Review: Microsoft AutoRoute

I felt the same way last night when I tinkered with this forum's settings. The site was then down for about 30 minutes.

Sorry everyone. But I will always tinker with something no matter if it's broken or not.

Hi
I am new and Danish.
Making URL address ( to the computer i.e. C:\..... ) in each poi seems to be a littel difficult.
But I did it - in my way.
1. Data set properties - Hyperlink - .... automatically create a set ....
2. copy the set - delete the set - return to use hyperlinks ( 1st ) - OK
3. put in the hyperlink to the balloon notes

Is there an more easy way to do it ?

I am using Windows 7 with old GPS-receiver's - working all fine.

Bredo

Hi Bredo, and welcome to the forums. The following thread may help: Pushpin links to files and folders

Thanks to Marvin Hlavac
It seems I have found the same method to make URL's work.
I just use the installed converter in a tricky' way.
With AutoRoute 2010 using my own icons, many pushpins to install, etc. there may be a good successor for Route 66/PC.
But I have to find an easy way cause I got app. 6.000 maps with 18.000 files from an Route 66 Europe session'.
Mostly created for mobile home to use in Denmark - Skandinavia and central Europe.
I have looked all over for an converter to .psh or .rou files - not possible.
_______________

Bredo

Hi
Finally I got the AutoRoute 2010 with GPS locater.
The locator wasn’t necessary but my local IBM dealer is a good man.

I have 2 laptops – Wind.XP and Wind.7 – can I install the CD on both laptops ?
I also have 2 stationary – is it too much to ask for ?

From the trial version I have found some needs comparing to Route 66 Europe for PC – professional.
Hoping that the constructors of AutoRoute will look kindly to my requests, I will point them here.
After this I will benefit AR for the advantage.

1) TMC - possible for PC since app. 2004. ( Route 66 PC )
2) Vehicle size – car/(van)/truck. -
3) Automatic URL routing internet/intranet - HTTP/PC.
4) Details on map to make colours and include details. -
5) Street numbers on map -
6) Advanced search for words in pushpins and related files in the URL address. -
- and for me other small details.
Have I overlooked extraordinary and essential features which are possible ?

To the benefit for me
1) convertable routes and pushpins
2) link to - show in Bing Maps ( Google for recognition of buildings and more. )
3) Lat./long to transfer / copy
4) Partly voice – but terrible on Danish (foreign) places.
(I think only the origin language will do) – you get more distracted then assisted.
5) including driver and scan receiver – configure GPS receiver
6) highlight pushpins
- and for me other small details.
Have I overlooked extraordinary and essential features which are possible ?

I have made registered databases for users of GPS on laptops to use in mobile homes.
Mostly to use without internet – but with links to use if connected.
A non profitable CD – 700 MB for more than 200 registered Scandinavian users.
A similar private project as the Danish official agency for maps ( KMS ) made with “ Det levende Danmarkskort ” – which where stopped by the government.
It where established in 2004 and last edition of Route 66 was 2005 -

I do hope AutoRoute will continue – there are more than 17.000 pushpins, 18.000 files and 6.000 maps to be restored.
----------------------------------
Bredo - Denmark

Firstly Hi to all. This is my first posting on this site. Interesting Forum all round

On page 6 of this thread there is discussion of using Bluetooth (PDA, and Laptop) to Bluetooth sat receivers.

I have used a Fortuna (old but good, ex PDA) Bluetooth GPS Satnav receiver, into an oldish laptop (USB 1.1) and budget Bluetooth receiver.

As stated, AutoRoute 2007 expects to see com port connections (I have not got that far with AR2010, but will try later) .

I used an old version of Franson GpsGate. The software "converts" the USB connection to a Com connection (explained in is simplest terms, also can do a lot more besides).

It worked very well.

No reason to expect AR2010 to be that different ??

Rgds

Edit . Preaching to the converted ?? GpsGate !!

Welcome to the forum, Tony.

Yes, you are!

GPS Gate of any vintage will only convert Garmin GPS USB receivers to a COM port. Most stand alone USB GPS devices come with a driver to provide a serial (COM port) output from the USB input.

Bluetooth is a different issue. It looks at the BT GPS and assigns a COM port directly. Be careful though as a couple ex PDA Bluetooth GPS BT devices mentioned are 9600 bps only. This is where GPS Gate can resolve the problem. It can take that higher bit rate and output a signal acceptable to AutoRoute.

Terry

Nope. All the same thing for the connection to the GPS receiver ... COM port at 4800bps and that's all.

...ken...

Many thanks for a great review

josa

Hi

This is my first post as a new member. Having searched in various places for answers I would appreciate some help in saving pushpins. Although I am familiar with saving POIs in TomTom I have found the process in Autoroute a bit confusing because I don't understand the basic principles!

Firstly, am I correct in thinking that POIs in Autoroute are fixed and appear under “Find other places” as categories (either restaurants or places) whereas imported POIs appear as pushpin sets?

Having saved various POIs as axe. files when I try to import them using the “Import data wizard” they don’t appear because there is no axe. file type in “Files of type”. However if I open the axe. file it opens up a new (additional) AR map with the name of the POI file in the heading.

Similarly, when I create a pushpin and go to (save)save as, the file type will be either axe. or axt. (Map Template). Having read about templates elsewhere I wondered whether this is where I have been going wrong and that I should save by clicking on “New European Map” and saving the created or imported pushpins as a new .axt map template?

If this is the case, does that then mean that the “New European Map” has then effectively overwritten the original (which I have saved as a copy) and effectively become the default map which will appear each time the programme starts. Just a bit hesitant because, as I indicated, I am not sure what I am doing!

There are also seem to be a couple of other file types which are used in Autoroute - .gpx (Garmin) and .csv (comma separated values). I understand that ov2 file types can be converted to .gpx and wonder of this is the best approach so that “Import GPX file ” can be used. Or will the data wizard import .ov2 files and then convert them itself?

Thanks

Roger

Hi Roger,

Welcome to the forum.

Yes.

Quote:

Having saved various POIs as axe. files when I try to import them using the “Import data wizard” they don’t appear because there is no axe. file type in “Files of type”. However if I open the axe. file it opens up a new (additional) AR map with the name of the POI file in the heading.

I'm not familiar with Autoroute. I'm guessing the axe and axt file types are just like est and stt file types in Streets&Trips. If so, you do not "import" them. You open them using the File > Open menu. I think the Import option for that file type is only so you can "import" those file from older versions of Autoroute.

Perhaps someone more familiar with Autoroute can be of more help with this issue.

Quote:

There are also seem to be a couple of other file types which are used in Autoroute - .gpx (Garmin) and .csv (comma separated values). I understand that ov2 file types can be converted to .gpx and wonder of this is the best approach so that “Import GPX file ” can be used. Or will the data wizard import .ov2 files and then convert them itself?

If Autoroute is like Streets&Trips, it will not import an ov2 file so you would need to convert to .gpx or .csv and import.

...ken...

Ken is correct.

Roger, when you say

are you saving them as a new *.axe file? As I am sure you know, AR saves only as AXE or AXT files which are the map and all the features you have added such as stops and pushpins. So, if you have imported POIs they will now be pushpins that get saved in the new AXE or AXT file. You can alternatively use data export to create a new GPX file that saves those pushpins.

Open New European Map wipes out whatever map you previously had open and opens a new map called Europe.axe. If you had saved a map previously with your POIs as pushpins, then it would open the map with the pushpins as you had saved it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger20 ... I understand that ov2 file types can be converted to .gpx and wonder of this is the best approach so that “Import GPX file ” can be used. Or will the data wizard import .ov2 files and then convert them itself?

I don't know anything about OV2 files.

Hi,

OV2 files are used in the TOMTOM car naviagation system. There is a program on the internet called POIConvert which converts most GPS car navigation POIs from one source usable on another source.

I know it will convert OV2, Autoroute 2007 , (have not tried Autoroute2010 yet) Mappoint 2009, to various formats. It will also convert *.axe files to *.CSV files which can be edited and read back into Autoroute.

As said in the above posting, Autoroute having read stored POIs by hand, or by importing csv files (can use Msoft Excel to form / read the file) will save the whole lot in the *.axe file. The trick is getting them out again ; -)) this where POIconvert is a great help.

Rgds

In AR2010, you can export POI pushpins to GPX file; a new feature in 2010.