OziExplorer Map Plugin - create your own maps

old_man_biking

Remember SportTracks version 1.x? You could create your own raster graphic maps from image files.
This feature was gone with ST version 2.

This new plugin brings back the custom maps feature.
I've based it on the OziExplorer map file format.
So if you've used OziExplorer before, you can use your OziExplorer maps in SportTracks (there are limitations concerning projection).

Calibration of images is simple:
1. Go to the plugin's settings page and press the "Add Custom Map" button.
2. Select an image file: *.BMP, *.GIF, *.JPG or *.PNG.
3. Calibrate it, i.e. set 4 calibration points on the image and their corresponding positions on the ST map.
That's it. It's all point and click.

Here's a few screen shots:
The settings page with the "Add Custom Map" button:

The calibration screen:

The calibrated map

Maps are displayed as an overlay over ST's standard maps. Hence, regions not covered by your maps will be filled in with the standard maps.
Maps can be made transparent, i.e. the standard map will shine through.

The plugin is still in beta state. It should be quite stable, but some things might not work as smooth as they should do.

You find the download link at www.sporttracks-plugins.de .

Enjoy,
OMB
_________________

www.sporttracks-plugins.com

Des · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject:

Sounds fantastic, can't wait to try this.

Des

AllanHvass · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject:

Installed and tested - but can't get it quite to work Crying or Very sad

I can do the calibration of four corners on a custom map and get 4 green checkmarks next to the calibration buttons in the custom map screen. But even when I enter a map name in the field under "Step 3", the final "OK" button still stay grayed out? I can't save my final calibrated map and make it show in ST.

I've seen it's donationware, but not sure if that is the blocker? Also, I'm not a paying user of MapOverlay plugin as I've never needed (or even installed) it before. I'm not clear on whether OziExplorer requires MapOverlay or just have added functionality with that installed? So is this behavior expected due to not having paid for the plugin yet or is it a bug or a user error?
_________________
Kind Regards
Allan Hvass
Using Garming Edge 305HR+CAD (and lots of other GPS gadgets)

gerhard · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

gerhard · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Comments on the plugin:

.TIF should be supported (.GIF is included two times...)
Workaround: rename to .gif, the maps will work

TIFF format is good for several reasons:
* Maps are quite fast to move around - for JPG all the file must be loaded (This depends on the display technology, but use of for instance GDAL does not have to load the complete file to display a part).
* TIF can include metadata, including map information (normally called GeoTIF)

Calibration requires four points - three should be enough (it is easier to place a stool with three legs on an uneven surface than a four legged chair)

Unless Monshi releases his Custom map plugin, the editing will benefit from some changes:
* It would be good to be able to edit a map after adding it - calibration is difficult. Just entering the coordinates would be sufficient.
* Zooming when adding calibration points would be helpful. Similarly, when adding points on the map and you need to pan/zoom, the point gets added even if you do not want it

texmurphy · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

This is great!
I have been using the GPS-Track-Analyse.NET to generate 3-D map images which I then annotate for club ride cuesheets. However background maps for GPS-Track-Analyse.NET are available only for Germany. I have to rotate the 3-D image in odd ways depending on the route shape to get its best display. Google Earth will do a 3-D image but you cannot get rid of the background and replace it with a map. Example of an annotated 3-D map with elevation from a recent ride.

Using the OziExplorerMaps Plugin I can now fit my 3-D maps to the SportTracks Street map.

To produce the combined map below:

old_man_biking · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

old_man_biking · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:21 am Post subject:

gerhard · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

The calibration is a little quirky. Maps are very difficult, period.
I got around the calibration by editing the generated .map file. Works better for me when I know the coordinates.

AllanHvass · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject:

Hmm, got the custom map accepted and saved. Took me through a couple of dialogues to select MAP file name and map location, but nothing showed up in the displayed map images, and the new custom map didn't appear in the list of maps under OziExplorer settings.

So I restarted ST, and now OziExplorer shows the following error message under settings every time:

The type initializer for 'OldManBiking.OziExplorerMapPlugin.MapProviders.OziExplorerMapRegistry' threw an exception.

at OldManBiking.OziExplorerMapPlugin.MapProviders.OziExplorerMapRegistry.get_Instance()
at OldManBiking.OziExplorerMapPlugin.UI.Settings.OziExplorerMapPluginSettingsPageControl.FillOziExplorerMapsTreeList()
at OldManBiking.OziExplorerMapPlugin.UI.Settings.OziExplorerMapPluginSettingsPageControl.LoadSettings()
at OldManBiking.OziExplorerMapPlugin.UI.Settings.OziExplorerMapPluginSettingsPageControl..ctor()
at OldManBiking.OziExplorerMapPlugin.UI.Settings.OziExplorerMapPluginSettingsPage.CreatePageControl()
at ZoneFiveSoftware.SportTracks.UI.Controls.ViewSettingsPageAdapter.CreatePageControl()
at ZoneFiveSoftware.SportTracks.UI.ViewNavigationManager.ShowCurrentView()

What's wrong here? How do I get back on track?
_________________
Kind Regards
Allan Hvass
Using Garming Edge 305HR+CAD (and lots of other GPS gadgets)

Des · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

I had several problems using the built-in calibration, in the end I used the demo version of oziexplorer (2 calibration points only) to calibrate the image, that worked fine.

Des

AllanHvass · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

Even an uninstall and reinstall of all OMB plugins, incl. the OziExplorer doesn't fix the issue for me - it still throws an exception when going to the settings page, and the Ozi map is not possible to select.

Underneath the AppData file folder, there's an OMBPlugins.log file with the following content, which seems to indicate that the error is occuring late in the startup process, as its able to scan all activities.

SportTracks.exe Information: 0 : OziExplorer Map Plugin: OziExplorerMapPlugin: Plugin started
ThreadId=1
DateTime=2008-12-29T17:45:45.2533350Z
Location=at OldManBiking.SporttracksPlugins.Helpers.OMBTrace.TraceInformation(String message)
Start calculating info for 151 activities.
Calculating info for 151 activities in 2,232412 seconds.

Any idea what's wrong and how to correct this? (See previous post for the error message itself).
_________________
Kind Regards
Allan Hvass
Using Garming Edge 305HR+CAD (and lots of other GPS gadgets)

old_man_biking · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

old_man_biking · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

Des · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

texmurphy · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject:

fpouels · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

Thank you for this perfect plugin, a reason for me to donate (again). This plugin makes it easy to work with oziexplorer maps. Because I run a lot in the woods without street views available, I really prefer this

over this

7270martin · Donated! Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 250

Same to me, I adore this plugin, its just great. I was missing detailled topo maps since I left ST1. Now, I calibrate my maps with OziExplorer and the integration into ST2 is very easy and accurate.

A detailed topo maps shows a lot of informtion and is a great addition to the satellite view. Even though I live in an area where high resolution satellite images are publically available, I mostly use the OziExplorer view insteat of the satellite view. I can fully recommend this plugin to everybody. Thanks to OMB!!

Also thanks to fpouels for the pictures with shows how accurate the plugin works.

jhead · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

Would like to donate to use with scanned orienteering maps, but beta version expired on 22 March and there's no replacement version available. Is there going to be one?

old_man_biking · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:00 am Post subject:

Oops, I forgot.

Yes, I'll relaese a new build soon.

Cheers,
OMB
_________________

www.sporttracks-plugins.com

old_man_biking · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:31 am Post subject: New beta release

Ok, there it is.
I've just uploaded a new beta release.

See http://www.sporttracks-plugins.com/SportTracksPlugins/MyPlugins/OziExplorer%20Map%20Plugin/index.html .

Cheers,
OMB
_________________

www.sporttracks-plugins.com

peho · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:33 am Post subject:

Really great plugin.
One problem with background map though:
I can't choose Apply Routes maps as background maps.
Should it be possible?

old_man_biking · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

peho · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:35 am Post subject:

Great, the workaround works.
/Peter

PATATAJEC · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 5

Is there any chance to get the update of this great plugin after 27.09.2009 because the beta version is going to expire?

I've made a donation today cause i've need this plugin. After donation I realised that i have only just 4 days fun with it Sad