Don't like the iTune like interface

I know change is hard but there are better ways of doing things.

Just because the method is new does not make it better. In this case, IMNSHO, the old way is far superior to the new. We're giving up way too much functionality just so the new can look and feel like GoogleMaps. Not just on the desktop, but in the units as well.

With the word - document analogy, every waypoint could be a file but it sounds like you guys are requesting multiple collections. Which you can do as described above. Just name your folder the trip you want to create. Put a pointer to your garmin folder under places in the finder HD window to make it easy to move the BaseCamp folder.

My collection is merely a GDB file. It could be done so that I can name those files with names that mean something to me, and allow me to have more than one open at a time. That can't be that hard

Let the application open multiple collections in individual windows.
That could work.

The method you outlined still limits me to only one collection open at a time.

Maybe subfolders within MyCollection.
And when you import a GPX file it puts each import into a subfolder of my collection. And the contents of those subfolders are unique.

That might work.

i.e. no where is there a big mess like the current MyCollection.
In it's current implementation that is certainly NOT a better way of doing things.

Most frustrating example... Select a folder in basecamp or roadtrip.
Duplicate it. Hmm Intuition tells me I should have 2 copies of everything and I should be able to edit the contents of the duplicate, but the original will remain unaltered.

I just duplicated a route, did a drag to change the route and and the original did not change. I duplicated a folder but selected the objects in the folder first and it work great. Made changes in the duplicated and the orginal remained unaltered which is what I expect to happen. I am not following the most frustrating example.

Right click (control-click) on a folder in basecamp or roadtrip.
Choose duplicate folder.

you duplicated the individual items, instead of duplicating the folder.

I just duplicated a route, did a drag to change the route and and the original did not change. I duplicated a folder but selected the objects in the folder first and it work great. Made changes in the duplicated and the original remained unaltered which is what I expect to happen. I am not following the most frustrating example.

If that worked on a duplicated folder it would solve a few problems, but it doesn't. If you do a folder duplication and edit the route in one, BaseCamp edits the route in both folders. The same behavior happens if I copy the routes and then paste them into a new folder. Editing one changes them both.

Edit:

I see the problem. If you use the most elegant method, control (or right) click_copy and then paste the result into a new folder, or, if you use the same method to create a duplicate folder, editing one route changes them both. However, if you use the edit menu it seems an unlinked pair is created. Notice, if you use the mouse to do the copy, the paste function is greyed out if you try and paste directly into a new folder. The same holds true with keyboard shortcuts. Using command c/command v results in a linked pair that get edited as one. The only way to do it is to use the menu system. Not an improvement.

The contents of the folders in BaseCamp/RoadTrip are effectively alias's that point to the originals in My Collection.

Part of the problem is that BaseCamp/RoadTrip do not give me any clue that I am actually opening an alias.

The Finder at least gives me a visual clue that the Items are not truly duplicates, but merely pointers.



This stuff is not documented. I've had to learn these things by trial and error.
The time cost of those errors is overwhelming and very frustrating.

Granted neither of you guys are the average user but I think by far most people want all their geo-data in one file. Like iTunes, iPhoto, or Aperture 3.

Even Aperture 3 will not allow you to open multiple libraries. You can easily export parts of libraries as a library, switch libraries and even sync. Multiple libraries and file manipulation is not what the iPhone, iPod, iTune, iPhoto group that is giving Apple the 36% growth want. Terminal application is not on their radar. This is the Group Garmin must attract to maintain their lead. It why they did a windows basecame to attract the new group.

The BaseCamp needs some organizational tools for My collection but with subfolders, and additional smart folders to filter by name and comment, even the power users should be able to organize easily and neatly. It much easier for me to drag between folders in the same window than multiple windows and smart folders for text should eliminate most dragging.

I think BaseCamp will have these features in the not too distance future. I really had a neatly organized collection until I started extermination for this thread. Now it a mess like yours. :-) Guess I will have to enter time machine.

The contents of the folders in BaseCamp/RoadTrip are effectively alias's that point to the originals in My Collection.

This stuff is not documented. I've had to learn these things by trial and error.
The time cost of those errors is overwhelming and very frustrating.

Well you are right, I was just deleting files for changes and not changing a route.

Try this for a work around:

Create a new folder. Go to the original folder and select the objects you want to duplicate. Right click one of the selected objects and duplicate. This time every selected object will have a number appended and a new name. The original selection will still be selected and you can drag them to the folder you created. Now you have a copy you can change without changing the original. When you duplicate a folder, it is like copying objects to a new folder.

Granted neither of you guys are the average user but I think by far most people want all their geo-data in one file. Like iTunes, iPhoto, or Aperture 3.

I disagree We are the average user who USES the application for Trip planning and route preparation.

The GPS will do a pretty good job of managing waypoints, and point A to B routing and I don't need to even load the computer software. Those are the average users. They never use The application for constructing a route. Very few of Garmins's current offering support custom routes at all.

The application should support those who actually USE it to produce something. There are many more of us out here than you know.


In reality itunes does not keep all of my .mp3 files in one file.

They are still individual .mp3 files separated into folders by Artist/album.

I can browse that file structure in the Finder.

This is very unlike one huge file named AllData.gbd
We should be able to separate AllData.gdb into multiple files when the need arises. And we should have the ability to open several of those files at the same time when the situation deems it productive. And we should be able to select which ones we want open.

Garmin is going to loose the simple users anyway. They will all end up using their cell phones to do point A to B navigation. And it will cost them less in the long run. Only the folks who want to do advanced routing will be using dedicated devices and plotting routes on the computer.