Question regarding National Geographic Topo Software

[offroad_nomad]

The NG customer service hasn't reply to my email inquiries yet and I'm hoping someone here can answer my question.

Do you know if it's possible to completely install the NG Topo software onto a tablet hard drive and run the mapping program from the HD without the need of an external DVD/CD drive? I'm looking at adding a tablet to my 4Runner and it doesn't have an internal DVD/CD drive; I would need an external drive.

If not, are there other topo software that will? Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[edgear]

You'll need the external CD drive to install the software, but there is a feature to copy all of the discs' contents onto your harddrive so that you will never have to use them again (unless you have to reinstall, of course). I did this on my laptop, since I was tired of constantly switching out between the 6 CDs. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think the details should be somewhere in the huge .pdf of instructions. It takes a while, but it's well worth it.

 

[Dave]

I have an older version of NG Topo (3.4.3), but I assume things are still the same in the newer version. I have all of my maps on my local hard drive on my laptop rather then running them off the discs. You can specify different directories for the software to look for maps, so I think you would be fine with a external hard drive.

 

[offroad_nomad]

Thanks for the responses. I'm still trying to decide whether to go with a tablet or a used Toughbook off eBay. I'll have to be a bit more creative in regards to mounting the Toughbook then with a smaller and lighter tablet.

 

[hattrik21]

I'm sure the Toughbook will last longer though as they are ruggedized. What model are you looking at? Just curious as my dad works for Panasonic repairing/installing toughbooks.

 

[mike h]

You may want to post questions like these on cartotalk.com

that is a board many working cartographers use, just to get another opinion. You may end up talking to the person who developed the software.

m.

 

[offroad_nomad]

Used Toughbook CF-28s and CF-72s seem to be plentiful on eBay. Taking my time trying to find one with the specs and acc I need and watching to see how much they're selling for. There was a nice write up not too long ago either here on EP or on MUD regarding someone who scored a CF-28 off eBay and their impressions of the laptop running GPS/Topo.

I'm sure the Toughbook will last longer though as they are ruggedized. What model are you looking at? Just curious as my dad works for Panasonic repairing/installing toughbooks.

 

[hattrik21]

Those are good units. I believe some of them even offered a built in GPS antennas. If you want or need any information on the units as far as what issues to look for or whatever, shoot me a PM and I'll get the info from my dad.

 

[Nuclear Redneck]

From the FAQ on the National Geographic site

Not sure which version you have so I pasted the one's I thought might work for you. It took me about 2 days to figure how to do this.

Installing TOPO! data on your hard drive (TOPO! State Series)
1. First, insert the CD-ROM you would like to copy onto your hard drive (with the exception of disc 1) into your CD-ROM drive.
2. View the contents of the CD-ROM using Windows Explorer. Locate the folder called XX_DOX (XX is the two letter state abbreviation), right click on this folder, and choose "Copy" (for example, CO_DO7 for Colorado disc 7).
3. Now select the C drive, locate the TOPO! folder, then locate the sub-folder called TPO_DATA. Click on this folder, then right click in the pane on the right and choose "Paste".
4. Repeat this process for each CD_ROM you would like to copy on the hard drive.
Installing TOPO! data on your hard drive (TOPO! Regional Series)
1. First, insert the CD-ROM you would like to copy onto your hard drive (with the exception of disc 1) into your CD-ROM drive.
2. View the contents of the CD-ROM using Windows Explorer.
3. Open the folder called XXX_DATA. (XXX is the first three letters of the location name - for example, YOS_DATA for TOPO! Yosemite).
4. Highlight and copy ALL of the folders located inside the XXX_DATA folder. (To highlight more than one folder at a time, hold down the Control key and click on each folder you would like to highlight).
5. Once you have highlighted all of the folders, right click on one of them and select "copy"
6. Next, locate and open the TOPO! folder on the C drive.
7. Inside the TOPO! folder, locate the sub-folder called TPO_DATA. Right click on this folder, then select "paste".
8. Repeat this process for each CD_ROM you would like to copy on the hard drive.
Installing TOPO! data on your hard drive (TrailSmart National Park Maps)
1. First, insert the CD-ROM you would like to copy onto your hard drive into the CD-ROM drive.
2. View the contents of the CD-ROM using Windows Explorer. There will be a number of folders titled XXX_DATA each representing a National Park.
3. Open the folder called XXX_DATA (XXX are three letters that relate to the location name - for example, YOS_DATA for Yosemite).
4. Inside the XXX_DATA folder, you will find approximately seven sub-folders (number may vary by park). Copy all of these folders (to copy, highlight all of the folders, right click on any of the highlighted folders, then select "Copy" from the menu).
5. Now locate and select the TPO_DATA folder on your hard drive. Paste all of the sub-folders into the TPO_DATA folder (to paste, right click, then choose "Paste").
6. Repeat this process for each National Park you would like to copy on the hard drive. Once you have saved all of the data to your hard drive, TOPO! will no longer ask you for the disks.