LEI Electronics 6 manual File Formats & Functions

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File Formats & Functions

Well, now you know what makes MapCreate tick. You may be ready to skip forward to where we explain how our text formatting makes the manual easy to skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use This Manual" on page 10. But, if you want to pick up an extra tip or two, look over this segment describing the file formats MapCreate works with.

Map Border File

This file defines the boundary of the raw cartography data that is extracted and converted to a GPS custom map. The file information is displayed on the computer's Master Map screen as either a green rectangle (rectangle map border) or a magenta polygon shape (corridor map border.) The file extension is *.lmp, and the file is saved on your computer hard drive. A Map Border File can contain one or more different map border sets, and these border sets don't need to be next to each other on the map.

For example, you can draw a rectangle border around one lake and then draw a second corridor border around another lake several miles away, and include both of those border sets into one Map Border File. There is no limit (other than space on your hard disk, MMC or SDC) on how many different border sets you can include in a Map Border File. You can open and edit a Map Border File and then save the file with the changes you made.

Custom Map File

This is the actual custom map format used by your GPS unit. MapCreate takes the borders you drew and saved as a Map Border File, extracts that area's information from the raw atlas data on the CD, then converts it to a Custom Map File. We call this conversion process "building the map." The file extension is *.lcm, and the file is saved either to your hard drive or directly to your MMC or SDC. (Remember, MMC or SDC cards are what your GPS uses to store information.) If you save to your hard drive, you can drag and drop the file to your MMC or SDC at your convenience, just as you handle other Windows- based computer files. (This assumes you are using a USB-compatible MMC card reader, which acts like an external removable disk drive. If you are using a parallel port MMC card reader, refer to its manual for file transfer instructions.)

You cannot open and make changes to a Custom Map File once it has been created. If you want to make changes to a custom map, return to its original companion Map Border File, make changes there, then

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Contents MapCreate6 LEI Extras Inc PO BOX Catoosa, OK USA Table of Contents Center Master Map Creating Rectangle Map Borders Creating Corridor Map BordersIntroduction Page How MapCreate Works File Formats & Functions GPS Data File Atlas File Page Custom Map File Size and Build Time Examples Cursor over Pop-up Exit symbol Box Mapping Detail Theres more here than meets the eyeHow to use this manual typographical conventions Cursor over POI symbol Pop-up boxMouse Page Installation Types System RequirementsInstalling MapCreate USA-West disc Data overlap area USA-East discType D\setup.exe where D is the drive letter for your CD-ROM Page Page Care of your MapCreate CDs Starting MapCreate Easy Mode and Advanced Mode To add a direct shortcut to your desktop To add a direct shortcut to your Start MenuSection Working With MapCreate Advanced Mode Quick Start Reference Starting MapCreate MapSelect Screen MapCreate Screen MapCreate 6 opening screen Closing MapCreate Tips Selected Symbol Tip Box Map Category Options Window Tip Icon List Window Route Waypoint List Window Moving Around the Master Map Zoom Box Cross-hair Creating Rectangle Map Borders Creating Corridor Map Borders Handle Box Mouse Pointer Map BorderPoint Saving a Map Border File Creating a Custom Map File Building Map Progress dialog box Save As dialog box appears Creating a Waypoint Delete Waypoint Creating an Icon Tip Creating a Route Tip Tips Saving a GPS Data File Creating a Corridor Map From a Route Borders around Route command Corridor Width slider bar Creating a Route From a Trail Plot Trail shown in green Page Appendix 1 MapCreate Command List Help Topics Command Search a Help document for the term map border Page Airports CitiesCountries County/Parish Marine NavaidsPOI-Services POI-MarinePOI-Restaurants POI-ShoppingAppendix MapCreate 6 Symbol Key Page Page POI Appendix 4 Considerations When Planning Highway Routes Page Page Page LEI Databases License Agreement Databases Limited Warranty LEI Software License Agreement ONE-YEAR Media Warranty How to Obtain Service… For Lowrance 800-324-1356. For EagleAccessory Ordering Information for all countries Visit our web site
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