TYP TIPS
NT & non NT TYP files
Garmin NT maps come with NT TYP files - these include extra information only 'visible' on NT or nuvi maps.
Headers start from &6E
- extra lists of sorted labels used for searching purposes
- extra icons of buildings,logos etc - see below
- extra lines for active routing -- see below
- additional information about the region it covers
When starting a new TYP file, we recommend header &5B as this will save space
Which Colormode for my POIs?
a) colours with transparency
b) colours with opacity (= colormode 32)
As most ,if not , all Garmin Devices cannot show opacity ( levels of transparancy) there is no point using colormode 32!
Mapsource and even the latest Basecamp ignore opacity
To reduce space do not use Colormode 32
How to change Colour of City names
The names of cities, towns villages DO NOT have to always be BLACK!
a) In TYPWiz double click on a city POI
b) Tick Font colours
c) Double Click on Day 'blue' to change colour
Which type number for Cities , Towns Villages?
a) with a point 0 x 100 - 0 x 13FF
b> without a point 0 x 1400 - 0 x 1E3F
b) centralised 0 x1E00 - 0 x 1E3F
You can also make your point disappear by creating
POIs with 0 width and 0 height
When to use TRUECOLOR
Most POIs have less than 256 colours.
If this is the case , there is no point in selecting Truecolors.
If your picture contains shades of colour:
ie an apple, a tree , a glass,clouds etc ,
it makes sense to select Truecolor.
Truecolors have as many colours as the area of your poi.
They can dramatically increase the size of your TYP file.
What if you have deleted/lost your TYP file?
All may not be lost!
Check your gmapsupp.img
You can always retrieve a TYP file from any gmapsup
Use gmp2typ to recover your TYP
Polygons with transparency
Polygons with some transparency are used as overlays .
Their draworder is very important and should not be set to nil or zero.
Make sure their draworder is higher than 1
When to use TRUECOLOR
Most POIs have less than 256 colours.
If this is the case , there is no point in selecting Truecolors.
If your picture contains shades of colour:
ie an apple, a tree , a glass,clouds etc ,
it makes sense to select Truecolor.
Truecolors have as many colours as the area of your poi.
They can dramatically increase the size of your TYP file.
Making Bridges & line draworder in Basecamp
There is a general rule that lines without bitmaps have a higher draworder than lines with bitmaps
Bridges over rivers & streams
Turn your rivers and streams etc into bitmaps
Turn your bridges into lines with borders
Ideally give all highways bitmaps
Bridges over Motorways
I have 0x1 as a transparent bitmap bridge outline
Creating Motorway Bridges in Basecamp
Line 0x1 has the highest priority even as a bitmap!
Nothing can cross motorways unless it's another motorway.
Use this type for a bridge outline
Use 2 lines for motorways:
1) transparent bitmap (0x12)
2) bitmap Motorway (0x10800)
3) Use 0x1 as a for a Motorway bridge only