Best way to learn how to use MapSource

It depends on what I'm doing if I save the file or don't.. If I'm just looking at a map I don't, but I have certain sets of maps from the topo maps that I save, or if I make a route I may save it.

In the top drop down window is the current map set you are using. If you have several map sets, Europe, Mexico and Australia you can select maps from each country by selecting maps and then changing the map set in the top window and selecting more maps and then save them to your unit or an sd card. These maps will be in addition to your base maps and 2009 map that are installed on your unit.

Another trick I learned is that you can select multiple maps by using the map tool (located on the tool bar) and hold down the left button and drag it over the maps... That makes selecting a complete country or continent much easier…

If you only have the 2009 map set installed you will probably only want save waypoints and routes and not maps as they are already in your gps…

Also on the 2009 disk is a file called "Selecting and Saving Map Sets Tutorial v4.00.exe". It is informative...

...and error works too.

- Jon

I received my 2009 map from Garmin's website. They did not send me the DVD. How can I get the tutorial that you are referring to?

Google is your friend.

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapsourceTutorial.html

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Practice. Lots and lots of practice.
Or, my favorite.
Money, lots and lots of money.

Joking aside, when I was trying to learn photography, I kept running across a sentence like "The best way to learn photography is to take pictures." I kept buying books that would make me an expert, and they kept telling me to go take pictures. Of course, I needed the books to get started, but I needed to do.

So gentle reader, my advice as to the best way to learn MapSource is practice, lots and lots of practice. The reward of this method is giving yourself a highly diverse tool that does what you want, not what somebody else uses as an example.

Hang in there is worth the effort!

And remember the dumbest question is the one that remains unasked.

That tutorial is pretty slim. Doesn't really have all the bells and whisles.

I've only been using mapsource since about the end of June when I first uploaded tracks and waypoints from my GPSMap 60Csx. I agree that "practice, practice" (or play, play, around) is the best way to learn new software . . . been doin' that way for years now, myself.

Of course, the HELP files and index search come in real handy for learning what all the pretty new icons are supposed to do. You can look at the menus, click around to see what changes/happens, and go from there. But the default icons are usually the most-used menu items and put there for a reason by the software designer.

Have fun!

Purchased a a NUVI 760 a month ago... What is map source?

I won a 750 last month and strangely it didn't come with a cd or dvd. I had already downloaded the new 2009NT map but I wasn't about to spend the $$$$$ on MapSource without trying it first. It wasn't until I found this site that I found out I could get MapSource for free.

MapSource for me is the software that makes the GPS actually fun as well as useful. Being able to import and look at the track after a trip is amazing. I was browsing a site and came across a guy who crashed his motorcycle and lost his GPS. 1 year later he returned to the scene, found the GPS and then by checking the track info in MapSource he found out that he entered a corner too fast, causing the crash. He had no other memory of what had happened.

I also find it useful to check on my wife's driving habits. She keeps telling me she drives reasonably but she gets the tickets and guzzles gas faster than she brings in the money.

I haven't actually used it for anything else but that feature alone makes it worthwhile to have. Mapquest and Google are better for me to create routes

The garmin website has the info on mapsource and there are many conversations on here about it, do a search for mapsource and do a lot of reading, You should be able to get one from garmin with a phone call to tech support, just talk to them about it and they just may send you one free of charge, When i got mine (650) and talked to them within a few days i had the c/d. hope this helped you out.

You can get software directly from Garmin's web site at the link below:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/mappingsw.jsp

This link is under the 'Support' category but there's good info, too, under the 'Maps' heading.

Just go to www.garmin.com then explore what they have.

Just received a Map Update 2009 DVD from Garmin. I does not upload to my PC withough connecting the GPS. I do not want to connect GPS for fear that it might overwrite or cause some problems. My GPS has the most current 2009 map. I had requested the DVD from Garmin to work with POIs and then load them to GPS. Any idea how to go about it without connecting GPS to PC? Thanks.

I recently got a 2008 TOPO map and it installed over my existing Map Source software without any issues. I didn't have the gps connected at the time.

The only problem I had, however, was that the new Map Source (with the TOPO maps) did not recognize my gps when I did connect it and turn it on. I didn't have the problem with the original Map Source install. It recognized my gps right away.

I had to download a new driver from the 2008 TOPO disc and then it found my gps device. No problem finding it since.

So far, in my experience, having the gps connected and even turned on shouldn't matter when you install new software on the PC. You should be able to specify which PC drive or device you want to install to in the setup dialog.

Just downloaded the mapsource info and will take me a day and a year to learn.....

The MapSource Manual is not bad in helping you learn to use MapSource.

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/manual.html

Just figured out how to install the Maps from the Garmin DVD to my PC. I had to call Garmin tech support. By default when I load the DVD it starts playing and prompts for the GPS and will not run further until it finds the GPS. However, I was able to go through the explore mode and double click on a certain file (not .exe) in one of the folders. I am now able to explore the mape and create way points, POIs with alerts etc. Will try to upload some in the near future.

follow the directions. Thanks for the reminder.

I just ordered the DVD for the maps preloaded on my Nuvi 880. Is that what YOU did too? And I do not need this disk to update the unit, because it is already updated.

Gee, I was hoping no more problems would turn up. ((sigh))

Why did you buy the DVD if you already had the map on your GPS since it came with it?

Is there a way for me to get that file? I was not given a disc for the 2009 map. Garmin gave me a free download from the website so I could have the 2009 map installed on my GPS since I bought it after the date that they set up for giving away a free download if you bought your GPS after that time frame this year.

Oh Boy, I bet she just loves the GPSr you won!

You could call Garmin and I think they might send you the disk for $10 (That's what I did) or I've been told but haven't done it that you can open the downloaded file with a program like winzip and select the correct language file in the windows folder. It is a .msi file...