Well that explains the strange message I got from S&T 2010 this month when installing the latest POI file about needing a newer version when none is yet available


And BTW since this is my first post here, thanks for all the hard work, these POI's are tremendous for us as we RV across the land.

Sorry Lisa, and welcome to the forum!

Re: Streets & Trips 2011 + POI Mega File

A user reported that after converting POI Mega file version 2010 into 2011, the pushpinsets, which were hidden before, were suddenly all open.

I haven't tested it myself, but my first suggestion was to simply download and use the 2011 version of POI Megafile, which Larry made available for download even before S&T2011 released. POI Mega file is available as a free downloads on page 1 of this thread.

For those wishing to find out more about the newly released version 2011 of the program, here's our review: http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/2380-review-microsoft-streets-trips#2011

I have downloaded and used all the previous versions of the Mega File and used them in my S&T 2010 - I use the big download as I don't always get zips to unzip. Anyway, I got may new DVD of the 2011 S&T from MS and loaded it and it works fine. Then I did the Jan 2011 version of the Mega File and used it to start S&T and it doesn't seem to want to work. I have tried a few times with doing install and uninstall of both S&T 2011 and the Mega File with little success. What happens is S&T runs snail slow and often gives the (Not Responding) message. Whatever I try to do with S&T whether related to the Mega File or not it just does not want to go - or is very very slow. I also tried the zip file from both Laptop GPS World and Discovery Owners website and can't get the zip to go at all - which is probably because zips are above my paygrade. I have no idea about this stuff but would guess maybe there is something wrong with that most recent Mega File. If I start S&T 2011 by itself it will be up and running and ready to go in about 30 seconds. With the Mega File it takes several minutes to start and then when I try to get it to do anything as far as I can tell evey function is very slow and often the (Not Responding) appears. Maybe someone can check to see if this is a problem for others?

Seems ok opening it directly with S&T 2011 on a Win 7 computer. What o/s are you using?

Terry

We use Vista on a Dell 1420 that usually seems pretty fast - and I have used previous versions of the Mega File on S&T 2010 with no problems - S&T 2011 works fine until I try to use the Jan. 2011 Mega File and then it is so slow it is unusable.

I find S&T 2011 loads much more slowly on my HP laptop runnning Vista than on the desktop using Win7. It can take up to 17 seconds before the splash screen comes up. I tried with and without the megafile and they were both awful. Using the megafile, I also noticed redraw speeds are glacial. I did not see that on the Win7 computer.

Terry

Sorry - I don't know what splash screen means - when I start Streets & Trips 2011 by its self it takes about 30 seconds to be ready to go - if I use the Jan 2011 Mega File to start S&T 2011 it can take several minutes for it to be ready to use. Once it is up and running it still takes forever for it to do anything. I did not have this problem with previous versions of the Mega File or with S&T 2010. I will keep fooling around with it. Though I know all about all the bad raps about Vista we have had it for about 3 years and have never had one single Vista related problem that I am aware of. Thanks for your efforts.....

I have no issues with Vista. It is a very mature product. Unfortunately, in my case S&T 2011 is very slow on it compared to Win7.

Terry

I just tried the megafile on Win7 again and it is pretty slow at redraws too. I have not tried the 2010 version so can't say how they compare. I do have 2010 on the Vista laptop so might try a comparison there.

Terry

Well I will continue to be Confused. I deleted and again downloaded the Mega File in the long version - I cannot figure out what to do with zips as I do not get and Extract option as I have seen with other POI zips - anyway, download and now it works fine - S&T 2011 up and running with the Mega File in action in less than 15 seconds. I have no idea if I did something wrong previously or if there was a temporary bug somewhere. Maybe it just takes perseverance. Try try again.

I just tried it on the Vista computer to confirm. Right click and drag the downloaded zip file and Vista will offer to extract it to a folder of your choice! Couldn't be easier.

Terry

Has anyone else tried to load the free time zone files at http://ontimezone.com/downloads.php on top of the Mega File with any success?

I have tried several different methods [.stt, .gpx, .est], but each one fails to give me what I want - a Mega File with the time zones also showing. The author of the time zone files claims that these are some sort of multi-graphic points in S&T, but they must do funny things.

Help appreciated,
Tom

Hi Tom,

I've added Steve's timezone lines to the POI megafile in a couple of ways.

1) Using a custom version of the GPX file (see attached GPX). The drawback here is that those lines are permanent and cannot be removed from the map once they are imported.
2) select and copy and paste each line segment manually from the source map to the POI megafile map. This doesn't take too long and the lines can be tailored to your liking using the drawing tool bar for line thickness and color.

Do either of those techniques work for you?

Attached Files

ST-TimeZone-Lines.gpx (103.9 KB)