Speaking for myself, I have no problem with the large number of icons. In fact, the more the better when it comes to sharing GPX files with others! However, I do agree that we need a method to allow each user to make a more manageable list. I'll probably never use more than 10% of these icons, but I like knowing that if I use an icon, and I transfer that GPX file to another user, that they will already have that same icon available on their machine.
Proposed solution that should make everyone happy: Keep all the icons and add 100 more if you like. But we should allow each user the ability to customize the list so his favorite icons appear first in this list. I propose a very simple system where we can have a star at the end of each Icon description. Click it to make the Icon a favorite and it turns gold. The next time you pull up the list for icons, the ones you have starred will appear at the top of the list. Click again and it reverts back to a normal icons. The remaining icons will appear further down the list if you ever need a new one. This would satisfy cruisers, racers, fisherman and any other group.
Temporary Conditions Icons - People will use waypoints for purposes other than bringing a chart up to date. In the case of Dredging, I currently had a need to mark an area where dredging is taking place and the dredging will continue for several years into the future. An Icon for that to identify dredging is appropriate. I might want to
email a fellow cruiser the location of a dredging operation. Using the proper icon makes it that much easier to see and understand.
Weather Icons - On at least 5 different occasions I have built routes to track the position and
forecast of tropical storm systems. Every time I've done this, I wished I had the icon for a
hurricane or tropical storm. I would like to see the symbols added to indicate the forecasted position of a cyclone or tropical storm, perhaps the same symbols, only in black and white. I would probably never use any other
weather symbols, but others may want to use them and I'm all for adding them.
UserIcons - I still believe there is a good use for the Usericons. Of course you can still use it to make and use your own personal icons if you choose, but I think it's greater purpose would be to override what you see on
your system for a particular icon. If you find you don't like the Anchorage icon and you'd rather see a great big Pink
Anchor you can copy the Icon to the UserIcon folder and give it the same name as the standard Anchorage Icon. When the Anchorage Icon is displayed on
your system you'll see a big pink
anchor. If you transfer that waypoint to another user, they will see the standard icon. This would allow each individual to customize what they see on the
screen, yet preserve the same icon name so it can be shared with others.
I also agree with the suggestion that Icons from the UserIcons folder have a prefix of Usericon, to distinguish them from the standard icons.
Additional Icons - There have been some great suggestions for new icons. Those which are of particular interest to racers and fisherman should all be created and added. AS much as this community has in common, we are also a very diverse group whose
boating interests and needs vary. We should try our best to accommodate everyone.
Keep the icon suggestions coming!!! The more the better!!!
This is going to be a very nice improvement to OpenCPN!
Re: OpenCPN Beta Version 4.6.2
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