Custom Garmin Map Files HOW TO
The process of creating your own map is simple...
Follow these directions and you should have your first custom map. You can discuss it in the forums if you are still having problems.
Software Required
There are quite a few software packages referenced in this tutorial. You can find them in the Download Section Phase I - Gather your data
You'll need to get this higher level of detail somewhere. That somewhere is you. You can do this a couple of different ways. You can use your tracklog or routes to create a series of waypoints which can then be used by GPS Map Edit. You can also use USAPhotoMaps to draw out waypoints on an aerial or Topo map and use them as well. For the purpose of this example we will use USAPhotoMaps to create one from an aerial map.
Begin by loading USAPhotoMaps and start becoming familiar with the software. You'll be able to input coordinates on the opening screen use your favorite forest preserve. Also be sure to get familiar with creating .GPX files in USAMaps before proceeding. Read the documentation, it's quite helpful.
Next, press "F" to download the aerial maps for that preserve.
Once you have the aerial map loaded on your screen, click your mouse around the forest preserve to create waypoints. Call your waypoints "FP1", "FP2", etc... It's important that you name your waypoints something easy to remember. You wont be displaying them anywhere, they are only for your reference.
After you have your whole preserve mapped out now find a lake, or path (aerial photos often show paths) and draw out the lines for those paths and lakes. Use familiar waypoints such as FPL1 (Forest preserve lake 1) or FPBP1 (Forest preserve bike path 1).
Once that's complete you should be able to see your waypoints on your map.
Example 1:This is provided for your reference. You should have something that looks like this. Click on the image for a larger view of how your screen should look.
The program will save a .XML file, rename it to .GPX.
You should now have a .GPX file.You are ready for Phase II.
Phase II - Create Your Map
Before you can create your map you'll need to turn that GPX file into something GPS Map Utility can use. My littleGPI programcan convert it into a file that MapSource can read, or you can use EasyGPS or whatever. The conversion program is your choice.
We'll assume you used MapSource to import these waypoints and create a .MPS file.
Load your the .MPS file into GPS Map Utility. It directly imports your waypoints. This is also helpful if you used your tracklog or routes for creating your waypoint data. Loading your waypoints into GPS Map Utility will now give you your waypoints in this utility. Your screen should look something like this.
Example 2:
You should now have data loaded into GPS Map Utility.
Here is where the fun begins. Remember doing connect the dots? That's what you're going to do. Since you named them something easy to remember like FP1, you can now select the Create Region Tool and Polygon(use the dropdown arrow).
Now Simply connect the dots on your outline of the preserve itself. Once you get to the last waypointRight Clickand it will complete the polygon for you and allow you to choose a land type. Use "Forest".
Repeat this for your trails and your water (depending on how much you outlined).
You should now have a completed map ready for conversion into your MapsourceTMprogram.
Example 3:
Here is a completed map. Remember, we did very LOW detail in this example because of time constraints. Taking your time and including detail helps everyone on submitted maps.
Save you file as "Polish Format" .TXT files. This is one of the files that you will submit to theOpen Map Project.
Phase III - Compile and Test!
Wherever you installed GPSMapper, create a MYMAPS directory underneath it. Copy your newly created .TXT to there.
You have a .TXT file that GPSMapper can now use. You will want to take the test_pv.txt(from the test_map directory)file and copy it to the same filename you saved your .TXT file as. For example:
ROBTEST.TXT
ROBTEST_PV.TXT
Both of these should now reside in the MYMAPS directory.
You are now ready to begin your first compile.
From your MYMAPS directory execute the following command line.
..\cgpsmapper ac robtest.txt
Replace "robtest.txt" with whatever you named your file.
You should get a clean compile and it should at the end spit out an .IMG filename. For example:
2 regions
to import... done 2 regions to import... done
Size optimization in progress Done! File :11023330.img is
written
You'll need to remember that .IMG filename for the next step.
Open the _PV.TXT file with your favorite text editor. You will need to change only 1 line of this file to test your map.
img=10000012.img
Change this to the newly created .IMG file name. in our example here.
img=11023330.img
You are now ready to do your last compile.
From your MYMAPS directory execute the following command line.
..\cgpsmapper pv robtest_pv.txt
If everything is fine so far and you did not make any misspellings you should get a clean compile. If you list your directory with "dir" in here you'll see the following files. 11023330.img
robtest.txt
robtest_pv.txt
Testmap.img
Testmap.TDB
I recommend that once you get familiar with this you start playing around with filenames and your _PV.txt file. You can control copyright information, map names and combine maps. The _PV file is not needed by the theOpen Map Project. It is required for your testing of the map file prior to submission however.
At this point you can test it in MapSource. You'll need to make a few registry changes in order for MapSource to identify your new maps.
From this point forward you accept complete responsibility for what the remainder of this document does to your system, your GPS or both.
Don't come crying to me if it breaks I can't help you. See the forums. *I*didn't have any problems doing this. Your system may be different and we can not accept any responsibility for your loss.
Open Regedit (START->RUN->REGEDIT)
You'll need to navigate toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Garmin\MapSource\Products
Now create a new "key". For this example we will call it66. This does coincide with the _PV.txt file. You can alter this later once you get comfortable with the process.
Inside that key, you need to make 3 entries.
Loc - path to your IMG files
Bmap - file name with full path to the preview IMG created by cGPSmap
Tdb - file name with full path to the TDB file created by cGPSmap
They need to point to where you just created these new files (i.e. MYMAPS). You should then have the following in regedit.
Example 4:
Once you complete this, you can close regedit. You willnotneed to edit it again unless you change your _PV.TXT file to a different product ID other than 66. If you re-compile the _PV.txt file it will automatically update and no need to mess with the registry again.
Now, the final step. Load MapSource. If you get an error, something is wrong in the registry. You'll need to figure out what you did wrong. Forums may be helpful. If you don't get an error, you should be able to select your newly created map and view it in MapSource.
That's it! You should be able to upload it and use it like any other MapSource product. Congratulations!
Ready For more?
 Custom Map Tutorial II
Advanced map tutorial allowing you to map right off of a USGS Map.
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