DeLorme Topo North America 10.0 User manual

Topo USA User Guide

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Table of Contents
Getting Started........................................................................................................ 1
Welcome to DeLorme Topo North America ................................................................ 1
Frequently Asked Questions.................................................................................... 2
How do I? ............................................................................................................ 7
Basic Functions..................................................................................................... 9
Running DeLorme Topo North America ..................................................................... 9
Zooming In and Out .............................................................................................. 9
Panning/Centering the Map................................................................................... 11
Copying Your Map to the Clipboard ........................................................................ 12
Saving a Map as a Bitmap or JPEG Image............................................................... 12
Measuring Distance and Area................................................................................ 14
Chart of Supported Coordinate Formats.................................................................. 15
Searching Tips.................................................................................................... 17
Exiting the Program............................................................................................. 18
About the Interface ............................................................................................. 19
Tab Area............................................................................................................ 19
Control Panel...................................................................................................... 19
Overview Map..................................................................................................... 20
Toolbar.............................................................................................................. 21
Using the Help System......................................................................................... 21
Help Overview .................................................................................................... 21
Using the Help System......................................................................................... 23
Help Documentation Conventions .......................................................................... 25
Glossary Terms................................................................................................... 26
Recreational Contacts .......................................................................................... 33
Map Legend........................................................................................................ 43

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Using the Toolbar................................................................................................... 49
Showing/Hiding Toolbar Options............................................................................ 49
Reordering the Toolbar Options............................................................................. 49
To Create a New Project....................................................................................... 49
To Open a Project ............................................................................................... 49
To Save a Project................................................................................................ 50
To Open the Map Library ...................................................................................... 50
To Share Maps.................................................................................................... 50
To Create a Route ............................................................................................... 50
To Sync Files and Information with a Handheld GPS Device....................................... 52
To Measure Distance............................................................................................ 52
To Get Information About a Location...................................................................... 52
To Create a Profile............................................................................................... 53
To Add Images and Data to a GPS Location............................................................. 54
To Choose Options .............................................................................................. 54
To Grab and Pan the Map ..................................................................................... 55
To Start/Stop Your GPS Connection ....................................................................... 55
To Use GPS NavMode........................................................................................... 56
To Print ............................................................................................................. 56
To Print the Map Screen....................................................................................... 57
Customizing the Map and Tab Display....................................................................... 59
Display Options Overview..................................................................................... 59
Customizing the Interface..................................................................................... 59
Displaying Basic Map Features .............................................................................. 60
Customizing the Map Feature Preferences............................................................... 63
Changing the Map Colors...................................................................................... 65
Showing Hybrid Maps .......................................................................................... 65
Changing the Map Magnification Level.................................................................... 66

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Changing the Contour Details Preferences............................................................... 66
Changing How POIs Display on the Map.................................................................. 67
Setting Units of Measure Preferences ..................................................................... 68
Resizing the Map and Tab Areas............................................................................ 71
Viewing Two Maps at the Same Time ..................................................................... 73
Showing or Hiding Tabs........................................................................................ 75
Importing/Exporting Tab Manager Preferences ........................................................ 76
Reordering the Tabs ............................................................................................ 77
Using Keyboard Shortcuts ....................................................................................... 79
Selecting a Keyboard Shortcut Scheme .................................................................. 79
Creating a New Custom Scheme............................................................................ 79
Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts in a Custom Scheme.................................................. 80
Customizing a DeLorme Scheme ........................................................................... 82
Renaming a Custom Scheme ................................................................................ 82
Deleting a Custom Scheme................................................................................... 83
Importing a Custom Scheme................................................................................. 83
Exporting a Custom Scheme................................................................................. 84
Searching For Commands..................................................................................... 84
Viewing All of the Shortcut Keys for a Scheme......................................................... 85
Viewing Map Data .................................................................................................. 87
Saving Data to Your Hard Drive............................................................................. 87
Connecting Data ................................................................................................. 87
Viewing Data...................................................................................................... 87
Using Projects and Map Files.................................................................................... 89
Projects and Map Files Overview............................................................................ 89
Creating and Deleting Projects .............................................................................. 89
Opening an Existing Project .................................................................................. 90
Editing a Project.................................................................................................. 91

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Saving a Project.................................................................................................. 92
Creating Transfer Files ......................................................................................... 92
Importing Transfer Files ....................................................................................... 94
Emailing a Transfer File........................................................................................ 95
Finding a Location on the Map.................................................................................. 97
Find Options....................................................................................................... 97
Find Overview..................................................................................................... 98
Performing a Basic Search.................................................................................... 98
Performing an Advanced Search...........................................................................100
Performing a POI Search .....................................................................................103
Finding Points of Interest Near Your Current Location ..............................................104
Tutorial: Find Points of Interest on a Route ............................................................106
Finding a Symbol by its Name..............................................................................108
Tips on Viewing Search Results ............................................................................109
Keywords for Category Searches ..........................................................................110
MapTags: Converting, Moving, Hiding, and Deleting ................................................114
Using Address Book Contacts..................................................................................117
Searching for Address Book Contacts ....................................................................117
Importing Existing Address Book Information.........................................................117
Manually Entering Address Book Information..........................................................118
Centering the Map on an Address Book Contact......................................................119
Editing a Contact In Your Address Book.................................................................120
Manually Moving a Contact on the Map..................................................................120
Relocating Address Book Contacts ........................................................................121
Deleting a Contact In Your Address Book...............................................................121
Showing/Hiding Address Book Contacts on the Map.................................................122
Deleting Your Entire Address Book........................................................................123
Exporting Your Address Book ...............................................................................123

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Printing ...............................................................................................................125
Printing a Map ...................................................................................................125
Printing a Route and Directions ............................................................................126
Printing a Profile ................................................................................................128
Adding Text or Graphics to Your Map ....................................................................129
Aligning Text and Graphic Items on Your Map.........................................................132
Snapping Text and Graphic Items on Your Map.......................................................133
Layering Multiple Text and Graphic Items on a Printed Map ......................................134
Changing the Background Color of a Printed Map ....................................................135
Manually Assembling a Multi-page Map..................................................................135
Using the Draw Tools.............................................................................................141
Draw Overview ..................................................................................................141
Viewing Hidden Draw Tools..................................................................................146
Draw File Management........................................................................................146
Creating a New Draw File ....................................................................................146
Saving a Draw File .............................................................................................147
Deleting a Draw File ...........................................................................................148
Hiding Draw Files ...............................................................................................148
Editing/Locking Draw Files...................................................................................149
Exporting Draw Files to Text Files .........................................................................149
Exporting Track Data Files to Text Files .................................................................150
Exporting Track or Waypoint Files to GPX Files .......................................................151
Importing Files to Draw Files................................................................................151
Formatting a Text File to Import as a Draw File ......................................................154
Copying a Map Line to a Draw File ........................................................................156
Saving a Track as a GPS Log................................................................................156
Viewing the Contents of a Draw File......................................................................157
Copying a Draw File............................................................................................159

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Changing Draw Object Types ...............................................................................159
Renaming a Draw File.........................................................................................161
Creating a Direct Route from a Line Object ............................................................161
Copying a Draw Object From One Draw File to Another............................................161
Moving a Draw Object to a Different Draw File........................................................162
Using Draw Objects ............................................................................................163
Copying and Placing Draw Objects........................................................................163
Moving Draw Objects..........................................................................................164
Renaming a Draw Object.....................................................................................165
Deleting Draw Objects ........................................................................................166
Snapping Draw Objects.......................................................................................168
Adding Points to Draw Objects .............................................................................169
Deleting Points and Line Segments from Draw Objects ............................................170
Labeling a Draw Object .......................................................................................170
Routable Roads, Trails, Tracks, Lines, Arcs , and Splines..........................................171
Drawing Routable Roads or Trails on the Map.........................................................171
Drawing a Line, Arc, or Spline on the Map..............................................................172
Drawing a Track on the Map ................................................................................174
Tutorial: Convert Tracks into Trails .......................................................................175
Editing a Routable Road, Routable Trail, Line, Arc, or Spline.....................................177
Editing a Track...................................................................................................178
Placing a Routable Road, Routable Trail, Line, Arc, or Spline at a Specific Location.......179
Joining and Breaking Linear Objects......................................................................180
Circles, Rectangles, and Polygons.........................................................................181
Drawing a Circle, Rectangle, or Polygon on the Map ................................................181
Editing a Circle, Rectangle, or Polygon...................................................................182
Placing a Circle, Rectangle, or Polygon on the Map..................................................183
Waypoints, Symbols, MapNotes, Text Labels, and Images........................................184

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Adding a Waypoint, Symbol, MapNote, Text Label, or Image to the Map.....................184
Editing a Waypoint, Symbol, MapNote, Text Label, or Image ....................................186
Placing a Waypoint, Symbol, Text Label, or Image at a Specific Location....................187
Moving and Deleting Draw MapNotes ....................................................................188
Custom Symbols................................................................................................189
Custom Symbols Overview ..................................................................................189
Creating a New Symbol.......................................................................................190
GPS Device Custom Symbols ...............................................................................191
Editing a Symbol................................................................................................193
Finding a Custom Symbol....................................................................................194
Importing a Bitmap ............................................................................................195
Copying and Pasting...........................................................................................196
Pasting a Bitmap into XSym.................................................................................197
Dragging a Bitmap into XSym ..............................................................................198
Removing a Symbol............................................................................................199
Draw Tool Box ...................................................................................................200
Using the Transparency Option.............................................................................201
Anchor Position..................................................................................................201
Cursor Position ..................................................................................................202
Creating a New Symbol Set .................................................................................203
Opening a Symbol Set ........................................................................................203
Routing ...............................................................................................................205
Creating a Route................................................................................................205
Tutorial: Create a Route......................................................................................207
Adding and Inserting Stops and Vias.....................................................................209
Changing the Routing Method ..............................................................................212
Changing the Properties of a Stop Along Your Route................................................213
Viewing Route Directions.....................................................................................213

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Avoiding a Specified Area When Routing................................................................214
Saving Route Directions as Text ...........................................................................215
Setting Your Routing Preferences..........................................................................216
Editing a Route ..................................................................................................217
Editing Roads ....................................................................................................219
Labeling a Route Point with a MapNote..................................................................219
Moving Route MapNotes......................................................................................220
Displaying and Centering Routes on the Map..........................................................220
Saving a Route ..................................................................................................221
Deleting a Route ................................................................................................222
Importing Routes ...............................................................................................222
Tutorial: Plan a Long Distance Trip........................................................................222
Setting Your End of Day and Fuel Break Preferences................................................226
Estimating the Fuel Cost of Your Route..................................................................227
Converting a Route to a GPS Log..........................................................................227
Using GPS............................................................................................................229
GPS Overview....................................................................................................229
GPS Options/Initializing GPS................................................................................229
Using NavMode or Tab View.................................................................................233
Tutorial: Route with GPS—NavMode......................................................................235
Tutorial: Route with GPS—Tab View......................................................................239
Tracking a Route with GPS ..................................................................................241
Getting Back on Track When Off Course ................................................................242
Panning the Map Automatically While GPS Tracking.................................................242
Playing Back a Log File........................................................................................243
Previewing a GPS Log File....................................................................................244
Viewing File Details for a GPS Log.........................................................................245
Monitoring Your GPS Status.................................................................................246

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Monitoring GPS Satellite Information.....................................................................247
Viewing Sun and Moon Information.......................................................................249
About GPS ........................................................................................................249
Using Voice Navigation ..........................................................................................253
Voice Overview..................................................................................................253
Activating and Monitoring Speech Recognition........................................................254
Voice Commands ...............................................................................................255
Voice Prompts ...................................................................................................259
Voice Options ....................................................................................................259
Voice Options ....................................................................................................260
Training the Speech Recognition Engine ................................................................260
Speech Recognition Tips......................................................................................261
Changing Voice Output .......................................................................................263
Voice Preferences...............................................................................................264
Geocaching..........................................................................................................267
Geocaching Menu...............................................................................................267
Geocaching Overview..........................................................................................268
Managing Pocket Queries ....................................................................................269
Using Earthmate PN-Series GPS Devices ..................................................................271
PN-Series GPS Overview .....................................................................................271
Syncing Maps and Data.......................................................................................271
Sync Overview...................................................................................................271
Syncing Maps, Points, Routes, and Tracks..............................................................272
Tutorial: Add a Map to an Earthmate PN-Series GPS................................................274
Tutorial: Sync Data with a PN-Series GPS ..............................................................278
Deleting Files from a PN-Series GPS......................................................................282
Sync Options.....................................................................................................282
Firmware Updates ..............................................................................................283

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Creating Custom Map Packages............................................................................284
Creating a Custom Map Package...........................................................................284
Grid Size Comparisons........................................................................................287
Data Zoom Level/Scale Bar Translation .................................................................288
Using Third-party GPS Devices................................................................................291
Sending Route Information..................................................................................291
Sending Tracks..................................................................................................292
Sending Waypoints.............................................................................................293
Receiving a Route ..............................................................................................294
Receiving a Track...............................................................................................295
Receiving Waypoints...........................................................................................296
Using Small-screen Devices....................................................................................299
Using Small-screen Devices .................................................................................299
Profiling Linear Objects..........................................................................................301
Creating a Profile ...............................................................................................301
Viewing the Profile Elevation Graphs .....................................................................302
Statistical Data ..................................................................................................305
Manually Setting Minimum and Maximum Elevation.................................................308
Clearing a Profile................................................................................................308
User Profile Data................................................................................................309
Viewing Your Map in 3-D........................................................................................313
Viewing a 3-D Map .............................................................................................313
Setting Your 3-D Map Preferences ........................................................................315
Flying Over a 3-D Map ........................................................................................316
Tutorial: Fly in 3-D.............................................................................................317
Using NetLink and MapShare ..................................................................................321
NetLink Overview...............................................................................................321
Tutorial: Share Maps ..........................................................................................321

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Using GeoTagger ..................................................................................................327
Getting Started with GeoTagger ...........................................................................327
Tagging an Image ..............................................................................................327
Tagging Data.....................................................................................................329
Calculate the Timestamp Offset............................................................................330
Legal Information .................................................................................................333
DeLorme Topo North America 10.0 Single-User License Agreement ...........................333
Important Notices ..............................................................................................338
Apache License, Version 2.0 ................................................................................345
Index..................................................................................................................351

1
Getting Started
Welcome to DeLorme Topo North America
Helpful Links
•DeLorme—product information and more
•Technical Support—searchable knowledge base, articles, troubleshooting
•Community Forums—a wealth of information from the people who use our
products
•DeLorme Weblog—announcements, tips and tricks, and tutorials
What's New
•Updated road and trail data in the US and Canada including more than 800,000 new
road names in the US.
•Updated with hi-detail lake, river and stream data for all 50 states.
•Includes elevation data for all of Mexico and updated elevation data for Alaska.
•Now includes park data in Canada, 38 National Parks and 100 popular Provincial
Parks.
DeLorme Topo North America Features
These are just some of the many features that you can enjoy with DeLorme Topo North
America:
•Try our data downloads for free! Included with your purchase is a download
certificate for $40 worth of data and imagery using the NetLink tab (registration
required). You can also subscribe to the DeLorme Map Library and get unlimited
downloads for an annual fee of only $29.95.
•Use the Handheld Export tab to create custom maps to send to your Earthmate PN-
Series GPS.
•Search for trails, state parks, mountain peaks, unique natural features, points of
interest, and more.
•View your maps in 3-D and fly over the terrain with shaded relief, detailed land
use/land cover features, and elevation contours.
•Use the split-screen functionality to view two types of data for the same location at
the same time.

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•Create trail, road, or direct routes by adding start and finish points on your map.
Customize your route by adding stops and vias.
•Use the toolbar to share maps, add data and images to the map, open/create/save
projects, start/stop GPS, edit your preferences, and more.
•Profile map items and objects you draw/add to the map to determine coordinate
information, linear distance, elevation, grade, and so on.
•Print high quality, detailed, 2-D or 3-D single-page maps, and/or mural maps as
large as 3 x 3 pages. You can even print routes, route directions, and profiles.
•Create custom keyboard shortcuts or select a DeLorme shortcut scheme, such as 3-D
Navigation, to navigate the program more easily than ever.
•Connect your GPS device to the program and track your progress on a laptop as you
travel.
•And much more!
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are asked most frequently by our customers.
Click a question to reveal its answer. To hide the answer, click the question again.
•How do I get maps from DeLorme Topo North America to my Earthmate PN-Series
GPS device?
To get started, see these tutorials:
Tutorial: Add a Map to Your PN-Series GPS
Tutorial: Sync Data with a PN-Series GPS
To learn how to make a custom map, see Creating a Custom Map Package.
For more information, see the PN-Series GPS Help topics under Using Earthmate PN-
Series GPS Devices.
•Is my GPS device supported?
DeLorme software works with different types of GPS devices.
•DeLorme Earthmate GPS Handheld Devices—DeLorme Topo North
America 10.0 supports DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 and higher models.
•DeLorme Earthmate GPS Laptop Devices—LT-40 (and previous versions)
and BT-20 for laptops.

Getting Started
3
•USB GPS Support—DeLorme software can use the data output from a USB
GPS if the device meets one of the following criteria:
•When the GPS is attached to the computer, it is recognized and
displayed under Ports in the Microsoft® Windows® Device Manager.
•The unit is a Garmin USB device and the Garmin drivers are installed.
Note Magellan USB devices are not currently supported.
•Serial GPS Support—DeLorme software can use the data output from a
serial GPS device. The device must be connected to a free COM port and
output a generic NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) stream.
•Bluetooth GPS Support—DeLorme software can use the data output from a
Bluetooth GPS device. You must configure your Bluetooth software to create a
virtual serial port.
•How do I find a specific location?
Use DeLorme Topo North America's search tools to locate places and points of
interest (POIs) in the United States and Canada and places in Mexico.
In addition, you can search for places along your route, within a certain radius of the
current map center, or within a particular region.
To access the search features in DeLorme Topo North America, click the Find tab.
For more information on searching for specific locations, see Performing a Basic
Search, Finding Points of Interest Near Your Current Location, Performing a POI
Search, and Performing an Advanced Search.
•How can I find all of the nearby points of interest?
Right-click your location on the map, click Find Travel POIs, and then click the
distance you want to search within (1 mile, 5 miles, or 10 miles). The points of
interest display in Find tab results area.
OR
If you are tracking with a GPS device, do a radar search to locate points of interest
within a designated distance of your current GPS position.
•Where do I find the map settings and other Options settings?
Click the Options button on the toolbar to modify GPS, sync, voice, map
feature, display, keyboard shortcut, and 3-D preferences. For more information, see
To Choose Options.

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•How do I perform an Along the Way search in the Find tab and print my results?
Search for names or categories along your current route by performing an advanced
search in the Find tab. You can then print your search results using the Along the
Way print option.
Use the following steps to search for a name/category along your current route and
print the results:
•1. Click the Find tab and then click Advanced. The Advanced dialog area
displays.
2. Select Category from the From drop-down list.
3. Select Current Route from the Within drop-down list.
4. Type the appropriate keyword in the Keywords text box.
5. Type the distance in the Distance text box.
6. Click Search.
The search results display in the dialog area.
7. Click the Print tab and then click Route. The Route dialog area displays.
8. Select the Along the Way check box.
9. Click Print Now.
The search results print.
•How do I submit a data update or fix the roads on my map?
•
•If you find there is a missing local road, you can add it to the current Draw
layer using the Routable Roads Draw tool. For more information, see Drawing
Routable Roads or Trails on the Map.
•To report an error to DeLorme:
•1. Click the NetLink tab.
2. Click the Support subtab.
3. In the Map Corrections box, click the Submit Correction link.
4. Use the Customer Revisions wizard to submit the change.
•What is a project?
You can save all of your work as a single workspace so you can open it again later.
These saved workspaces are called projects.
A project is made up of the following items: coordinates of the map center, current
zoom level, current magnification, map display preferences, any added items: such
as draw layers, routes, and so on. As you create new routes or draw layers, change

Getting Started
5
preferences or the map center, and so on, they are added to the current project. You
can save or discard changes.
To learn how to create a project, see Creating and Deleting Projects.
•What is the difference between a stop and a via?
When routing in DeLorme Topo North America, you have the option of
adding/inserting stops or vias in the route. A stop is a location in a route where you
want to stop and then proceed from. A via is a location on the map that you want the
route to use.
For example, if you create a route between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Maine,
with no stops or vias, the route directions will tell you to take I-295. However, if you
want to take US Route 1 instead, you can place vias in the route on US Route 1 to
force the route to go by way of US Route 1. If you plan on stopping in Falmouth
Foreside for lunch, you will want your route directions to reflect that stop. When you
add a stop, you can recalculate to include it.
This map shows the area between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Maine, with two
vias and one stop.
•What's the difference between adding and inserting a stop or via?

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The Insert Stop/Via function arranges stops/vias geographically in the route.
The Add Stop/Via function adds stops/vias in the order you add them to the route.
For more information, see Adding and Inserting Stops and Vias.
•Why did my route fail to calculate?
Your route will fail to calculate if you create a route:
•
•With a route start, stop, via, or finish point in an area that you have
designated as a Route Avoid.
•That includes route points outside the United States. If you have the North
American version of DeLorme Topo North America, for routes that include
points outside of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
•On an island without roads. In this case, DeLorme Topo North America looks
for the nearest road to that island to place the route point. If the nearest road
is not routable (for example, it is the only road on the island and/or the island
does not have ferry access), you will get an error message saying, "Route
failed to calculate."
•Why do X marks sometimes display on the map when I calculate a route?
•When you place a route point in a location that isn't on a street, DeLorme
Topo North America finds the closest street to that location, marks the space
between the point you clicked and the street with X marks, and starts the
route at the street.
•If you search for an address that is on a walkway and place a route point on
it, DeLorme Topo North America finds the closest street to that location,
marks the space between the point the clicked and the street with X marks,
and starts the route at the street.
•Why is the tab area and control panel so narrow?
DeLorme Topo North America was designed for resolutions of 800 x 600 or higher. If
you are using a very high resolution (such as 1920x 1200), the tab area and control
panel may appear to be very narrow. You can modify the size of the map and tab
area or use the Windows® Control Panel to adjust your display settings.
•What's the best way to measure the distance of a road or trail?