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Caches Along A Route Instrucitons


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Someone in our local forum asked about caches along a route and I thought I would share my instructions here. I use two methods. My preferred method is to be able to manually select the caches I want in Mapsource and then use GSAK to later manipulate the caches. I know that cachers often ask for ways to select caches a certain distance from a route and my second method does that. Note: The methods are described using the latest versions of Mapsource and GSAK.

 

Instructions for selecting caches along a route by selecting waypoints on the map in Mapsource.

 

1. Download multiple Pocket Queries spaced along the route.

 

2. Put them all into one folder and open them all into GSAK at once using these settings (change the path/folder name to the folder where you put your PQs):

35175cc7-8753-42bf-bb37-541a9489a607.jpg

 

3. Export all of the waypoints into Mapsource from GSAK, leaving the GC numbers in tact:

0c9db962-30f1-46c0-89e7-136b26f05b30.jpg

 

4. On the map in Mapsource, use the arrow tool to select the waypoints you want to delete (left click and drag the box to select a bunch at once. Hit the delete key to delete them). Note: alternatively, you can select the ones you want to keep and copy and paste them into a new Mapsource window (just run Mapsource a second time to get another Mapsource window).

 

5. When you have only the waypoints you want in Mapsource, save them as a GPX file using the Mapsource "Save As" function. (Note: You must have Mapsource 6.5 or newer to save the waypoints as a GPX file. You can download a Mapsource update here.)

4c5ccab1-f273-4ca7-9f23-88a10989e82f.jpg

 

6. Open the GPX file that you just created into your existing GSAK session using the following settings (this will set the user flag for the waypoints that were in your Mapsource file, Note: Make sure you are using the latest version of GSAK):

1455119b-e85b-4d6c-9d76-9bd844988b0b.jpg

 

7. Last step - Tell GSAK that you only want to look at the caches that have the user flag set using the GSAK filters:

3c04b5ba-bef6-4127-91d0-66edf7141cfb.jpg

 

You are now looking at just the caches that you had selected in Mapsource. You can now export them from GSAK to wherever you want them, including creating a new GPX file with all the cache info in it (unlike the one that Mapsource saved which only contained the waypoint names and coords).

 

It is easier than it sounds. Give it a try.

 

Caches Along a Route, 2nd Method

 

Ok, since I showed you my preferred method for getting caches along a route, I thought I also should show the more standard method using one of GSAK's more powerful features, the Arc filter. This method is actually easier, but I prefer to pick and choose on the map using the other method.

 

Here are the instructions using Mapsource:

 

1. Draw your route in Mapsource (this is easy if you let Mapsource autoroute).

 

2. Save the Mapsource file in the old .mps format using Save As (this is necessary because GSAK can't read the newer file format):

a4fefb32-ac51-42e4-932b-6214892d574e.jpg

 

3. Open GSAK and Load all of your GPX files using the instructions on my previous caches along a route instructions.

 

4. Open up the GSAK filter dialog and go to the Arc/Poly tab. Click on Load from File and select the .mps file that you saved in step 2 (This will input a bunch of waypoints in to the Arc/Poly dialog box, representing your route - the waypoints are already loaded in the dialog in the image below):

e4a4a551-47de-4ea8-86cc-1fdc9d0771ea.jpg

 

5. Now just select the distance from your route that you want the filter to use and click GO. The filter will eliminate any caches that are more than 1 mile from your route (at least it will approximate that. You can now export the remaining caches to any of you applications that you want.)

 

Here is TG's 395 route with a 1 mile distance selected:

cd9d99ed-aff6-43a8-9679-6207377289cb.jpg

 

Note: This also works with Magellan Mapsend routes.

 

Take your pick,

Rocket Man

Edited by Rocket Man
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I have been using the above "2nd Method" of getting caches along a route for quite some time. However, I haven't been able to find a way to have the "autorouted route" generated by Mapsource get exported. All I get in the exported route is the start and endpoint of the route, with a direct line in between.

 

I know that on at least one occasion, I have seen the Mapsource "autoroute" result in the generation of a whole lot of intermediate waypoints, but I have not been able to reproduce this behavior on purpose.

 

Any suggestions? I am using Mapsource 6.5 with CitySelect North America v6

 

Thanks!

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A million, billion, gazillion thanks!!!! I have been trying to think of how this can be done as we're taking a 1000 trip here in about 4 weeks. This gives me plenty of time to get this all tested and get a couple files created for the journey. Thank you so much, Rocket Man!! I wish we had clapping emoticons! :rolleyes:

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I have been using the above "2nd Method" of getting caches along a route for quite some time.  However, I haven't been able to find a way to have the "autorouted route" generated by Mapsource get exported.  All I get in the exported route is the start and endpoint of the route, with a direct line in between.

 

I know that on at least one occasion, I have seen the Mapsource "autoroute" result in the generation of a whole lot of intermediate waypoints, but I have not been able to reproduce this behavior on purpose. 

 

Any suggestions?  I am using Mapsource 6.5 with CitySelect North America v6

 

Thanks!

I am using the same version of Mapsource and CitySelect. I just tried it on my laptop and it works fine. The second method works if you save the Mapsource route as a .mps file. You will only get two sets of coordinates for the route if you save the Mapsource file in .gpx format.

 

Note: My image above for method 2 that shows the Mapsource save dialog box has the wrong file type selected (.gdb instead of .mps). Maybe that is what is messing you up. The instructions are correct, that one image is just a little off.

 

RM

Edited by Rocket Man
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I have been using the above "2nd Method" of getting caches along a route for quite some time.  However, I haven't been able to find a way to have the "autorouted route" generated by Mapsource get exported.  All I get in the exported route is the start and endpoint of the route, with a direct line in between.

 

I know that on at least one occasion, I have seen the Mapsource "autoroute" result in the generation of a whole lot of intermediate waypoints, but I have not been able to reproduce this behavior on purpose. 

 

Any suggestions?  I am using Mapsource 6.5 with CitySelect North America v6

 

Thanks!

I got the following to work with Mapsource 6.0:

Open Mapsource, (be careful not to inadvertently put any stray waypoints on the map)

select the route feature

click on your starting point

click on your ending point

watch it create the route,

click on File, Export and select mps; put the file where you can find it.

 

Open GSAK,

Create Filter (Ctrl-F); go to Arc/Poly tab

on this dialog, click on "Load from File" button

select the mps file (I get a long list of coordinates which are the nodes on the route)

select a distance from the arc (e.g. 1.5 miles)

save the filter (I have occasional lock-ups in GSAK when I use the Arc/Poly facility)

now run the filter.

 

I had not tried this before today, but it looks much slicker than what I had been using It is certainly much faster than drawing polygons.

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I got the following to work with Mapsource 6.0:

Open Mapsource, (be careful not to inadvertently put any stray waypoints on the map)

select the route feature

click on your starting point

click on your ending point

watch it create the route,

click on File, Export and select mps; put the file where you can find it.

 

Open GSAK,

Create Filter (Ctrl-F); go to Arc/Poly tab

on this dialog, click on "Load from File" button

select the mps file (I get a long list of coordinates which are the nodes on the route)

select a distance from the arc (e.g. 1.5 miles)

save the filter (I have occasional lock-ups in GSAK when I use the Arc/Poly facility)

now run the filter.

 

I had not tried this before today, but it looks much slicker than what I had been using It is certainly much faster than drawing polygons.

YEP - That's how you do it.

 

Here is the corrected image for when you save the mapsource file for method 2:

 

6771ba78-97dd-4575-be78-78c1830d944d.jpg

 

Note: I would have modified my original post, but the edit function is no longer available.

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A million, billion, gazillion thanks!!!!  I have been trying to think of how this can be done as we're taking a 1000 trip here in about 4 weeks.  This gives me plenty of time to get this all tested and get a couple files created for the journey.  Thank you so much, Rocket Man!!  I wish we had clapping emoticons!  :rolleyes:

How is this emoticon? notworthy.gif

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Nice presentation. GPSBabel's arc filter, added almost exactly two years ago, has been a big hit with cachers. You may also find useful this related info:

 

http://www.gpsbabel.org/tips/arcmap.html

http://www.gpsbabel.org/formats/s_and_t/TripPlanning.html

 

The tips apply whether you use GPSBabel directly or via GSAK.

 

Babel-head Alan has some good tips in a short series starting at:

 

http://www.alancurry.com/gpsbabel/route1.php

 

(Oh, Hynr, if you can reproduce a lockup with GPSBabel directly, send me a test case...The Arc filter is computationally expensive and the more points in the polyline you have, the slower it'll get. I think I recall getting Clyde to invoke GPSBabel's line smoothing on things that are potentially used as arcs to keep it under control.)

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...  I haven't been able to find a way to have the "autorouted route" generated by Mapsource get exported.  All I get in the exported route is the start and endpoint of the route, with a direct line in between.

... save the Mapsource route as a .mps file. You will only get two sets of coordinates for the route if you save the Mapsource file in .gpx format.

 

That was it! Saving the file as an .mps file does it perfectly with lots and lots of intermediate waypoints to closely follow the road.

 

Previously, I had been saving as a .gpx and only getting the start/end waypoints. Ever since I found this approach last fall on my own, I had been hand-drawing approximate routes, but using the auto-routed path is much, much better!

 

Thanks for the tip! Getting these "caches along a route" is now a breeze as long as one already has the PQs in GSAK!

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This kind of relates to ANOTHER issue that I have encountered and posted in thread http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...0entry1608163

Mapsource 6.5 w/Canada Topo 2.0, on my PC. Options are set to Auto-Route by car.

Trying to do a Route from Calgary to Toronto,

 

Using Route Tool, clicking on cities along the #1 (TransCanada Hwy). Calgary> Regina > Brandon > Winnipeg all OK. Click the city, the Route follows the hwy. 

 

Then Winnipeg > Kenora > Dryden, the Route goes Direct (as crow flies, NOT via the hwy).  Then, Dryden to Thunder Bay, it is OK again, then TBay to SS Marie goes back to Direct. 

 

Why? Why does Mapsource not follow the highways (as desired)?

 

Any ideas??

 

BTW, a GREAT post, very easy to understand/do.

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I am trying to decide what software to use to create caches along a route. I have a Magellan Meridian Color GPS. The Magellan MapSend Streets and Destinations U.S. software has been discontinued as of September 2004. It has been replaced with MapSend DirectRoute North America.

 

I called Magellan's technical support and asked if the DirectRoute software would do auto routing like MapSource, but he didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about. He kept telling me that the new software has automated street routing with turn-by-turn directions. Neither of us could determine if the software would be able to help with setting up caches along a route.

 

If I can set this up with MapSend DirectRoute, can anyone tell me the difference as to what to expect compared to the examples given for MapSource?

 

Thanks!

Edited by TeddyTexas
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I'm surprised no one mentioned this (maybe I missed it), but...

 

If you're on a limited access highway (e.g. an Interstate), you don't necessarily want all the caches within a certain distance of the route (highway). A cache may be 0.1 miles from the highway, but 15 miles from the nearest exit.

 

An alternative is to follow the same basic steps, but rather than using a route, manually mark the interstate exits as waypoints, and use those waypoints to populate a GSAK "points" filter (on the Arc/Poly tab of the filter dialog). In the words of ClydeE "This filter is ideal to use if you have the exit points for a highway".

 

Although marking the exits as waypoints can be tedious, it saves either manually deleting waypoints from the map, or finding out that a "nearby" cache is actually 15 miles away (unless you want to park on the shoulder of the interstate and hop the guard rail - not recommended!). :blink:

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When I did this for a recent trip down Highwway 395 and I-15, I found the caches tended to be clustered near exits and side roads when I limited the distance from the highway.

 

The situation you describe might occur in other areas however, so that is probably a good suggestion.

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I have also used, and would endorse, method #2.

 

I use it with MS S&T. With S&T, you'll need a utility called ST2GPX which converts the S&T route file into an GPX for use as a arc filter. See http://www.gpsbabel.org/st2gpx/st2gpx.html for st2gpx.

 

One side benefit of this method that I don't think has been mentioned is that you can save your route filters and use them over and over again against updated pocket queries. So if you have a trip that you make regularly, create a route filter and save it. Then when you're ready for the next trip, re-run your pocket query, refilter with your saved route filter, and you're ready to go again.

Edited by Pez Tonto
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Hi,

 

Was following this thread as I to have been wanting to know how to do a route.

 

One problem though. When I go to "save as" to save my route map in Mapsource, like it says in method number 2, it won't let me save it to the .mps file format. It only gives me the .gdb. No other choices.

 

How do I get it to save it in the .mps format?

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Hi,

 

Was following this thread as I to have been wanting to know how to do a route.

 

One problem though. When I go to "save as" to save my route map in Mapsource,  like it says in method number 2, it won't let me save it to the .mps file format. It only gives me the .gdb. No other choices.

 

How do I get it to save it in the .mps format?

 

If you go to File/Save As, you can choose the .mps format from the drop down list. :rolleyes:

 

Edit to add appropriate quote.

Edited by idiosyncratic
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no, it does not give me that option in the "save as". it only gives me the .gdb or "all files"

 

I did find where it would give me the .mps if I go to "export" instead of "save as" on the file menu.

 

Tried it that way and it worked.

 

Don't know why .mps is not on the "save as"

 

Any clues or suggestions, or am I just looking in the wrong place?

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one other thing...

 

in order to get the caches to put into the saved route, do you guys just keep downloading queries until you get pretty much all of them along the proposed route, then run the arc?

 

that would seem like a lot of queries would have to be run. most caches would be filtered out when you ran the arc.

 

any suggestions as to how to get what you need along a route without having to download 3000 caches? or is that just the way it has to be done.

 

hope I explained that clearly

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Which version of Mapsource do you have? My version 6.5 has "Save As." Or are you meaning saving from GSAK? In GSAK you can "Export" only as .mps, not .gdb.

 

I think I ran about five queries along the route from Reno to San Diego. There were more than 1000 caches in that original database, which I wheedled down to 448 (3 miles from the highway), which was a tad bit overly-optomistic for a three-day drive. :rolleyes:

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Which version of Mapsource do you have? My version 6.5 has "Save As." Or are you meaning saving from GSAK? In GSAK you can "Export" only as .mps, not .gdb.

 

I think I ran about five queries along the route from Reno to San Diego. There were more than 1000 caches in that original database, which I wheedled down to 448 (3 miles from the highway), which was a tad bit overly-optomistic for a three-day drive. :rolleyes:

i've got 6.0

 

no, not from gsak. i'm talking about Mapsource City Select. i know what you are talking about there.

 

it runs the route fine by choosing "Export" then .mps. i just didn't know if i was doing something wrong or not.

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Which version of Mapsource do you have? My version 6.5 has "Save As." Or are you meaning saving from GSAK? In GSAK you can "Export" only as .mps, not .gdb.

 

I think I ran about five queries along the route from Reno to San Diego. There were more than 1000 caches in that original database, which I wheedled down to 448 (3 miles from the highway), which was a tad bit overly-optomistic for a three-day drive. :rolleyes:

i've got 6.0

 

no, not from gsak. i'm talking about Mapsource City Select. i know what you are talking about there.

 

it runs the route fine by choosing "Export" then .mps. i just didn't know if i was doing something wrong or not.

In my example, I was using City Select V 6.0 and Mapsource V 6.5 and I could use "Save As" to save an .mps file. I just updated to Mapsource V 6.7 and it still allows me to use "Save As" to save an .mps file. Mapsource updates are free. RM

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Same here - Mapsource 6.7, City Select Version 6, save as includes:

  • GDB (version 1)
  • GDB (Version 2)
  • MPS
  • TXT

Might help to clarify that MapSource is the "shell" within which the specifc mapping programs (e.g. City Select) run. Updating the shell (MapSource) is, as Rocket Man said above, free!

 

Edit: PS - there is no "Export" option in MapSource 6.7.

Edited by Kai Team
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ok, so i guess i need to go update my mapsource.

 

didn't know they were free.

 

i have done a route like was explained above. it looks good. no more huge databases of caches. just what is on the route.

 

thanks to all for the tutoring. we travel alot and i was having to send hours trying to set up caches on a route before.

 

yippee, now more time for caching :wacko:

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OK, I followed method one to a "T", all the way to step 3, for step 4, something went wrong. I have no waypoints on my Mapsource.

I tried several times. nothing??

I'm using Mapsource v6, and GSAK

 

Method 2 is usless unless I can get the waypoints into Mapsource.

1) by getting to Step 3, I assume that means you can see the caches in the GSAK database grid?

 

2) Does your GSAK export to MapSource screen look exactly like this except for the file path and name (including checking the "Load file into MapSource after generation?" box near the bottom):

 

0c9db962-30f1-46c0-89e7-136b26f05b30.jpg

 

If so, it should work. If you can't see the cache listing in GSAK, then there's a problem with your importing the PQ's into GSAK. If you didn't have the "Load File" box checked, then you would have to manually load the file after opening MapSource (e.g. File, Open), but it's easiest to check the box and let GSAK do the load for you (MapSource should open automatically with the waypoints displayed if you have that box checked).

 

Edit: Clarity

Edited by Kai Team
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The "File to create" is the same. "Select from most recent" reads "File=.mps Path=C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Desktop\GSAK\Export"

Everything else is the same.

When I click generate it loads and then I get a "Running Bable "Under the hood" window with "Finished" OK

 

I'm able to transfer the Waypoints to Mapsource now, however, in Method 2 step 3 When I try to save the Route in Mapsource it saves as a .MPEG Media Realplayer file, this I can't figure out, so in step 4, all I get in the "Load from file" Browse window are .MPEG Media realplayer files, not Mapsource like in the sample.

I noticed the second sample dated July 7the 2005 by Rocketman, where it shows the "save as type" as a .mps file not .gdb as in the 1st sample. I scroll down to the .mps file and use that. it always ends up a Realplayer file.

In Arc\Poly, when I try to load these RP files, it's just the same map, with all the waypoints..

I hope I was clear on my problems. I'm not very good at all this tech stuff.

Thanks for responding.

Edited by Cruiserdude
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Although marking the exits as waypoints can be tedious, it saves either manually deleting waypoints from the map, or finding out that a "nearby" cache is actually 15 miles away (unless you want to park on the shoulder of the interstate and hop the guard rail - not recommended!). ;)

I save off often traveled highway route exits and then can load them again. I've often thought that there should be a database of exits on major highways stored somewhere for use for this method of filtering along a route.

 

--Marky

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I've often thought that there should be a database of exits on major highways stored somewhere for use for this method of filtering along a route.

I agree.

 

I've suggested before in the forums that if there's a budding database/web geek in the audience that's looking to prove himself/herself, this would be a lovely way to do it. I've even sketched out the designs in posts from about this time last year. There really isn't any rocket science involved. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...0entry1052604

 

Gathering the data (whether from volunteers or from databases like the BTS or Tiger data sets) is half the task. Making it usable to the masses is the second half of the task. Being sure you avoid legal contamination on such a database from commercial sources (I'm guessing that Navteq or Zenrin or such has more lawyers than Johnny LAMP does) is the third half.

 

I don't mind consulting on such a thing, but I don't want to sling the actual bits.

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Gathering the data (whether from volunteers or from databases like the BTS or Tiger data sets) is half the task. Making it usable to the masses is the second half of the task. Being sure you avoid legal contamination on such a database from commercial sources (I'm guessing that Navteq or Zenrin or such has more lawyers than Johnny LAMP does) is the third half.

I'm thinking that if the waypoints are done by hand, there should be no legal issues. I've been doing my own by hand and it's not all that difficult to do.

 

--Marky

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Gathering the data (whether from volunteers or from databases like the BTS or Tiger data sets) is half the task.  Making it usable to the masses is the second half of the task.  Being sure you avoid legal contamination on such a database from commercial sources (I'm guessing that Navteq or Zenrin or such has more lawyers than Johnny LAMP does) is the third half.

I'm thinking that if the waypoints are done by hand, there should be no legal issues. I've been doing my own by hand and it's not all that difficult to do.

 

--Marky

I agree and would be glad to share ones I've created by hand for interstates in upstate NY (e.g. I81, I90). I'd even be willing to take an "assignment" or two for other routes.

 

The million dollar question is: who's going to create the database?

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I'm able to transfer the Waypoints to Mapsource now, however,  in Method 2 step 3 When I try to save the Route in Mapsource it saves as a .MPEG Media Realplayer file, this I can't figure out, so in step 4, all I get in the "Load from file" Browse window are .MPEG Media realplayer files, not Mapsource like in the sample.

I noticed the second sample dated July 7the 2005 by Rocketman, where it shows the "save as type" as a .mps file not .gdb as in the 1st sample. I scroll down to the .mps file and use that. it always ends up a Realplayer file.

In Arc\Poly, when I try to load these RP files, it's just the same map, with all the waypoints..

I hope I was clear on my problems. I'm not very good at all this tech stuff.

Thanks for responding.

CruiserDude,

 

I assure you that MapSource is not saving files as Real Player files (as an aside, MPEG stands for "Motion Pictures Experts Group" and is a file standard for video that Real Player can read, not a Real Player file). I suspect that you are not paying attention to where you are saving the files to or trying to open them from.

 

When you do a "save as", look at the box at the top of the dialog window that says "Save In" and make sure you're in an appropriate folder (e.g. My Documents\Maps). If such a folder doesn't exist, you can create it by clicking the down arrow to the right of the "save in" box and clicking on "My Documents", then clicking the folder icon further to the right that has the little red dot in the corner. Type in the name of the new folder (e.g. Maps) and press the Enter key on your keyboad.

 

Now, when you go to open a file, look at the box at the top of that dialog that says "Look in". It should have the name of the folder where you saved the file (in my example, the folder "Maps"). If it doesn't, click on the down arrow to the right of the box and navigate to My Documents\Maps.

 

Computers are infinitely dumb - they do exactly what you tell them to, nothing more and nothing less. So you need to make sure you're telling them to do exactly what you want them to do!

Edited by Kai Team
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Kai Team,

I did this exactly several times, it always saves as a MPEG Media file when I save it as .mps, even the Icon is a Realplayer Icon, (Same as the videos I have from Imesh), I can open this, in Arc/Poly, but nothing happens when I hit Go.

When I save as .gdb, it saves as a mapsource file, (Mapsource icon), but in Arc\Poly it shows up as MsRcf and Arc/Poly won't accept that.

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I have always heard that the Real Player software was nasty . . . I don't have it on my computer.

 

This confirms it. :D

Although I'm not fond of Real One's marketing strategy, I doubt this was a Real Player issue.

 

Too bad Cruiserdude didn't say what change was made to get it working, for the benefit of others reading this thread. My guess is that the file extension was not "MPS", but rather some other variation of "MP" (MP2, MP4, MPA, MPE, MPG are all videos files that would legitimately be associated with Real Player).

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I was saving the routes on the map with all the waypoints, when I saved only a route, and followed instructions, it worked.

It still is saving as a MPEG media file, even though I select .mps, if I could upload the screen like in the above samples I'd show you.

But it's working as is, so I'm happy.

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I was saving the routes on the map with all the waypoints, when I saved only a route, and followed instructions, it worked.

 

It still is saving as a MPEG media file, even though I select .mps, if I could upload the screen like in the above samples I'd show you.

 

But it's working as is, so I'm happy.

Just last night I copied some files to my laptop. I had the same problem. :lol: I didn't even know I had Real Audio on that computer. :ph34r:

 

I changed the association in Properties and after that the extension on those files changed to the correct one: .mps.

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