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From Ollie's Web Site

Delorme PN-20 & Topo 6

New Workflow for Importing with Geo-tagging - 1/12/08

Download track from PN-20

1. Save track in PN-20 and clear "Active Track" (empties it for next track)
2. Shut down PN-20 and hook up usb to computer.
3. Fire up Topo 6, then start PN-20.
4. In Topo-6 go to Exchange and download newly saved track.
5. Then, export that track (SEE BELOW) as gpx file. Give it a meaningful name, like 080112.gpx. Keep it in c:\Delorme Docs\exports so Downloader Pro will know where to find it.

Exporting from Topo 7

1. Click on Draw
2. Click on File
3. Check the track to export
4. Click on Export - name and locate files. Keep it in c:\Delorme Docs\exports so Downloader Pro will know where to find it.

Downloader Pro

1. Put CF card in reader
2. Start downloader pro
3. Fill in keywords, captions, keywords, as appropriate.
4. Click on "Download".
5. If you want, confirm that xmp files were generated and contain geographic coordinates.

Lightroom

1. Start Lightroom
2. In Folders, right click on 40D and then on "Synchronize Folder"
3. This will import the new images saved by Downloader Pro, including the xmp files.
4. Look at images in grid with metadata panel on right showing exif -- you will see the coordinates and altitude.

Saturday, 1/12/08

Started work on geo-tagging images.

• Download tracks from PN-20.
  • Since I hadn't broken up the tracks while taking walks, I found all the stored tracks were in one file, Active Tracks.
  • Downloaded it through Topo 6. It saved in c:\DeLorme Docs\draw
  • Each session (on-cycle) was stored in a separate date track, so I exported the track as a gpx file and then edited it into multiple date track files which I then reimported as individual track files.
  • Worked fine and could turn individual tracks on and off. I also renamed them something meaningful.
• Geo-tagging images for Lightroom.
  • The next step was how to break into my LR workflow to geotag the images. Turned out to be really easy.
  • Fire up BreezeSystems' Downloader Pro.
  • Tell it where the appropriate gpx file was (time and coordinate data).
  • Import my raw files as usual to download directory.
  • Look at download directory: there were a bunch of xmp files (1 for each image) that contain the coordinate data.

Friday, 7/6/07

The package arrived Friday, so on return home I unpacked it all. Lots of cables, chargers, etc. They sent a couple of AA alkalines, so I popped them in and went outside. After centering the map on the house, it got satellite lock very quickly.

I took a walk around the block and set a couple of waypoints. Works quite nicely, though the supplied base maps didn't have any of the local streets.

I left the Topo 6 till morning.

Saturday, 7/7/07

Install Topo 6

Topo 6 was next. I loaded the install CD into d: on Hunter, but after InstallShield wound up its progress bar, it bombed out. I tried it several times, including after a reboot, but to no avail.

I then tried installing on Toby, which worked fine, albeit a little slower.

Customer Service at DeLorme was no help and Tech Service doesn't work on Saturdays. I will email them.

Load maps to PN20

In any case, I then started reading the docs about how to load maps to the PN20. They seemed a little opaque at first, but I finally realized the steps are pretty simple:

1. Hook PN20 to computer via usb.
2. Hook card to computer via usb.
3. Select appropriate Regional map (much more road and poi info) and download either to internal memory or to the card.
4. Select some detailed map and download as above.

This worked quite well, though I forgot to put the card containing the detailed maps into the PN20, leaving me to wonder where the map data had gone.

Update software

Topo 6 has a nice software update feature which handled updates both to itself as well as a firmware update to the PN20. All seemed to go OK.

Monday 7/9/07

MacBook Pro Load

I tried loading Topo 6 onto the Parallels virtual XP on my MacBook Pro. The load went fine, with only the 3-D pane on the left a problem: "Create DirectX Device failed with the error: Not Available." This doesn't seem to affect the program otherwise, so I'll wait for DirectX to work under Parallels.

The next problem was connecting the PN-20 via usb: Parallels kept complaining that some other device was connected to the PN-20. After some reading on the Parallels forums (http://forum.parallels.com) I realized I needed to update my version from build 1970 to today's latest, 3214.

Once the download was installed, Topo 6 (and Parallels, for that matter) recognized the PN-20 the moment it was connected.

The jury is still out on whether this will be a stable configuration. I got a couple of of BSODs. The seem to occur when I switch away from the VM back to OS-X. Time will tell.