I just posted yesterday about the new 2008 City Navigator Map Update being Mac compatible. Well now I am here to tell you about MapManager and MapInstall for Mac. These two beta software programs have been released today and what they allow you to do is convert any MapSource programs you have for your PC into mapping that will work on your Mac. (That's right...you don't have to purchase anything else!).

A quick rundown of the process goes like this:

1. Convert the existing MapSource maps on your PC using the MapConverter program. 
2. Transfer those to your Mac by way of Writeable DVD, USB Thumb Drive, or Network Connection
3. Install the maps to the Mac
4. Install the maps to your device. 

Now here is a more involved walk through, with pictures:

1. Download the MapConverter program from the Garmin website by clicking here.  Run the program on the PC.  This will find all installed MapSource programs and allow you to convert them. 
   
   Please note the location at the bottom of this window is where the converted file will be stored on your PC.  Its default location is the My Documents folder:
   
2. MapConverter will convert the files and then compress them into a file:
   
3. Once the compression is finished, find the compressed file in your "My Documents" folder and transfer it to the Mac.  This can be done with a USB Thumb Drive, network connection, or in this case, a writeable DVD disk. 
   
   Burn the file to the DVD:
   
   
4. On the Mac, load the compressed file onto the machine and double-click on the file to decompress it.  This decompressed file will be placed in the "Documents" folder on the Mac:
   
5. Download the MapInstall for Mac program from the Garmin website by clicking here.  When the file is opened on the Mac, it includes MapInstall, MapManager, and a Read ME file that explains the process. 
   
6. Drag the MapInstall and MapManager files to your Applications folder.  The first program to run is the MapManager.  This program will take the converted map file and load it to the Mac.  Once the application is open, click on File > Open and select the converted map file from the Documents folder:
   
7. MapManager will load the file into the MapInstall program:
   
8. Open the MapInstall program on the Mac.  At this time, also connect the Garmin device to the Mac via the USB connection.  (Note: It is a good idea to make sure that the device firmware is up to date before loading maps to the device.  Download the Mac WebUpdater here.)
   
9. Now it is time to select the maps to load to the device.  Use the zoom bar and directional buttons on the left side of the map to navigate.  The indicator at the bottom of the screen indicates how much memory is available on the device.  Click on the areas you wish to load:
   
10. The maps will now be transferred to the device:
    

The maps are now loaded to the GPS device.  Please remember that this is beta software.  If any errors are found, please submit them to the following email address:

mac.mapinstall.200beta@garmin.com

If you have any other questions about this, feel free to comment.

Comments

[Chris Norrick]

Works for me on a Venture Cx. A bit clunky for a Mac program. However, this was the missing tool I needed for an all Mac setup. All I do is load maps for GeoCaching and sometimes to use the routing in the receiver so this is really all I need. I use LoadMyTracks to send GeoCaching waypoints. Thanks for getting this out.

[Dave Johnson]

Ok, this is crazy. However if this is in the vein of beta software and looking for feed back then here goes. Once I converted the TOPO 2008 and got it on my Mac it works fine. The map select feature is a little clunkly. I could not figure out how to unselect maps once I select to much install into my vista C. Had to clear and star over. The install itself was quick.

However having to boot my macbook into windows and do the whole conversion was painfull. I hope you will soon have a procedure what will allow the Maps to be read and converted on the Mac.

[jamesmtbkr]

I ran into the issue with Roads & Recreation not being recognized by the MapInstall application as well. Garmin Training Center doesn't help in my case since I'm using a eTrex Vista HCx (although I tried anyway).

I appreciate the work so keep plugging away Garmin, I'd love to be able to use more then the WebUpdater with my Mac.

[AndyB]

I don't have a PC, I have a Mac. That's the whole point of needing a Mac piece of software!

How difficult is this? Promises were made in Jan 2006 with software to be available in mid 2006. It's now Q3 2007!

I just bought an eTrex Summit HC. POI loader beta doesn't seem to work with it, and that's unsupported still on the Mac :-(

[Curtis Jackson]

WARNING: After updating my original Quest using these beta tools on the Mac, all address searches employing "Search All Cities" fail -- they all turn up no matches. If I specify the city to search, the same searches succeed. This really sucks. I'm reporting the bug to Garmin now.

[Curtis Jackson]

OK, this worked like a charm right up to the last step -- installing the selected map data onto my Quest. I know MapInstall is talking to the Quest, because initially it found the Quest and its id and displayed it in the device selection pulldown. But it can't seem to load the maps onto the device -- I've been stuck at "Connecting to device..." for over 15 minutes. Not "preparing map data", but after all data was prepared, at "Connecting to device..."

WAIT! While I was typing this it began to actually transfer data. You should probably ask your tech people why it took ~17 minutes between the finish of preparing map data and the start of transfering data. Not exactly a confidence-builder.

That said, while I'll join the chorus asking for a native Mac solution, and I'll go over further to say that if you don't get it soon I'll buy a Tom Tom instead of a Garmin when I upgrade devices for that very reason, I *do* appreciate the initial steps with this beta software. About the only thing I do with MapSource is select different map sets to download to my poor limited-memory non-memory-card-compatible non-upgradable Quest. Now after some initial pain I can do so with impunity without using my wife's hideous Windows POS, so thank you for the admittedly small favor.

[Just Do It]

Well - I don't get the whining...

You can use (instead of Mapsource and with a bit less functionality - but fully working otherwise - Garmin Training Center for Mac. Just put the maps - as suggested - in the Library/Application Support/Garmin/Maps and you have them accessible in the GTCenter for Mac - and quite nicely.

Hope that helps.

[Beez]

I followed the entire procedure. When I got to the MapInstall part on my Mac I could not load the maps from Roads & Rec. MapInstall would not even recognize them. I realize that R&R is discontinued but it is still one of the best map sets for backroads and off-road for motorcycles. I am trying to load them to a 276c.

What Mac users really need is Mapsource for Mac!!!!

[Byron Sonne]

A worthless solution. What if you don't have a PC?

A NATIVE MAC SOLUTION please. This is crap.

[Phil]

Please Garmin, we really need Mapsource running on a MAC. Route planning, managing waypoints and working with tracklogs on a workstation is what makes Garmin better than the others.

[Hans]

First of all thanks for the growing support of Mac OS X from Garmin.

Putting the converted maps and the unlock codes into ~/Library/Application Support of the user, that installs them, seem like a bad idea to me.

I had to look for them and did not expect Documents to be put in there. A hint where they are put or even better a dialog box, asking whether they should be usable for only this user or for all on this Mac would be nice. Also backup-wise this place is at least debatable.

What happens, if another user on the same Mac wants to use them?

Regards,
Hans

[JOF]

I can't understand how anybody would think this is a good solution. I do not own a PC and so this solution is absolutely worthless. I have never before heard of a Mac program which you need a PC first to make an installable file.
Please make a Mac only solution.

[Elux]

I am not sure I see the point of this.

I use a nice PowerPC mac, but keep an old PC around just to use Mapsource for my Zumo. I map my trips and then load them onto the Zumo directly from my crappy PC

Why would I want to use Mapsource on a PC, convert the files, move them to my Mac, open them, and then load them onto my Zumo? What does that do for me except turn a 1 minute download into a ten minute process on 2 machines.

Let's get Mapsource on the Mac so I can give my PC to charity.

[Robert]

It took some fiddling, but I finally got it to work. The first few times, I tried to export all of City Select v7 and US TOPO. Upon installing the result with MapManager, I'd find that City Select didn't get transferred, and the exported files for City Select contained no data. So I tried just exporting City Select, and eureka, that worked. It installed on top of the previously-installed topo maps in MapInstall, so now I have access to them all. Filling up my 60CS takes about 15 minutes, vs. 2.5 hours via Virtual PC and the serial connection.

[john m flores]

Another small step! Way to go! But still waiting for the giant step - full Mapsource!!! Heck, why not take a giant leap and integrate with Google Earth - how cool would that be???

[vuzak]

Good work!

Can´t seem to be able to upload multiple map sets, though. Like both Norway and Sweden at the same time. I have a BIG microSD card and lots of maps..

Or am I just not getting something?

[Mike]

This is great news. Garmin software is the only thing holding me back from buying a MAC. Will I be able to now open my .gdb files on a mac?

[Uberzephyr]

First, THANK YOU!! for some Mac support at last. But what about support directly from the Mac, i.e., NOT a conversion from a previous installation on Windows? I was planning on buying one of the new HCx units to replace my aged Legend, and I notice that though there is already a software update to be installed - apparently it can only be installed via a Windows machine, though. Any news on when that capability might be coming? Or installing maps directly via the Mac, which I will also be wanting to do?

[todd Harris]

Nice! Great to finally see some progress on this front! Much appreciated!

What does MapManager do with the maps? That is, can the ConvertedMaps.tgz and extracted ConvertedMaps.gmapi files be deleted after loaded by MapManager?

[Kristin]

Have this running on my Mac, but I'm not really sure what the point of this software is? I mean, it's nice to be able to load a map via a Mac, but without any of the MapSource functions (ie. creating/storing waypoints, routes, etc.) I'm not really sure what use this software has? I mean, I still need to run Windows to actually utilize MapSource/my GPS, so why take up the HD space on my Mac only to load maps onto my unit?
It's a nice try, but would rather see resources spent in developing something that actually let's us use our GPS units on the Mac.

[Johan S]

Will there be a Mac-version of MapSource? With this app above there is no way to manage/create waypoints, routes, tracks, check distance etc etc?

[Jason M]

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU

I haven't tried to convert anything yet, but or even downloaded the software yet - but am very glad an appreciative that it's available.

[andy batt]

1. thanks for putting some new mac software in my hands - it's nice to see real measurable progress.

2. I still need a PC to put maps on my Garmin? I don't have a PC.

3. Why not create Mac version of MapConverter so I can skip the PC altogether?

cheers

andy

[javier vegas]

Nice workaround. Is there now anyway of importing my waipoints and tracks?

[Oliver]

Great work, thanks for supporting the mac. I was struggeling to by a Garmin device. Now I knwo it's the right one.

[steve keller]

downloaded and ran on my Mac, fantasic worked like a dream. Looks so much better than on the Wintel machine. Now all I need to be able to do is import MMO and LOC files and I can finally never have to use Windows. Yes!!!!!

[Pete Abbett]

hallelujah!!!!!

I have been waiting for soooo long.
Don't try to do the whole topo mapsource for a large area (western US). It hangs... Try small portions.

Thanks for the info.

[Glancing Aft]

Thank You! I can't wait to install it tonight! After it's up and running, I finally wont have a use for a windows computer anymore =)

[Joe]

Very cool...Keep up the great Mac updating!