MapForums

I've been working a MapPoint project for several weeks now and thought it was time to get some input from the community. My application (tentatively called Coordinate Exchange) is a MapPoint plug-in that allows the user to exchange coordinate information between Files, MapPoint and a GPS Receiver. The user can select from several sources and destinations in any combination and exchange the coordinate information. The user can import waypoints form the GPS to MapPoint PushPins or import a track as a MapPoint free form line. Right now it only works with the Meridian GPS (I hope to add more GPS support in the future) but even if you don't have a GPS this program is useful for other reasons. It can import Geocaching LOC files, GPX waypoints and convert routes to Pushpins or lines.

Anyway, I hope people find this useful.... I've spent quite a bit of time on it. If there are any problems/complaints please email me at coordex@hypercubed.com.

You can download the program and see screenshots at http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/.

enjoy
J. Harshbarger
Hypercubed

P.S. I'd like to thank Rahn Lieberman, Evert Mouw, and Gilles Kohl for their articles on mp2kmap.com.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd really like to hear them. Some features I'm working on for the next version (if there is interest) will be adding points of interest as a source, turn-by-turn routes, and some improved GPS support.

I've posted a new version (v0.2) to my website ( http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/ ). New to this version:

• Fixed some GUI problems
  Added GPS icon names to GUI
  Added route directions (Beta Feature) as Source
  Added MapPoint Points of Interest as Source
  Added PCX file format as a destination
  Added untested support for other 330 compatible Magellan models
  Added bit check and handshake mode to Magellan protocol

The PCX file format and 330 support are untested. Please let me know how they work. If anyone is using this program please email me (or post here) and let me know how it is working.

Labtek
coordex@hypercubed.com

I've just posted version 0.3 of Coordinate Exchange to my website: http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/ . The biggest change in this version is the addition of GPS Babel support. With this version file import/export can be handled via GPSBabel: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpsbabel . With that CoordEx can now read and write 21 new file formats.

Enjoy
Labtek

I've just posted version 0.4 of Coordinate Exchange to my website: http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/ . The biggest change in this version is the addition of Garmin GPSr support via GPSBabel. Other changes:

• Added checksum to Magellan file output
  Added CoordEx icon
  Added License Agreement
  Fixed crash occurring when GPS is not found
  GPSBabel interface now works with paths that have a space

If Garmin users can please try it out and let me know how it works I would really appreciate it.

Labtek

I installed the plugin. But when I select it in the tools menu nothing happens. Can someone tell me what I do wrong?

I use Mappoint 2002 version 09.00.16.2001 on a Windows XP laptop.

Patrick

You need to register if not the DLL, then MSCOMM32.OCX, try following the directions on this site http://www.elspeet.info/mpgps/ and that should get you working.

I've just posted version 0.5 of Coordinate Exchange to my website: http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/ . This version has many changes:

• Added pushpin query by distance
  Fixed title of Applications form
  Add limited untested support for NMEA compatible GPS receivers
  Now using MapPoint control rather then MapPoint object libraries (may allow for use with MapPoint Europe)
  Improved short name system
  Eliminated consecutive coincident waypoints in route extractions
  Route extraction will now use existing anchors
  Import Streets and Trips csv file
  Import PocketWarrior WarDriving data
  Various GUI changes
  Fixed bug when switching GPS receivers

In addition to the new CoordEx version I've also posted a support files installation package that should eliminate most (if not all) the problems some people are having using my application. As always please let me know what you think.

J. Harshbarger
Hypercubed

I've just posted version 0.6 of Coordinate Exchange for MapPoint 2002 to my website: http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/ . This version has many changes including:

• Improved Route turn-by-turn data extraction
  Import MapInfo ASCII data points
  Improve GPS communication
  Complete Installation packages

The most exciting improvement in this version is nearly complete extraction of routes. Route extraction will now include each turn without those annoying errors seen in previous versions. This has to be the most discussed feature of this application. I'm very happy to se it finally working the way it should... special thanks to Nico Bontenbal for his help.

J. Harshbarger
Hypercubed

I recently discovered a bug in my program that may prevent new users from running the CoordEx. I'm sad to say that the has probably been around for a while and nobody notified me. I'm working very hard to deliver a quality free application but without your support it is very difficult. Offering free software is not very profitable and I can't afford to have multiple test systems so I can't possibly discover all bugs. I'll be posting a new version shortly that fixed this problem but I wanted to take this moment to beg my users (if there are any) to please notify me if you have a problem. I'd also like to ask some users to volunteer to be testers. If I get some takers I'll setup a system where they can test new versions before I embarrass myself again. I'd like to get some individuals with XP (I run 2000). I'd also like to ensure see if my application will work with 2004 and/or the European versions. If you would like to help please e-mail me of post a message to my forum ( http://www.hypercubed.com/megabbs/ ).

Thank you,

Jayson
www.hypercubed.com

P.S. A reminder of CoordEx capabilities:

With 10 sources and 7 destinations there are 70 different functions in this one application. For Example Coordinate Exchange can do all of the following (and more):

Import Geocaching GPX file (and 6 other formats, 27 with GPSBabel) as MapPoint pushpins.
Import Pocket Warrior war driving file (and 6 other formats, 27 with GPSBabel) as MapPoint pushpins.
Extract MapPoint pushpins to a Garmin PCX file (and 3 other file formats, 24 with GPSBabel).
Send MapPoint pushpins to a Magellan Meridian GPS (also Gamin GPS via GPSBabel) as Waypoints.
Import waypoints from Magellan Meridian GPS (also Gamin GPS via GPSBabel) as MapPoint Pushpins.
Send MapPoint freeform line to a Magellan Meridian as Trackpoints.
Import trackpoints from Magellan Meridian GPS as MapPoint Freeform line.
Convert MapPoint points of interest to MapPoint pushpins.
Convert MapPoint route (with turn-by-turn instructions) to a set of pushpins.
Convert MapPoint route (with turn-by-turn instructions) to a free form line.
Send a MapPoint route (with turn-by-turn instructions) to a Magellan Meridian GPS as Waypoints in a GPS route.
Send MapPoint points of interest to a Magellan Meridian GPS (also Gamin GPS via GPSBabel) as Waypoints.
Copy sets of pushpins from one MapPoint Map to another using the temporary memory slot.