Routegadget 2.0: Sneak preview

[EddieH]

I have to say that my experience of trying to put my routes on the new version would fhave led me to giving up had I not enjoyed the original.

Both were BASOC events. The first time most of the runners on the course were simply missing.

Yesterday's event came up with every runners name in duplicate so I picked one and plotted my route. It claimed it was saved but there is no sign of it. So I decided to try again using the other duplicate. However this time there were no duplicates. I again entered my route and again was told Route saved. However there is no sign of said route

[Paul Frost]

As the manager of the BASOC RouteGadget I have looked into this.
I don't see the duplicated names and Eddie does have routes saved at the 2 events he refers to. So I've just spoken to him to try and understand the issue.
He is using an old laptop running Windows Vista and possibly Internet Explorer 8 (he's not sure). Whilst talking to him he couldn't even get the map loaded to check if he could see the route that I could see on my computer.

RG2 is heavily reliant on Javascript to work and that's why it works better than the original on newer machines. Javascript is what has been driving the increased dynamism of the web in recent years, it allows the redrawing/updating of the page content without re-loading the page (think of the drag/zoom way we use Google maps). It works best in the latest versions of all browsers, which are constantly speeding up the processing and execution of Javascript.

The original RG used Java (not related to Javascript) which runs as a separate application within your browser. Java has been used to hack into computers and is now considered a security risk because it allows access to bits of your computer that allow it to infect it.
RG itself isn't a security risk, but because the Java language it is written in is used by the bad guys, newer computers/operating systems have been gradually restricting it's ability to run.

So if you have an old computer/operating system and you don't regularly update it you are probably best off using the original RG, but if you have newer stuff and update it regularly you will probably get a much better user experience from RG2. There is still a way to go before I add RG2 capability to every club RG account I manage due to the constantly evolving code and the need to keep replacing files for each club after each update.
If you are techie minded then it's easy enough for you to add RG2 capability to your own RG account and keep it as updated as you have time to do.
If you have a heavily used RG account but not the technical skills to add RG2 and are keen to try it send me an email and I'll consider doing it for you.

[EddieH]

Thanks for sorting that out Paul. Interestingly I am now back to having every runner listed twice for the Revack event but not for Inshriach.

[Paul Frost]

It's you Eddie.

[SeanC]

Eddie, do you know how to clear your browser cache? It often cures weird stuff like this when there's javascript involved.

[roadrunner]

I just tried uploading a route to RG2 for the first time (on the SLOW website, so not sure if this is the latest version or not), and found a few funnies.

1. I started trying to upload a GPS track and the "open file" dialog box accepted all files, so I tried the .TCX file saved by my device which, unsurprisingly, didn't work (though there wasn't an error prompt). Could the default file type be set to *.gpx not *.* so that it's more obvious what is required?

2. When I converted the file and uploaded it, the track appeared very small relative to the map, which made the stretching and rotation rather difficult until I got it to a more reasonable size. Is this a universal issue? I wonder if there could be some way of geo-referencing the maps, even very roughly (say two corners), so that you could start with something that was roughly right.

3. When, eventually, I abandoned loading the GPS track (because of inaccuracy rather than anything to do with RG2) and decided to draw it manually instead, the list of names disappeared, and I had to navigate away from the site and back again to get it back. I'm not sure of the exact sequence of operations, but I think I used the "reset" button.

Nevertheless, overall I found it easy to use, and thanks to Simon for creating it.

[Simon E]

1. Could the default file type be set to *.gpx not *.* so that it's more obvious what is required?

The default is set to GPX. Unfortunately it looks like some browsers ignore this. A quick test has just shown that IE and Chrome work, but Firefox doesn't. I'll see if I can find a way around this at some point.

2. When I converted the file and uploaded it, the track appeared very small relative to the map, which made the stretching and rotation rather difficult until I got it to a more reasonable size. Is this a universal issue? I wonder if there could be some way of geo-referencing the maps, even very roughly (say two corners), so that you could start with something that was roughly right.

In theory this is already what happens. If the map is georeferenced then the course is fitted properly. Otherwise the GPX track is stretched to fit to the full extent of the map, with the start of the GPX track at the start control. If you get an issue like this then you could email me the GPX file and I can investigate.

3. When, eventually, I abandoned loading the GPS track (because of inaccuracy rather than anything to do with RG2) and decided to draw it manually instead, the list of names disappeared, and I had to navigate away from the site and back again to get it back.

There are various places where I probably need to add some resetting if you try to back out of doing something. I'll look at it.

[roadrunner]

Thanks for the response, Simon; I've sent you a PM with the GPX file attached.

[EddieH]

Me again.

I really appreciate RG2 - once I've worked out how to use it many of the features are a big advance.

However I am having to give up putting my Edinburgh route on as I cannot work out how to undo an accidental press. When I hit the "reset" button all that happens is I revert to a tiny map - nothing else changes.

[Top cat]

I have managed to draw my course on the map and can manage everything else, but.....
I can only replay my route by closing my browser and then reopening it.
What am I doing wrong?
In the original RG as soon as you saved the route you could replay immediately.

I am hoping to work with a large group tomorrow so would appreciate a quick response!

[Simon E]

I can only replay my route by closing my browser and then reopening it.
What am I doing wrong? In the original RG as soon as you saved the route you could replay immediately.

Once the new route has been saved (and you get the confirmation box) the results tab is updated automatically. You need to go to the relevant result list and tick the "replay" box against your name and it will then replay.

If this isn't happening then please let me know which site you are using and I can see if there are any problems.

I guess I could change it in future so that the new route is automatically selected for replay once it has been saved.

[Top cat]

I'm working on the Deeside (Delamere green) & Lakeland (Holker LG) RG.
The same thing happens with both.
I draw the route & save. The confirmation comes up.
But when I go to the results tab the replay only follows the red line.

When I close the browser and restart my route is followed.
Any idea?

[Simon E]

When I close the browser and restart my route is followed. Any idea?

I've sent you a PM.

[Top cat]

Simon - did you get my pm?
I'm not sure I sent it!

[Simon E]

Simon - did you get my pm?

Yes, got it and I have now worked out what is going on. The problem only shows up in Internet Explorer, which decided to keep the old set of routes rather than load a new set after you draw your route. I already had some code that tried to avoid this cache problem but I've added some more.

All UK routegadget sites now have this new version. It also includes a vastly improved touch interface which allows you to drag and pinch-zoom on the map. Works nicely on iPad, but not quite so well on Android for some reason.

Hiding the animation controls comes next so you can get a screenful of map on your phone.