OZI Explorer

[edgear]

Can Ozi be used as a file conversion utility?

GPS Babel
BajaTaco told me about this sweet GPS file conversion utility. Hopefully it will work for what you need to do.

 

[ntsqd]

That is cool, but it appears to only convert waypoint/track/route files and not maps. Need to dig into what file types are actually stored on the Lowrance's MMC card. Unfortunately it's going to the Baja 500 w/o me so it'll have to wait.

 

[whitethaiger]

That is cool, but it appears to only convert waypoint/track/route files and not maps. Need to dig into what file types are actually stored on the Lowrance's MMC card. Unfortunately it's going to the Baja 500 w/o me so it'll have to wait.

Yes, Babel is for converting tracks, waypoints, etc, but not maps. I don't know of a program that converts between the different proprietary map formats the different GPS manufacturers use. I know that for some makes you can make your own maps, but I've never looked into that and just live with the Magellan maps when I'm out of the truck.

 

[1leglance]

Sorry it has been so long since I posted to this thread but I have been gathering my toys and testing different options.

1st gen setup was bluetooth gps w/ treo 700 window mobile using Iguidance for street and beeline for offroad. I would either enter waypts from books or use google earth and figure my plan and waypt it. No offroad mapping possible. No routes possible. I would arrive at a waypt then select the next. Thus I had to name them in some order.

Current gen setup. I have added a panisonic toughbook CF-50 laptop (should be rugged enough) with a usb gps puck. For software I am using Oziexplorer with some amazing disc from whitethaiger....all I can say is wow! The work put into these is impressive.
I am still learning this setup and have a ton of questions..
1st and foremost when can we have a field learning day...or 2 especially before the Expo Trophy :Astrologist:
2nd can I switch between topo and doq (aerial) and keep my route/waypts?
that way I can get a visual clue quickly while in motion

Please tell me if this is possible....
My ultimate goal since I have a ton of time at work to play with google earth is to look at a place to play and mark a route...then either:
load that route directly into ozi...or
load the waypts and create a route in ozi..or
if I am reading a book/article/website then load the waypts from that into ozi.

I will more than likely keep my treo/bluetooth/iguidance setup for street nav & geocaching with the possible change of beeline to something else on the handheld. This will cover the geocaching and hiking and give me a basic backup if ozi or the laptop self destructs in the field
thanks for all the help so far,
enjoy
1leglance

 

[whitethaiger]

.....
Current gen setup. I have added a panisonic toughbook CF-50 laptop (should be rugged enough) with a usb gps puck. For software I am using Oziexplorer with some amazing disc from whitethaiger....all I can say is wow! The work put into these is impressive.

Thanks! I'm glad things are working for you.

...
1st and foremost when can we have a field learning day...or 2 especially before the Expo Trophy :Astrologist:

Well, my summer has plenty of openings. It's just so hot out there. Any cool (temperature) location not too far for SoCal and AZ people?

2nd can I switch between topo and doq (aerial) and keep my route/waypts?
that way I can get a visual clue quickly while in motion

Yes.
1) Check out this little quick and dirty tutorial movie I made a while back
2) Did you download and install the index map from my website? That's another way to switch.

Your waypoints stay intact when switching.

Please tell me if this is possible....
My ultimate goal since I have a ton of time at work to play with google earth is to look at a place to play and mark a route...then either:
load that route directly into ozi...or
load the waypts and create a route in ozi..or
if I am reading a book/article/website then load the waypts from that into ozi.

You can import Google Earth kml files into Ozi.

With all that free time don't forget to play with the OziUL mine utility

 

[1leglance]

Thanks again. And wow those map files are huge!

My summer is nuts...but there is some free time in June & early July and then mid Aug on.
I agree on the coolness req. Maybe a little bit of mountain navigating in Flag or other cool clim or if Socal has some mountains to play in I am game.
I will watch the movie tonight and I don't think I have the index map so I will look for that on your site.
I will also play with marking up google earth and importing it tonight.

Thanks again....
Now if I can just find some maps for Peru I can take it with me this summer and play around down there.:arabia:
Enjoy
1leglance

 

[pismo62]

WhiteThaiger, Hey I recieved the maps. I'm trying to load them on the program, but keep running into a problem. After I put the ozimaps in the map folder in the ozi program, I will try to pull up a map and the message (Cannot find the image file for the map C:\oziexplorer\maps\ca\24k\o_se0108.map The image file for the map is\maps\ca\24k\0_se108.sid ) keeps coming up. I can open the maps if I open them directly from the disk. Please advise. Thanks

 

[whitethaiger]

... After I put the ozimaps in the map folder in the ozi program, I will try to pull up a map and the message (Cannot find the image file for the map C:\oziexplorer\maps\ca\24k\o_se0108.map The image file for the map is\maps\ca\24k\0_se108.sid ) keeps coming up. I can open the maps if I open them directly from the disk. Please advise. Thanks

So did you copy the actual map images to the computer? (Step 1 in the instructions). Sounds like you do have the map files copied (Step 2).

The message you get indicates that the file \maps\ca\24k\o_se108.sid cannot be found. Two reasons come to mind:
1) The maps are not copied to the hard drive
2) the \maps\ca\24k folder is not on the same drive as the folder \oziexplorer\maps\ca\24k. You should have a folder: c:\maps\ca\24k. This is the folder with all the large map files (*.sid).

If you need to have the program itself and the maps on different folders I can give you instructions on how to modify the .map files easily.

 

[whitethaiger]

Thanks again. And wow those map files are huge!
..... I don't think I have the index map so I will look for that on your site.
....

The maps are large because they cover a large area and are mosaics of the 7.5min topo sheets. Using these mosaics rather then the individual maps is quite nice while driving. Ozi doesn't have to switch maps nearly as often.

I put some installation instructions for the index map out on the website.

 

[pismo62]

WhiteThaiger, Thanks for the quick response. So both sets of maps need to be copied over? The reglular maps and the ozimaps? I will retry it again this evening when I get home.

 

[whitethaiger]

WhiteThaiger, Thanks for the quick response. So both sets of maps need to be copied over? The reglular maps and the ozimaps? I will retry it again this evening when I get home.

Yes.

The ".map" files in the ozimaps subfolders are not actually maps. They are the configuration files that contain all the information needed by Ozi to correctly interpret and handle a map image file (calibration info, image file path, border info, etc.)
The actual map images are in the \maps\ca subfolders.

 

[pismo62]

Thanks WhiteThaiger for helping me with the maps. So now I'm set up and will be testing it out this weekend. Thanks

 

[pismo62]

So, I've been trying out the OZi program for the last couple weeks, and I feel like I'm getting the hang of it. I've been working with the waypoints and have been converting them back and forth with google earth, which works well. I stumbled upon the the downloadable gps cordinates for the Backcountry Adventures on 4wdtrips.com which directed me to http://www.4wdbooks.com/downloads.aspx and was wondering if anyone has found a way to put them in the ozi program, with cut and paste or through excel? Whitethaiger saw you there but thought this would be a good point for this board also.Thanks

 

[whitethaiger]

So, I've been trying out the OZi program for the last couple weeks, and I feel like I'm getting the hang of it. I've been working with the waypoints and have been converting them back and forth with google earth, which works well. I stumbled upon the the downloadable gps cordinates for the Backcountry Adventures on 4wdtrips.com which directed me to http://www.4wdbooks.com/downloads.aspx and was wondering if anyone has found a way to put them in the ozi program, with cut and paste or through excel? Whitethaiger saw you there but thought this would be a good point for this board also.Thanks

I already forgot about this, thought I'd look at it when I plan to use the info. Probably not a good idea, because I won't think of it till the last minute and then there would be no time.

Anyway, you got me thinking about it again and I had to do something about it, so I put a little code together and now have a nice little program that can convert these "rxf" files into Ozi waypoint and route files. Since there are so many files and I didn't want to have to handle each separately I wrote the utility so that it converts all the rxf files it finds in a given folder. Just tested it with the High Sierra files. Quickly downloaded them individually, ran the utility and in a second had 50 Ozi waypoint and 50 Ozi route files. I like it:wings: and I'll treat myself to one of these :beer:

 

[pismo62]

--Right On-- Whitethaiger, I was hoping you would have an answer. Of course let us know if you want to share that little program. A small utility like that could save alot of time punching keys. :bowdown: