GPS Manager User Manual -- Version 5.0

|  |  | Version 5.0

## Version 5.0

- it is now possible to ensure that all the information got from a GPS receiver will be kept internally and in saved files so that it can be sent to the same receiver model without loosing data. This is related with the concept of "hidden information" that is discussed above.
- when reading in data items, items with the same name in the data-base can now be either overwritten, as in previous versions, or kept and the new ones renamed. A new option controls this behaviour. Waypoints with the same position are dealt with differently. See above for the details.
- routes have now information on the route "stages" between each waypoint. For the time being it consists of a comment and a label, plus hidden information. The label will appear in the map near the line that joins two waypoints.
- track points have now fields for the altitude and the depth in meters. Computation results have two more fields for each track point: cumulative distance to next point, and altitude in meters (a negative number means depth instead).
- computation results for a track include now the cumulative distance from the beginning and the altitude (if available) in meters for each track point.
- names dynamically created for tracks are no longer dependent on the current date, what may speed up reading them.
- the GPSMan data file format has been extended to accomodate the new data (hidden information, route stages, altitude and depth of track points). The previous format is compatible with the new one.
- names of waypoints are now checked when they are read from a file or from the receiver. If they contain characters not allowed the user is asked for a new name. The test depends on the receiver's brand. Lowrance names can have spaces but their use in files is not recommended for compatibility.
- Brian Baulch improved the implementation of the communication with Lowrance receivers, the baud rate is now 19200.
- support for Garmin receivers has been enhanced and updated. There is no need now for providing the name of the receiver model and in principle all existing Garmin receivers are supported. The model name is obtained when starting up the communication with the receiver, along with which protocols to use (if the receiver supports the Protocol Capabilities protocol; otherwise a table is looked up). The program was updated to conform with Revision 3 (6 December 1999) of the "Garmin GPS Interface Specification". All data is now recognized, although for some protocols part of it may be kept only as hidden information. Communication speed under MS-Windows is now much faster.
- Brian Baulch provided the support for using a wheelmouse in scrolling listboxes and the map.
- because of problems with some window managers, windows that were made invisible by setting their coordinates to negative values are now only lowered or raised.

|  |  | Version 5.0