Hi Warin, I can see your a seasoned Hubber and I have read Colebatch's 1st post many times. What i see is a post aimed at folk who have some ability with IT navigation. I on the other hand am a total novice to PC navigation. I am slowly getting to grips with the lingo but where as people who have some IT skills can follow tips without flinching I hit a wall. You mentioned (.nl) what is that...????
Let me recap on what I think I understand so far and what i have to play with.
I have BC & MS downloaded. I have some .exe files & some zipped .img files also downloaded. Can you explain to me what BC does and MS does with regard to keeping files ready to download onto a SD card. Should i keep one map/SD card or can I store several..?? I have my Garmin 390LM and want to keep it, it would seem many folk are or have been so frustrated by Garmin they use other GPS devices but i'm gonna stick with it. I only need to find my way here once and then it will stick with me but PC's, IT in general have and are so particular in use they leave zero margin for error and as my IT/PC navigation skills are so poor at the minute I need some very basic guidance .
I will continue to read posts and self educate but please also help out on here.
Can someone give me a basic generalisation of 'basecamp' and 'mapsource' please...???

Garmin developed 'mapsource' for its GPSs. Later Garmin decided to develop a new program for its GPSs ... called 'basecamp'. Chose one and use it. As your starting fresh and 'mapsource' is no longer being updated I'd suggest you learn 'basecamp'.

The .nl refers to a long web address where the files you have came from .. the Netherlands. There are other sources but this thread is about the .nl one. Web address can indicate where they are in the world using these .nl, .uk .es etc etc.

I'm a mapsource person .. I have little idea what basecamp does. Maybe I'll learn the next program? Anyway ...

The .img files will have to go into the GPS .. possibly on a SD card if your GPS has that capability. If you need instruction on that - start another thread. But simply the .img files are just copied across to the SD card ... no basecamp/mapsource action. Post #14 gives a little info on this. Probably some more after it too.

I like to keep a separate SD card for each area - they overlap so there is no immediate need to change cards at some point, just when convenient.

The .exe files will install maps on to the PC so that mapsource/basecamp can use them.

Basecamp has the ability to use maps on a GPS ... if the GPS is plugged in to the PC. Again this is not really too well related to this topic - start another thread?

Ok, i'll go for basecamp then.

So .exe files can be downloaded onto basecamp. I'll try and do that for starters. I notice you used the term .imj..?? Is this the same as .img (the zipped files from OSM to be downloaded onto the SD card or what about the gmapsupp.zip file from OSM..??

Thank you for your patience

Mez

You put your finger on a source of much frustration - as said earlier, Garmin software is not user friendly, even in the world of computers and their jargon.

Eat the elephant in bite sized chunks, one day at a time.

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Dave

Indeed, but i am trying to eat it whole using plastic picnic knife & fork...!!!

I googled 'how to upload .exe files onto basecamp and yet another type of file popped up into the equation..... (.kmz) Sooooooooo many file types, such a steep learning curve, not giving up mind...

Thanks to all giving input, carry on....

.kml is google earth related. The "z" factor may be related to zipped files for google earth.
Anyway, there is another thread in here about Google and its' earth

The earlier reference to .imj will be a typo IMO.
https://www.file-extensions.org/imj-file-extension

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Dave

Sorry too in-depth there, brain in a blender for me.....!!!

Hence, stick with what you want to achieve right now; I guess you want those OSM maps placed on the Zumo = back to the OP in this thread and the relevant posts that follow that, concerning storing data on SD cards for instance.

Everything else is just pheripheral and nice to know, eventually.

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Dave

OP is dated 7/5/12 and not a mention of basecamp which is the recommendation I've taken. I have the latest version as well. I followed Colebatch's steps to retrieve the maps fine and dandy but getting them onto the basecamp.........

Don't know how clear these screenshots are but this is my files sitting in docs and my opened basecamp screen. I cant find the map down-drop bar as described by several 'googled referencies'.....

It goes on....

EDIT; What do the two blue arrows mean in the 'status' columb as opposed to a green tick...???

Well I've learnt something this morning from some jolly fine Hubbers. I know what files i need to download onto an SD card. I know that .exe files can be downloaded onto basecamp but i just don't know how to do it. I'm stuck at this point of getting my files onto basecamp...

Apparently, I was wrong in this; you do want to load those maps directly into basecamp without putting them into the Zumo first.

This is what an .exe file does.
https://fileinfo.com/extension/exe

Ref your last post, did you run the file on your computer (it needs to be executed, i.e. run, and not simply cut and pasted, drag and dropped or some other means of transferring said file between locations)?

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Dave