Advanced
Waypoint Management part 2
In Part 1 we demonstrated
some important uses of waypoints and how to save them to a MMC/SD memory
card. In Part 2 we are going to demonstrate how to save waypoints to
your computer. Then we will edit, organize, and back up your waypoints.
I am going to use Lowrance as an example but the path should be similar
for other manufacturers. If you have a digital camera and save your
photos to a computer, you have a head start. The pathway is very similar.
1. Attach your Lowrance card reader to the computer.
2. Insert the MMC/SD card that has your waypoints saved from our last
session into the card reader. Your card reader will be one of the drives
displayed under the “my computer” icon.
3. Open the card reader and you will see your waypoints as a file called
data.usr.
4. Copy the file to where you will be able to find it easily. You now
have your third backup, (GPS, computer, and your MMC/SD card).
At first, I printed my waypoints as backup but I had to keep reprinting
as I add new waypoints. Now I keep them on 2 computers and back-up CDs.
There are many types of software available for working with waypoints.
I use LakeMaster, Fugawi, and MapCreate because they allow me to transfer
waypoints between the programs and edit them. You can find similar functions
in other waypoint management programs.
MapCreate comes with your Lowrance Sonar/GPS Model or MapCreate USA
Accessories Pack. I recommend that you use MapCreate and this article
at the same time to make the following steps clearer.
1. Open MapCreate
2. Select the File pull-down menu in the upper left corner
3. Select Open GPS data and Example 1 is displayed. This is where you
need to remember where you filed your transferred waypoints. If you
can’t find them, repeat the waypoint transfer from your card and
this time remember! Never panic, I lose files all the time.
Example 1
4. Select the waypoint file
and open it.
If you don’t trust computers, print a copy by selecting File in
the top left and select Print GPS data. Next select Low Quality for
printing and print your hard copy.
Now let’s edit some
waypoints in MapCreate.
1. Right-click any waypoint
2. Select Edit and the window displayed in Example 2 appears. In this
window you can rename your waypoint, change the symbol, and center the
waypoint.
Example2
Okay, we now have all our
new waypoints in this one file. Wouldn’t it be nice to have separate
files for different lakes? You can do that in MapCreate. This is what
I do as I have many waypoints saved for many lakes because my tournaments
are located across the Midwest.
1. Select Open GPS file
2. Select your waypoint file
3. Select Export GPS Data File and Example 3 appears
 Example
3
4. You select the waypoints from one lake by holding down the Ctrl button
and left-click each waypoint.
5. Select Export and the waypoints for one lake will be saved as a text
file in the same file as you opened your waypoints.
6. Select New GPS Data File
7. Select Import GPS Data
8. Select Waypoint List and Example 4 appears.
Example 4
9. Double click on the file named output (this is the text file you
exported)
10. Select Save GPS Data File As and name the lake
You now have a file of waypoints
specific for one lake.
Repeat the process for the other lakes and you are organized. If you
only have 50 waypoints this is not so important but I have hundreds.
Once you have them organized the hard work is finished. Now, when I
go to a lake I load just the waypoints for that lake; add new ones for
that day, and save the new updated file. Example 5 is how I file my
waypoints by lake.
Example 5
I have only demonstrated some of the functions of Mapcreate. If you
want to use MapCreate like I do, I have step by step explanations in
my Lowrance Instructional DVDs and at my Lowrance Schools.
Last and most important you have to back up the new lake waypoint files
you created. I recommend copying them to a CD but you can use a floppy
disc, Zip drives, or a MMC/SD memory card. Losing or misplacing waypoint
files is not an option!
Unless you plan on giving up fishing soon, you will be adding waypoints
every year; so get busy.
For information on Lowrance
Instructional DVDs, Sonar/GPS, and Lowrance Schools go to www.hightechfishing.com.
Lowrance Customer service
is also helpful with MapCreate 1-800-324-1356
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