Old pushpins compatible?

[Macci3]

I have a fairly old version of precision maps (v6). I haven't used for a while, but I am thinking of upgrading to the new version. I had created a large number of pushpins with v6. Will those old pushpin files be compatible with version 9?

[Kevin_T]

I have a fairly old version of precision maps (v6). I haven't used for a while, but I am thinking of upgrading to the new version. I had created a large number of pushpins with v6. Will those old pushpin files be compatible with version 9?

Having looked at the pushpin file structure (years ago), I think they are fairly simple. It's just the coordinates with some simple text descriptors. I am not sure about the categories and such, but I believe you should be able to do that.

If I get a chance this weekend, I'll dig out my old copy (v6) and try it.

Will let you know.

[kimtoll]

No need to do that, I can answer the question for you, they are NOT compatible. The format of the "older" pushpin files and the new, v9 version are very different.

Here is an example of a 6 pushpin file from version 6,

Pîn¡|0|Category 1|1|0||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|88||0|
00|114.017987|041.972937|00000|PIN001||Category 1
00|111.033414|041.986202|00000|PIN002||Category 1
00|111.046679|040.978080|00000|PIN003||Category 1
00|109.043699|040.978080|00000|PIN004||Category 1
00|109.043699|036.998650|00000|PIN005||Category 1
00|114.031251|036.985385|00000|PIN006||Category 1

And, here is a sample of a 6-pin file from version 9, place near the same locations on the map

CATS=1 0
CAT=Category 1 37
PINS=6
PINL=PIN-007
PIN=PIN-001 1 0 37 -114.023791 41.955860
PIN=PIN-002 1 0 37 -111.040411 41.970273
PIN=PIN-003 1 0 37 -111.011586 40.975813
PIN=PIN-004 1 0 37 -109.037078 40.975813
PIN=PIN-005 1 0 37 -109.022666 36.997973
PIN=PIN-006 1 0 37 -114.009378 36.983560

Needless to say, you CANNOT open an old pushpins file with the new version of the software. It always buffles me why software companies do that. Why do they change the format for no apparent reason? What was so bad about the old format that they felt it needed to change?

The good news is that they haven't changed the "tracks" file format, so older track files can be opened correctly in teh new version.

[Charlie]

Are you serious? You mean the dozens of pushpin files that I have from older versions are useless? You've got to be kidding. Undertow is definitely getting a phone call from me tomorrow

[artmart]

Sometimes a company will come up with a converter to convert the old format to the new format. Maybe they have one and you just have to ask for it. Unfortunately, sometimes they don't. When I worked for software companies we came up with converters when we changed the format. I wrote a few conversion programs myself which is why I know about it. But this was long ago. It seems many companies have gotten away from this for whatever reason.

[Charlie]

Art, if that is the case, and they do have a converter, but did not include it in the program to automatically read the old files, it was probably a stupid marketing move on their part. Making it available to users, after the fact, may take some of the sting out, but it's inexcusable. No matter how you look at it, undertow has egg on its face on this one. If they changed the format without a converter available, it means sloppy development and no forethought on their part. If they changed the format and have a converter but didn't build it in, it means poor marketing. Take your pick. In either case, we are the ones left with old, inaccessible files

[RWinlow]

Charlie, I just wanted to mention that I already contacted undertow and they are aware of the issue and are working on a solution. Hopefully, they'll figure it out and give us a corrected version soon.

[Garytf]

Oops, rwinlow, I just saw this, after I posted my message about not being able to open the older files. Do you know if they are going to fix the problem?

[RWinlow]

It's all fixed. I just got a new release of the software which purpots tro have fixed ithe problem. a quick test i did proved successful, i was able to open old files.