Garmin MapSource and text files
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MapSource program version number
The version number of the Garmin MapSource program is shown briefly when the program is started. Select About MapSource... in the Help Menu to see the program version number again.

MapSource map data version number
Select About MapSource... in the Help Menu and then click the 'Product Info...' button to see the installed map data version number(s). Click 'OK' to return.

MapSource USB driver version number
Select About MapSource... in the Help Menu and then click the 'USB Driver Versions...' button to see the USB driver version number. Click 'OK' to return.

Free updates of the MapSource program from the Garmin web site
After the initial version of the MapSource program has been installed, further updates are available for free from Garmin's web site. Select Go To MapSource Update Web Page in the Help Menu to display the "Software Updates" page at http://www.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209 when connected to the Internet. This page shows the change history and the latest version number available of the MapSource program ready to download.

Trip & Waypoint Manager
Many Garmin GPS receivers have been delivered together with a Trip & Way­point Manager CD. The Trip & Way­point Manager is nothing else than the Map­Source program with a very coarse world map, its quality is some­thing between a regional base map and the world­wide base map. After being installed, the Map­Source program may be updated for free in the same way as described just above.

Exchanging data between MapSource files
Only one file can be open in MapSource at a time, but several instances of MapSource can run simultaneously, allowing you to move and copy information between files easily.

MapSource import
PCX5 files were the only files that could be imported to MapSource version 5.4 and older. MapSource version 6.8 was the last version to support import of PCX5 files. PCX5 (highest version no. was version 2.09) was a DOS program made by Garmin for processing, analysing, displaying and outputting data collected by Garmin GPS receivers (similar to what MapSource does in Windows). From MapSource version 6.1 MPS files (*.mps) had to be imported too (can be done by double-clicking). Choose Import... in the File Menu of MapSource and specify the name of an MPS file (MapSource version 6.1 and newer) or a PCX5 file (MapSource version 6.8 and older) to import it.

PCX5 sample files
It is recommended to use a fixed-space font (e.g. Courier) when displaying and printing these files.
A PCX5 waypoint sample file  (3 KB)  (*.wpt)  (best suited for GPS receivers that offer more than 16 waypoint symbols).
A PCX5 route sample file  (3 KB)  (*.rte)  (best suited for GPS receivers that offer more than 16 waypoint symbols).
A PCX5 track sample file (DM)  (2 KB)  (*.trk)  (degrees and minutes).
A PCX5 track sample file (UTM)  (1 KB)  (*.trk)  (UTM coordinates).

PCX5 files are just plain text files, hence they may be edited by using ordinary text editors (in Windows e.g. Wordpad). All white spaces in PCX5 files are made by <space> characters, not <tab> characters.

Degree formats
To specify a degree format in a PCX5 file, include one of these lines after the header H COORDINATE SYSTEM (see the sample files above):
U LAT LON DEG
U LAT LON DM
U LAT LON DMS

G7ToWin
G7ToWin is a very useful freeware program made by Ron Henderson. As it can read and write a number of formats, it is a very suitable program for format conversions. It can also read and write PCX5 files. The program may be downloaded from http://www.gpsinformation.org/ronh/.

Compatible versions of MapSource and G7ToWin
As can be seen from the tables below, different versions of MapSource accept different waypoint symbol numbers. Hence it is important to use a compatible version of G7ToWin when using this program to produce waypoint and route files that will be imported by MapSource.

MapSource version. no.   Recommended G7ToWin version no.
4.07 and newer.  A.00.108 and newer
(preferably A.00.173 and newer).
4.05 and 4.06.    A.00.98 and newer
(preferably (A.00.105 –) A.00.107).

Waypoint, routes and G7ToWin
In the "SYMBOL" column of a PCX5 waypoint or route file, type the numbers shown below to display the corresponding symbols by MapSource version 4.05 and newer.

For waypoint symbols corresponding to old Garmin GPS receivers that offer 16 waypoint symbols only, use these PCX5 waypoint symbol numbers:

MS-symbols_B-C_old.gif: MapSource symbols B-C (old type of GPS receiver).  MS-symbols_E-G_old.gif: MapSource symbols E-G (old type of GPS receiver).  MS-symbols_H-R_old.gif: MapSource symbols BH-R (old type of GPS receiver).  MS-symbols_S-W_old.gif: MapSource symbols S-W (old type of GPS receiver).
16 waypoint symbols in MapSource sorted alphabetically for old GPS receivers that offer 16 waypoint symbols only.
MapSource version 4.05 and 4.06: left numerical column in parentheses, MapSource version 4.07 and newer: right numerical column.
MS-symbols_0-3_old.gif: MapSource symbols 0-3 (old type of GPS receiver).  MS-symbols_4-7_old.gif: MapSource symbols 4-7 (old type of GPS receiver).  MS-symbols_8-11_old.gif: MapSource symbols 8-11 (old type of GPS receiver).  MS-symbols_12-15_old.gif: MapSource symbols 12-15 (old type of GPS receiver).
16 waypoint symbols in MapSource sorted numerically for old GPS receivers that offer 16 waypoint symbols only.
MapSource version 4.05 and 4.06: left numerical column in parentheses, MapSource version 4.07 and newer: right numerical column.

For waypoint symbols corresponding to newer Garmin GPS receivers that offer more than 16 waypoint symbols, use these PCX5 waypoint symbol numbers (no single GPS receiver contains all these symbols!):

MS-symbols_A-C_new.gif: MapSource symbols A-C (new type of GPS receiver). MS-symbols_C-I_new.gif: MapSource symbols C-I (new type of GPS receiver). MS-symbols_L-P_new.gif: MapSource symbols L-P (new type of GPS receiver). MS-symbols_R-Z_new.gif: MapSource symbols R-Z (new type of GPS receiver).
140 waypoint symbols in MapSource sorted alphabetically for newer GPS receivers that offer more than 16 waypoint symbols.
MapSource version 4.05 and 4.06: left numerical column in parentheses, MapSource version 4.07 and newer: right numerical column.
(The Contact waypoint symbols (no. 8257 – 8276) (originally intended for the Garmin Rino models) were introduced in MapSource version 4.10.)
(The Water Hydrant waypoint symbol (no. 8282) was introduced in MapSource version 5.0.)
(81 new waypoint symbols (not shown) were introduced in MapSource version 6.1.)
MS-symbols_0-35_new.gif: MapSource symbols 0-35 (new type of GPS receiver). MS-symbols_36-8198_new.gif: MapSource symbols 36-8198 (new type of GPS receiver). MS-symbols_8199-8244_new.gif: MapSource symbols 8199-8244 (new type of GPS receiver). MS-symbols_8245-16402_new.gif: MapSource symbols 8245-16402 (new type of GPS receiver).
140 waypoint symbols in MapSource sorted numerically for newer GPS receivers that offer more than 16 waypoint symbols.
MapSource version 4.05 and 4.06: left numerical column in parentheses, MapSource version 4.07 and newer: right numerical column.
(The Contact waypoint symbols (no. 8257 – 8276) (originally intended for the Garmin Rino models) were introduced in MapSource version 4.10.)
(The Water Hydrant waypoint symbol (no. 8282) was introduced in MapSource version 5.0.)
(81 new waypoint symbols (not shown) were introduced in MapSource version 6.1.)

Turning routes into tracks

Tracks and G7ToWin
MapSource version 4.07 and newer: Possible to edit tracks (copy, paste and delete track points), but no editing of individual track point properties. G7ToWin can edit individual track point positions, altitudes and depths; but not dates and times.

Turning tracks into routes
Use the TrackBack feature of your GPS receiver.

MapSource text export

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Prepared by Sigurd Humerfelt (26th February 2002, last updated 2nd February 2009) (124).

(P.S. This GPSBabel icon file and these GPSBabel code e-mails seem to indicate that the tables have been useful.)