Creating MSST Maps

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I’ve been asked how I create my custom caching maps using Microsoft Streets & Trips. The first draft of how I’ve automated this process is available at www.CraigGiven.com/gc_auto.htm under the link entitled “Create Custom Pushpin Maps in Microsoft Streets & Trips”<br>

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Version 1.02 of PushPins.exe is available:
* Updated the GSAK macro for version 5.5.0.10's new syntax.
* Updated PushPin.exe to enable balloon field activation for new fields sent by new GSAK 5.5.0.10 export for MSST
* Updated the icon collection to include one for TerraCaches (build filter via UserData field) plus four generic icons (tiny dot, midsized dot, tiny cross, circle with a cross [useful for track crumbtrails, base camps, etc.])
* Static data sets are more logically located in the PushPinResetList.bat file than in the GSAK macro
* Version 1.01 added an optional command line parameter for icon offset, so if a user already has 2 custom push pin graphics imported into a map, then they should specify 2 as the next command line parameter.
* Version 1.01 added a file open dialog prompt if no parameters are specified or if the file specified does not exist.

Visit www.craiggiven.com/gc_pushpins.htm for downloads and details.

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Version 1.03 of PushPins.exe is available:

• Add INI file support to allow parameters to be passed by a configuration file. Command line parameters can also be used simultaneously and they take precedence over duplicate settings in the INI file. This program will now prompt the user for any pieces that do not have a default value and are not supplied by either method.
  
• Time delay for loading and changing of entire data sets is now calculated instead of being a hard coded delay. Small data sets will not be unnecessarily cause delays and larger datasets will have enough time to process. Eventually the delay factor will be parameterized so that users with slower machines can adjust this to their particular environment.
  
• Add third parameter to control file that controls balloon fields. Each character in the third field is either Y or N and determines if a balloon field should be shown. If the third parameter is missing then no balloon field processing will take place. The parameter must have the exact same number of characters as the balloon fields available. Currently 8 being sent by GSAK/GPSBabel, so the most common parameter will be YYYNYYYY since this turns off the URL (it isn't helpful information for most people, it takes up valuable balloon space -- which can force some information out-of-bounds [not visible], and Ctrl-click will still open the cache page whether it is displayed or not. NOTE: this program assumes that the FIRST TWO fields [latitude and longitude] are ALREADY turned on! This works fine for GSAK 5.5.1 and MSST 2005 but different versions may work differently. If this should occur to you, use the opposite values than expected to get the desired results.
  
• GSAK example macro PUSHPINS.TXT should have included the WAIT=YES parameter when shelling to DOS
  
• GSAK example macro PUSHPINS.TXT now includes balloon field controls that turn off URL display.
  
• GSAK example macro PUSHPINS.TXT was missing an entry for TerraCaches. Also renamed the 3 occurences of the vauge TC abbreviation so now the data set displays the much clearer "TerraCaches" in MSST.