Waypoints, Tracks, Map Features and Map Comments

Lets load in some waypoints from file.

Display the Waypoint List by pressing the Show Waypoint List button on the toolbar.

Note: The Waypoint List has many buttons and options to allow the user to manipulate waypoints.

Now Load in a Track from file

(Note: A track is sometimes known as a Plot Trail but within OziExplorer they are always called tracks.)

This track was collected on one of my 4x4 trips using the GPS, it was downloaded using OziExplorer and saved to the demo1.plt file.

The track will be displayed on the map. The color and width of the line can be configured by using the options on the track control. Display the Track Control by pressing the Show Track Control button on the toolbar. 

Note: The Track Control has many buttons and options to allow the user to manipulate tracks. The Track Control is discussed in another tutorial.

Adding Waypoints to the Map
To add Waypoints graphically press the Wpt Button on the Tool Bar.

Adding Map Features and Comments
To add Map Features graphically press the Mf Button on the Tool Bar.

To add Map Comments graphically press the Mc Button on the Tool Bar.

Remember that Map Features and Map Comments are saved with the map, so to make them permanent you must resave the map.

File Quick Save Buttons

There is a set of 3 buttons located on the right hand side of the tool bar. These are called Map, Waypoint, Event, Track and Route. When the text on a button is grayed there is no file loaded into memory (and plotted on the map). When the text is black there is a file loaded but it is the same as the data in memory. When the text is red the data in memory has been modified, in this case pressing the button will instantly save the file using the same name as when it was loaded. If the data is new you will be prompted for a file name.

To Delete a Map Object

To delete any Map Object position the mouse pointer on the object (the cursor should change to a finger) and press the right mouse button. A popup menu will appear, select the Delete option.

To Change the Properties of any Map Object

To change the properties any Map Object position the mouse pointer on the object (the cursor should change to a finger) and press the right mouse button. A popup menu will appear, select the Properties option. A dialog will be displayed where the properties of the object can be changed. You are changing the properties for the individual object. If you want to change the default properties for all new objects use the configuration option on the File menu.

Many of the properties are for on screen display only and cannot be transferred to the GPS (such as colors).

To modify the map comment properties -

Map Features are used when you want to store more details about important map features such as camping areas, islands, etc. Map Features can also have a waypoint assigned to them if there are free waypoints available - this waypoint cannot be modified by the user.

To adjust map feature properties the same method applies using the right mouse click and selecting the properties option, or double click the mouse.

You may like to try adjusting the properties of Map Comments and Map Features.

Map features and Map comments are stored in the .map file and are automatically loaded when the map is loaded.

Links to sections of the Help discussed in this tutorial.

Working with Tracks and using the Track Control Tutorial