Clickable Links

[glennw56401]

Is it possible to incorporate clickable links into user added POIs? For example, I have imported a number of POI sets for the various truckstop chains. It would be nice if, either in the object text or attached to the object icon the ability to click on it and bring up the webpage for that location so we can see the amenities available at a given location. I'm not asking that DeLorme gather all the links, merely that we have the ability to add them ourselves. It seems to me that this should not be difficult to accomplish.

[Dan Lawyer]

Yes you can ad them to mapnotes. In the Help's search, enter "Hyperlink". I know it can be done with SA Plus and Topo, so I assume it can be done with SA regular.

Let us know what product you have and I'll move this from the Suggestions forum since it already exists.

[xapie128]

Is it possible to incorporate clickable links into user added POIs?

Right-click on your Draw object, then from the Manage Draw menu, select Edit Draw Object Text

The box that pops up includes a space to enter a URL (see example below).

Note that this option is also present each time you add a Draw object (you don't need to go through the right-click method if you want to add the URL at the time you add the Draw object).
.

[glennw56401]

I don't have that. I have, since posting my request, discovered that it is already a feature of the PLUS version. I will be upgrading as soon as I can. I just wish that I hadn't already bought the regular version of 2010.

[xapie128]

I don't have that. I have, since posting my request, discovered that it is already a feature of the PLUS version. I will be upgrading as soon as I can.

Try this work around (I have Plus, so I'm not sure if it will work, but it did with older versions) . . .

• Draw tab -> File button
  
• Make sure your Draw layer with the Draw object you want to add is the Active layer
  
• Use the Export button to create a text file of your Draw layer (file will be in \DeLorme Docs\Export\)
  
• Open the text file with NotePad, you will see lines the look something like this:

  Code: Select all

  38.202209,-74.864158, ,RED FLAG

  
  
• Modify the line so it looks like this:

  Code: Select all

  38.202209,-74.864158,{URL=www.website.com},RED FLAG

  
  
• In the Map Files tab, select your Draw layer and use the Remove button to remove it from the map. It will still be on your hard disk in the \DeLorme Docs\Draw\ folder, it just won't be displayed on the map. Rename it to something else (like add a "2" or "bak" to its name).
  
• In the Draw tab -> Files button -> Import button and select the file you edited

One more trick -- You can add text to your hyperlink like this:

Code: Select all

38.202209,-74.864158,Test{URL=www.website.com},RED FLAG

In this case, the word Test will appear underlined and be a clickable hyperlink.

[Dan Lawyer]

I don't have that. I have, since posting my request, discovered that it is already a feature of the PLUS version. I will be upgrading as soon as I can. I just wish that I hadn't already bought the regular version of 2010.

If you just bought SA2010 (regular), and registered it, call DeLorme and tell them the problem that you need a feature that you didn't know was only in the Plus version. They might give you a good upgrade price. Tell them the Guru's in the forum told you to call No, maybe not.....they might charge you a surcharge

[glennw56401]

I don't have that. I have, since posting my request, discovered that it is already a feature of the PLUS version. I will be upgrading as soon as I can. I just wish that I hadn't already bought the regular version of 2010.

If you just bought SA2010 (regular), and registered it, call DeLorme and tell them the problem that you need a feature that you didn't know was only in the Plus version. They might give you a good upgrade price. Tell them the Guru's in the forum told you to call No, maybe not.....they might charge you a surcharge

Thanks, I'll try that.

[glennw56401]

Try this work around . . .

It will be a formidable task, but it works. I will have to manually add data for all Flying js, TAs, Petros, Pilots, and Loves. But it will work. Perhaps I can share the completed work here when I am done.

[Dan Lawyer]

I'm a little confused why you would even want to do this. If you click on one, it's going to open a browser and the link. Unless I'm missing something, wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just setup a Favorites menu with submenus by type of business and the link?

Just looking at the Discovery files your going to have a lot of work...and the files are going to get huge. Your going to have to contol when they display or you won't even be able to see the map unless your zoomed in all the way.
- Super Walmarts -3502
- Cracker Barrels - 584

[glennw56401]

wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just setup a Favorites menu with submenus by type of business and the link?

Maybe it would. But I don't know how to do that. I'd be curious to learn how.

Just looking at the Discovery files your going to have a lot of work...and the files are going to get huge. Your going to have to contol when they display or you won't even be able to see the map unless your zoomed in all the way.
- Super Walmarts -3502
- Cracker Barrels - 584

Yeah. Right now I have the major truck stop chains, Wal-Marts, rest areas, and a couple of other large files. I just have everything set to not display large icons until I zoom in tighter than zoom level 5. Works OK for me.

[Dan Lawyer]

wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just setup a Favorites menu with submenus by type of business and the link?

Maybe it would. But I don't know how to do that. I'd be curious to learn how

Just use Windows Explorer to build the subfolders in Favorites or you can do it in your browser, then add your links...one time

C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites
C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites\SA POI Links
C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites\SA POI Links\Gas
link 1
link 2 etc
C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites\SA POI Links\Lodging
link 1
link 2 etc
C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites\SA POI Links\Parks
link 1
link 2 etc
C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites\SA POI Links\Restaurants
link 1
link 2 etc
C:\Documents and Settings\UserId\Favorites\SA POI Links\Shopping
link 1
link 2 etc


Whatever is easier for you ;>)

[glennw56401]

That doesn't fit what I want to do.

I want to be able to, as I drive down the road or when planning a trip, see a Pilot, for example, and be able to quickly determine what amenities are available such as how many parking spaces, what restaurants they have, how many showers are available, etc. And I don't want to keep my browser open all the time.

I already have the truckstop chain websites bookmarked. What I am doing now is linking from SA to each individual location's page within the chain's website. Doing that as favorites/bookmarks (That's why the term "favorite's list" threw me. I use Firefox. We have Bookmarks) is far too cumbersome. I thought you were referring to a "favorite's list" within SA.

[Dan Lawyer]

Good point, the bookmark idea won't work well for individual stores. Have fun

Once you get it done, you might share it with the Discovery folks, as they have been very helpful to DeLorme customers for many years.

[glennw56401]

Once you get it done, you might share it with the Discovery folks, as they have been very helpful to DeLorme customers for many years.

That is my intention. A buddy of mine is working on Pilots. After that we will do Petro and TA. For a longer term project, I am considering taking on Wal-Mart as well, but don't look for that one any time soon.

[John Moran_2]

For $5.99 you can buy a Wal-Mart road atlas (non-Delorme) that contains massive tabulations of Wal-Mart store locations. SA2010 Plus may have many of them already in POIs and Telephone listings.
JM_2