MapSource software version 6.15.3 now available

Thanks for the info.

seems like you need to download it directly rather than rely on MapSource update. From within 6.14.1 it sees no updates available...

Thanks for the Info On Mapsource rjrsw

I just downloaded the update and it worked good. Had to download as was said earlier when I checked for software updates it wasn't to the new one.

I wouldn't have seen this update. Thanks for the heads up.

- Brian

I remember the last MapSource update had problems grabbing your route to rubber band it. And a lot of people complained about how slow the screen redrew itself after panning, etc. The rubber band function was the real killer though. Is it working OK in this update?

Rubber banding seems to work a little better but it is inconsistent. It is nowhere near as easy to use as the Google map feature.

Hi, sorry for such a basic question, but when I go to the Garmin site the first thing I see is this will not work unless you already have a previous version of mapsource installed. How can I tell if I have it installed? Do all new GPS's come with it? If not, what exactly is does mapsource do? I have a nuvi 765t.

THANKS!

Garmin MapSource provides you with geographic data that can be viewed on your PC and added to the basemap of your compatible Garmin GPS device. With MapSource, you can:

Transfer saved waypoints, routes, and tracks from your GPS device and save them to your PC

Create, view, and edit waypoints, routes, and tracks

Find items, addresses, and Points of Interest included in the map data

Transfer map data, waypoints, routes, and tracks to your GPS device

Unless your 765T came with a DVD and you installed it, you don't have MapSource. MapSource is similar to Google Maps or MapQuest, except it runs on your computer, not over the internet. You can create complex routes and download them to your Nuvi, as well as create waypoints and send them to your Nuvi. It also requires having a disk-based copy of the same maps that are in your Nuvi in order to work. The best way to get it is to call Garmin and ask for MapSource because you want to manage Routes and Favorites. They will usually send you the DVD with MapSource and a copy of the maps on it for a reasonable shipping fee of $10 or so. The program all by itself isn't very useful without the accompanying maps to install on your computer.

Thanks for info

following suggestions from many posts here, I called Garmin, and explained that I wanted the Mapsource DVD to manage my favorites. First they asked if I had registered mine on the site, which I had done. They sent it to me, but I had to pay 10 bucks for shipping. Others have stated that they got theirs shipped free.

Getting it free is usually the result of acutally getting a free update to the current mapping, (2009), as a result of buying a unit with old maps after the new ones were released.

$10 is a good deal. Skip Starbucks for 2 days.

Great update - thanks for the heads-up,

I can certainly see some great improvements with Mapsource version 6.15.3.
The biggest improvement to me is the map redrawing time when you change scales. May be my imagination but map graphics appear to be better !
Everything seems to have speeded up when you make changes.
Certainly glad to see the new version !

I love the ability to change each route to a different color. Many times, I create multiple routes and keep them in one file. When doing this, there are multiple lines all the same color (magenta). Now, I can give each route a different color and it makes them stand out!!!! I am one of many that kept the old 6.13 version since the 6.14 had so many issues. This one may not be perfect but it is far ahead of 6.14.

Thanks

To get it. hope it works better.

On a newsgroup I look at every morning, they are saying this new version crashes when you recalculate a route. Anyone had this happen? I haven't updated my MapSource yet. I never get in too big a hurry to update to new versions.

But I have only done (recalculated) 3 or 4 routes I made changes to just to check performance of the new version. So far, so good !

I may have left out a key word, I remember they did say "existing" routes which I take to mean routes they had already saved.

Using "Check for Software Updates" now works from the Help menu in MapSource 6.13.7. The update description is below:

Don,

Based on your post I fired up the latest version of MapSource and played with it awhile.

Per your edit I loaded in previously created routes (including some produced on a 2610 Streetpilot) and recalculated them. No problems.

I created new routes, recalculated them, changed them, recalculated again and no issues at all. Then I tried something really nutty, copying the same route back and forth (Los Angeles to Phoenix) multiple times and then shooting off to Utah. THAT really confused the program and produced an error message telling me the "Los Angeles Waypoint Already Exists"...the program shut down.

So, I'm thinking in ordinary circumstances there really aren't any issues but if you 'try' really hard and enter some nonsense routes the program 'will' crash.

Oh, one thing I 'did' notice was that the color change function isn't working on my machine. The routes always seem to be purple when I first create them then change to yellow after modifications or recalculations are done. Choosing to change the route to red or green or white or any of the options has no effect.

Cheers

When I went to make some changes to an extended trip I am planning for May the new version crashed on "recalculation". Mapsource provided an error report which I e-mailed to Garmin Tech Support.

Hope I didn't mislead anyone before.

I tried creating an extended trip with 6.15 and didn't experience any issues.

6.15 is a dramatic improvement over 6.14. Version 6.14 should never have been released. It should have remained in beta. I removed it very shortly after installing.

When installing version 6.15, I took the precaustion of first saving a copy of the existing mapsource.exe file as mapsource613.exe and leaving it in the same folder. Now, I can bring up either or both versions to make a comparison.

V6.15 is slightly slower than 6.13, but on my computer which is 6 years old, not so that it is real noticeable. That was with CN North America NT 2009. Now when I view Topo National Parks, v6.15 is definitely faster in repainting the screen. With 6.13 I can see each map tile being repainted, while 6.15 repaints all tiles simultaneously. (With map scale set at 15 miles I moved the map around.)

The map graphics is nicer looking, but I still feel that the icons are a bit too large even when set to be viewed at the small scale. Personally, I'd like to see a quick toggle available so that icons can be turned on or off quickly rather than having to go to Edit>preferences>display>services> to make the change.

Bob

I just discovered that changing map detail from highest to high appears to only remove the icon layer and not alter other detail.

Bob

thanks for the heads up

Is Mapsource 6.15 truly VISTA only?

Anybody try it with XP?

I have xp and so far it works haven't tried all the features yet wife has me painting the whole house and so that takes time over this. Please post if anything different comes up.

I'm using XP Home

Bob

Yep, works just fine.

It DIDn'T say that is does NOT work with XP, it just didn't say that it did. But it does

No problem here with XP.

Before I download and update, can someone do a quick check and see if the double text field still exists?

ex. Create a waypoint, type something in the comment field, save as .gpx file, then open the .gps file in notepad. Does the text field still appear twice? (Once as a comment, and once as a description?)

Thanks,
Paul

I think they did that on purpose - some Nuvi's display the description and some display the comment.

Phil?

Would have never found it.

(Previously, Yes) But, since POI Loader carries it over, I thought I read somewhere that they were correcting this? i.e. Making a specific comment field and a description field or an option in the pull downs to select one or the other or something so you do not get the double post? Not assume both.

I don't know the original reason for duplicating the data (hedging their bets? ).

POILoader V2.4.2 and earlier would read <cmt> or <desc>. If both were present, <cmt> would win. The selected data was placed in the 'cmt' area of the .gpi file.

POILoader V2.5.2 and later implements both fields - and so you get duplicated data if reading .gpx files from Mapsource.

I reported the issue to Garmin, last April 'ish.

I've not tested this latest version. (I'm struggling to see any reason to risk the stability of my current Mapsource implementation!)

Hi Phil,

Thanks for clarifying that. I too have had no problems with my current mapsource so do not find a purpose to download it yet. I also have not updated to the current 350 version since I have heard you can't go back to previous versions easily.

Paul

Bit the bullet and installed 6.15.3. Loaded some old routes and played around with them. No problems with recalculating or modifying using the rubber band method. Made some new routes and modified them with no troubles, either.

Dragging the map around is slower, but then it isn't blanking out like it used to when dragging the map around. I have no problems with that. It's a fair tradeoff in my opinion.

So, I'd give it a definite thumbs up.

The biggest problem I've encountered with version 6.15.3 is when I try to return to a previous waypoint or via point.

In other words, if I have the "same" waypoint listed twice in my routing. The application has crashed each time and given me an error message to forward to Garmin tech support, which I have done.

Also, as another user pointed out, the routes cannot be color coded using their drop down menu. It's yellow for the selected route and magenta for the rest of the routes. Can't be changed.

Edit: Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa My error: The Routing color can be set to another color. You have to change the color and then do a "recalculate" of the route - not just click the OK button !

...when I send it to my 765T, import it, and then try to use it?

in the past, the nuvi would recalculate the route, and therefore ignore the roads that I wanted.

I'm not able to hook up my GPS 750 and input all the waypoints, etc into MapSource. It came up with an error and I just sent it to techsupport. I'll see what support has to say.

As some have noted, if you have a duplicate viapoint or waypoint starting/stopping the route, the program will crash if you recalculate.

There is a way to work around this problem........ If you use the TOOLS only to create, modify or delete viapoints, the system will recalculate the routes just fine. The problem results when you open "ROUTE PROPERTIES" box and make any changes here AND you have duplicate viapoints or waypoints in the route.

For now, I am staying with this upgrade because I can work around this problem and I like other features more; however, I have the older 6.13.7 in reserve in the event I find other features I do not like.

I can confirm that MSv6.15.3 does duplicate a [cmt] tag as a [desc] tag when saving as .gpx

Thanks for the info - I will try it since it appears to be functional for what I would be using it for.

Can someone explain to me how to use the rubber banding function in Mapsource 6.15 ?

If I pick two waypoints, and calculate a route, I then want to pull the selected route to use a different road without setting more waypoints.

I use this function in MS Streets and trips a lot.

Is it possible to do in Mapsource?

TIA

I have only tried to use Mapsource a couple of times to force a specific use of roads, send it to my 765T, import it, only to have the nuvi recalculate, and thereby ignore my chosen roads.

My understanding is that you must create waypoints at the intersections of the roads you wish to force, but then that means flags and announced arrivals occur at each waypoint...clunky at best.

Apparently there is a small downloadable utility available at a zumo forum, called unflag that will remove the flags.

I was wondering if this process is still required with version 6.15?

Ok, I did the 'quick check'

The problem is still there ...

Also, there is no still sign of any support for reading .GPI files (ie the missing link to POILoader's "MapSource (Advanced)" option).

Thanks for doing the check. I guess I will hold off updating until I feel the need.

I'm using XP Professional with all the latest updates. I changed the map detail to the lowest and it still showing the waypoint symbols icons. Anyone figure out how to turn on/off displaying the waypoint symbols icons on XP ?

So far the updated version runs fine on my XP Pro

Thanks