Change default directory path for Delorme Docs

[NevadaSam]

I submitted this suggestion to Delorme using a form provided on their site. If you would like to get them to include this option send a suggestion, in your own words to them. Here is the link:

http://delorme.com/customerservice/Email_Suggest.asp

They probably check this forum so it may also help if you post your comments here also.

I would like DeLorme to include a Preference or General Settings tap in the Options tool that will allow users to set or change the default directory path for Delorme Docs. Currently the only way to change it is by installing and reinstalling the complete map program.

During installation I change the location for the Delorme Docs folder so it will be on a flash drive. In "Computer Management" I set the letter for the flash drive so it will remain constant each time I insert the flash drive into my desktop or netbook.

This all works fine for me until I forget to insert the flash drive with the Delorme Docs folder before starting Topo8. When the Docs folder is not found Delorme reconfigures the setup and creates a Delorme Docs folder on the root directory of the C drive. Now the only way to get this back to looking on the flash drive is to do a complete un-install and reinstall of the program.

There are other situations where a person may want or need to change the location of the Delorme Docs folder. It would be wonderful if this option was included.

I have Topo8 and Street Atlas 2006. I believe this would be a great option for all versions of Delorme mapping programs.

The End User Agreement permits the installation of either mapping program on a second PC as long as one is a portable PC and the program is only running on one PC at a time. I like having the Delorme Docs folder on a flash drive so I don't have to keep synchronizing the data.

Sam

[xapie128]

Change default directory path for DeLorme Docs

I agree with your suggestion. However, other problems continue even if we are allowed to change the path to DeLorme Docs. The reason is that Map files (.saf) are hard coded with the full path names to associated Route (.anr) and Draw (.an1) files.

So, if I had my DeLorme Docs on a thumb drive, say F:, and saved a map that called MyDraw.an1 and MyRoute.anr, then later changed my DeLorme Docs to C:, I still wouldn't be able to load that map file because it would still look for the Route and Draw files on F:

The problem isn't just the program knowing where DeLorme Docs is, but the kludgey way they've set up the Map files (Project files in Topo). The whole program needs to be changed so Map files only contain the associated file names, and let it look wherever you currently have DeLorme Docs. That way when you change its location, per your suggestion, or if I had it on D: on my desktop and C: on my laptop, or exchange files with someone else who has his DeLorme Docs in a different path, it wouldn't be an issue and the Map files would still be totally compatible.

[NevadaSam]

Thank you for considering my suggestion. It only becomes a problem for me if I start one of the programs when I haven't inserted the flash drive. I usually catch it and stop the program from starting and reconfiguring, but sometimes I leave while it is loading. SA and Topo will then reconfigure itself and creates C:\Delorme Docs. The only way to change it back is to uninstall and reinstall.

I understand that if there are not many users interested in changing the default location that changing the code would not be practical. Possibly you can consider stopping the program from staring if the default directory is not found. A warning window could pop up and let the user know that, for example: "W:\Delorme Docs was not found. Would you like for a C:\Delorme Docs folder to be configured?" Then give the user the option to Continue, Exit, or Retry. Retry would give the user to opportunity to insert the removable media with the folder on it.

I am not a programmer and only an intermediate level computer user, but if data files associated with a map or project file were located in sub folder under those files, couldn't the the path association be maintained if the folder was moved? This would mean that Draw, Maps, Navigation, etc. would have to become sub directories of the "Map Files" folder. To make this workable for users like me that run both SA and Topo from the same directory "Map Files" and "Projects" could share a common folder.

If the change is not incorporated into future mapping programs, I will continue storing my data on a removable drive as the occasional need to uninstall and reinstall is better than keeping track of moving data between two PC's.