Create Audible Time Checks and Reminders for Full-Screen Navigator
As most experienced Streets and Trips users know, it can be a little difficult to keep track of the time of a planned route while you are using Full-Screen navigation. This can be especially true on long, featureless journeys. However, there is a way to do it. And this way, you do not have to fiddle with Streets & Trips to get back to the Driving Directions and then back again to Navigation mode.
Plan your route in the usual fashion and then add Stops along the way on the route approximating when you would like a time check, taking care to assure that these new stops are truly on the route. Then, look at the Driving Directions, noting the arrival time of each of the stops. Next, rename (right-click on the Stop in the Route Planner to access the drop-down menu to find Rename) the respective stops with the time, say, "Time Check: 1:04 PM". If you want to be real anal about it, you can move the stops so that they are exactly on the nearest hour. Then as you drive along, you can compare what Microsoft Anna (or Sam) says about the time of your route plan versus what your watch or dashboard clock says.
See, for example, the attached map and route for driving from Regina, SK, to Calgary, AB. Say that you want to arrive in the downtown at 5:00 PM, having set the route speed options all to the max. I have set up time-check Stops along the way to call out the time on the hour. In this way, the driver knows how he/she is doing against the original route plan without ever leaving Full-Screen Navigation mode.
Also, you can insert helpful reminders as Stops to call out, for instance, "Remember to fill up in Medicine Hat" or that you are in a new time zone.
As most experienced Streets and Trips users know, it can be a little difficult to keep track of the time of a planned route while you are using Full-Screen navigation. This can be especially true on long, featureless journeys. However, there is a way to do it. And this way, you do not have to fiddle with Streets & Trips to get back to the Driving Directions and then back again to Navigation mode.
Plan your route in the usual fashion and then add Stops along the way on the route approximating when you would like a time check, taking care to assure that these new stops are truly on the route. Then, look at the Driving Directions, noting the arrival time of each of the stops. Next, rename (right-click on the Stop in the Route Planner to access the drop-down menu to find Rename) the respective stops with the time, say, "Time Check: 1:04 PM". If you want to be real anal about it, you can move the stops so that they are exactly on the nearest hour. Then as you drive along, you can compare what Microsoft Anna (or Sam) says about the time of your route plan versus what your watch or dashboard clock says.
See, for example, the attached map and route for driving from Regina, SK, to Calgary, AB. Say that you want to arrive in the downtown at 5:00 PM, having set the route speed options all to the max. I have set up time-check Stops along the way to call out the time on the hour. In this way, the driver knows how he/she is doing against the original route plan without ever leaving Full-Screen Navigation mode.
Also, you can insert helpful reminders as Stops to call out, for instance, "Remember to fill up in Medicine Hat" or that you are in a new time zone.
SpadesFlush:
Interesting suggestion. The only problem with it, is that it does not allow any unplanned stop through out the day: this would mess all stops already renamed with an hour getting obsolete after the unplanned stop (like for a dinner longer than expected). Renaming all of them manually seems on the little tedious side...
As an alternative for the one who prefers a more automatic way, S&T Keys 2010 (and 2009) (free add-on for S&T and autoroute see links in my signature) allow to drive in "calendar mode" and reajust all route planning stops date/time each time an unplanned stop is made (by just pushing any of the navigation hotkeys, like "F5", etc). The goods, no extra manual stops are needed, planning for many days can be reajusted automatically with real calendar date/time. The drawback is like you specified, to see the planning, you have to switch from full screen navigation on/off, but the switching can be made very quickly by pressing the "V" hotkey when in fullscreen navigation (to see the directions) and pressing "F11" key to quickly return to fullscreen navigation when done... Additionnal drawback of this method is that it slows things a little to be ready to begin navigation when starting the trip.
Fortunatly, it is good that there are always more than a way to do things and this forum allow to share them
Interesting suggestion. The only problem with it, is that it does not allow any unplanned stop through out the day: this would mess all stops already renamed with an hour getting obsolete after the unplanned stop (like for a dinner longer than expected). Renaming all of them manually seems on the little tedious side...
As an alternative for the one who prefers a more automatic way, S&T Keys 2010 (and 2009) (free add-on for S&T and autoroute see links in my signature) allow to drive in "calendar mode" and reajust all route planning stops date/time each time an unplanned stop is made (by just pushing any of the navigation hotkeys, like "F5", etc). The goods, no extra manual stops are needed, planning for many days can be reajusted automatically with real calendar date/time. The drawback is like you specified, to see the planning, you have to switch from full screen navigation on/off, but the switching can be made very quickly by pressing the "V" hotkey when in fullscreen navigation (to see the directions) and pressing "F11" key to quickly return to fullscreen navigation when done... Additionnal drawback of this method is that it slows things a little to be ready to begin navigation when starting the trip.
Fortunatly, it is good that there are always more than a way to do things and this forum allow to share them
... it does not allow any unplanned stop through out the day...
I could see this tip being useful in understanding where one stands against the route plan if unexpected delays or short stops intervene.
flexible and opportunistic rambling characteristic of recreational tourism.
Terry
, and it's an interesting tip, too. One of 7 by SpadesFlush that have already been listed in Tips & Tricks for Streets & Trips. Thanks!
But I do not mean to take anything at all away from MisterMoonlight's wonderful application, S&T Keys, which I use and is quite ingeneous in its own right.
This thread has just highlighted what a flexible program S&T can be. With help from Mr Moonlight's add-on and SpadesFlush recommendations it can solve problems in the no-nonsense work day world or planned but flexible vacation time. And many uses in between with the help of all the great contributors to this site.
Terry
Terry
SpadesFlush:
I am just trying to place a free "commercial" plug for S&T Key in your interesting post. So all these spent programming hours serve to as many people as possible .
So each time i am seeing an opportunity, i am taking it
So continue to use your ingeniosity to create these wonderfull ideas !
I am just trying to place a free "commercial" plug for S&T Key in your interesting post. So all these spent programming hours serve to as many people as possible .
So each time i am seeing an opportunity, i am taking it
So continue to use your ingeniosity to create these wonderfull ideas !
SpadesFlush:
I am just trying to place a free "commercial" plug for S&T Key in your interesting post. So all these spent programming hours serve to as many people as possible .
So each time i am seeing an opportunity, i am taking it
So continue to use your ingeniosity to create these wonderfull ideas !
I am just trying to place a free "commercial" plug for S&T Key in your interesting post. So all these spent programming hours serve to as many people as possible .
So each time i am seeing an opportunity, i am taking it
So continue to use your ingeniosity to create these wonderfull ideas !
SpadesFlush:
Don't be so modest. Your imagination can create unusual tips at time
As for the credit for S&T Keys, most of it goes to Marvin. I am just like the faithful guy who follows the master's trace to continue the good work
Don't be so modest. Your imagination can create unusual tips at time
As for the credit for S&T Keys, most of it goes to Marvin. I am just like the faithful guy who follows the master's trace to continue the good work
flexible and opportunistic rambling characteristic of recreational tourism.
What a wonderful turn of phrase. I love it!!
Terry
Terry
My wife uses a different descriptive phrase sometimes....
...ken...
...
My wife uses a different descriptive phrase sometimes...
My wife uses a different descriptive phrase sometimes...
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