Steve K. asks:
I'm using your trial software to see if it's right for me. I'm an architect and I need the ability to export to AutoCAD. As an experiment, I drew the metes and bounds of a particular parcel over the aerial photo map that loads automatically in the trial version. I did this by establishing waypoints and projecting each one to the next in series. Then I connected them all as a route, and then converted the route to a shape. Finally, I exported the shapes to .dxf, but when I open the file in AutoCAD, the shape is completely distorted. I'm not sure what's causing this or how to remedy it.

The DXF drawings you export from ExpertGPS Pro use the coordinate format and datum you've selected within the program. Most likely, what's happening is that you've got the coordinate format in ExpertGPS set to latitude and longitude, and so you're seeing distortion when your CAD software tries to display lat/lon data as X,Y eastings and northings. There's an easy fix, which you only have to do once: select a new coordinate format in ExpertGPS prior to exporting. You can set ExpertGPS to display coordinates in US State Plane coordinates, UTM, or pretty much any national grid coordinate system.

Ray K. asks:
I have downloaded property shape files from the Montana Cadastral mapping web site and want to place them on top of the Garmin TOPO 2008 MapSource map that in in my GPS to outline the property on the TOPO map, can you help me do this?

ExpertGPS Pro will import your property boundaries from the MT cadastral Web site, and allow you to send selected parcels to your Garmin as a GPS tracklog, which will appear over your TOPO 2008 MapSource basemap. You can then use your GPS receiver to locate the property boundaries.

In ExpertGPS Pro, click Import on the File menu, and then select the parcels.shp shapefile that you downloaded from Montana's Cadastral Web site. Shapefiles from this Web site are in Montana FIPS 2500 state plane coordinates, NAD83 datum. If you haven't yet added this coordinate format to ExpertGPS Pro, follow these directions to add a new GPS coordinate format in ExpertGPS.

Once you've imported the MT cadastral shapefile into ExpertGPS Pro, you can select the property boundaries you'd like to send to your GPS (as I've done above with the parcel highlighted in yellow). On the GPS menu, click Send Selected to GPS, and ExpertGPS will re-project the MT state plane coordinates for your property outline into GPS coordinates that your Garmin (or Magellan, Lowrance, or Eagle) GPS can understand, and send it to your GPS.

Your Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx will display the tracklog representing the cadastral property boundary over the TOPO 2008 basemap. You should now be able to use your handheld GPS receiver to locate your property boundaries and corner stakes.

Stacie R. asks:
Is there a GPS system that will allow me to import my sales territory which is on excel with columns such as Agency Name, Address, City, State, ZIP (similar to mappoint) onto a GPS? I could have 1000 or more addresses based on a several state territory which is why I can't manually add them. Or, can you export excel to outlook and then to a gps from outlook?

You can easily look up client addresses and turn them into GPS waypoints, using the Go to Address command in ExpertGPS. This is great for adding new clients, or for when you only want to convert a few addresses to GPS latitude and longitude (this process is called geocoding).

To import your entire client base from Excel or Outlook, I'd recommend that you use a batch geocoder, and then use ExpertGPS to send the converted (geocoded) addresses to your Garmin nuvi (or other automotive GPS).

I've written a tutorial which will walk you through all of the steps for converting a list of addresses from Excel or Outlook into GPS waypoints. If you need help with any part of this process, or with any other GPS data conversion, just ask the GPS expert. I'm always happy to help.

Additional Information about Geocoding (Converting Addresses to GPS Coordinates)

Geocoding Tutorials with ExpertGPS

Jim S. asks:
I am with a company that does land planning and golf course design. I have a Garmin rino530hcx and a HP tablet laptop. I can place our plans, jpeg and CAD, in google earth but am stuck with trying to export the plan, with real world coordinates, back to the Garmin.

What you're trying to do is to replace the basemap on your GPS with your own GIS and CAD data. Garmin doesn't provide an official way to do this, and therefore, ExpertGPS doesn't support it.

There have been programmers in Eastern Europe who have reverse engineered the Garmin basemap (.img) format, and provide software to let you create your own maps. cGPSmapper is one example.

Creating your own Garmin basemap is a fairly complicated process, and you'll probably want to use a tool like ExpertGPS Pro in addition to cGPSmapper to prepare your CAD and GIS data prior to converting it.

I haven't used this software before - please let me know what you find if you choose to go this route. Read this discussion about creating custom .IMG basemaps for your Garmin GPS on the ExpertGPS users forum.

Jim continues:
I think the ultimate goal would be to use the Garmin unit as the antennae and do the GPS work, site recon and way points, on screen in the field.

That's probably an easier path, and you can do all of this using ExpertGPS Pro and your GPS receiver. ExpertGPS can import (and export) all of your CAD and KML files, and you can use the JPEG files with the scanned maps feature.

You can use the Scanned Maps feature in ExpertGPS to display digital charts, USGS DRGs, or your own scanned paper maps.

The ExpertGPS help file has complete details about preparing and geo-referencing your maps for use within the program.

The Tracking feature in ExpertGPS uses your GPS receiver as an antenna, and turns your laptop into a moving-map GPS display. This would allow you to view your current location over all of your engineering drawings. Having a big color screen and full keyboard, plus the ease of data entry in ExpertGPS, should improve your workflow.

Dale writes:
My application requires that I measure the areas of various land use types within a given project area. I had problems when I tried to append a particular shape of one land use to another shape of a different land use. I had to leave a gap to keep things from getting messy. I think I have that issue resolved by assigning each land use type to a different layer. I also had problems when I placed a node off location. I could not find a way to 'grab' the node and move it to the correct location (feature request). Deleting the shape and re-drawing it is a pain.

There are a couple techniques you can use if you are drawing filled objects that need to mesh right up against each other. If they have straight sides (not curved like a river centerline), it might be easiest to draw them using the route tool, and then convert the routes to shapes after. This is because the route tool automatically snaps to waypoints as you draw. So if you are drawing agricultural fields, and put waypoints at all of the field boundaries, as you use the route tool to "connect the dots" you'll get routes that align perfectly with the adjacent fields.

As you begin to draw a new route, ExpertGPS might show a + cursor, meaning that is going to extend an existing route. If this isn't what you want, hold SHIFT to override this.

You can move nodes to a new position by selecting the waypoint at that node and using the Move Selected tool to move it to a new position.

Once you've got everything in place, select the routes and click Convert to Shape on the Tools menu. You can then delete the routes and waypoints.

If you need to make changes to shapes, it's possible to do so. Click once with the select tool to select the shape, and then drag a selection rectangle over the node you want to move. It should be highlighted in magenta. Now switch to the Move Selected tool and drag to the new location.

Valerie asks:
I own an RV Park in Dillon, Montana. I have been told by several customers that we are not listed on Garmin GPS. How do I be sure that we are listed on GPS systems. I have checked into Google maps etc. This park has been here for at least 10 years. I have owned it since June 2008. Please help as this is a very important issue to my business.

These days, more and more car owners are relying on their dashboard GPS receivers to guide them to your business. If you aren't listed in the GPS POI (Point of Interest) database under the appropriate category (Shopping, Restaurants, RV Parks) or if your address is wrong in the GPS listing, you're going to miss out on business.

Getting a GPS manufacturer to update your business listing can be a real pain - here are some tips to help get you listed correctly.

Start with the Data Providers

NAVTEQ provides POI data to GPS vendors, and you can update your business listing with their Map Reporter.

TeleAtlas lets you send them Map Feedback, including the ability to update or add a business listing.

InfoUSA provides business listings to all sorts of clients, including GPS manufacturers. Visit their Web site and click Update my Listing at the bottom of the home page

Update any Specialty Data Providers

Woodall's RV park database has been used by some GPS and map vendors - make sure your RV park or campground is listed here.

There may be other definitive resources for your particular niche - Fodor's for restaurants, for example. Make sure you're listed, so that any GPS manufacturer that licenses their database will get your listing.

Add your business to downloadable POI files

Start searching for sites that list POI files for your business category: "RV Park POIs", "Antique Shop POIs Garmin", etc. There are plenty of POI trading sites out there that would be happy to have your listing added to their POI database.

Got a favorite POI site? Did I miss an important POI business link in the article above? Add your comments below!

Terry F. asks:
We are rural real estate appraisers in Montana. We use Magellan Explorist XLs and have one Magellan Mobile Mapper 6. We want to have the handheld screen to be a topo map that shows Section, Township and Ranges not the usual Long/Lat . Do you have or is there software available that will do that? Thanks.

I don't know of any handheld GPS receiver which can display Section, Township, and Range coordinates instead of latitude and longitude or UTM. However, ExpertGPS Pro now has the ability to display Public Land Survey System (PLSS) coordinates in Township, Section, and Range format. When run on a laptop in your vehicle and attached to a low-cost GPS receiver or GPS "mouse" antenna, ExpertGPS can function as a moving-map display, essentially turning your laptop into a full GPS receiver with a huge screen and full keyboard.

To use ExpertGPS as a moving map display, you'd use the Tracking feature, which polls your GPS receiver or antenna once every second and updates your location on the maps displayed on your laptop's screen.

To go to a specific property, click Go to TRS on the Go menu, and enter the Section, Township, and Range into the Find TRS dialog. ExpertGPS will recenter the map on the property, and create a waypoint marking that location.

If you are in Tracking mode, you can navigate to the parcel by right-clicking the new waypoint and clicking Set Active Point. On the Tracking menu, click Navigate to Active Point.

You can get the TRS coordinates of any point on the map by looking in the lower-right corner of the main ExpertGPS Pro window. In addition to the latitude and longitude, UTM, or state plane coordinates of the cursor position, you'll see the TRS coordinates as well.

Related Topics Additional articles about Section, Township, Range coordinates in ExpertGPS Pro

Drew S., a rancher in West Texas, asks:
I am a rancher in West Texas. I need mapping software that can print out maps for planning use on the ranch. This is what I need it to do:
1) import GPS routes to create roads and boundary fences and fields (using Garmin GPS 76), and waypoints.
2) The ability to edit the roads or to freehand a road or line on to a Nat. Geo. Topo or to aerial photos or to USGS soil survey maps.
3) Save different maps for each year (where deer blinds where in past years).
4) Use editing tools to mark, name and use symbols to identity areas on the map.
5) Be able to print out a map using my home printer.
Can your software do all this?

Yes, ExpertGPS will be able to do everything you're looking for in a ranch mapping software product. ExpertGPS will retrieve the Garmin waypoints and tracklogs you record around your ranch, marking roads, fences, and fields. ExpertGPS has a bunch of built-in styles so you can give all of the gravel roads on your property a different look than the paved ones, and you can color-code your fields based on crop type or any other attribute.

You can create roads by driving them with the GPS in the truck, or you can draw them in freehand with the Track tool in ExpertGPS, using the aerial photos for reference.

In addition to the built-in aerial photos and USGS topo maps in ExpertGPS, you can add your own scanned maps - I've written detailed instructions on calibrating a scanned map which will allow you to view your USGS soil maps or any other map of your ranch in ExpertGPS.

ExpertGPS stores your data in GPX format, which is the standard format for exchanging GPS data. If you want to compare deer blind, deer feeder, and scouting locations from different years, just save each year's data in a different GPX file. You can view any GPX file over any map in ExpertGPS, so it's easy to compare changes in deer behavior and sightings and place your blinds accordingly.

I've written a paper on using ExpertGPS, your Garmin GPS receiver, and your digital camera to build a photographic map of deer sign or any other data you'd like to collect on your ranch.

ExpertGPS makes it easy to add GPS data, photos, and your own notes to any map - there are tools for drawing directly on the maps and adding symbols and markers. Any map you create can be printed on your home printer, or you can export a huge (8000x8000 pixel) image file to send to a print shop to make a wall-size map for your ranch or hunting lease.

Download the 30 day free demo of ExpertGPS and give it a try. If you have any questions about using ExpertGPS for ranch mapping, hunting, or mapping your property, I'm always here to help.

Here's a legal description of an actual parcel somewhere in the south - I've been using this as a test case:

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to just paste that into ExpertGPS and have it plotted automatically on the map? That's the goal, and I'm developing a new Import Legal Description wizard to accomplish just that. Here's an early prototype:

I just copy and paste the entire legalese right into the Route List. Normally this would bring up the Import Text wizard, but ExpertGPS now knows that if your text contains phrases like "Beginning at a point" and "thence", you must be importing a series of survey calls. Up comes the new dialog, and ExpertGPS scans your text and automatically separates it into individual calls. Each individual call is scanned, and ExpertGPS tries to pick out the bearing and distance from the text. If it is successful, that call is displayed in green. If there's a typo or something that ExpertGPS can't parse, you'll be able to enter the distance or bearing manually. Once all the calls are green, the OK button lights up and all you have to do is click it. Oh, you also have to tell ExpertGPS where the Point of Beginning is, either by entering coordinates, or (coming soon) by selecting a waypoint. You can see the resulting parcel as displayed in ExpertGPS.

I still need to add support for curves and run as many test cases as I can find. This feature is in active development, so please send me an email or enter a comment below if you've got questions or suggestions.

Just to be clear: unless you are a licensed land surveyor, you should not be creating your own land "surveys". Just because a tool like ExpertGPS exists that will let you compute distances and bearings between points doesn't mean that you can create a legal survey of your property. ExpertGPS is a great tool for mapping old property descriptions or for assisting in the search for your property corner markers. But if you're going to be buying or selling property or making decisions based on property boundaries, you need a professional - a licensed land surveyor.

Joe from South Carolina asks:
I am trying to set up a waypoint for 408 richfarm ct, lexington, sc 29072. It plots it with the incorrect coordinates about 5 mi NE of proper location. (it is really off of richmond farm circle, which it plots correctly.) Is your source data outdated?? I want to purchase your software, but I need to know the data will be current.

How can I find the location of this newly-constructed road?

I couldn't find your address using ExpertGPS, and I couldn't find it using Google Maps, either. A look at the 2008 aerial photo in Google Maps shows that there are several new roads being constructed in that development - presumably that's where Richfarm Ct is.

The Go to Address command in ExpertGPS queries an online geocoding service to try to turn the address you provide (in this case, 408 richfarm ct, lexington, sc 29072) into latitude and longitude. There are three main sources of US geocoding data: the US census, Navtech, and TeleAtlas. US census data is collected every 10 years, so it's typically missing new developments. But it's free, which is why many geocoders use it. The service ExpertGPS uses relies on premium data from the private data vendors, which means you get better results.

But the sad truth is that it takes a bit of time from when a new sub-division gets built out until the private data vendors actually get the street geocoded and into their subscription databases. I actually got a hefty brochure in the mail last month from a company who's sole purpose is to speed this process up - by somehow monitoring all of the new construction in the US, they hope to be able to provide geocoding information for new developments at the time they are approved, rather than waiting for the bulldozers to do their magic. Presumably one of the big data vendors will buy them up and we'll all benefit from better address lookups for new construction.

In the meantime, my advice to you if you're not able to find the address of a newly-constructed street or building using ExpertGPS is to: 1. check your spelling 2. check Google Maps or another online mapping service 3. enter the nearest cross-street, and go from there 4. use the Urban Photos view in ExpertGPS - can you see the new road? 5. run Google Earth - if you can find the road there, add a Placemark, and copy and paste back into ExpertGPS.