Messages

701

Beta Testing / Re: Elevation Tiles- Comments

« on: September 26, 2010, 09:30:01 AM »

Ken,

Wanted to clarify one thing -- are you talking about the redraw time when the tiles come in from being 'downloading' tiles to displaying?  Or are you seeing slow redraws even after the tiles have been generated and are visible?

They are slow to come in, but once there, should be fast.

It's just a different way to visualize data, and yeah, used with combo you can get some neat effects.  Good for pretty pictures, but not necessarily planning trips or what not.

Re: max/min - I could try.  It might be a tad slow to have always displayed, but perhaps if there was a second delay before it appeared it might be cool.

Thanks for the feedback.

702

Beta Testing / Beta 4.05 - New Elevation Tiles

« on: September 23, 2010, 09:17:13 AM »

Alrighty, there's a new beta out, by the version 4.05, featuring colored elevation tiles.  These are generated, on-the-fly, with quite a bit of control by the user.  Find the settings in Options->Shaded Relief/Elevation Tiles.

The shortcut key is "E", and the tileset is called "Elevation."

You can control the color spread, similar to the track shading colors already available.  The min/max elevation is also customizable, with a very handy button to grab the current min/max for the scene.  The "Contour" checkbox forces sharp boundaries between the colors, instead of the default shading between them.

The maps are not stored in the cache and are generated as needed. 

You can get some pretty cool effects, especially when combined with shaded relief and using the new combo mode to blend with other map types.  A few examples:

3D mode, classic TF colors:



Using the contoured option for sharp boundaries, and blending with myTopo maps:



Again blending with topo maps, but funky fractal colors:



Play around with it and let me know if you notice any issues or have any questions!  Thanks.

Full Changes:

4.05 – [9/22/10]  (Beta)

Added new “Elevation” tileset – colored elevation tiles
   * Find options in Options->Shaded Relief/Elevation Tiles
   * Shortcut key is “E”
   * Tiles are generated, not downloaded or stored
   * Color shaded by elevation, with ability to control max/min and colors
   * Checkbox for “contoured” (sharp boundary between colors)
   * Coverage is near worldwide (all but extreme latitudes)
   * Use Combo with other map types for some nice effects
Shaded Relief options moved from Combo Blending dialog into new
   Dialog shared with Elevation Tileset options
   * Also added button to turn Shaded Relief on in dialog
   * Fixed “darkness” setting not being saved correctly
Logbook – “add non-gps entry” now defaults to date selected in calendar
   (instead of today’s date)
Added ability to read “ns3” power data from TCX files, (Garmin Connect)
Fixed refreshing of map when downloading new maps in Combo mode

4.01 – [8/12/10]  (Beta)

Fixed 3D display problems in Combo mode
Fixed large scale exports in Combo mode
Changed all “save as…” dialogs to remember last directory saved to
  This includes the GPS download dialog
Image Blending / Shaded Relief dialog now Combo Blending / Shaded Relief
Minor cosmetic changes to dialog
Added and fixed new Combo Blending presets
Fixed problem loading GPX files with trailing spaces in XML tabs (bt747 utility)
Fixed crash when removing too many segments (hitting the ‘E’ key) too many times
  In either the Draw Track tool or the Merge tool
Fixed problem renaming files when changing only the case of letters in filename
Fixed invalid assumption reading .kml files with placemarks (waypoints)
Installer now gives better message when trying to upgrade with TopoFusion open

703

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Downloading color aerial to Garmin 450

« on: September 20, 2010, 10:18:33 PM »

Yep, it's either one way or the other (lower numbers higher).  Can't remember at the moment, but that's how it works.

704

TopoFusion Pro / Re: EDGE 305 will only display last course of any set of multiple course uploads?

« on: September 20, 2010, 09:13:20 AM »

Ran over?  D'oh!  Sorry to hear that...

705

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Help configuring WMS for New Jersey

« on: September 20, 2010, 09:12:48 AM »

Sure thing, this looks like some nice data.

Server: njwebmap.state.nj.us
request: njimagery?layers=Natural2007&styles=&format=image/jpeg

There are other layers too, you can look for them here:

http://njwebmap.state.nj.us/njimagery?request=getcapabilities

Natural2007 seems to be the most useful to me.

Let me know if that doesn't work for you.  I was able to download some nice looking aerials.

706

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Downloading color aerial to Garmin 450

« on: September 20, 2010, 08:58:00 AM »

Sometimes asking the question brings the answer...

Is it possible you have uploaded both topos and color aerials to the unit and they are overlapping?  You may need to adjust the 'draw order' parameter if you want to have overlapping maps.

Color 0.003 is the finest resolution, and will also use up the most tiles.

Hope that helps a bit.

707

TopoFusion Basic / Re: newbie

« on: September 15, 2010, 09:06:31 PM »

I'd be happy to help.  Are you using TF Basic?  And which map type are you trying to view?

Ah -- I think this has been resolved by upgrading to the Pro version which has a bunch of new map types.  Thanks Pete.

708

TopoFusion Pro / Re: EDGE 305 will only display last course of any set of multiple course uploads?

« on: September 15, 2010, 08:59:33 PM »

Hey Derrick,

Thanks for the goodies up at Marshal Pass.

Pretty sure the 305 can only display (slash "do") a one course at a time.  Doesn't matter what method you use to upload it.

There is a significant difference between a course and a GPX file as far as the 705 is concerned.  TF does what (I think?) most people will want, but you can always do a "save as.." to GPX from within TF and copy it directly to the GPX dir.

Maybe that helps a bit, maybe not...

709

Beta Testing / Re: Blank white Color tiles - Beta 4.01

« on: September 08, 2010, 01:59:33 PM »

Looks like color aerials are back now...

710

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Problem with Large Colored Aerials

« on: September 08, 2010, 01:59:05 PM »

Looks like they are back...

711

TopoFusion Anouncements / Re: Color Aerials back

« on: September 08, 2010, 01:58:36 PM »

Aerials are back today, albeit a little slower than usual.  I haven't seen any error tiles yet, though.

712

TopoFusion Anouncements / Color Aerials down

« on: September 07, 2010, 08:33:05 PM »

As of today, 9/7/10, the color aerial server is giving blank or error tiles.  Something is up with the server.  We're going to keep looking into it and will post any updates here.  Usually problems like these are short lived.

Thanks for the patience.

713

Beta Testing / Re: Blank white Color tiles - Beta 4.01

« on: September 07, 2010, 06:53:48 PM »

Right now the color aerial server is having some issues.  I'm not getting any tiles in AZ or CO, instead getting an error message tile.  Haven't see pure white tiles yet.

It'll probably be back in a day or two, but we will keep our eye on it.

714

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Topo Contour Lines in Meters or Feet?

« on: September 07, 2010, 02:40:16 PM »

Sure enough, even the myTopo maps are in meters.  Huh, didn't know that.  Otherwise they look good though!  Thanks for pointing that out.

715

TopoFusion Pro / Re: New User Question: Garmin 500 with ANT+ PowerTap data shows 'no data'

« on: September 07, 2010, 02:15:16 PM »

Alright, if I export your activity I do get a file that has power data in it.  However, TF is not reading it -- for some reason they have changed to a different extension.  Frustrating, but easy to fix for the next version.

The attached file will load with the power data (500+ Watts?  Nice). 

My suggestion until I get the next release out is to use Garmin Training Center instead of Connect to download and export to TCX.  From what I've read GTC should use the old accepted format.

There is also an easy way to convert a TCX from Garmin Connect to a TCX that TF will read the power from -- just a simple replace all command (open the file in notepad).  Replace "ns3:Watts" with "Watts".

That's what I did for the file that is attached.

Hope that helps some.

[attachment deleted by admin]

716

TopoFusion Pro / Re: New User Question: Garmin 500 with ANT+ PowerTap data shows 'no data'

« on: September 06, 2010, 06:14:58 PM »

Tim,

Oops, sorry about that.  Sure enough there is no power data in that file whatsoever.  So my first guess it that it's just not coming out from Garmin Connect.  Do you have a link to the activity?

717

Beta Testing / Re: Beta 4.01 - Bunch of fixes

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:58:23 PM »

Hey Amir,

Very cool that the TF aerials helped!  Thanks for sharing that.

Bing doesn't allow public access / caching, just like google, unfortunately.

718

TopoFusion Pro / Re: New User Question: Garmin 500 with ANT+ PowerTap data shows 'no data'

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:52:20 PM »

Hey Tim,

Sorry for the late reply on this one, just catching up with computer stuff after traveling over the holiday weekend.

Can you email me the TCX export file from GC?  The power data may be in a different place, or perhaps they have gone to a new schema.  I'll see what I can figure out and if it's a problem on our side, get it working in the next version, for sure.

Thanks.

719

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Topo Contour Lines in Meters or Feet?

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:50:32 PM »

I believe it is be thankful for what you get. 

However, almost all of the 24k (highest resolution) that I have seen in either Topo or MyTopo are in feet.  Only the larger scale maps seem to be in meters, for some reason.

Maybe in Alaska things are a little different, but everywhere in the lower 48 the most detailed maps should be in feet.  Is this not the case?

720

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Merge Tracks assistance

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:49:08 PM »

Thanks, yeah, trail averaging is something we want to take a closer look at, and a simple MERGE function would be a good idea.  Maybe call it the average function.  It could make a bunch of assumptions that are not valid for the network code.

721

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Distorted Maps

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:47:14 PM »

Ah yes, because TopoFusion is re-projecting the map. 

In a future version we hope to be able to display the maps in the native projection, but we are not ready yet.

722

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Problem with Large Colored Aerials

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:46:01 PM »

Hey Roger,

Sometimes the color aerial server can have issues with missing tiles.  It will probably be back in a day or two.

If you want I can give you an alternate server you can use as a WMS layer for AZ only.

Scott

723

TopoFusion Pro / Re: OpenCycleMap tiles are slooooowwwww

« on: September 02, 2010, 03:50:08 PM »

OCM is based on OSM data, but comes from a different server.  I am pretty sure that the lower level tiles are actually being rendered when you request them.  That means you are probably the first one to request them in that area!  Once they are generated once, they should be faster, so it does vary.

724

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Record Multi-Track Playback to video file?

« on: September 02, 2010, 09:06:50 AM »

Only way right now is to crank up the speed temporarily, but you gotta be fast to crank it back down.

I plan to make a "skip stopped time" mode, perhaps with a threshold, so you can skip any stop longer than a half hour or so.

725

GPS, Trails, Training / Re: Edge 800 Announced

« on: September 01, 2010, 12:36:18 PM »

Edge 800 looks interesting.  Here is a first look from Rich at GPStracklog:

http://gpstracklog.com/2010/08/garmin-edge-800-announced.html

Sounds like visibility may not be an issue, but I am with you 100% on the start button thing.  I finally got fed up with dealing with any GPS that has to be "started" to collect a track (and can be accidentally stopped).

No Edges for me, not if I care about the data I'm collecting!    Otherwise it looks like a great GPS.

726

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Dakato 20 track names

« on: September 01, 2010, 12:34:12 PM »

Hey Derrick,

Where are you naming the track?  In File properties, or track properties?  (there is a difference, since each GPX file can have a name, as well as each track).

Figures, I just mailed my Dakota out to Matthew for Trans North Georgia so I can't test!

When I uploaded the Georgia track for him, though, it came up as TNGA.gpx -- the name of the file.  Maybe the trick is to not name it anywhere in TF? 

Oh, I don't think I was using "Where to..." either, just looking at it in Track Manager and turning it on in the map.  Also, you may try using TF to upload instead of copy/paste.  I think there's some code that makes sure it has a good name.  That might be the issue there.

Try it and let me know.

727

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Remote Desktop and TF

« on: September 01, 2010, 08:19:40 AM »

Hey Dirk,

I haven't heard about too many people using remove desktop and TF, so I don't have any experience with it.  That DirectX error is pretty fundamental, maybe the remote desktop just has some settings to allow advanced graphics support?

I also don't know much about Winbox, but others have supported good results with both VMWare Fusion and Parallels.  Some of them might have fast machines, but they didn't mention any issues with it running too slow.

Let us know if you figure it out, or if you need help diagnosing DX on remote desktop.  I'd be curious to learn how it goes.

Thanks.

728

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Record Multi-Track Playback to video file?

« on: September 01, 2010, 08:14:20 AM »

I use a free program called "CamStudio" to do a screen capture of a portion of the TF window (or the whole TF window).  It works quite well.  I believe I settled on using the divx codec -- good balance of file size and quality.

Here are a few multi-playback videos:

http://vimeo.com/user3127499

729

TopoFusion Anouncements / Re: MyTopo back

« on: August 31, 2010, 10:00:40 PM »

Service resumed to normal as of this evening.  All maps are downloading!

730

TopoFusion Anouncements / MyTopo outage -- highest zoom only

« on: August 31, 2010, 09:08:14 AM »

Right now the highest resolution tiles in MyTopo mode are not downloading.  You will eventually get a "TopoFusion is having trouble contacting one or more servers" message.

The good folks at myTopo are having issues with a rogue downloader, so they have it disabled right now.  We will keep monitoring the situation, and may switch to using the next tileset up if necessary.

So, stay tuned and thanks for the patience.

731

Beta Testing / Re: Beta 4.01 - Bunch of fixes

« on: August 30, 2010, 04:17:44 PM »

Hmm, interesting on the print dialog.  I'll see if I can upgrade it to at least use the newer dialog.

Regarding your request.  One solution right now is to merge all the tracks into a single GPX file.  Do this by highlighting all the tracks in the 'active files list', right click and do "merge and save as..."

They'll get uploaded as unique tracks that way.  You are right that the newer units allow a bunch more tracks.  Not sure how they handle multiple tracks within a file and how they come up.  I'll have to experiment.

Thanks for the feedback.

732

Feature Requests / Re: Waypoints on elevation profile

« on: August 30, 2010, 04:12:53 PM »

Thanks for the suggestion/note.

733

Feature Requests / Re: Waypoints on elevation profile

« on: August 30, 2010, 04:12:42 PM »

I just dropped those ones on by hand, unfortunately.  No waypoint on profiles just yet.  I am thinking about redoing the profile tool with a bunch more features in mind, so a bunch of this may happen relatively soon.

734

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Projection of Color, Landsat, and MyTopo in Alaska

« on: August 30, 2010, 04:11:24 PM »

The tilesets you listed are indeed in a different projection, and the horizontal stretching is more noticeable at the closer to the poles you are.  So, yep, in AK it is VERY apparent. 

So, you aren't doing anything wrong.

Likely in the future TF will switch to mercator projection for those maps, which should help in AK.  But it won't be any time too soon.

735

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Photofusion, No Time data in Tracks?

« on: August 27, 2010, 09:20:20 AM »

Interesting.  You are sure you've got the right file selected in the dropdown at the top of the PhotoFusion dialog?  It might be that another file is selected.

Otherwise, send me the GPX file at smorris@topofusion.com and I'll take a look.

736

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Topo maps of France

« on: August 25, 2010, 03:47:00 PM »

It looks like you have to have a license key of some kind, but that the maps are pulled in through a WMS server.

So, in theory, if you purchased a subscription you could plug in the right WMS parameters to TopoFusion and pull both ortho and topo maps...

737

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Topo maps for Italy

« on: August 25, 2010, 03:17:36 PM »

It looks like TF should be able to use those relief maps.  However, the roads and other overlays appear to be from google.  Still looks like a nice map type to have.  I'll see if I can get it added to the next version.

Thanks.

738

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Topo maps for Italy

« on: August 24, 2010, 12:51:01 PM »

I don't know of any, but have you tried the "Open Cycle Map" tileset?  It has topo lines, roads and even some trails in places.

739

TopoFusion Anouncements / Re: Alternate Arkansas Color Aerials

« on: August 24, 2010, 12:47:25 PM »

Looks like Arkansas has been restored in the USGS server and to TopoFusion's Color tileset.  I got this response from them:

Hello Scott,

Thank you for contacting the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.

Yes, we did have an issue with the Arkansas data that you wanted to download.  We have fixed the problem.  Please try the
download again.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.  Let us know if you have any other questions.

Best regards,

Deb

740

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Where are these lines coming from?

« on: August 23, 2010, 10:53:44 AM »

That's the "states.gpx" file, and can be turned off in Window->GIS Layers.  It's kind of a hold over from before we had so many imagery types, and especially ones like Landsat that can display the whole world.  In any case, it should probably turn itself off when zoomed in sufficiently far.

741

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Map descriptions?

« on: August 23, 2010, 10:48:20 AM »

Hi,

First, thanks for supporting TF!

This has some pretty good info on the different tilesets:

http://www.topofusion.com/features.php#imagery

I like your idea about describing what maps are good for different purposes.  Might make a good little tutorial.  I'll add it to the 'todo' list.

742

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Openstreetmap tile cache expiration?

« on: August 22, 2010, 07:57:43 AM »

Hi,

Thanks for bringing this up.  I have thought about it some, but couldn't decide on a good solution before releasing v4.  This also applies to the myTopo maps, which do get updates for fixes and such.

I'm not so sure there is an expiration life that makes sense to always apply.  So, I think perhaps the best way is to allow the user to either clear all tiles (of openstreetmap), or maybe just draw a box around an area and have those tiles be reset to be downloaded again.

Some people use TF in offline mode, so having an old map is better than no map, so I don't want to force expiration.

What do you think?

743

TopoFusion Anouncements / Alternate Arkansas Color Aerials

« on: August 18, 2010, 02:05:38 PM »

For some reason TF is currently not pulling color aerials for the state of Arkansas.  Here is how to add a different server using the WMS server capability.

Go to:
 
Window->WMS Custom Servers
Click on the "Add new server" button
Enter the following info:

Name: Arkansas
Server: imsortho.cr.usgs.gov
request: wmsconnector/com.esri.wms.Esrimap/USGS_EDC_Ortho_Arkansas?Version=1.1.1&SERVICE=WMS&request=map&reaspect=false&format=image/jpeg&transparent=true&SRS=EPSG:4326&styles=&REQUEST=GetMap&layers=AR_State_1.0m_Color_Jan_2006_05,AR_State_1.0m_Color_Jan_2006_04,AR_State_1.0m_Color_Jan_2006_03,AR_State_1.0m_Color_Jan_2006_02,AR_State_1.0m_Color_Jan_2006_01

Hit "save changes."
You may want to assign it to the first shortcut key by hitting the "Set as
shortcut key 1" button.  (then the number 1 key will switch to Arkansas  
tileset).

Note that the request string is very long and should all be on one line.  All of
it needs to be there, otherwise you will get an error message.

I just tried this and can get nice color aerials for everywhere I've tried
in Arkansas.

744

TopoFusion Pro / Re: MyTopo issue

« on: August 17, 2010, 10:35:56 AM »

Yep, it seems to be that way everywhere.  Next time I talk to the guys I'll ask them how they resize for some of the intermediate tilesets and maybe there is some way they can do it in a sharper way.  Thanks for the post.

745

TopoFusion Pro / Re: MyTopo issue

« on: August 17, 2010, 09:07:25 AM »

Hey there.  You are right that at some zoom levels the myTopo maps can be a bit fuzzy, compared to the MSRmaps (regular) topos.  If I understand your table correctly the myTopos are good when zoomed in all the way right?  That's what I have always found -- that some of the outer zoom levels are a bit fuzzy, but myTopo is always better at the lowest (most useful) zoom.  It must be that myTopo used a bit of a fuzzy interpolation scheme when downsizing their maps. 

It is worth keeping the old topo's around, as it seems there are pluses and minuses to both, depending on what you're doing.

746

TopoFusion Pro / Re: Dumb Question

« on: August 16, 2010, 08:13:27 PM »

Hey Tony, sorry I missed this for a while.  Sometimes I don't get a notification of new posts for some reason.

Unfortunately the printing capability in TopoFusion is pretty limited.  You'll get a better fitting map if you switch to 'landscape' mode on your printer.  But there is no 'fit to page' option.

My best suggestion is to instead use the 'Export View' function to create a high res .bmp or .jpg export, and then use image software (even the Windows photo viewing software will work) to have it print to a single page.

747

TopoFusion Pro / Re: TF4: MyTopo tiles corrupted on download

« on: August 13, 2010, 08:33:08 AM »

Thanks.  Sure enough the file itself appears to have the corruption on it, and it's a valid jpeg file.

I will send it on to the myTopo folks and see if they have any ideas.

748

TopoFusion Pro / Re: TF4: MyTopo tiles corrupted on download

« on: August 12, 2010, 02:52:11 PM »

I'm not sure what else it could be if the downloads are complete... but let's verify that.

Download the new beta version just out.  http://topofusion.com/beta.php (use your same name/code there).

Your version (it recognizes your reg. name) will export a file C:\debug.jpg for the last tile downloaded.  So, if you can, download v4.01, download a few new myTopo maps, then let's have a look at the .jpg that results.

749

Beta Testing / Beta 4.01 - Bunch of fixes

« on: August 12, 2010, 02:48:28 PM »

Hi all,

v4.01 is out with a number of fixes and tweaks to the otherwise very successful v4.0.  Thanks to all the users that pointed out these issues!

It's available in the usual place.  Please let us know if you notice any problems or have further suggestions.  Thanks.

4.01 - [8/12/10]  (Beta)

Fixed 3D display problems in Combo mode
Fixed large scale exports in Combo mode
Changed all "save as" dialogs to remember last directory saved to
  This includes the GPS download dialog
Image Blending / Shaded Relief dialog now Combo Blending / Shaded Relief
Minor cosmetic changes to dialog
Added and fixed new Combo Blending presets
Fixed problem loading GPX files with trailing spaces in XML tabs (bt747 utility)
Fixed crash when removing too many segments (hitting the 'E' key) too many times
  In either the Draw Track tool or the Merge tool
Fixed problem renaming files when changing only the case of letters in filename
Fixed invalid assumption reading .kml files with placemarks (waypoints)
Installer now gives better message when trying to upgrade with TopoFusion open

750

TopoFusion Pro / Re: TF4: MyTopo tiles corrupted on download

« on: August 12, 2010, 09:35:11 AM »

Hmm, OK, so that makes me suspect that it's getting incomplete downloads.

Are there any errors in the log while running in non-DXT mode?  It uses a completely different method to convert the jpeg tiles.

I may have to add some debug info and have you try it.  You might try changing your internet settings a bit (toggle persistent, change number of threads).