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ukpostcode is an add-on for TomTom Navigator 2 and 3 (TTN) running on PocketPC under Windows Mobile 2003.
One of the main shortcomings for UK users of TomTom Navigator is the lack of full postcode lookup.
This makes navigation to
addresses in the UK rather cumbersome and prone to error. The standard remedy used by many is to load a
points-of-interest (POI) file into TTN containing postcodes, and using TTN's navigate-to-poi facility.
However, POIs are not really intended for this purpose and cause various side-effects that are not very
desirable, such as long start-up time and large memory footprint. Also, it is virtually impossible to make it
work with the entire postcode database loaded into TTN in this fashion.
My approach was to create a very compact database containing the entire UK set of postcodes in a custom
designed format, using a small application to lookup postcodes and hook into TTN to navigate to the location,
or just display it on the map.
The database is created by an application running on a PC from the collection of postcode files downloadable
from the www.pocketgps.co.uk site (which by-the-way is also
a great resource for all things GPS for handhelds). The PC application (not yet released) indexes and compresses
these files (36.5 MBytes) into a relatively compact file which can be stored easily alongside all the map files
on a 128MB SD flash card, for instance.
By using datafile formats designed for the purpose, postcode lookup is virtually instant even in a database file of
this size. Also, by being a separate application, there is no run-time overhead at all for TTN.
Compatibility
The program was developed and tested on my iPAQ 3970 running Windows Mobile 2003. Thanks to a handful of friendly
volunteers (thanks guys!) off the www.pocketgps.co.uk site, it has also
been tested on lots of different iPAQ machines under both PPC2002 and WM2003.
Downloading and installing
I've not yet designed an install program for this application, so the instructions below are really only for you
if you're confident in working with your PocketPC through Windows Explorer. If not, please get hold of someone who
is (maybe on one of the newsgroups) to help you along.
I owe a huge thank-you to Darren Griffin at the www.pocketgps.co.uk site
for helping to refine these instructions. If you find that you are having problems installing the program or making it
work, pay their forum a visit and I'm sure someone will extend a helping hand in your direction.
Step One
First of all you need to download and unzip the release into a
temporary location. The full package is a large download (11MB) which includes the initial release of the database,
so be patient if your link is slow.
The zip file contains five files: ukpostcode.dat which is the database, ukpostcode.exe which is the
application used for the look-up, setup.exe which installs the TomTom hook, TTNControl.ini which controls
the install, and TTNControl.arm.CAB which is the actual interface to TTN.
Step Two
Place your PocketPC in the cradle and connect to the PC using ActiveSync.
Step Three
Note that if you've already got CheckPOInt installed you don't need to complete this step. CheckPOInt will
already have installed the necessary TTN support files. Simply carry on from step four.
Use Windows Explorer to copy the 'TTNControl.arm.cab' file to the 'My Documents' folder on your PPC.
Then, using File Explorer on the PPC, locate this .cab file and double tap to install it.
The .cab file will self delete following installation.
Step Four
Use Windows Explorer to browse your PocketPC. Locate your storage card, create a folder called 'ukpostcode' on the storage
card and copy ukpostcode.exe and ukpostcode.dat to it.
It is important that the .exe file is in the same folder on the PocketPC as the .dat file, or it won't work.
Finally, create a shortcut to ukpostcode.exe and drag it to the "Windows\Start Menu\Programs" folder on the
PocketPC (don't drop it in \windows\programs - it won't appear anywhere). This allows you to use the usual
PocketPC method to attach ukpostcode to one of your hardware keys, or make it appear in your main menu.
Having it hooked to one of the hardware keys is a particularly convenient way of accessing the program when
TomTom is running.
Using the program
Simply start the ukpostcode program using the shortcut you created in step four above, from your start menu. Type in
a postcode and click on either "Show on map" or "Navigate to", as appropriate. If all is well, TTN should automatically
pop up in either map mode or navigator mode.
The catch?
I had to buy the TomTom SDK in order to provide this program, so if you enjoy using ukpostcode please donate a bit to cover the
cost. Anything you can afford will be much appreciated!
Just click the PayPal icon below. Thanks!
The legalese
The ukpostcode program and the associated database format is copyright
Niels Thomsen. You are hereby granted a free license to:
a) download the program and associated data file for your own personal use and,
b) redistribute the downloaded program and associated data file, as long as all copyrights in the
program and associated database format are acknowledged and attributed to
me, and as long as no charge is made by you for this service.
You may not redistribute the program or associated data file as part of a library or collection of
utilities, or in any way associate the program and associated data file with
any other product or software program in any form.
If you cannot agree to the conditions above, contact me for
a quote for a commercial license.
The contents of the database file (i.e. the postcodes) are not
copyrighted by me, and I claim no specific rights in relation to them.
Because the program is licensed free of charge, there is no warranty
for the program, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Except when
otherwise stated in writing the copyright holders and/or other parties
provide the program "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed
or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as
to the quality and performance of the program is with you. Should the
program prove defective, you assume the cost of all necessary servicing,
repair or correction.
In no event unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing
will any copyright holder, or any other party who may modify and/or
redistribute the program as permitted above, be liable to you for damages,
including any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising
out of the use or inability to use the program (including but not limited
to loss of data or data being rendered inaccurate or losses sustained by
you or third parties or a failure of the program to operate with any other
programs), even if such holder or other party has been advised of the
possibility of such damages.
Finally, as required by the TomTom SDK license agreement:
Copyright and intellectual property rights of the TTControl CAB file and
the included component(s) remain with Palmtop at all times, and can only
be used in combination with a valid TomTom Navigator license.
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