Travel Route Animation Wizard revisited

terrypin wrote on 4/28/2016, 12:39 PM

To show trips and walks in my videos I most often use Google Earth (GE). For example in my current project:

But as it's been a long time since I used MEP 2014's wizard I've just tried it for the same route.

It's fairly easy to use in basic form (no customising) and the animation itself is nice and smooth. (GE can sometimes give a slightly jerky response.) But its main downside for me is that it can only use one map type. GE allows me to use a wide variety, via overlays and layers. And, of course, its map can be panned, tilted, rotated and zoomed.

Another problem arose when I tried to add a pointer at the leading tip of my route. The wizard offers a selection and I had another dozen that I'd added a couple of years ago. None were appropriate so I thought I'd add another. But, unless I've forgotten a better method, it's not a trivial task!

(I saw no documentation on any of this. Anyone seen any?)

I simplified the task by choosing a non-directional symbol, a small solid circle, which avoids the 99 variations! But I preferred the plain line so I reverted to that. Here's the undedited result:

(P.S. I'm having trouble uploading the WMV here using the Video tool. Crashed twice, losing my post. So before I try that again I'll upload it to YT instead.

OK, now I'll try the site video tool again:

That failed again! Wouldn't send it to server. Ended up with FLASH in a white square. Right-clicking it gave 'Unknown object'. Anyone else having a problem? I'm using Firefox.

One more attempt...

OK, although it wasn't apparent until I'd sent it, that does now seem to have worked.

Comments

browj2 wrote on 5/10/2016, 12:13 PM

Hi Terry,

I'm still using Vasco da Gama, sometimes with StreetMaps4 (North America only), sometimes with the VdG built in world maps and sometimes with Google Earth Pro maps (for plane trips). There are plenty of ways to display the route, and a good variety of 3D objects (not enough though).

You have gone much further than I in Google Earth with overlays and layer. I use GE for more detailed maps, like walks or snowshoeing and I make 2 versions, one with the GPS route and one without. I import the one with GPS into VdG, trace over the route, then replace the map with the one without.

I was just looking at TRA in MEP2016 Premium and under Options I noticed 4 variations, OSM Mapnik, OSM CycleMap, OSM TransportMap and OpenTopoMap. I hadn't noticed these before. The OpenTopoMap is very detailed. Here is the default opening:

Have you used this mode?

Here is where we went snowshoeing in March. This is the second day out but the first day we were turning in circles until I started using the compass and GPS map to get us back to the chalet.

I hadn't realized that there was a map with contour lines in TRA. Now this is very useful. But, as you pointed out, the objects are very limited and creating new ones is quite labourious. I haven't seen any other way that the one that you mentioned. There is no documentation in the help file about creating new objects. As far as I know, TRA has not been changed since MEP2014.

The one thing that I would like would be to get from GE or TRA is a tiff file with coordinate embedded to be able import the map to the correct location in VdG and then import the GPX file.

As for your video posting problem, I have often had the upload video problem, but it is usually because one has to wait a while for the video to show up. Try again, but wait 15 minutes or so to see if it shows up.

Concerning your imminent computer upgrade, I suggest that you wait for the next MEP version before upgrading. It will be the subscription version. Or, try to get a half price deal on going to VPX. I much prefer it to MEP. For the C drive, get at least a 500GB SSD and then set your user drive to the second one. My documents takes up too much space. I haven't done this but I create my own on the second main drive and then pointed the various program folders to it. Unfortunately, C:\user\documents etc. keeps getting used by some programs by default. I'm afraid to switch over in case I lose something due to duplicate folders in each location.

Of course, make sure that you have adequate additional external drives for video and photo files, and backups.

As for USB ports, get many. I had 8 originally, then added a 2 port card and then a 4 port card, plus a 4 port hub. There are just too many peripherals: keyboard, wireless mouse, external sound card, 2 printers, 2 scanners, music keyboard, web cam,BD burner, ports for recharging wireless earphones, connecting tablet or phone, colormunki Smile, etc. It's a wonder the machine works.

johnebaker wrote on 5/10/2016, 2:05 PM

@ John Cb and Terry

. . . . There are just too many peripherals: keyboard, wireless mouse, external sound card, 2 printers, 2 scanners, music keyboard, web cam,BD burner, ports for recharging wireless earphones, connecting tablet or phone, colormunki Smile, etc. It's a wonder the machine works. . . . .

Most of these devices with the exception of the BD burner and WebCam are slow USB devices and do not need individual USB 2 or 3 ports.

I run 2 powered USB 2 hubs each having 4 of my slow speed devices eg keyboard, mouse, tablet, USB connected printer etc through a 4 way powered hub - result only 1 USB port used on the PC per 4 devices.

Also makes the cabling a lot simpler and neater.

My ColorMunki is not permanently connected as the monitors only need recalibarating / checking monthly.

OT - the weather is a little wet here in 'The Village' - No 6's house is opposite from ours. !!!!!!

HTH

John EB

browj2 wrote on 5/10/2016, 10:28 PM

@John EB,

I see that security is getting lax. You have managed to escape from "The Village" several times, but I see that they keep bringing you back. Are you 5 or (00)7?

I don't have my ColorMunki plugged in all of the time or all of the other peripherals and I use the hub, but still, almost all available ports are taken. I have 4 external HD's soon to be 5 (plus a network drive but through the LAN, not USB).

Speaking of ColorMunki, there has been talk on the PaintShop Pro forum about PSP undoing the monitor colour settings. Have you noticed this?

terrypin wrote on 5/11/2016, 3:57 AM

Thanks both. I agree about the USB ports. I too use a hub (eight ports) and expect to retain that. But a generous number of built-in ports are desirable too. Not least for those occasions when trouble-shooting advice includes "Try using a direct port instead...". Also, in my case, the hub is on the floor. Plugging my camera for example into the PC's front panel doesn't require crouching down.

I'm intrigued to hear about those map options, John. As you see, I don't appear to have any:

emmrecs wrote on 5/11/2016, 5:03 AM

My ColorMunki is not permanently connected as the monitors only need recalibarating / checking monthly.

John EB

Completely OT to Terry's original post but @JohnEB, which ColorMunki unit do you have/use? I assume it's a different one to mine, which is the ColorMunki Display. It is permanently plugged in and working because it monitors the ambient light of my "workspace" and automatically adjust the screen brightness etc. to give me a consistent "view".

On the point about USB sockets/hubs, I fully agree with what others have said. As "purchased" my PC case has 4 USB2 and 4 USB3 ports; I've expanded those with a PCI card with 3 additional USB2 (external) and 1 USB2 (internal) ports. I don't currently use the internal but each of the 3 externals has a 4-port hub connected to it! (I should add, perhaps, that not all of those sockets are in use all the time!)

@Terry, apologies for slightly hijacking your thread. I've never used the TravelRoute Animation wizard so really have no information/advice to offer.

Jeff

johnebaker wrote on 5/11/2016, 5:21 AM

Hi Jeff

I use the ColorMunki Smile. I used it to ensure that both monitors are calibrated to display the same colour correctly and my laptop is also calibrated using it.

Although with my new pre calibrated monitors (LG IPS 24 inch) there is virtually no difference between them, however I still use the ColorMunki to match the monitors and laptop.

It is good to have the colours correct for when I am image editting - when I need to do image colour correction I do it 'by numbers' not what I see.

Cheers

John

terrypin wrote on 5/11/2016, 8:54 AM

Hi Jeff,

"@Terry, apologies for slightly hijacking your thread."

No problem - that's what makes for good conversation - and I'm usually the first to go off at a tangent.

browj2 wrote on 5/11/2016, 11:06 AM

Hi all,

Without mentioning it, Magix added some features to TRA in MEP2016 P - Options. I checked 2015 and Options are not there.

Below are screen shots from MEP2016 P, but the third one is from VPX(8). In VPX, the TRA screen is in English except for Optionen; selecting Optionen gives the third screen shot all in German. I will raise a ticket.

Terry, this is one of the things that you have to look forward to in the newer versions - map options in TRA. the CycleMap shows contour lines without elevations and less detail than OpenTopoMap. If you want an export of an OpenTopMap with contours, give me a location and I will post it in DropBox.

I also use the ColorMunki Smile. Per my previous post, it seems that it is just PaintShop Pro X8 that modifies the monitor colour settings and the "feature" can be turned off under Color Management.

terrypin wrote on 5/11/2016, 11:30 AM

Hi John,

Thanks for that confirmation.

Terry, this is one of the things that you have to look forward to in the newer versions -

Yes, that's good, although offset by a few flaws/bugs I've read about here!

browj2 wrote on 5/11/2016, 12:07 PM

Hi Terry,

Without bugs, we wouldn't have much to talk about.

Try this link for OpenTopoMap.

I mentioned that it would be nice to get maps from GE with coordinates to be able to import into VdG in the correct location. I just found that VdG StreetMaps generates an XML file with the following type of information:

<PAMDataset>
<GeoTransform> -70.923508553273678, 0.000110495711932, 0.000000000000000, 48.125779491528178, 0.000000000000000, -0.000110495711932</GeoTransform>
<Metadata domain="IMAGE_STRUCTURE">
<MDI key="INTERLEAVE">PIXEL</MDI>
</Metadata>
</PAMDataset>

I did a bit of research on this.

Did you ever see anything like being able to export this information from GE?

I am still looking at OpenStreetMaps to see if there is some way to do this. They give the coordinates of the map, so that may be my answer if I can get it to work.

terrypin wrote on 5/11/2016, 1:21 PM

Hi John,

Nice map, added to my collection. One initial puzzle: I clicked GPX and navigated to a walk I have in my Dropbox folder. It opened OK, but reverted to my home location in a few seconds. Maybe it's an iPad issue; I'll try it on my PC later.

Not a VdG user so can't help much there, but I'd suggest for inspiration/clues you try viewing the KML files from your My Places placemarks and tracks. I'm no expert but KML is a sort of subset of XML. For example try placemarks at each of four corners of a chosen map region. Fastest way to view is simply select the placemarks (which could be a track as well as a point), Ctrl+C, and paste into your text editor or Notepad. Or just open your folder of KML files in the text editor, open any interesting ones, and examine them.

And of course you can use the standard GPX format to play around in different mapping programs. Drag a GPX into GE, checkmark the option about KML lines, and then extract the individual results (often a static track, an animatable track, and a set of points).

Sorry if all this is familiar to you!

browj2 wrote on 5/11/2016, 2:09 PM

Hi Terry,

The problem is getting the corners of the map from GE. My tracks are no problem. I tried reading off the corners in GE on the screen, but the export seemed larger than what was shown and the maps are tilted so the coordinates did not work properly. I'll do some more research into this. Like I mentioned, for some purposes the GE maps are better than the VdG StreetMaps. However, the OpenStreetMap with contours is what I would also like to get now that I've seen it, with map corner coordinates. The coordinates show up on the screen, but I was not able to export the map to anything but .org or something.

The alternative is to use the map from TRA in VdG and to trace over the route like I mentioned before. In any event, it's probably overkill, but fun.

I was not able to get my gpx track to show up in OpenStreetMap.org. I signed up so I have some reading to do.

Thanks,

terrypin wrote on 5/12/2016, 2:24 AM

Hi John,

"The problem is getting the corners of the map from GE."

Do you mean 'getting the Lat/Long coordinates of the locations at the corners of the current GE map window', which is what I assumed in my earlier reply?

If so, did my suggestion not help? Namely to add four placemarks and then copy/paste, either from their respective KML files or, even simpler, directly from the New Placemark window? (Or Edit Placemark window if you re-open it later.)

High res: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/GE-Corners-1.jpg

High res: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/GE-Corners-2.jpg

But I suspect I haven't correctly grasped your problem!

browj2 wrote on 5/12/2016, 12:54 PM

Hi Terry,

Too much multi-tasking. I misinterpreted what you said by reading too fast and your images cleared that up. I will give it a go.

But first I have to mow the lawn, work in the bathroom (which I hope to finish by Christmas......last Christmas), do some real work that might actually pay me money, walk the dog, play the piano, and reflect on my impending membership into the senior citizens club. I'm practising by saying "Do you have a seniors' discount?"

Thanks,