DeLorme 4 Truckers Documentation

• Backing up your data.
• Importing a DMT file.
• Making a new map file.
• Open a SAF File.
  
• Opening an AN1 draw file.
• Making a new draw file.

Backing up your data:

It's a good idea to back up your DeLorme Docs folder before we begin. If you haven't really done anything with DeLorme yet, then this step may be unessesary. Keep in mind there are many ways to do this. I just figured I'd include this for folks who aren't too comfortable with windows.

First you want to hold the windows button while you press 'R'. That will bring up the 'run' window. In here type "c:\". If your DeLorme Docs folder is on a disc other than C, use that letter. The default location is C.

Find the DeLorme Docs folder.

Right click on the folder and choose COPY.


Then right click on a blank spot and choose paste.


The folder will start to copy, and the copied folder will be called something like DeLorme Docs - Copy.


If you ever want to go back to your original data, just:

• Close DeLorme Streets
• Rename the 'DeLorme Docs' folder to something like 'DeLorme Docs Messed'
• Then rename the 'DeLorme Docs - Copy' to 'DeLorme Docs'.
• Restart DeLorme.

Importing a DMT file.

First, you should download one from this web site. You can follow links on the main page, but I'll give one here for reference:
Small File
When you click on the link, you should see the following window:

If it gives you the option to open with Street Atlas USA just click OK. DeLorme with either start, or will prompt you to save your data, and then open the new file. If you don't see this option, or you just wish to save and load manually, then click save file, and then OK.

Choose a location to save it to where you can find it again. In this example I choose C:\DeLorme Docs\Map Files.


Now open DeLorme, and click on the Map Files tag, which should be toward the bottom left of the window.


Click 'File', 'Transfer', 'Import'...


Navagate to where you saved the files.


Select the file you wish to open, and click the 'Import' button.


Now you can see all the stuff on that map. If you zoom in you'll see actual tags telling you what is there. Under the draw files, you can tag or untag layer to hide or show stuff. Pretty cool eh. One possible problem is that if you import DMT files with identical AN1 files, it might make duplicates of those files. But that should cause little harm if your data is backed up and you have plenty of hard drive space.

Making a new map file

Downloading other folks stuff is cool, but sometimes it's even cooler to make your own stuff to play with. So in this instance I show you how to make your own map file. This can be especially useful in playing around and experimenting. I think you can have as many map files as you want. I know I have a few.

While at the 'Map Files' tab, click 'File', 'New'.


It will then prompt you to save your old map file. (Keep in mind you can save at any time using <CTRL> S) So go ahead and click 'Yes' to save.


Now you see your newly created map.


So now you want to name your new map. You can do that by clicking 'File', Save as..'


Give it a good name, and click Save.

Open a SAF File

Now that you have created your own SAF file, maybe you want to open a different SAF, or map file on your computer.

Click the 'Map Files' tab if you aren't there already.


Click 'File', 'Open'


Choose the file you want and click 'Open'.

Opening an AN1 draw file

Now you probably want to add some draw files. Later in this document we'll discuss making new draw files, but for now we'll add ones that already exist.

First, go to my web site and click AN1 files.

It will then take you a directory view of the web site


Choose the category that interests you. For this example, I choose Truck Services.


Then I choose All-TS-TXT.an1.


It will then pop up this screen. Make sure you put the file where you'll find it later. For this example I choose C:\DeLorme Docs\Draw. To choose a different folder, just use that upside down triangle I've circled to change that.



Open DeLorme, and click on the 'Map Files' tab. On the right side see a button that says 'Add'. Click that and then click 'Draw File'.


Navagate to where you saved the draw file.


Select the file and click 'Add'.


You will then see the file in your list as a layer. You can check or uncheck the layer to hide or show it. When you are done, click 'Done' to take you back to the draw tab.

Making a new draw file

As you are out riding around and travelling you'll want to make notes on your map. Draw files help you keep this data organized. You might have personal stuff, stuff for work, and maybe even trucking information you'd love to share with me and other truckers.

First off, go to the 'Draw' tab and click the 'File' button.


Click the 'New' button, which is on the right side of the screen. And select 'Draw'.


The name will default to something like DrawLayer, or DrawLayer two. Just right click, select 'Rename' and give it a new name.


Now you want to mark a location. Just right click on the precise place you want your marker to be (zooming in will help) and select 'Add Mapnote', then 'Blank Mapnote'. (You can experiement with the other options later)


Then type in what you want. Use SHIFT ENTER to get a second line, and just ENTER to quit entering text. If you hold your cursor over the tag, it will give you what it says, it's location, and the name of the draw layer.

You can also right click and select 'Manage Draw' to edit if you need to make changes.


You can change it's location, position, font, size, make it so it will reduce at certain zoom levels. Play around and figure it out. It's fun.