LEI Electronics MAPCREATE 6 User Manual

Pub. 988-0147-382www.lei-extras.comMapCreate 6Custom Mapping Software for GPSInstallation and OperationInstructions

6Atlas FileThis is the "raw" file format for layer after layer of cartographic andhydrographic data on our CDs. You never have to work with

7This solid-state, flash memory device is about the size of a postagestamp. (SDC [Secure Digital] cards are also compatible with anyLowrance or Eagle

8The amount of development in an area is something you can'tcontrol. For example, one square mile of city streets will make a largerfile than on

9Mapping Detail: There's more here than meets the eye.The Custom Map Files you make with MapCreate contain more mappingdetail than what is visibl

10 At left, an iFINDER GPS screen showing a POI pop-up name box. Atright, you can call up a page of information on the POI, and the GP

11In the printed Quick Reference and the online Command Reference, theactual command clicks and keystrokes appear as sans serif, boldfacetype. So, if

12For example, if the manual says "choose CREATE WAYPOINT," it means torun the Create Waypoint command. You can choose commands byclicking t

13Section 2: Installing MapCreate 6.2System RequirementsMapCreate 6 requires the following minimum system resources:• IBM compatible PC.• Pentium

14program will not operate correctly if you choose to modify an existinginstallation. To uninstall MapCreate, use the standard WindowsADD/REMOVE PROGR

153. Type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the drive letter for your CD-ROM)Type the setup command directory path and file name.4. Click OK to begin installa

Copyright © 2003 LEI Extras, Inc., a division ofLowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved.MapCreate is a trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.

16C. Read the License Agreement.D. Choose a destination folder for the program. You can accept thedefault or you can choose another location.E. Select

17F. If you picked Custom install, select the components to install.G. Select a program folder. You may accept thedefault or choose another folder.H.

18I. If you choose custom setup to install all files to your hard drive, youwill be prompted to insert the second CD. On some computers themessage may

19commercial CD cleaner or ethyl alcohol to remove fingerprints and dirt.Do not leave your discs in direct sunlight or in a hot, humid location.Starti

20To add a direct shortcut to your desktop:Right-click and drag the desired icon to your desktop, then release themouse button. When you do so, a sele

21Section 3:Working With MapCreateEasy Mode Quick Start ReferenceIf you're really in a hurry, this summary will tell you how to workMapCreate&apo

22Advanced Mode Quick Start ReferenceIf you have some computer experience and want to do more with yourmapping software, this 10-step summary will get

23Starting MapCreateIf you installed the Typical or Compact version of MapCreate, make surethe CD-ROM for the area you intend to use is in the CD-ROM

24Or, you can start the program by double-clicking theAppSelect icon in the MapCreate program group window.You'll see a screen that looks like th

25MapSelect opening screen.MapSelect is designed for simplicity, and requires little in the way ofdirections. The maps are pre-drawn, and you just poi

iTable of ContentsSec. 1: Introduction... 1How Mapcreate Works ...

26MapCreate 6 opening screen.MapCreate has several other windows that are used to control mappingdata. If they were all opened or turned on, the progr

27under the Window menu. When you close the program, MapCreateremembers the windows and map you were using. The next time youstart MapCreate, the prog

28Master Map window shows a rectangle map border around LakeEufaula, along with a route, waypoints and event marker icons. TheZoom Range is 50, which

29Pop-up Tool Tip box. When the cross-hair pointer hovers over thevisible wreck symbol, a red border surrounds the symbol and the tipbox appears. This

30MapCreate 6.2 main menu and toolbar.The numbering below corresponds to the numbers in the figure above,and describes the toolbar buttons:1. Center M

31Custom Map File is created. Turning off unneeded informationcategories can help reduce file size if you are trying to fit a verylarge map onto an MM

32Waypoint List WindowIcon List WindowThis window shows the event marker icons on the Master Map in a textlist format. The symbol, symbol label, latit

33Route List WindowRoute Waypoint List Window(This is not shown when the program starts for the first time; a routemust be created first. With the Rou

34Trail List WindowThis window uses a text list format to show trails (imported from yourGPS) that are displayed on the Master Map. The name, number o

35Center Master MapYou can instantly move any location on the map to the window'scenter with the Center Master Map command. To center the map,cli

iiCenter Master Map... 35Zoom ...

36The other most common method uses the Zoom-In and Zoom-Outbuttons, which are located at the bottom right corner of the MasterMap. Zooming in lets yo

37Click and drag to draw a Map Border around Corpus Christi Bay area.4. When the green border surrounds the desired area, release themouse button.5. T

382. If needed, click the Zoom In or Zoom Out buttons so you can see theentire area that you want to draw a map border around.3. Click the CREATE MAP

397. Now move the mouse pointer offat an angle, in the new directionneeded to follow the irregularterrain. You'll see that the activecorridor bor

40Save Map Border File dialog box.2. Type a name in the File Name text box and click SAVE.That's all there is to it. The file was placed in the &

41Lowrance or Eagle GPS unit. Here's how: (Refer as needed to theToolbar figure on page 30.)1. Open a Map Border File by clicking the OPEN MAP BO

42NOTE:After a map has been "built," the Custom Map File size alsoappears in the status bar at the lower left corner of the MapCreatescreen.

43to hit the road, but if you'd like to add a little GPS navigationinformation to your unit, read the following lessons.Creating a WaypointWaypoi

44Create a waypoint: First, find the location on the Master Map. Thelonger arrow shows the location of a public hunting area parking lot. Move

45Waypoint and Edit Waypoint in the online Command Referencesection.If this is all the GPS information you need for now, skip ahead to thelesson "

1Section 1: IntroductionHow this manual can get you into the field, fast!Thanks for buying MapCreate 6.2! We know you're anxious to installthe p

46Create an icon: First, find the location on the Master Map. The bottomarrow shows the location of a public boat ramp on this river. Move the

47If you don't want to plan a route this trip, skip ahead to the lesson"Saving a GPS Data File" on page 50. But don't forget, plan

48Tip:As you move along your intended course, you may need to pan theMaster Map and periodically zoom in and out to see where to placeroute waypoints,

49along your intended route and click to create additional routewaypoints as needed. Basically, you will set a new waypoint every timeyou need to chan

50• In a hurry? You can erase a route by deleting each waypoint, oneafter the other. Click the CENTER MASTER MAP button, then move thecross-hair poin

51MapCreate and return another day. To open this GPS Data File lateron, just click the OPEN GPS DATA FILE button and select the file name (andit'

522. Open the Route List Window: click VIEW|ROUTE LIST.3. Right-click on the route name. In the pop-up menu, click the CREATEBORDERS AROUND ROUTE comm

53You can save this as a Map Border File and then create a Custom MapFile. (Click the SAVE MAP BORDERS button…then click the CREATE CUSTOMMAP button.)

54Creating a Route From a TrailA trail is a line drawn on the map by your GPS unit as you travel. It's arecord of the path you've taken, sho

55This example shows a portion of Trail 2, recorded during a businesstrip from Afton, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri. The trail appearsas a green l

2That covers a lot of ground, but, we designed this book so that you don'thave to read the whole thing from front to back for the information you

56MapCreate converts the green trail line into a magenta route line withred waypoints. It does this by transforming thousands of position pointsin the

57Appendix 1: MapCreate Command ListComplete documentation on all MapCreate commands is available inthe program's online Help File. To access Hel

58Help Topics CommandMenu: HELPSubmenu: n/aMenu Command: HELP TOPICSMenu Command Sequence: HELP|HELP TOPICSHot Key Sequence: Alt+H|HShortcut Key(s): F

593. In the FIND WHAT: box, type the term, phrase or command you arelooking for, adjust any options such as up or down, then click FIND NEXT.Search a

60Notes

61Appendix 2: Map Category ListThis list contains the different categories of mapping informationavailable in MapCreate 6. These categories and their

62RV ParksResortsPOI-MarineBoat DealersEquipmentMarinasOther ServicesRental/CharterRepairPOI-RestaurantsAsianBanquet RoomsBarbecueCoffee ShopsDelisFas

63Appendix 3:MapCreate 6 Symbol KeyMapCreate 6 contains hundreds of mapping symbols used to representitems ranging from geographic features to commerc

64Shopping CenterSummitTowerTrail NameCity, Community, or SubdivisionNameLand Feature NameWater Feature NameMiscellaneous Landmark NameSquare Green Da

65Amusement Place, Billiards orCasino (POI)College or University (POI)Hall or Auditorium (POI)Hospital (POI)Medical Service (POI)Miscellaneous Attract

3How MapCreate WorksYou'll be making maps faster if you understand the hoops MapCreatemust jump through to cram a high detail map into your GPS u

66Hardware Store (POI)Sporting Goods or Sportswear(POI)Golf Course (POI)Stadium, Arena or AthleticField (POI)Airport (POI)

67Appendix 4: Considerations WhenPlanning Highway RoutesTips on Making Better Routes for Highway NavigationHow you make a highway route depends on you

68The amazing capabilities of GPS navigation can tempt first-time usersto build highly detailed highway routes. These "high res" routes are

69For example, you could be traveling toward a destination to the south,but following a highway curve around a mountain. As you take thecurve to your

70Notes

71LEI DATABASES LICENSE AGREEMENTTHIS IS A LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE END-USER WHO FIRSTPURCHASES THIS PRODUCT AS A CONSUMER ITEM FOR PERSONAL,FAMILY

72DATABASES LIMITED WARRANTY"We", "our", or "us" refers to LEI Extras, a division of Lowrance Electronics,Inc., the manu

73LEI SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENTAND ONE-YEAR MEDIA WARRANTYNOTICE TO USER: THIS IS A CONTRACT. BY INSTALLING THIS SOFTWARE,YOU ACCEPT ALL THE TERMS AN

74How to Obtain Service……in the USA:We back your investment in quality products with quick, expert service.If you're in the United States and you

Accessory Ordering Informationfor all countriesLEI Extras, Inc. is the accessory source for sonar and GPS productsmanufactured by Lowrance Electronic

4File Formats & FunctionsWell, now you know what makes MapCreate tick. You may be ready toskip forward to where we explain how our text formatting

Visit our web site:www.lei-extras.comFor Lowrance and Eagle ProductsLowrance Pub. 988-0147-382 © Copyright 2003 All Right

5create a fresh Custom Map File. You can delete the old one, or just savethe new custom map over the old one.GPS Data FileThis file format contains al