First of all I want to thank everyone for their help with this task.
It has been very straining and I never expected it to take this damn long and frankly I am dissapointed with the whole thing....it is not very user friendly trying to save and transmit the maps/tracks that I have saved. I really thought Garmin would have figured this out by now...and I can't believe other people haven't had more or similiar problems with this.
I did figure out the tracks editting, cutting, pasting, deleting....it was just a matter of selecting the correct portion of the track, it was still very touchy but I was able to get through it and make the changes I wanted. (thanks again everyone)
As for the Map making obviously, a few others on here have developed a system that is working for them but it shouldn't be that complex....but I am struggling through it.
I have used the tutorial that someone linked me and it has been a godsend with guidance and the way to work through it, although a one link is dead and not all of the steps applied to me for some reason but I was able to work my way through it and never would have made it this far without it.

I need a little more help.....with a few minor details.
I have completed everything in the tutorial and made my map and ready to send to the handheld.
But I would like to change a few things on my map and have some questions.
My tracks which I have converted into a Map with MapEdit are labeled (usually with the date, ie, "23-Dec. 07")....is there a way I can remove those labels and still keep my waypoints?
Additionally, is there any way I can change the color of the track/map that I just made?.....right now they are black and I would prefer another color. The trail maps are Red so something to contrast like a green or yellow the black is very difficult to determine from a road.
Lastly, can all the maps that I make be uploaded in addition to the TOPO and the MI trail maps that I have in MapSource?
Can the map I made be converted to use and store in MapSource?
It also says in the "SendMap" that any other maps I have stored will be deleted...is there any way I can have all the maps from MapSource and from MapEdit (that I made) on the handheld together? (I have tried sending either way and I either delete the MapSource Maps or end up deleting the MapEdit map)......that isn't going to work for me.



Again thanks for all the help and patience guys!!

Hopefully this will be my last cry for help.

I have tried using the tutorial from "GPSsledMaps" to set-up my own maps for MapSource and have no idea what I am doing. I have clicked on and downloaded every version of "Inno Setup" and still have not clue how to open it, operate it, run it, import it, export it, or use it.
I am at a complete loss with that system.....and teh "GPSsledMaps" tutorial has been really good about walking a person through steps but when you get to this stage there is nothing to work from or direction. this made me even more confused.

You have to understand that making maps is a bit fringe and isn't supported by Garmin. They sell you maps and have no intention of allowing you to make your own. Tracks are relatively easy to work with using their software. Making maps is a somewhat cumbersome process, and you have to rely on software that other people - not Garmin - have made.

With the tutorials you've seen, you have all the information you need. It's just a matter of experimenting and figuring stuff out.

To remove labels: In Mapedit, right-click the line you want to remove the label for, do (I'm trying to recall here) Properties > Label, and then delete what's there.

For different colors: In Mapedit, select the line you want, do properties > type (again, I don't have it in front of me, so this may not be exactly right) and then you have your choice of line type. There are thick and thin red lines, thin green lines, etc. If you want even more control over the appearance of lines, see RWS's tutorial about TYP.

Yes, the maps can be used in Mapsource and they can overlay on other maps once installed into Mapsource. The tutorials cover this.

okay.
Now I've got a bigger issue.
I tried starting all over again from the very beginning and am already having issues with MapEdit.
I select all tracks and convert to polyline.....then select all tracks and delete, hopefully showing only the polylines, now it deletes everything!!
There isn't anything left on the MapEdit screen.


Am I just a retard?!
I have spent about 6-8 hours on this and am completely confused now.

Anybody in Michigan wanna come help me out with this?
Anybody wanna handle a phone call and help a retard with setting up his map?

Go under View > Levels and pick Level0. Your polylines should show up then.

There is a GOD!!


Thank you so much....I thought I was going nutz!

You can lead a horse to water...but you can't make him drink.

My video tutorial covers everything you have had a problem with so far...plus some of the problems you are gonna have. There is a text file included with step by step instructions to follow along with the video. The video plays in Windows Media Player which has controls to pause, play, advance or replay any part of the video you need to review. It is a complete tutorial from the start of map creation working with tracks to final installation into Mapsource and upload to GPS. If you follow the steps you WILL have a working/installed map.

My advice is to go through the tutorial doing every step along the way...when you have completed the tutorial then do another map using your track files. This is not rocket science...you need to take a deep breath and settle down.

thanks for the input.
I have tried watching the tutorial and I was getting lost a few times, since the layout of your screen and what you were doing didn't exactly make sense all the time, maybe if there was audio, you can talk the user through it at the same time.
Don't get me wrong it was very beneficial....and there is no-way I would have got this far without all the help from you guys.

I am very close to completing one of my maps and I'm sure the second will go even faster now that I have an idea of what I am doing.

I did have a problem with the tutorial "7a" but I think I figure it out.
I have followed the remaining instructions and sent it to my GPSr and the map appears okay....I just want to change the color of the tracks that I converted on the map to a different color, I think the red color may confuse it with the Trails Map I have loaded.

In your tutorial you say that downloading this map will erase an other maps loaded in the GPSr.....is it possible to download all my other maps from MapSource overtop of my custom maps or will they keep erasing each other.
Is there a way to load all my custom made maps, along with the MapSource maps and TOPO and all be available on my GPSr?


Thanks

TTYR2,


You said in a previous post "Once that is done, fire up Mapupload.exe, pick the map file you created (it will end in a .img file extension), click "Add to existing maps" and click "upload to gps".

Where do you get the option for "add to existing maps" I can't seem to find that anywhere.
I have the same problem as you, I am running a 76Cx and everytime I send my newly made map it deletes my old stuff that was already in the GPSr...including the TOPO.

This is my last hold up.

I am so thankful for this web-site and the great members that have assisted me!!

Nevermind...after following the tutorial and the directions from all the great users on here everything is working out great!
I just have to do some fine tuning now.

Thanks guys.
I was able to get it loaded into MapSource and pull all the maps to my GPSr in one shot!!

This is just what the doctor ordered!


Thanks again so much everyone!!

I guess I do have one last request.
I am trying to find the correct color for my "maps/tracks".
Since the Main Roads are a solid red.
And the Michigan Trail maps are white with a red border.
I was thinking a nice royal blue for my maps.

I have tried numerous combinations from the "type" list and can't really find a really nice strong blue that would really stand out.
The red I first chose similiar to Main Roads was great but too conflicting with the roads. Since then I have tried a couple of others and they always seem to come out a $hit brown color. and I would like something bolder that is more obvious like the trail map.

Any ideas of what is working best for anyone else?

Thanks again

genTYP is your friend for doing what you want to do
my video and text help covers basic genTYP use...genTYP website has additional use instructions
hex code 0000ff is a nice blue

Oddly, it won't accept "0000ff" as a valid color.
is there something I am missing?
where do you get the codes for the colors?
I am reading along with your instructions and it doesn't mention anything about the color codes or the proper context to determine them or enter them.

The code from your tutorial "ffffff,ff0000" worked just fine.

0000ff is a correct code for blue

click the ? in genTYP for proper syntax...you need a minimun of 2 parameters also read the help DOC on the genTYP site

Google "hex color codes" for a color chart

Got it.
I didn't realize I was adding a line color and border color in which case I needed to enter the code twice...."0000ff,0000ff".


Thanks