I'm brand new to your application, so talk to me like I'm a two year old.

I've downloaded the 14 day trial want to set up a map for a lake that I fish in Canada but the map I see on your app is blank where the lake is. I see I need to go to google earth save it as a KMZ and then open that as an image. When I attempt to do this I'm getting an error:
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object"
When I look at the KMZ file it is only 1 kb, so I don't know if that is right. Is there a video that simply shows how to do this step by step?

Otherwise, can you explain it to me like I'm a little dense.

Thanks,
Goatous

Hi Goatous,
You shouldn't be getting that error message, so I'd be interested to understand exactly why it is happening.

Are you exporting directly from a Map Project?
Is your map in raster or vector mode?
Can you make a screen-shot of your generated map along with the settings in the Edit pane - this might give some clues.
If possible, please share your workspace online (e.g. DropBox or Google Earth) and send the link to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The steps to export to Google Earth from a Project are:

1. Generate the map in Vector mode. This creates the colour-filled isobaths required for a nice GE map. It is possible to export a raster mode map, but you will only get contours - no colours.


2. Select Export to GPS from the right-click menu in the Contour View.


3. Choose the Google Earth format and click the save button at bottom-right of the window. You shouldn't need to change any of the export options.



If that is not working, please let me know.

thanks,
Matt

OK I just re-read your original post and I think I misunderstood the question.
Are you talking about creating the lake shoreline before generating the map?
In this case, you need to trace a shoreline - either in RM (over the supplied base-maps), or in Google Earth. Tracing in GE is usually the better option, and there information on how to do this in the make a map tutorial. The process is also shown in the make a map video.

You need to create a polygon in Google Earth which traces the shoreline. You then save this in GE as a KML or KMZ file and add it to your map project as a map boundary - *not* an image, which is probably why you are getting the error. If you follow the make a map tutorial linked above, this process is demonstrated.

Matt

I am not sure, if I have understood the question, but you want a background map for Reefmaster or you want one for your unit?

For Lowrance units this thread could help you to create a background map as a first step.
If you have collected logfiles with your unit, Reefmaster will help you to get your lake areas filled with depth contours as a second step.

www.reefmaster.com.au/index.php/forum/ma...-insight-map-creator

Thanks for the quick response. I'll give it a shot and try again. Is there an easy way to deal with islands?

Trace islands in the same way as shorelines, as separate polygons.
When you import shorelines and islands into RM from Google Earth, all of the polygons that are imported will be set to "island" by default. You need to select the shoreline polygon and set it to shoreline. I know that sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but it's done this way because some projects have a lot of islands - 10's or even 100's - and it's easier to set a single shoreline to "shoreline" than to set 100 islands to "island".