Mapping project enters second to last phase this week

Posted By: John McNeely
Date: 7/25/09 7:52a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Massive mapping project completed...for better or worse (John McNeely)

The mapping project enters the second-to-the-last phase this week. The last phase is maintenance in which we add, change, and delete boats as requested. The second-to-the-last phase to be completed this week enters updates and deletions for the P-15 owners. After that, a complete re-ordering of the lists of boats will be attempted. Those who responded will be listed first so that all owners who supplied current info can be seen in the first screen in Google Maps. Remember Google Maps has a limitation of about 200 markers and names per "page." You go to the bottom of the list of names to select additional pages. Next will be a list of boats with contact info but that has not been updated. The last list is where we have no owner name or contact info at all. When you view the map in Google Earth, that can show about 1,000 names/markers at a time, this last group probably won't be displayed. This is not a big loss as there won't be information with which to contact them anyway. One learning we have had is that permitting Potter owners with Google accounts to edit their own markers was unrealistic. I have been delayed in getting to this second-to-the-last phase by having to spend time repairing damage to the map by those users who, although well intentioned, inadvertently wipe out the title and instructions on how to make edits. I have had to do this repair several days in a row and it has caused me concern that someone else's marker could inadvertently get deleted without my realizing it. So I have locked down the map so that only I can edit it and so can any other interested Potter owner who steps forward. Yes, I'm calling for one or more volunteers who would be willing to learn how to do this, in case I should die off or become incapacitated. I'll tutor them by phone. One 15-minute session should do it. I will post a reply when the second-to-the-last phase is completed; hopefully this week. Thanks to everyone who responded for your patience. A busy work schedule the last two weeks has also kept me from my work on this project. John McNeely