ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Exciting news for those of you who, like me, like to plot rides using Memory Map software!
I 'checked for updates' today and found that version 6.1.0 of Memory Map is now available for PC. My old version was 5.2.something. It is a free update so I thought I'd download a copy and see what had been improved. It looked pretty much like the old version, but then I spotted an exciting new menu entry ...
Right click on a route then left click "Operations/Optimise route for ..." and you will discover a new auto-routeing function!
Lack of auto-routeing was one of Memory Map's biggest deficiencies. I don't know how many hundreds of times I have had to manually plot routes along the same old local roads. This is a BIG new feature! (Ok, it will seem old hat to users of online route planners, but Memory Map has gorgeous OS mapping to work with so I much prefer to use that.)
I have been playing with the feature on my laptop this afternoon and these are my early findings. It has basic functionality, but it should be very useful once you understand its limitations ...
First of all, it only works with routes, not tracks. I usually plot tracks because my GPS does not have enough memory for long routes with lots of waypoints. This will not be a problem because it is easy to convert between the two formats in Memory Map.
Routes to be 'optimised' may have a maximum of 10 waypoints. Start the route where you want to start from, end where you want to end, and add up to 8 intermediate waypoints to make sure the software routes along the roads that you want it to. If 10 waypoints are not enough, break your route up into smaller subroutes which you can join together later.
You have the option of optimising for cycling, walking, or driving. I soon discovered that you need to select the driving option unless you particularly want to be routed off roads onto bridleways, towpaths etc. TBH, a couple of the cycle routes it came up with looked questionable to me, given my knowledge of the area. I might actually go out on my CX bike to check them, but I am fairly sure that some of the sections are unrideable. So, for road rides, pretend that you will be driving!
The software connects to the internet to do the routeing so it is not possible when offline. I don't know how much data is transferred, but I imagine it will not be that much, if you are worried about data charges. It is very quick.
I don't know how up-to-date the road database is that it uses, but it does seem to have some knowledge of road closures. I told the software to route up to a local area called Calderbrook and it took into account the fact that the road I would cycle up is closed to traffic due to a landslip. That road has been closed for a couple of years now. I wouldn't count on the software knowing about very recent problems, unless you discover otherwise.
The software generally finds the shortest route, but it does seem to know something about road capacity. It routed one of my test routes a slightly longer distance to avoid very minor lanes, but when I placed a waypoint on one of those lanes, it did route that way. I also checked to see if it would route through Heptonstall village. That has steep, very narrow cobbled streets and is signposted for access only. When asked to route from Hebden Bridge to Slack on the other side of the village, the route chosen was the correct one, via Lee Wood Road (the 'Heptonstall bypass'). When asked to include the village, the router correctly chose straight up the hill, bypassing the bypass!
So, I am pleased with this new feature. It would be better still if it did not have the 10 waypoint limit, but maybe that will be increased at a later date?
I will check this evening to see if the Android app has also been updated to include the new feature.
Have fun, Memory Mappers!
I 'checked for updates' today and found that version 6.1.0 of Memory Map is now available for PC. My old version was 5.2.something. It is a free update so I thought I'd download a copy and see what had been improved. It looked pretty much like the old version, but then I spotted an exciting new menu entry ...
Right click on a route then left click "Operations/Optimise route for ..." and you will discover a new auto-routeing function!
Lack of auto-routeing was one of Memory Map's biggest deficiencies. I don't know how many hundreds of times I have had to manually plot routes along the same old local roads. This is a BIG new feature! (Ok, it will seem old hat to users of online route planners, but Memory Map has gorgeous OS mapping to work with so I much prefer to use that.)
I have been playing with the feature on my laptop this afternoon and these are my early findings. It has basic functionality, but it should be very useful once you understand its limitations ...
First of all, it only works with routes, not tracks. I usually plot tracks because my GPS does not have enough memory for long routes with lots of waypoints. This will not be a problem because it is easy to convert between the two formats in Memory Map.
Routes to be 'optimised' may have a maximum of 10 waypoints. Start the route where you want to start from, end where you want to end, and add up to 8 intermediate waypoints to make sure the software routes along the roads that you want it to. If 10 waypoints are not enough, break your route up into smaller subroutes which you can join together later.
You have the option of optimising for cycling, walking, or driving. I soon discovered that you need to select the driving option unless you particularly want to be routed off roads onto bridleways, towpaths etc. TBH, a couple of the cycle routes it came up with looked questionable to me, given my knowledge of the area. I might actually go out on my CX bike to check them, but I am fairly sure that some of the sections are unrideable. So, for road rides, pretend that you will be driving!
The software connects to the internet to do the routeing so it is not possible when offline. I don't know how much data is transferred, but I imagine it will not be that much, if you are worried about data charges. It is very quick.
I don't know how up-to-date the road database is that it uses, but it does seem to have some knowledge of road closures. I told the software to route up to a local area called Calderbrook and it took into account the fact that the road I would cycle up is closed to traffic due to a landslip. That road has been closed for a couple of years now. I wouldn't count on the software knowing about very recent problems, unless you discover otherwise.
The software generally finds the shortest route, but it does seem to know something about road capacity. It routed one of my test routes a slightly longer distance to avoid very minor lanes, but when I placed a waypoint on one of those lanes, it did route that way. I also checked to see if it would route through Heptonstall village. That has steep, very narrow cobbled streets and is signposted for access only. When asked to route from Hebden Bridge to Slack on the other side of the village, the route chosen was the correct one, via Lee Wood Road (the 'Heptonstall bypass'). When asked to include the village, the router correctly chose straight up the hill, bypassing the bypass!
So, I am pleased with this new feature. It would be better still if it did not have the 10 waypoint limit, but maybe that will be increased at a later date?
I will check this evening to see if the Android app has also been updated to include the new feature.
Have fun, Memory Mappers!
