Step-by-step actions for creating a bitmap file for use as a map within GPSS:
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1. Change your computer resolution to 640 x 480 pixels at 256K colors or 800 x 600 pixels at 256K colors
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a. Right-click on your Desktop
b. Select Properties c. Go to the Settings pane d. Adjust the slider to 640 x 480 or 800 x 600 e. On the Colors drop-down, select 256 K f. Click OK |
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2. Using Paint or other bitmap editor, create (or scan in) your map |
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3. Select NW and SE points and determine their latitude and longitude |
a. Pick determinate spots for which you can find latitude and longitude information. Town centers are the easiest, because you can look up the location in a gazetteer. b. Write down these locations and if necessary translate them into a format that GPSS understands, such as 15-character WGS84 notation |
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3. Save the bitmap as a BMP file (e.g., NEWMAP.BMP) in the GPSS map directory (by default, the same directory as the program itself) |
a. Filenames should be 8 + 3 (FILENAME should be 8 characters or less + a dot (period) + 3 character extension, in this case BMP = FILENAME.BMP) b. Use uppercase letters |
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4. In the GPSS directory, add the new map to MAPS.DIR |
a. Open MAPS.DIR with Notepad b. Add (in this example) Newmap (without the BMP extension) to the list. Robin suggests that you add new maps on the second line (type ENTER at the end of THEWORLD, then type your map filename. |
5. Run GPSS
6. GPSS will recognize your map as a new one and you'll see a Description File Missing dialog:
Click OK
7. If your map is the right size and color depth, you'll see:
Click OK.
If you have dimensions outside 640x480 or 800x600, you'll see
WARNING: If you see this, click OK, exit GPSS, and turn your BMP into a 640x480 or 800x600 image... then try again.
8. If your image is correct, you'll see your bitmap file with instructional overlay:
Numbers in red circles correspond to the numbered instructions on the overlay.
1. Map type: Click on this button to choose between Lat/Long and Grid. Grid is for U.K. use and for other areas using a grid system. Most maps you add will be of the Lat/Long type.
2. Enter the map name - NOTE: not the filename you used in Step 3. above, but a descriptive name. a pretty name for use in titles and captions
3. Change the WAW file to one that covers your geographical area of interest. In this case, I'll add this map to the BOSTON.WAW that came with downloads of other GPSS-supplied maps for the Boston region.
Here, I have clicked on Framingham at the NW point and South Woodstock, Connecticut at the SE Point (you can just make out white target points for each on the map below):
When you click, 2 things happen: (1) GPSS quits; and (2) just before it quits, GPSS creates (in this case) FRAMWEST.DES, a file that tells GPSS to put this map in front of you when your car reaches this area. Although you don't need to do anything with a DES file, here is more information.
By Dave Gehman
© Copyright 2004, Robin Lovelock
Send changes, suggestions to Dave Gehman