Streets & Trips 2007 / AutoRoute 2007 - testers with touch-screens needed

Marvin Hlavac · 04-11-2007, 06:48 AM

I'm attempting to make the experience of using Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 and Microsoft AutoRoute 2007 a bit more touch-screen friendly by modifying my S&T Keys and AR Keys (add on software which was originally designed just to help keyboard users).

S&T Keys and AR Keys were not designed to work with Streets & Trips and/or AutoRoute embedded in another application. I doubt it would work well, or at least I don't know (I never used the programs embedded in other software). But this may be an alternative for some users who wish not to embed S&T 2007 or AR 2007.

A screenshot showing the new large finger-friendly buttons: Zoom-in, Zoom-out, and Menu:

The same as above, but in full-screen navigation mode:

The new menu panel (accessible via the new touch-screen friendly "Menu" button:

It's still in "Beta" stage, but feel free to download it and give it a try. Scroll down to the download area, and make sure you download the "Beta" version (not the "Final release" version):

S&T Keys - Hotkeys for Microsoft Streets & Trips

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Microsoft Streets and Trips

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dhallilama · 04-11-2007, 11:05 AM

i'll give it a go...

out of the box, S&T is kind of a PITA to set a destination into... this looks promising...

Queenambeach · 04-13-2007, 08:27 AM

This beta software is nice, but entering a destination is still a hassle.
Also in full screen mode, the menu option needs to move up some.

Marvin Hlavac · 04-13-2007, 08:48 AM

Thanks for feedback!

1. When you say "entering a destination is still a hassle", are you referring to the difficulty to use the on-screen keyboard, or are you referring to the fact that in non-full screen mode the destination entering consists of two steps (one still needs to press the "Navigate" button after destination has been entered)?

2. Where would you position the "Menu" button?

cirovi · 04-16-2007, 10:14 AM

I will try but.... It is only for english AR, right ?
You can make AR-keys compatible for italian ?

billmee · 04-16-2007, 11:07 AM

Good Idea(s)

Question: Are you optimizing for 800x600?

Comment: Someone skinned S&T for RoadRunner. I am using it now.
links
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/rr-skins/52180-working-skin-ms-streets-trips-embedded-rr.html
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/road-runner/61880-brushed-metal-streets-trips-2006-skin.html

Marvin Hlavac · 04-17-2007, 04:30 AM

@ cirovi: Unfortunately it will not work with the Italian version of AutoRoute 2007. I'd like to make it compatible with all (Italian, German French, etc) versions, eventually. But that will not happen in the near future.

@ billmee: I would hope it would be usable at any resolution. The Zoom and Menu buttons will adjust their position on the screen to where ever the Streets & Trips 2007 (and/or AutoRoute 2007) is at the moment. And the Options panel and the Menu panel are designed to fit even to a 640 x 480 screen.

However, S&T Keys (and AR Keys) is not designed to work with Streets & Trips 2007 (and AutoRoute 2007) embedded in another application. I suspect most features would not even work in such setup. The automatic re-routing would not work almost certainly. This is really just designed for users who wish to use the program on its own. If you are using RoadRunner, stick with it. That's a better solution for most CarPC users (looks much better, too).

Queenambeach · 04-17-2007, 06:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

Thanks for feedback!

1. When you say "entering a destination is still a hassle", are you referring to the difficulty to use the on-screen keyboard, or are you referring to the fact that in non-full screen mode the destination entering consists of two steps (one still needs to press the "Navigate" button after destination has been entered)?

2. Where would you position the "Menu" button?

Yes, the on screen keyboard is still to small to use with a touchscreen. If there was a way to enlarge it, it would make it easier.

When I say move up the menu icon, what I mean is that in full screen mode it overlaps with the map and the black portion of the driving guidance pane.

Marvin Hlavac · 04-17-2007, 12:48 PM

Queenambeach, thanks for the feedback.

1. It uses the Windows OSK, but future versions will let users to specify path to the .exe of their favorite OSK.

2. That doesn't sound right. The buttons should be placed as depicted on the above screenshots. You aren't using Streets & Trips embedded in something, are you? When in full-screen mode, do you see anything else on the screen beside Streets & Trips (and the S&T Keys buttons)? Any other program or toolbar visible on the screen?

Queenambeach · 04-18-2007, 05:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

Queenambeach, thanks for the feedback.

1. It uses the Windows OSK, but future versions will let users to specify path to the .exe of their favorite OSK.

2. That doesn't sound right. The buttons should be placed as depicted on the above screenshots. You aren't using Streets & Trips embedded in something, are you? When in full-screen mode, do you see anything else on the screen beside Streets & Trips (and the S&T Keys buttons)? Any other program or toolbar visible on the screen?

Also, this might not be a big deal, but when the "keys" program is engaged, I think its supposed to say "please wait" at the top, but I only see "please".

Marvin Hlavac · 04-18-2007, 06:16 AM

That's interesting. Yes, while this may not be a big deal, it may be an indication of it not working correctly in some configurations. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see two screenshots. One in the full screen mode showing the misaligned buttons, and one screenshot at startup showing the "please". You could either post here or e-mail to me at: hlavac (at) rogers (dot) com.

bambam · 04-20-2007, 05:50 AM

Great idea and thanks for your efforts Marvin!

Is there anyway I can get your source code so I can maybe lend more opinions or suggestions?

Thanks again

Marvin Hlavac · 04-20-2007, 06:45 AM

Yes, the exe is not protected by a password or anything. Feel free to decompile it. It was created in AutoIt (www.autoitscript.com ). After you install AutoIt you will be able to easily decompile it. The code is a mess, though, as I'm not a programmer - just a hobbyist

heitjer · 04-22-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

The code is a mess, though, as I'm not a programmer - just a hobbyist

And you are doing a good job as far as I can tell! The only issue at this point that I have is the OSK as discussed earlier. Other than that I am testing for the last few days without any hickups or problems.

Marvin Hlavac · 04-23-2007, 09:08 PM

Cool, thanks for the feedback. It seems users don't very much like the Windows OSK. There are freeware/sharware alternatives, though. I may even one day attempt to create an optional OSK for the program. In the mean time I just uploaded a new Beta version which adds "Favorite Destinations" feature. This is not a final release, just a Beta (download from the Beta link).