The Oregon allows multiple maps to be enabled at the same time, yet BaseCamp does not support this. I have custom trail maps that display over the topo maps on the Oregon. In BaseCamp the same functionality is needed.
Will KML overlays display over Garmin maps in Basecamp? If so, why wouldn't you also support the display of a proper Garmin-compatible transparent overlay? Is there something significantly more difficult about displaying a Garmin overlay versus displaying a Google overlay?
EDIT: Okay, I did some checking to see if there was some way to convert and in the process I think I discovered the difference. Garmin-compatible transparent overlay maps, such as those that many people create from tracks, are vector files. The KML/KMZ overlays are actually raster images. So it appears you are using the already-existing Birdseye features' ability to display raster images. Is that correct? If so, I assume that's a lot simpler than adding the code to allow the display of multiple vector map files. ??
I couldn't find any way to directly convert a proper Garmin-compatible transparent overlay map to a KML/KMZ overlay file.
Garmin has never supported "transparent" maps in their products. The GPS units have always allowed display of multiple maps at the same time. The PC software have normally not allowed this. One exception is Mobile PC as it is meant simulate a Nuvi.
"Transparent" is the wrong term. "Overlay" is more correct. The term transparent came from the developer of cgpsmapper. As he is Polish, his English word choice was not the best, but it became the common term. Basically these are IMG type Garmin maps with no background and the draw priority set to the highest, so they draw last without totally obscuring the map drawn first.
I think BaseCamp limitation is that you can choose only single vector map at a time. If you'd like display 2 maps at a time you have to connect them to single mapset on PC or single file on removable drive.
Basically these are IMG type Garmin maps with no background and the draw priority set to the highest, so they draw last without totally obscuring the map drawn first.
Background, transparency and draw priority are 3 different features of a map, which can be set separately. I think transparency can be treated like suggestion: add 32 to priority and ignore background.
Overlay map could be a map without area objects, only points and lines. It is easy to display that kind of map over any other one.
Thanks for all the info. You are correct in that these are .img files that overlay the display map image. I need to see the Topo map, BirdsEye image, and the trail overlay .img to be able to plan a route. Currently I can only do that on the Oregon (which is not easy). It would be so much easier to build the route in BaseCamp.
If I could combine two .img files into one it would help. Is this possible?
I am totally new with Garmin products. So some of my statements may be incorrect, sorry for that in advance.
I would like to see the capability too see multiple maps at the same time just to have proper tool to plan some routes. I searched from the Internet and it seems that people, your customers, have requested (at least a lot of discussions in many forums) this feature long time ago to MapSource and hoping that now BaseCamp would solve this really simple issue. It seems that people have found not allowed ways to do this, is this really what you want that your customers do?
I hope that you listen your customers and provide this feature to all of us.
I agree with the need to display more than one map at a time. Is there some reason why no one from Garmin has addressed this?
To be clear, Garmin and others (such as me) make transparent overlay maps (mostly trail maps). When you view them on your GPS they will transparently display on top of other maps. They are regular *.img maps set to transparent with a draw order of 31.
Since they are set to transparent, it should be easy for BaseCamp to detect which maps are transparent and have a set up option where you can tell BaseCamp to always display the transparent map. For example, if you had CityNavigator and a transparnet trail map loaded in BaseCamp, you should have the ability to view CN and the transparent trail map at the same time.
Basecamp needs a simple map selector function like the navigation devices so when the map list drops down you can select more than one.
Although selecting even one transparent overlay (in addition to one non-transparent map) would be a large improvement, that's not really sufficient. In my Nuvi and eTrex I normally have at least two overlays checked on, regardless which road map I have selected.
If the device folks can do it in those horribly underpowered toys it seems to me past time for the PC based software to step up to the challenge. :)
I think they need to make Basecamp allow us to select any number of multiple maps available and draw them together, just as they would appear on our GARMIN GPSr units.
This is really a very old request, and something they need to put at the top of their TO-DO list!
