Topics

1

Beta Testing / Strange Behavior with TopoFusion and AutoCAD 2007

« on: March 19, 2007, 07:32:23 AM »

Not sure yet what/where this is coming from.  When I click on a shortcut to start TopoFusion, AutoCAD tries to install- I have to cancel the AutoCAD installation a couple of times then TopoFusion loads up.  I checked the properties of my shortcuts, they all are pointing to the correct locations in Program Files.  I even reinstalled TopoFusion 3.02 Beta and the problem still happens.

I just now went into the TopoFusion directory in Program Files and clicked on the TopoFusion.exe; as usual AutoCad tries to install.  

Just wondering if this can be duplicated by anyone else.  A trial version of AutoCad 2007 can be downloaded from the AutoDesk website which is what I'm using.

2

Feature Requests / Keyboard Controls for Urban areas

« on: January 19, 2007, 06:29:02 AM »

If I'm missing something I apologize, but is there a way to switch to the urban area maps using the keyboard?  The "t" and "a" keys only toggle between topo and b/w aerial photos.  Can the "u" key be added for urban areas, or insert it into the "a" key sequence (ie- topo, aerial, combo, urban, topo...).

3

Feature Requests / Waypoint Management

« on: December 18, 2006, 08:59:04 AM »

I was playing around with connecting jpeg images to waypoints and realized a problem/limitation. Importing GPS waypoints results in either duplicate waypoints, or wayoints without comments.
  
I think that there are two options right now to deal with this:

1. I could upload daily all my waypoints (old and new from GPS), but lose those comments and pictures associated with them and have to re-enter them again. Saving into a new GPX file each time to avoid duplicate waypoints. This would result in a bunch of GPX files with only the most recent having comments and jpegs associated with them.

2. Delete all waypoints from the GPS after each upload. Save to the same GPX file.  This would lose a backup source (in GPS) as well as make it harder to locate a waypoint again in the future- since it's gone from the GPS, I would have to know in advance if I wanted to return to that spot.

The best option would be to not import any waypoints that are currently in the GPX file.  That way, only new waypoints are added, the user would only have to edit a few waypoints after an upload.

Also, once a picture is associated with a waypoint, the waypoint icon turns into a camera, but then I have no information about the waypoint.  How about keeping the camera icon, but allowing the option of having the waypoint name display as well?

4

Feature Requests / Suggested Improvements

« on: December 14, 2006, 12:41:05 PM »

I've been a user of USAPhotomaps for 5 or 6 years to manage my GPS waypoints and locate them visually, to find landmarks/surface water nearby. While searching for an improvement I came upon TopoFusion.  I realize the focus of the program is for biking and trails/route mangement, however after looking at several other GPS Aerial programs I've come away a bit dissapointed.  None of these programs have exactly what I'm looking for- each one has several good features, but one or more deal breakers for me. (ExpertGPS-no .25m resolution maps, WW2D-no GPS support, WorldWind-limited to no waypoint management, high system requirements, etc).

 I think that TopoFusion might fulfill my needs- especially since the author's are actively looking for suggestions to make the product better.

 So here are some features that would really put this program over the top for me:

* improved access to waypoint information- something similar to ExpertGPS's way of searching for a particular waypoint (type and search at same time).

*Is there a way to change the default placeholder that is shown when downloading tiles?  The checkmark and downloading image is jarring and a bit intrusive for my tastes.  It's possible I'm just used to USAPhotomap's simple empty square.  However, if it's possible to put in a system like WorldWInd or WW2D, it would not be necessary to have placeholders.
[edited: After purchasing and trying out the latest version, I'm not noticing this as much.  Maybe it was the "Demo" that was bothering me.]


* add virtual earth layers( hybrid -aerials with streets) with automatic "flipping" from the USGS b/w 1m aerials, to the color .25m aerials if you zoom in close enough.  

* if not that, how about adding Tiger Streets and a USGS search for addresses (like USAPhotomaps)?

* The way WW2D loads and displays tiles/aerials is very nice (especially using the plugin for loading VirtualEarth server). If the program would start with a large scale of either the US or just the county you are in, allowing a user to get his/her bearings.

* is there anyway to "share" the downloaded aerial maps between these various programs?  They all come from the same place for the most part (except for the virtual earth stuff).  I have 4gb of aerials and topos for central florida I've gotten for USAPhotomaps and still have to download more whenever I use another program.  It would be very nice to just set a pointer to direct to a central depository to grap these photos. [Edit: I see in Preferences that it is possible to change the map directory.  I wonder if USAPhotomaps and TopoFusion store the files in the same manner?]

*How about a way to just select the tiles for a particular US county and download just those tiles- I'm not sure how useful that would be but I can see myself using a feature like that.  There are lots of times I'm away from internet access and need to see an aerial photo of my surrounding area, I usually have to get a GPS coordinate and download the aerials later.

Like I said before, I feel that TopoFusion is the closest to my version of an ideal program for GPS aerials.  Sorry about the long wordy post. '>