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The Maptech Landscape Navigator contains a complete set of GPS utility functions for the purpose of uploading, downloading, archiving, and otherwise manage their collection of GPS 'tracklog' files. Unfortunately, the format used by Maptech is not compatible with Waypoint+ (or similar GPS utility programs).
This format conversion utility allows the users of Maptech Landscape Navigator to exchange 'tracklog' files with the users of Waypoint+ (or similar GPS utility programs). It also allows users of the Waypoint+ (or similar GPS utility programs) to examine 'tracklog' files in Maptech environment so that they can be desk checked against the topographic map for 'reasonableness' before the Waypoint+ 'tracklog' is converted into the Landview III MIE format.
Indeed, users should even be able to use the 'Track Tool' (the button looks like a pen drawing a line) within the Maptech Landscape Navigator software to 'desk edit' the 'track' file, then use a companion file conversion program to move the finished line to the Landview III software. Note however that the Webmaster has not had the opportunity to experiment with this possibility!
Note that a GPS receiver may collect several disconnected tracklog segments before the file is uploaded to the Waypoint+ (or similar) GPS utility program. A single Waypoint+ file can thus contain several disconnected tracklog segments. However, a Maptech Track file never contains more than one Track record. Accordingly, the the user will be required to run the program repeatedly in order to write each 'tracklog' segment out to a separate Maptech 'track' file. For this reason, an additional button has been provided so that the user can easily determine how many separate segments are present on the input file.
Datum must be set to WGS84 to match the implicit assumption of the Maptech software (enforced by conversion program)
The output file must be written in comma-delimited text format (enforced by conversion program)
The output file must be strictly limited to 'tracklog' data (enforced by conversion program)
Output coordinates must be written in signed decimal degree format (enforced by conversion program)
Use of the '.txt' extension for the 'tracklog' file is suggested (not enforced by conversion program).
A finished 'tracklog' file can be edited by hand with the Notepad program if desired.
The program has been tested using a Garmin II+ GPS receiver and the Waypoint+ for Garmin GPS program.
The Waypoint+ text output feature of GPS Trackmaker has not been tested with this conversion program.
The Waypoint+ text output feature of GPS Utility has not been tested with this conversion program.
The Waypoint+ text output feature of GARtrip has not been tested with this conversion program.
The following data fields must be entered (in any order) before pushing the 'Count tracklogs in File' button:
Three boxes under Waypoint+ Trklog allow the selection of Drive, Directory, and Filename of the input file in that order. Note that the file should have the '.txt' extension (not enforced).
Pushing the 'Count tracklogs in File' button allows the program to determine how many separate 'tracklog' segments are contained in the specified input file.
The following data fields must be entered (in any order) before pushing the 'Start File Conversion program' button:
Three boxes under Waypoint+ Trklog allow the selection of Drive, Directory, and Filename of the input file in that order. Note that the file should have the '.txt' extension (not enforced).
Four boxes under 'Landview III MIE' allow the selection of Drive & Directory, the easy review of existing file names, and final specification of new filename in that order. Clicking an existing filename in the third box copies it to the fourth box so that the file can be re-used, or the filename modified as desired. Absence of a file extension results in the automatic assignment of '.mie', otherwise use of that extension is strongly suggested but not enforced by the conversion program.
A number must be entered under 'Track Number' to specify which set of 'tracklogs' will be written to the output file.
Entering a 'Tracklog name' results in the assignment of that name to the tracklog when it is plotted on the Topographic Map.
Choosing a 'color code' results in the assignment of that color code to the tracklog when it is plotted on the Topographic Map. The default results in the use of a purple line for the tracklog. The complete list of color codes and their corresponding color names is provided in the Maptech Help File under the heading 'Import Tracks'.
Pushing the 'Start File Conversion program' button initiates the file conversion as specified above.
The 'Records Processed' window reveals the number of records successfully converted.
The 'Done' message indicates that the program terminated successfully.
Note that the number in the 'Track Number' field is automatically advanced when the program terminates successfully to facilitate the processing of additional 'tracklog' segments.
The 'InFile ERROR 1' message indicates the existence of a serious file format error in the first two lines of the Waypoint+ file:
The first field of the first line must equal 'Datum' to indicate a Waypoint+ Text File
The first field of the second line must equal 'TP' to indicate a 'Tracklog' record.
The second field of the second line must equal 'D' to indicate that coordinates are expressed in Decimal Degrees.
The 'InFile ERROR 2' message indicates the existence of a serious file format error in the remaining lines of the Waypoint+ file:
The first field of every line except the first must equal 'TP' to insure that the file is limited to 'Tracklog' records.
The 'InFile ERROR 3' message indicates the use of the wrong datum by the Waypoint+ (or similar) program. The Waypoint+ (or similar program must be re-run using the WGS84 datum setting.
The 'InFile ERROR 4' message indicates that there are serious format errors in the 'start' flag field of the input file.
Pushing the 'Clear Results' button clears the record count window and restores the word 'Ready' to the results window. This window does not clear or restore default values to any other field so that the program can be easily rerun to convert a series of closely related files with similar data!
