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Readme file for Convert2Pcx

Convert2Pcx ASSUMES YOU ARE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Please see #2 under Known Issues below if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

This Readme is for WINDOWS users.

If you're using a MAC, you're on your own, but the directions should help you sort it out. If you want to help out other MAC users, please write a readme for them and email it to me (chevalarabe at users.sourceforge.net).

If you're using Unix or Linux, you probably aren't reading this anyway.

DESCRIPTION

Convert2Pcx is a simple program that reads in a USAPhotoMaps (www.jdmcox.com) CSV trackpoint file (refer to that program's documention on how to get a CSV file) and writes out a PCX file to be imported into Mapsource. This program is considered to be a pre-alpha release and hopefully Garmin will do an update to Mapsource so the trackpoints from the Garmin Forerunner 201 can be accessed directly without this program and USAPhotoMaps.

INSTALLATION

Convert2Pcx is a Java program and as such requires you to have a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed to be able to run. If you do not have a JRE installed, you can download one from Sun's website. Scroll down to Download J2SE v 1.4.2_03 and click the Download link under JRE for 32-bit/64-bit for Windows/Linux/Solaris SPARC 32-bit for Solaris x86.

If you are not sure if you have a JRE installed, try running Convert2Pcx. If you receive an error similar to "java is not a windows program," you will need to download and install a JRE.

To install Convert2Pcx, unzip Convert2Pcx.zip into a directory of your choosing.

USAGE

You must use the command-line when running this program. Place your CSV file in the Convert2Pcx directory first.

Run Convert2Pcx.bat passing it the file name of the USAPhotoMaps CSV file and the name you want the output file to be.

Example:

Convert2Pcx myrun.csv myrun.trk

After you get your TRK file, open Mapsource and choose Import from the File menu. Navigate to your TRK file and import away.

KNOWN ISSUES

  1. No help while running. Bad or cryptic end-user errors. Usage is strict and unforgiving.
  2. Convert2Pcx ASSUMES YOU ARE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. If you are not, sorry, you will have to wait for another release to fix this. Please send me a note (chevalarabe at users.sourceforge.net) if you would like a version for your hemisphere. I can probably send you your own special version.
  3. Sometimes, when running the program, you will get a java.util.NoSuchElementException error. IF this happens, you will need to open your CSV file in a text editor (I love TextPad) and do a Find/Replace. Replace all instances of ",," (2 commas together without the quotes) with ",00," (a comma, 2 zeros, followed by another comma, again without the quotes). This issue is of a high priority to fix.
  4. You must use the command-line when running this program.
  5. The program doesn't know the difference between runs. It just lumps all the trackpoints from one day into one track.
  6. Related to 5, the time in the CSV file is GMT, or something similar. If you are in the USA and run in the evening, your run may get split into 2 Mapsource tracks. This is of a middle priority. I have a good idea how to fix it. The fix for 6 may also fix 5.

CONTACT

If you are having problems with this program, please send your CSV file to chevalarabe at users.sourceforge.net along with a description of your problem. I will do my best to help out.