How To Create Garmin Topo Maps - Part 9 - Compiling Data

Last updated July 21st, 2008 at 05:33pm

Introduction

The final part of this lesson is two parts.  The first, and required, step is converting the .mp files to Garmin compatible .img files.  The second, optional, step is creating a NSIS setup file to allow people to easily install your new map.

Software

Some software is required for creating .img files and the setup system.

• Creating The .img Files
  • cGPSMapper - converts .mp files to .img files (a free version exists)
  • MapSetToolkit - allows easy creation of the preview files (free)
• Creating The Setup File
  
  • NSIS - creates setup files (free)

Creating .img Files

First make sure you downloaded cgpsmapper.

1. Copy cgpsmapper.exe from its directory to your release_version_1.00 directory
2. Download GPSFileDepot's batch scripts to make processing autonomous
   Note: this is not required but highly recommended for multiple .mp files
3. Extract the files in the zip folder to your release_version_1.00 folder
4. Open TranscodeQ.txt and put all your .mp filenames in there (for example MSTopo_A1.mp, MSTopo_A2.mp, etc.)
5. Double click transcode.bat; this will run cgpsmapper on all the files listed there and then hit the next file.

This process will most likely take a few hours and will create .img files.  You are now done with the .mp files.

Creating The Preview File

I use MapSetToolkit to easily create the preview files.In the lower left make sure you point the cgpsmapper blank to the location where cgpsmapper is installed.

1. Open MapSetToolkit
2. Click "Select IMG Files" in the upper left
3. Point it to your release_version_1.00 folder
4. Click "Select All"
5. Click "Add-->"
6. Set the Mapset Directory to the release_version_1.00 folder
7. Enter your mapset name into the mapset name box (Mississippi Topo for example)
8. Leave Product Code blank
9. Enter your information into the copyright information box; it may not use this depending on the version of cgpsmapper you use.
10. We're going to fill in family ID with a 4 digit number.  This number can be random but right now GPSFileDepot's maps use 326#; please don't use any 326#.
    
11. Click Start

Creating Setup Files

We will use NSIS and a template file to easily create setup files that install your maps on someone's computer as well as make it easy to access in MapSource.

1. Download the setup template file
2. Extract the file to your release_version_1.00 folder
3. Open the .nsi file in notepad
4. Edit MAP_DESC_NAME
5. Edit MAP_SHORT_NAME (this needs to match the map name from Mapset Toolkit)
6. Edit MAP_URL
7. Edit MAP_EMAIL
8. Edit MAP_COPYRIGHT
9. Edit MAP_VERSION
10. Edit MAP_REL_DATE (map release date)
11. Go to this website and convert your code from decimal to hex.  This decimal code is the family id from Mapset Toolkit.  Now take this code and "flip" it, if the hex code was ABCD then your MAP_ID is CDAB
12. Change the DIRECTORY to match your release directory
13. Change the EXE_FILE from ms_topoinstall.exe to XX_topoinstall.exe where XX is your state's two letter code.
14. Now save the file and close notepad.
15. Open NSIS and compile the .nsi file.

You should now a setup exe in your release_version_1.00 folder.

What's Next?

Now that you've made a map make sure you reigster here at GPSFileDepot and then go to the member's area and add your map so you can share it with the world.

If you have any questions of comments please either contact us or post in the forums.

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