Version Specific Assistance

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Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D

Installation and FAQs

If you are experiencing any problems with Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D, always try to upgrade to the latest version.

 

Upgrades/Downloads

When downloading an upgrade, save the file to your desktop, close TOPO!, open the file on your desktop and run it.  When you restart TOPO!, verify the upgrade was successful by clicking on the ‘Info’ tab from the menu bar, and selecting ‘About TOPO!’.

 

Download version 4.3.2 for Windows
Upgrade from any earlier Windows version. It fixes all known issues related to 3D, printing, direction lines, and problems editing objects.

 

System Requirements

Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP or Vista. Requires DirectX version 9 or greater (included on the installation CD). An 8MB or more video card that is DirectX 9 compatible is required for 3D views.

GPS: Works with most popular handheld receivers manufactured by Magellan, Garmin, Eagle and Lowrance. See compatibility chart. Direct link requires USB port or USB-to-Serial converter cable for units with serial connectors (sold separately by third parties).

 

Installation

How do I install my Trails Illustrated Explorer 3-D software?

1. Insert the TOPO! Installer CD-ROM.
2. Choose the “Run” command from your Windows Start menu.
3. Type “D:\Setup.exe” (if your CD-ROM drive is not drive D, substitute the appropriate drive letter).
4. Click “OK” and follow the instructions on the screen.
5. The TOPO! Install Wizard will place the TOPO! application and other files needed by TOPO! onto your hard drive.

Once complete, please test the application to verify that you can get to level 4 of 4 by inserting a data disc. If successful, please upgrade to the latest version.

The data disc – the second disk -- does not get installed.  Once you have the application installed, open TOPO!, select ‘Start with a new map”, hit GO and select your park. Using the zoom tool click on the map in an area you wish to view in more detail.  When you get to the more detailed levels, TOPO! will prompt you to insert the data disc.  Insert the data disc, hit ‘Retry’ and the maps will load.

 

If, however, you would like to copy the map data disc to your hard drive, please follow the instructions below:

 - Open TOPO!

- Click View > TOPO! Product Setup > Copy Data CD-ROMs to Hard Drive

- You will be prompted to insert a TOPO! Data CD to copy, then click ‘OK’

 

 

How do I install TOPO! on a Windows Vista operating system?

When installing software, Vista may ask you to 'Allow' the installer program to run, and might require you to enter an administrator password to proceed. Follow the on-screen instructions, allowing Vista to run the setup.exe installer.

You should be able to install to the suggested 'Program Files' location, but if you experience any problems with this, please click the 'Browse...' button during installation and change the install location to the following: "c:\users\public\topo!". This will allow any user account on the PC to run the application.

If the program icon does not appear in the Windows Start menu, you can add one manually by right-clicking on the program icon and choosing 'Pin to Start Menu'. Locate the program icon by clicking 'Start > Computer' and browsing into the install folder (usually at "c:\program files\topo!").

After installing, please click on the following link to upgrade to the latest version of TOPO! State Series for Windows PCs:

If successful, please upgrade to the latest version.

If you have trouble running an update that you have downloaded from this website, try right-clicking on its icon and choosing 'Run as Administrator'. This will allow Windows Vista to properly update the application and related files.

 

How do I save the data CD to my hard drive?

First, please upgrade to the latest version.
Then:

- Open TOPO!

- Click on View > TOPO! Product Setup > Copy Data CD-ROMs to Hard Drive

- You will be prompted to insert a TOPO! Data CD to copy, then click ‘OK’

 

Common Issues

After installation, I am receiving a ‘TOPO! has encountered a problem and needs to close’ error message while TOPO! is initializing.

It appears that the problem you are experiencing is with the driver for your video card. Video cards are becoming more complex and powerful. Unfortunately, like a high end car, they can be temperamental. The good news is that our developers have addressed this by giving TOPO! more flexibility to use other resources on your computer and not solely rely on the video card.

 To resolve your issue please upgrade to the latest version

 

I have upgraded to the latest version via the Upgrades page and I am still encountering a problem when using the 3D button.

Please follow these steps:

1. Download the latest upgrade.

2. Run TOPO!, and click the "3D" button on the toolbar. TOPO! might crash this first time - but that's OK.

3. Run TOPO! again, and click the "3D" button.

4. This time, TOPO! should ask you whether to "Use Slower But Safer 3D Mode?". Click "OK", and the 3D window should now function properly.

 

When I try to upgrade to the latest version of TOPO!, I get an error message saying it could not overwrite existing TOPO!4.exe or could not find existing TOPO! 4.exe.

Please verify that you have quit TOPO! first before running the upgrade.  If this does not work, please rename your existing ‘Topo4.exe’ application to 'Topo4-old.exe' and then run the upgrade.

 

When I open TOPO!, I am receiving a Runtime Error / C++ Runtime Error.

1. Please upgrade to the latest version.

2. Delete TOPO!'s preference file, located at:

c:\program files\topo!\tpo_data\prefs400.tpp".

3. Run TOPO!.

 

I am receiving a Windows System 32 / Autoexec error.

Usually with Windows XP, service packs (SP) are offered in order to update your system.  When updating to Service Pack 2, files such as AUTOEXEC.NT or CONFIG.NT can get deleted or damaged.  These are essential files and must be restored.  Windows may have backed up these files off the root of your hard drive (usually your C drive), in the WINDOWS folder, then REPAIR folder.  If either of these files are located there, then you need to copy and paste them into their original folder WINDOWS, then SYSTEM 32 folder.  If the files are not there, then you need to uninstall SP2 and revert back to SP1, then install TOPO! and then update to Service Pack 2.

 

Using Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D

When I save a file in TOPO! and then reopen it, it takes me to the overview map level, not the area I saved?

When you save a map and then re-open it, TOPO! will always open your file at the overview map level, and you will need to zoom down to find the area where you were working. To avoid this process, save the primary location of your file as a Note. To create a Note, center the map as you choose and click on the Notes and Photos tool, then click somewhere on the map and type in a name to save the Note. Hit Next > OK and then save the file using File > Save As to maintain the Note you have created. When you re-launch the file, the overview map level will appear.  However, to jump to the area where you created the note, click on the Notes and Photos tool, click on the Note you are looking for, and TOPO! will automatically zoom to that particular area.

 

My Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D is installed on an external USB connected hard drive and the recent update doesn't find it and therefore won't update it? 

When double-clicking a .tpo file (a saved map), does it correctly launch the TOPO! 4 application stored on the USB drive? If so, the update should find the application. If it doesn't start TOPO!, Windows should ask you to locate the application you'd like to use for ".tpo" files, and then the update should work.

 

How can I reverse the direction of an elevation profile?

TOPO! builds elevation profiles from the start point of a route to the end point. You can reverse the direction that a profile builds by adding a small segment of route to the start point and then rebuilding the profile.

 

How do I send someone a map made with Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D

If they own the same Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D product

Once your map is exactly how you want it, select "Save As..." from the File menu. Save your map as a .tpo document in a location that you can easily find. The saved .tpo file can then be sent to other TOPO! users as an e-mail attachment or on a disk. A .tpo file saves all free-hand routes, as well as added text, symbols and bookmarks.

If they don’t own the same Trails Illustrated Explorer 3D product Try exporting a map. To export a map, first set up your print area, then choose "export map to disc" from the File menu. Specify where you want to save the map and in what raster file format. You can then e-mail this image file as an attachment or copy it to a disk.

 

What can I do if my 3D tool is not working?

First, ensure that your computer meets the minimum requirements for the 3D application to run. Second, check that your monitor display is set to a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and that the color quality is at least 24 bit color (i.e. millions of colors) or higher. Third, check if there is an updated driver available for your video card.