>>http://www.billcotton.com/Bill%20cotton%20cue%20sheets.htm
>
> Bill,
>
> So what is mapsource? A program? A web site? I didn't see it on your
> above mentioned page. Could you please provide a link?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
MapSource is Garmin map program that is use with Garmin GPS.
http://www.garmin.com/cartography/
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 03 Sep 2006 18:26:12
From: Don Piven
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Steve Sr. wrote:
> So what is mapsource? A program? A web site? I didn't see it on your
> above mentioned page. Could you please provide a link?
Mapsource is the mapping program provided with Garmin GPS units; you can
get various map databases from Garmin that will all share the Mapsource
interface.
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Date: 01 Sep 2006 13:35:05
From: Claire Petersky
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
"Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:h64ff2ta437e9f73mcgrlccl7m15eniq59@4ax.com...
> Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/
http://www.bikely.com/
--
Warm Regards,
Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky
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Date: 01 Sep 2006 09:08:11
From: (PeteCresswell)
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Per Steve Sr.:
>
>Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
www.topofusion.com
Caveat: You'd better have broadband to use it. I started using it with dialup,
but the response time was pretty frustrating. With broadband, though, it's
like a dream come true: unlimited topo maps of the USA at whatever scale you
want.
It even does GPS way point overlays.
--
PeteCresswell
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Date: 01 Sep 2006 01:17:19
From: Chris BeHanna
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 22:58:26 -0400, Steve Sr. wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
> maps and cue sheets.
>
> My only experience so far has been Microsoft's Streets and Trips which
> I find to be slightly better than nothing.
The WVCF used a product from National Geographic to generate:
* a topo map of the route
* a cue sheet of the route
* an elevation profile of the route
The Nat'l Geo. software is $99 per state.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/topo
The routeslip website is also there, but realize that it's in beta
testing right now.
--
Chris BeHanna
----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
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Date: 01 Sep 2006 04:47:18
From: Tom Kunich
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
"Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:h64ff2ta437e9f73mcgrlccl7m15eniq59@4ax.com...
>
> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
> maps and cue sheets.
Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy program
as possible. Although the core of the program isn't bad, the user interface
is the most useless and frustrating piece of work I have seen in my 35 years
of working with computers.
I simply cannot see how anyone with an ounce of commonsense and any
education whatsoever could have come up with an interface that will open
windows with no discoverable way of closing. What's more making the program
actually do anything useful is almost impossible.
If we could get enough people who purchased Topo together to make it
worthwhile I know a lawyer that will open a suit against these jackasses.
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 21:34:48
From: Chris Neary
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
>Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy program
>as possible. Although the core of the program isn't bad, the user interface
>is the most useless and frustrating piece of work I have seen in my 35 years
>of working with computers.
Careful, you're talking about "Topo USA" (http://tinyurl.com/mur4w), a
product I gave up on 3 versions ago.
Not to be confused with National Geographics line of "Topo!" mapping
products (http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/), which I think are
pretty good at what they are designed to do.
Chris Neary
diabloridr@tcsn.net
"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh
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Date: 10 Sep 2006 15:19:03
From: Mike DeMicco
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Chris Neary <diabloridr@tcsn.net > wrote in
news:itg4g2pa1npldahumnf80tfq49i7pudj3a@4ax.com:
> Careful, you're talking about "Topo USA" (http://tinyurl.com/mur4w), a
> product I gave up on 3 versions ago.
>
> Not to be confused with National Geographics line of "Topo!" mapping
> products (http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/), which I think are
> pretty good at what they are designed to do.
A few questions:
1. Can you create a route as easily as Topo USA with turns, mileages, etc.?
2. Is it based solely on USGS data (too old to be that useful)? Is the data
better and more current than Topo USA (e.g., Topo USA doesn't show bike
trails)?
3. Does it have the same cumulative elevation problems that Topo USA has?
Personally, I've not had any real issues with the user interface of Topo
USA, and would not use that as a reason to move to a different product
unless that product offered something substantially better.
--
Mike DeMicco <blaster186@comcast.net >
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| | | | |
Date: 10 Sep 2006 13:11:30
From: Chris Neary
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
>> Careful, you're talking about "Topo USA" (http://tinyurl.com/mur4w), a
>> product I gave up on 3 versions ago.
>>
>> Not to be confused with National Geographics line of "Topo!" mapping
>> products (http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/), which I think are
>> pretty good at what they are designed to do.
>
>A few questions:
>
>1. Can you create a route as easily as Topo USA with turns, mileages, etc.?
I use MS Streets for any route mapping I need to do.
>2. Is it based solely on USGS data (too old to be that useful)? Is the data
>better and more current than Topo USA (e.g., Topo USA doesn't show bike
>trails)?
For what I'm using it for, the age of the USGS data is little or no
handicap. Even if a road isn't shown, I can hand draw a route for profile
info (and damn few of the roads in my area have changed much since the
topo's were last updated!)
My biggest turn-off with Topo USA was the ugly and inaccurate presentation
of the topo lines. Pretty useless for truly visualizing the lay of the land
in comparision to Topo!
>3. Does it have the same cumulative elevation problems that Topo USA has?
I'm never concerned with cumulative elevations, more typically I'm looking
at differences in elevation between a number of reference points. Topo!
works plenty fine for this.
>Personally, I've not had any real issues with the user interface of Topo
>USA, and would not use that as a reason to move to a different product
>unless that product offered something substantially better.
As stated above, the user interface wasn't my reason for ditching Topo USA
(though it did suck), the poor presentation of the actual map data turned me
into a ex-owner.
Chris Neary
diabloridr@tcsn.net
"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh
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Date: 11 Sep 2006 01:52:44
From: Dave
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Try http://www.jdmcox.com a free mapping program. Works for me.
Cheers,
Dave
http://www.noweldrecumbent.com
"Chris Neary" <diabloridr@tcsn.net > wrote in message
news:9ur8g2p48ug8e1cq7ata0ls83krprjo592@4ax.com...
> >> Careful, you're talking about "Topo USA" (http://tinyurl.com/mur4w), a
> >> product I gave up on 3 versions ago.
> >>
> >> Not to be confused with National Geographics line of "Topo!" mapping
> >> products (http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/), which I think are
> >> pretty good at what they are designed to do.
> >
> >A few questions:
> >
> >1. Can you create a route as easily as Topo USA with turns, mileages,
etc.?
>
> I use MS Streets for any route mapping I need to do.
>
> >2. Is it based solely on USGS data (too old to be that useful)? Is the
data
> >better and more current than Topo USA (e.g., Topo USA doesn't show bike
> >trails)?
>
> For what I'm using it for, the age of the USGS data is little or no
> handicap. Even if a road isn't shown, I can hand draw a route for profile
> info (and damn few of the roads in my area have changed much since the
> topo's were last updated!)
>
> My biggest turn-off with Topo USA was the ugly and inaccurate presentation
> of the topo lines. Pretty useless for truly visualizing the lay of the
land
> in comparision to Topo!
>
> >3. Does it have the same cumulative elevation problems that Topo USA has?
>
> I'm never concerned with cumulative elevations, more typically I'm looking
> at differences in elevation between a number of reference points. Topo!
> works plenty fine for this.
>
> >Personally, I've not had any real issues with the user interface of Topo
> >USA, and would not use that as a reason to move to a different product
> >unless that product offered something substantially better.
>
> As stated above, the user interface wasn't my reason for ditching Topo USA
> (though it did suck), the poor presentation of the actual map data turned
me
> into a ex-owner.
>
>
> Chris Neary
> diabloridr@tcsn.net
>
> "Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
> you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
> loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh
|
| | |
Date: 02 Sep 2006 06:31:17
From: richard
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
It _does_ have a learning curve, but I've not had nearly the problems
Tom has.
DeLorme also makes a non-topo product I often use as well.
They also make a little GPS unit about the size of a match box. The
logging is hit-or-miss, but when it works, it will plot your route for
you and give you a cue sheet
Tom Kunich wrote:
> "Steve Sr." <Nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:h64ff2ta437e9f73mcgrlccl7m15eniq59@4ax.com...
>
>>I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
>>maps and cue sheets.
>
>
> Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy program
> as possible. Although the core of the program isn't bad, the user interface
> is the most useless and frustrating piece of work I have seen in my 35 years
> of working with computers.
>
> I simply cannot see how anyone with an ounce of commonsense and any
> education whatsoever could have come up with an interface that will open
> windows with no discoverable way of closing. What's more making the program
> actually do anything useful is almost impossible.
>
> If we could get enough people who purchased Topo together to make it
> worthwhile I know a lawyer that will open a suit against these jackasses.
>
>
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| | | |
Date: 02 Sep 2006 23:46:15
From: Mike DeMicco
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
richard <rmcclary@insight.bb.com > wrote in
news:w4-dnR5XU5YY9mTZnZ2dnUVZ_t6dnZ2d@insightbb.com:
> It _does_ have a learning curve, but I've not had nearly the problems
> Tom has.
Same here. I don't have the windows problems he has. Unfortunately, I have
found nothing better out there. It works fine for me in planning out a
route and produces accurate mileages; although there are still some roads
that it does not have and doesn't have bike trails and some parks and
campgrounds. I use it with SADtoCue and MS Excel to create a cue sheet. The
printed maps, however, aren't of much use to take with you on a ride. A
photocopied, ked-up map works better. The elevation profile is nice, but
the cumulative elevation gain is way over reality.
The 3d feature is glitz but useless to use on a ride. Similarly, those web
based maps showing a satellite view are gee wiz stuff, but you can't use
them on a ride either.
--
Mike DeMicco <blaster186@comcast.net >
|
| | |
Date: 01 Sep 2006 16:57:48
From: sally
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
In article <qXOJg.4267$bM.3130@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net >,
Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo. com > wrote:
>Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy program
>as possible.
I believe there are several mapping software products with the word "Topo"
in their name. Which one are you talking about?
|
| | | |
Date: 01 Sep 2006 22:28:14
From: Tom Kunich
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
"sally" <caspam@doj.ca.gov > wrote in message
news:ed9oqc$tfb$1@blue.rahul.net...
> In article <qXOJg.4267$bM.3130@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
> Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote:
>>Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy
>>program
>>as possible.
>
> I believe there are several mapping software products with the word "Topo"
> in their name. Which one are you talking about?
I have Topo USA 5.0. It is so worthless that every time I try to use it I
want to punch the director of the company in the nose.
And it COULD be a wonderful program since it has the best and most complete
map I've yet seen. But just try to make a course sheet or a profile and the
menus are worthless, windows open, cover important areas of the screen and
then can't be closed and if you try to close everything and open the program
again it has remembered everything that you did before and the same damn
windows open up and cover up the screen again.
If you try to pull and outline around a section of map that you want to
magnify it does something entirely different. Push the arrow in one
direction and it zooms in and in the other it zooms out in a manner that's
completely unexpected.
Finally to get all those damn windows off of the screen I had to uninstall
and reinstall fresh. Now whatever I've done has opened another window that
takes up a lot of space for no apparent reasons.
I've been working on computers since 1962 when we used analog computers for
most stuff. I worked on one of the most powerful computers in the world in
'69. I went through the mini and then the micro revolutions. I've seen just
about every possible stupid interface that it's possible to see and
absolutely NOTHING takes a back seat to Topo.
The only possible way that this could have come out like this is if the
president of the company without a shred of computer knowledge hired a bunch
of geeks without any experience to make this interface.
Pitiful doesn't half describe it.
|
| | | | |
Date: 01 Sep 2006 18:57:47
From: Neal
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
"Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com > wrote in message
news:2u2Kg.13272$Qf.1922@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "sally" <caspam@doj.ca.gov> wrote in message
> news:ed9oqc$tfb$1@blue.rahul.net...
>> In article <qXOJg.4267$bM.3130@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
>> Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote:
>>>Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy program
>>>as possible.
>>
>> I believe there are several mapping software products with the word "Topo"
>> in their name. Which one are you talking about?
>
> I have Topo USA 5.0. It is so worthless that every time I try to use it I want
> to punch the director of the company in the nose.
>
> And it COULD be a wonderful program since it has the best and most complete
> map I've yet seen. But just try to make a course sheet or a profile and the
> menus are worthless, windows open, cover important areas of the screen and
> then can't be closed and if you try to close everything and open the program
> again it has remembered everything that you did before and the same damn
> windows open up and cover up the screen again.
>
> If you try to pull and outline around a section of map that you want to
> magnify it does something entirely different. Push the arrow in one direction
> and it zooms in and in the other it zooms out in a manner that's completely
> unexpected.
>
> Finally to get all those damn windows off of the screen I had to uninstall and
> reinstall fresh. Now whatever I've done has opened another window that takes
> up a lot of space for no apparent reasons.
>
> I've been working on computers since 1962 when we used analog computers for
> most stuff. I worked on one of the most powerful computers in the world in
> '69. I went through the mini and then the micro revolutions. I've seen just
> about every possible stupid interface that it's possible to see and absolutely
> NOTHING takes a back seat to Topo.
>
> The only possible way that this could have come out like this is if the
> president of the company without a shred of computer knowledge hired a bunch
> of geeks without any experience to make this interface.
>
> Pitiful doesn't half describe it.
>
>
I also have Topo 5. The interface is very strange and it takes a while to
figure it out. I don't know where all your new windows are coming from unless
you are in the 3D section and those can be closed by clicking on Close 3D map
The problem with magnifing a section of the map is that you must start on the
upper left corner when forming the outline box. If you start at the lower right
corner then that magnify arrow comes up which does not work well at all. You
would think that since the program has been out at least 6 years, they would
have some of these problems worked out.
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Date: 10 Sep 2006 22:21:46
From: Chris Z The Wheelman
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets -
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TopoUSA v.5 sucks bigtime. I sent back mine and reloaded ver. 4.0.
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
My web Site:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
To E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
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Date: 02 Sep 2006 05:09:01
From: Michael Press
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
In article <NV2Kg.333$4r7.308@newsfe03.lga >,
"Neal" <Neal@hotmail.com > wrote:
> "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote in message
> news:2u2Kg.13272$Qf.1922@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > "sally" <caspam@doj.ca.gov> wrote in message
> > news:ed9oqc$tfb$1@blue.rahul.net...
> >> In article <qXOJg.4267$bM.3130@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
> >> Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote:
> >>>Someone is bound to suggest Topo - stay as FAR away from that crappy program
> >>>as possible.
> >>
> >> I believe there are several mapping software products with the word "Topo"
> >> in their name. Which one are you talking about?
> >
> > I have Topo USA 5.0. It is so worthless that every time I try to use it I want
> > to punch the director of the company in the nose.
> >
> > And it COULD be a wonderful program since it has the best and most complete
> > map I've yet seen. But just try to make a course sheet or a profile and the
> > menus are worthless, windows open, cover important areas of the screen and
> > then can't be closed and if you try to close everything and open the program
> > again it has remembered everything that you did before and the same damn
> > windows open up and cover up the screen again.
> >
> > If you try to pull and outline around a section of map that you want to
> > magnify it does something entirely different. Push the arrow in one direction
> > and it zooms in and in the other it zooms out in a manner that's completely
> > unexpected.
> >
> > Finally to get all those damn windows off of the screen I had to uninstall and
> > reinstall fresh. Now whatever I've done has opened another window that takes
> > up a lot of space for no apparent reasons.
> >
> > I've been working on computers since 1962 when we used analog computers for
> > most stuff. I worked on one of the most powerful computers in the world in
> > '69. I went through the mini and then the micro revolutions. I've seen just
> > about every possible stupid interface that it's possible to see and absolutely
> > NOTHING takes a back seat to Topo.
> >
> > The only possible way that this could have come out like this is if the
> > president of the company without a shred of computer knowledge hired a bunch
> > of geeks without any experience to make this interface.
> >
> > Pitiful doesn't half describe it.
> >
> >
>
> I also have Topo 5. The interface is very strange and it takes a while to
> figure it out. I don't know where all your new windows are coming from unless
> you are in the 3D section and those can be closed by clicking on Close 3D map
> The problem with magnifing a section of the map is that you must start on the
> upper left corner when forming the outline box. If you start at the lower right
> corner then that magnify arrow comes up which does not work well at all. You
> would think that since the program has been out at least 6 years, they would
> have some of these problems worked out.
The solutions to these problems have been understood for
years. A graphical user interface must do what the user
expects. Users are uniform in their expectations, and
meeting their expectations is a simple matter of reading
the extensive literature on the subject. Tom is 100%
correct. I too have used many graphical user interfaces,
have tested them, and written critiques. I am also an
expert in command line interfaces.
A graphical user interface should make using a computer
easy for a beginner. The front most interface has layers
behind that provide faster tools to accomplish repetitive
tasks. The ultimate in an efficient interface is the
command line interface. Of course the efficiency is at the
price of learning it.
The raison d'etre for a graphical user interface is that
anyone who knows what the software is supposed to to for
him and who knows what he wants done can go from stone
cold ignorant to useful results in an hour.
--
Michael Press
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Date: 31 Aug 2006 19:42:35
From: davet
Subject: Re: Mapping Software for Making Map and Cue Sheets - Recommendations?
|
Steve Sr. wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for suggestions for mapping software for making route
> maps and cue sheets.
>
> My only experience so far has been Microsoft's Streets and Trips which
> I find to be slightly better than nothing. This program appears to be
> built around it telling you where to go rather than the other way
> around. To get it ot route where you want it to you have to drop
> breadcrumb "destinations" to guide it for your chosen route.
>
> Another annoying characteristic is it seems to know only street
> addresses so that if you try to put a destination bread crumb at a
> road intersection the directions tell you to go to that address which
> may or may not exist.
>
> Anyway, what do the rest of you use to generate route maps?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
Try this: http://www.routeslip.com/
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