@mappingtoolsMapPoint’s GPS functionality is primarily controlled through two panels: the GPS Pane and the GPS Sensor. The GPS Pane appears in the Task Pane area (i.e. replacing the Legend and Overview), and is displayed by selecting GPS task pane on the Tools menu. It looks like this:
MapPoint's GPS Pane
This pane displays most of the GPS functions. The current location and compass bearing are displayed at the top. Start/stop GPS tracking controls GPS tracking. When switched on, the current (GPS) location will be monitored and displayed. The location is also marked on the map with a red disk and a larger red circle:
The current GPS location drawn as a red circle and a red disk, stationary near a pushpin (Post Office)
The red disk indicates a stationary receiver. The disk is replaced with a red arrow when motion is detected.
Note that the map view can be re-arranged by setting the Arrange map view check box. Using these options, MapPoint can be set to automatically center the map or to provide a “dynamic turn view”. The cryptic-sounding “dynamic turn view” simply adjusts the map zoom level to provide the best view for the current route at the current point in time. For example, MapPoint will automatically zoom in as you approach a turn.
Similarly, the Rotate map to follow travel direction check box can be used so that MapPoint automatically rotates the map as you drive, so that “in-front” is always towards the top of the screen.
By default, when you close the GPS Pane (by pressing the small cross in the upper right of the pane), MapPoint will display the GPS Sensor. This behavior is controlled by a check box on the Navigation tab of the Options dialog box (see below).
The GPS Sensor is a smaller text dialog box that displays current GPS information:
MapPoint's GPS Sensor dialog box
As well as displaying the current location and altitude, this dialog box also displays the bearing and speed, plus GPS status and the number of visible satellites.
Clear the Show GPS sensor when pane is closed check box if you do not want this dialog box to automatically appear when you close the GPS Pane.
Other GPS Options
A number of other GPS options can be found on the Navigation tab of the Options dialog box (displayed by selecting Options… on the Tools menu). Most of these control how MapPoint behaves during navigation.
The general GPS options consist of check boxes for:
- Start GPS Sensor when GPS Pane is closed
- Automatically start GPS when application starts
- Temporarily disable Windows screen saver while GPS is running
These should be self explanatory.
