Here is a set of features in 2010 that I’m really excited about .  People have been asking for many of these changes and we’ve listened!

The Problem:

Imagine if you are someone with a huge collection of POI (points of interest) that you collected from somewhere like RV Directions, TruckStopsPlus, DiscoveryOwners etc.  It doesn’t take long before your map gets overloaded with information.

Here is an example of how bad it can get.  The map has all the info but it becomes impractical to use. --->

The Solution:

Actually, when we thought about it there were many ways to fix this.   Here is what we’ve done:

1. Allow the ability to show/hide pushpin sets.  This is great because your default map can contain all of them but you can just turn on (or “show”) the sets you are currently interested in.  For example,  Low on Fuel? – turn on your Flying J set,  Hungry? – turn on your Cracker Barrel set. 

Here is what I do.  I have a save map file (*.est file) with all my favorite poi loaded.  Then I hide them all.

Look how easy it is to do this:

Right-click on the “Pushpins” and click “Hide all pushpin sets” from the context menu that pops up. 
Poof! They’re gone!  Ur…well…hidden to be more exact.

Displaying all the pushpins again is just as easy. 

Notice how each pushpin set says “…(hidden)” to indicate its current state.

Q: What if you want to show a single pushpin set but not all of them?

A: No problem…right click on the name of the individual pushpin set and click “Show pushpin set”

2. Allow the ability to delete the pushpins in the areas you don’t need.  So if you never leave the Pacific Northwest – why keep all the pushpins outside your traveling area?  In the past you could delete each pushpin manually or the entire pushpin set but not partial sets.  Now you can.  Just draw a select box around the area, right-click and choose “delete visible pushpins outside selected area”.  You can also do the reverse – that is – create a select box then choose “delete visible pushpins inside selected area”.  But wait there is more….if you hide a pushpin set then it doesn’t get deleted!  Only visible pushpins get deleted. 

Below: Delete Pushpins OUTSIDE selected area:

Below: Delete Pushpins INSIDE selected area.

I have more to say but I’ll save that for another post.  Please put any questions in the comments.