I just purchased MS Streets and Trips 2010 and have NEVER used any type of mapping software. I was shocked to discover that I have no instructions on how to use the software I just purchased. No PDF file, no ReadMe file and it says it has a DVD but I can't figure out where they put it because I sure haven't seen it. I've also searched and searched the web and can't find one thing. I'm normally quite savy when it comes to new software but this has me stumped. Does anyone know where to find instructions on how to used this stuff?

Hi LeftyMomNC,

Welcome to Laptop GPS World.

The built-in Help file in the program is an excellent source of information on how to use Streets & Trips. Access it by either pressing the F1 keyboard shortcut, or by clicking the "Help" on the menu bar.

Feel free to ask questions on this forum, as well as visit S&T Team blog for more tips & tricks.

I've tried the help button but it wasn't very helpful. I was hoping for a PDF file or the DVD the box promised me was in what I purchased. Do I have any other options or should I just return this? I've spent the last 3 hours trying to figure it out and I'm ready to trash it and purchase another product that does come with instructions.

Is there anything better than the help file? I don't understand how a software package would not come with an instruction manual at least a PDF I could print...pretty crappy.

Try to look through the Help one more time. I think it is quite well organised, and it covers the basics as well as advanced topics.

The main thing that's missing is not the manual/help file -- but a tutorial that walks you through a few tasks. Yes, the help file describes all the functions of the program. The problem is: Where do you start? The free-form interface of S&T can really be a shock to people who are used to standalone GPS navigation devices.

This Youtube video does a pretty decent job of showing you how to get started with navigation in Streets & Trips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibuWdeYgTt0

That having been said, the helpfile truly is the most comprehensive source of information about using the program. We've seen several cases of people coming to this forum with a basic question about using the program -- but the information is already in the help file (and comes up when you search for the most obvious term).

The problem is that S&T has a freeform interface, which is very different from the interface in standalone GPS navigation units. The helpfile is also written to explain the functions present in the freeform interface -- not to bridge the conceptual gap between standalone units and S&T.

S&T really needs to add a task-oriented interface, to cater to the new demographic of customers who are familiar with GPS navigation units.

There are so many ways to use Streets and Trips that it would be a challenge to offer instructions. However, some Forum members have been contributing examples to the "library" thread that might be useful for a new user to review. See http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/1111-streets-trips-library-member-trips. I hope those postings ring some bells with new users.

How did you get Street's loaded without the "DVD"?

Hi Ktrack -

You can download a free trial (1.8 Gig, so you need a high speed connection), then purchase an activation code (code returned within 24 hours) - all without a DVD. Convenient if you have a netbook without a DVD drive.

But, the way I read it, she bought the box with the CD; maybe that's what she meant by "DVD." I can't think of any software that comes with an instructional DVD, but then what do I know?