FancyRoute Tutorial

Installation

Program Installation

Just start the executable, there is no installation required.

FancyRoute is designed for Windows 7 or newer but is working under Linux wine as well.

It is recommended to use the 64bit version because it is capable of handling large maps. The 64bit version can flawlessly deal with the entire European map, whereas the 32bit version requires clipping.

  • 32bit version: Handles maps up to 3.2 GB size
  • 64bit version: Handles maps up to 256 TB size

Map Installation

FancyRoute ships with a rough world map and supports the very popular Garmin image file format for installable maps.

Download a map from one of the sources below. Look out for a file named gmapsupp.img. Drag and drop this file into the FancyRoute window.

Sources for map downloads
https://www.litotes.de/FancyRoute/download/#fancyroute-maps Offers some European maps for download.
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/User:Computerteddy A comprehensive source for precompiled Garmin maps covering all areas of the world.
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download More maps

In FancyRoute multiple maps can be installed in parallel. Garmin Map Help describes how to do that.

Elevation Data Installation

FancyRoute doesn’t ship with elevation data, it has to be installed.

Use SRTM data from https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/SRTM or from http://viewfinderpanoramas.org/Coverage%20map%20viewfinderpanoramas_org3.htm

  1. Open ‘Menu-Options-Elevation’
  2. Insert path to SRTM elevation folder to field ‘SRTM3’ database folder
  • This folder has to contain files in HGT format, e.g. N00E006.hgt, N00E009.hgt, N00E010.hgt

For further details please refer to the Elevation Tutorial.

Online Update

Keep FancyRoute up-to-date by using ‘Menu-Help-Update’.

User Interface

Help System

FancyRoute comes with a built-in help system. Just press F1-key for help in every situation. Especially in dialogs look out for the help button help button.

Program Panes

img_panes

The main program area is split into three panes. Grab the separators in order to adjust the pane sizes.

Map Pane

The major, center area shows the map. Use ‘Menu-View-Panes-Map’ to navigate to the map area.

Navigation within the map:

  • Use the middle mouse button or the cursor keys in order to move the map.
  • Use the mouse wheel to zoom in or out.
  • Find more options in Mouse Function Help.

Project Pane

The top left pane contains the project items. A project binds waypoints, routes and tracks. This pane can be used to insert, delete, re-arrange, show, hide and otherwise manage waypoints, routes and tracks.

Use ‘Menu-View-Panes-Project’ to navigate to the project pane.

Click the table header in order to sort items, right-click the header for arranging the columns (see Mouse Functions).

Waypoints Pane

The area right beneath the project pane and above the map pane lists points and coordinates of the currently selected map item. Single point manipulations can be done here.

Use ‘Menu-View-Panes-Waypoints” to navigate to the points pane and show coordinates.

Click the table header in order to sort items, right-click the header for arranging the columns (see Mouse Functions).

Tour Planning

Tour planning starts with drawing a track representing the wanted way from start to destination. Several helper functions allow to modify the resulting track. The resulting track can be sent to the GPS-device and allows live-navigation on your device.

Create a Track Manually

  1. Press ‘Menu-Map-Draw-Track’ or choose the ‘Draw Track’ item from the tool bar.
  2. Click at the starting point using the left mouse button.
  3. Move the mouse and set more points along the wanted way.
  4. Close the track by clicking the right mouse button.
  5. Click the right mouse button again in order to leave the draw mode.
  6. In order to refine the track use the items in ‘Menu-Map-Draw’.

Create a Track Automatically

  1. Choose the wanted vehicle profile by clicking the most right item of the status bar or use ‘Menu-Options-Routing Profile’.
  2. Draw a straight line from start to destination as described in the section above.
  3. Select ‘Menu-Project-Routing’

Create a Track Semi-Automatically

  1. Choose the wanted vehicle profile by clicking the most right item of the status bar or use ‘Menu-Options-Routing Profile’.
  2. Press ‘Menu-Map-Draw-Track’ or choose the ‘Draw Track’ item from the tool bar.
  3. Click at the starting point with the left mouse button.
  4. Move the mouse and press the CTRL key - the track clings to the roads as long as CTRL is pressed.
  5. Move the mouse around during CTRL is pressed until the track meets your desire, then click the left mouse button again in order finish the current segment. Then release the CTRL key.
  6. Go on with the next segment or finish the track by pressing the right mouse button.

Open/Save a Track

  • Save the track using ‘Menu-File-Save As’, use GPX as most common file format.
  • Use ‘Menu-File-Open’ or ‘Menu-File-Import’ to load a track.

Create an Elevation Profile

  1. Verify ‘Menu-Options-Preferences-Elevation’ if SRTM3 data folder is available or an elevation data source has been checked.
  2. Draw a track as described above, make sure the track is selected.
  3. Select ‘Menu-Project-Obtain Elevation Data’ in order to enhance the track with elevation data.
  4. Select ‘Menu-Tools-Elevation’ in order to show the elevation diagram.
  5. Step through the track by clicking into the graph area of the diagram.
  6. Pan and zoom the graph by using the horizontal and vertical scroll bars.
  7. Have an eye on the buttons near the bottom right corner of the diagram - they offer more options.

See also Elevation Tutorial.

GPS Device Communication

Send Track to GPS-Device

For Garmin devices with GPX file support:

  1. Create a track.
  2. Connect your device, make sure it appears as drive in the Windows file system.
  3. Save the track as GPX file to the device using ‘Menu-File-Save As’.

Receive Tracks from GPS-Device

For Garmin devices with GPX file support

  1. Connect your device, make sure it appears as drive in the Windows file system.
  2. Use ‘Menu-File-Open’ to open the track as GPX file directly from the device.

For a comprehensive device guide with more options explained please refer to GPS Device Offline Synchronization.

Advanced Functions

Project and Waypoints: Arrange Visible Fields

The visible table columns of project pane and waypoints pane can be arranged:

  1. Right-click the table header.
  2. Then choose ‘Arrange Fields’.

Tip: The items of the project pane can be sorted by clicking on the related column header.

Training Performance

Analyze your training or trip performance by using diagrams.

  1. Select the related track/route.
  2. Go to Diagrams bar (‘Menu-Tools-Diagrams’).
  3. Arrange the diagrams using the combo boxes at top of the diagram.
  4. Overlay multiple tracks by pressing the button labeled ‘+’ at the bottom left corner of the diagram bar.

Set Virtual Training Partner

Program your device’s virtual training partner using ‘Menu-Project-Course Wizard’. Detailed instructions can be found by pressing help button within the dialog.

Trip Time Planner

Plan your running/cycling competition by using ‘Menu-Project-Time Planner’. Detailed instructions can be found by pressing help button within the dialog.

Rubber Band

Use the rubber band function in order to modify tracks.

  1. Select the track in the map.
  2. Set two anchor points by clicking onto the wanted trackpoints.
  3. Grab a trackpoint between the anchor points and move it, but hold the mouse button pressed while moving and …
  4. Press and hold CTRL for clinging the rubber band to the roads.
  5. Release the mouse button.

Find any addresses online. Internet access is required.

  1. Select ‘Menu-Tools-Geo Search’.
  2. Select tab ‘Geo Search’.
  3. Enter your address then press Search button.

Find map items (addresses, postal zip codes, point of interests, etc.) in Garmin maps. Internet access is not required.

  1. Select ‘Menu-Tools-Geo Search’.
  2. Select tab ‘Garmin Map Search’.

Detailed instructions can be found by pressing help button within the dialog.

Units

Switch metric/imperial units in ‘Menu-Options-System Of Measurement’.

Geo Calculator

Convert coordinates and projections using ‘Menu-Tools-Geo Calculator’.