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.NET Forum / .NET Framework / Compact Framework / February 2008Mapping
Hello all, does anyone have any suggestions on mapping software to use? I am looking for a solution that allows me to pass parameters to it (i.e. destination address) and then have it route to the address via a GPS link. Another requirement I have is the maps have to reside on the device (SD Card) and cannot come from a server and it would be nice to have the maps broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know of anything out there right now like this? You're kidding right? Every application that does this sort of operation is going to use their own data, in their own format. You're essentially asking for the entire contents of a TomTom GPS that you can use to build a competitor. My understanding is that you can buy the maps for any particular part of the world (you didn't specify), from companies that do just that (Navteq, for example). You'd then have to write some code to figure out a suitable route from wherever you are to where you want to do, get some speech software to give spoken directions, if that's desired, render the map data on the screen, etc. While there may be some online Web services that you could use, since you want to distribute the maps, I think you're stuck with building everything yourself. Paul T. > Hello all, does anyone have any suggestions on mapping software to use? I > am looking for a solution that allows me to pass parameters to it (i.e. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know of anything out > there right now like this? No I am not kidding; I don't think you understood my question. I am asking for mapping software suggestions that have some type of "hook" that I can pass an address to and it will route to that address. I do not care what kind of data they use or what format it is in. The company I am currently using has a command argument that I pass when executing their application that does this however, they are no longer offering their services. I realize I can write my own using navteq or teleatls but I do not want to do this nor do I have the time to. > You're kidding right? Every application that does this sort of operation > is going to use their own data, in their own format. You're essentially [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >> maps broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know of anything >> out there right now like this? I've never heard of such an option on anything that's generally available now. The mapping/navigation software I use, Mapopolis, which is no longer available (seems to be a pattern there), will do all of the standard sorts of things (from current location, from contact address, to contact address, to lat/long, etc.), but that's all entered through the UI of the application. I suppose that, for a given address, you could programmatically select the right menu items and enter the address (send some WM_COMMAND messages to select Navigation, Address, and then send the keys to 'type in' the address that you want -- keybd_event(), then press the OK button). You should be able to do that with any mapping program, although each one would be different, of course. I think that this is probably your best bet (automating the user interface). Paul T. > No I am not kidding; I don't think you understood my question. I am asking > for mapping software suggestions that have some type of "hook" that I can [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >>> have the maps broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know of >>> anything out there right now like this? Mapopolis is who we are currently using too and unfortunately our users are starting to complain about the accuracy of the maps so it has us looking for a new solution. Its too bad about Mapopolis because they were really nice and offered everything we needed. > I've never heard of such an option on anything that's generally available > now. The mapping/navigation software I use, Mapopolis, which is no longer [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] >>>> have the maps broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know >>>> of anything out there right now like this? Have you tried asking them who is using their technology now? When they got out of the commercial business, they said that they were pursuing OEM relationships with other companies. Maybe there's something there that would still use the Mapopolis engine and maybe even the command line. I suppose that they might license the latest maps and their software, if you were a big enough customer... Otherwise, I think that automating the UI of something else is your best bet. Paul T. > Mapopolis is who we are currently using too and unfortunately our users > are starting to complain about the accuracy of the maps so it has us [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] >>>>> nice to have the maps broken down by city, state or region. Does >>>>> anyone know of anything out there right now like this? Yes, we have been in close contact with them and were moving forward with their new company however, it is appearing that their new solution will not really work well on our handhelds (not enough memory) and is geared for newer handhelds with WM5 > Have you tried asking them who is using their technology now? When they > got out of the commercial business, they said that they were pursuing OEM [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] >>>>>> nice to have the maps broken down by city, state or region. Does >>>>>> anyone know of anything out there right now like this? It's always something! Paul T. > Yes, we have been in close contact with them and were moving forward with > their new company however, it is appearing that their new solution will [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] >>>>>>> it would be nice to have the maps broken down by city, state or >>>>>>> region. Does anyone know of anything out there right now like this? > Mapopolis is who we are currently using too and unfortunately our > users are starting to complain about the accuracy of the maps so it > has us looking for a new solution. Its too bad about Mapopolis > because they were really nice and offered everything we needed. You might take a look at Tomtom. Although their PDA-version is still at version 6, there is an SDK for it: http://www.tomtom.com/pro/index.php?Language=1 Ebbe Hi, > I've never heard of such an option on anything that's generally available > now. TomTom and Destinator are two commerical products that I have utilised in the past that provide an SDK for third party applications to intergrate navigation functionality into your own applications. The functionality they expose via their API is generally a little more restrictive than the capabilities of their own application, but it's enough to geo-code an address and get a route etc. Typically the SDK is a free or reasonably cheap download, with the requirement you license a copy of their navigation application per device. Hope this helps, Christopher Fairbairn And does the SDK control the application itself, or do you have to embed the functionality? Paul T. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Hope this helps, > Christopher Fairbairn Hi, > And does the SDK control the application itself, or do you have to embed > the functionality? It's been a couple of years since I was last involved in doing this. From memory it was more the fact that you could control their application from within your own. However the APIs provided mechanisms to remove menu options and features etc that you didn't want users to utilise. The exact functionality depended upon what the SDK provided and how much hacking you were prepared to develop. The SDKs didn't expose enough flexability for my liking, but sometimes you could work around it with a little hackery. The lack of SDK flexability is understandable as you say to protect their own interests. Thanks, Christopher Fairbairn Cool stuff. That actually makes it more-likely that I'd replace Mapopolis with one of those products. That's why I carry a Windows Mobile phone and not the Razr-of-the-week: if it's dumb, I can fix it! Thanks for the info! Paul T. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Thanks, > Christopher Fairbairn TomTom and Garmin provide SDK's for the functions that you mentioned I wrote articles on how to integrate them with a .NET Compact Framework application: http://christian-helle.blogspot.com/2008/02/integrating-with-garmin-mobile-xt.html http://christian-helle.blogspot.com/2007/06/integrating-with-tomtom-navigator.html  SignatureRegards, Christian Resma Helle http://christian-helle.blogspot.com > Hello all, does anyone have any suggestions on mapping software to use? I > am looking for a solution that allows me to pass parameters to it (i.e. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know of anything out > there right now like this? Thanks everyone for you suggestions / help. > Hello all, does anyone have any suggestions on mapping software to use? I > am looking for a solution that allows me to pass parameters to it (i.e. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > broken down by city, state or region. Does anyone know of anything out > there right now like this? Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. There are no hidden fees and no obligation. Simply choose a title, complete the application form and submit it. Read more ...
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