GPS

[Patrice]

Hi every body,

I'd like to to capture a waypoint in a Access form in real time and I don't
know how to do.

I'll be in a boat to do water sampling. I want to plug my Garmin GPS to a
laptop. open my Access application and tell it to communicate with Garmin to
get the coordinate in real time (true a form). And finaly press a button to
capture the x and y coordinate in doubble field.

Is it possible?

I'm familiar with VBA for Access

Tank you

Patrice

 

[Wayne-I-M]

Germin is simple to use with access.
Load the Garmin programme (important to do this - you may need to register
to gain full access to the export function)
Plot way points (or if you want you can use the track log - but I would
watch out for too many logs so set the track log at a good intervial)
Export to Log (or way points) to a csv or asc file (depending on which
Garmin you have)
Import the file into access
you can use the wizard (file - get external data)
or you can write application to this for you (see a previous post of mine
for this) or use any of the (many) import ideas that have been posted here.

If you can't do this for some reason - post back with the Garmin you are using

In a pervious life I used to teach on Garmin Navigation courses

 

[Patrice]

I'm able to export a Garmin file and import it into Access. But the thing I'd
like to do is capture the coordinates in Access in real time without get a
way point in Garmin. It's mean if Garmin shouts 1 coordinate every second I'd
like, when I'll press a button on the form, Access get the last coordinate
from Garmin.

May be I'll need to build a Interface between Access and Garmin I dont know.

 

[Klatuu]

I am impressed with anyone who can navigate.
I have difficulty finding me a* with both hands <g>

 

[Wayne-I-M]

Can't be done - sorry. When you go along you create a Track Log with is - as
I'm sure you know just a serise of way points that the GPS will store at
intervials you set (in a car this will be around 1 per second, Walking this
would be around 1 each 3 mins, on a boat about every 5 mins). Don't forget
that all garmins above the basics will have an option to alter the track log
interval.

BUT you can't store track log points - think about them as an electronic
bread crumb line that make as you progess along a linier route (unless you
are on the avionics GPS then it's 3D route).

What you can do is (and this will take some work but if you "really" want it
then go for it) is to combine the Access import with the Way Point creating
(not track log).

So set the GPS to create a (non track log) way point - just like click the
way point slector of the machine. Set this to record about every 2 mins and
also set you access applicastion to import every 2 mins.

This is a lot of work and proberbly will not work - as I "think" you need to
record specific way points and not just a row.

I would suggest (some people here will not agree with this by way) that you
forget the Garmin/ Access sync and just use the Garmin to do what it does
best - record the way poiont as and when you need them. Then - later - just
import the csv file into access and store them (which is what access does
best). Don't forget the the csv will be Lat and Longs NOT numbers - store
them a text and then split the sections out that you need with a query or
report.

Also (as you will know) note that you MUST export the waypoint BEFORE you
max out on the garmin or you will loose the data so please do you exports and
as and when you can. Access can store zillions of Lats and Longs but a
Garmin can't.

 

[Wayne-I-M]

If you are lost at any time just whip out a lap top (with mobile broad band)
and click here
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.543339,-100.437012&spn=8.037546,22.060547&t=h&z=6
To find your way home