What is New
Support of routable maps with voice turn-by-turn navigation!

v. 2009, Build 6.6

  
Mapwel - custom GPS mapping software for Garmin GPS units - free demo 
MAPupload (allows to add your map to maps in GPS memory)

 

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OpenStreetMap (*.osm) file format support

OSM files are great free-of-charge source of detailed maps. They are available at http://www.openstreetmap.org/index.html. 

"OpenStreetMap creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started because most maps you think of as free actually have legal or technical restrictions on their use, holding back people from using them in creative, productive, or unexpected ways."

Mapwel allows to upload OSM files into the Garmin GPS units with just a few clicks of mouse, preserving as much of visual similarity as possible. OSM files specification includes number of polygons, lines and icons. Most of them are not supported by Garmin basic set of objects. However, Mapwel contains library of special pre-defined styles to render OSM maps on Garmin GPS correctly.

Mapwel also allows to convert OSM file to a routable map with turn-by-turn voice navigation.

The steps needed to get OSM map into Garmin GPS are simple:

  1. Download OSM file of respective area from http://www.openstreetmap.org/index.html

  2. Open OSM file in Mapwel. If you want to combine several OSM files, use Merge function for rest of the files.

  3. Click 'Upload map to GPS' button in Mapwel to load map to the GPS unit.

To download OSM file from http://www.openstreetmap.org/index.html, browse area of interest and click on the Export tab (see below image). Then select 'OpenStreetMap XML Data' option from the left panel. Then click Export button. Store *.osm file into any folder of your computer.

Open *.osm file in Mapwel. You can edit it, combine with other vector maps, waypoints, tracks, etc. When finished, upload map to GPS with use of 'Upload map to GPS' button. Map in GPS looks like below examples. Please note: your GPS must support user-defined styles. All new Garmin GPS support them. If you have older GPS, you may need to upgrade its firmware to render map correctly.

OpenStreetMap on Garmin GPS. Compiled and uploaded with Mapwel. Some colors and icons are from Mapwel pre-defined styles.