Surprise launch: MRA Routeplanner 1.1. is now available for everyone

MyRoute-app community · 19 Nov 2020, 12:36

Attention Community,

With great pride and on behalf of the entire MRA team we're hereby launching the first milestone on the MRA Routeplanner Roadmap. We've come a long way since the initial release of the MRA Routeplanner in 2013 and this release is imporant for several reasons. Not only does this update add loads of long requested features to MyRoute-app, it also signals the first step towards 2.0. and an important paradigm shift relating to how we work with the community.

Now on to the juicy part. This update includes the release of the following 3 features:

Shaping and via waypoints
Shaping and Via points are a familiar feature for BaseCamp users. These points allow users to define whether a route should always follow a waypoint or whether that waypoint may be ignored whilst travelling. This allows users to better shape their routes and provides flexibility on the road on Garmin navigation systems.

Improved "inbetween" waypoints
In MRA Routeplanner, you can enter waypoints inbetween existing waypoints. However, many members of the community have pointed out that this functionality needs better visibility whilst creating a route. At this time, it happens too often that users at the end of their route and not inbetween waypoints. With the improved "inbetween" waypoint adding functionality users will be presented with a user-friendly an intuitive tool that creates clear opportunities to add waypoints inbetween other waypoints.

Timed waypoints
With timed waypoints you will be able to add lunch breaks, stops and other timed events to your route. Timed waypoints allow you to adjust the arrival and departure times on individual waypoints as well as observe the duration of groups of waypoints together. This allows greater control over the effective duration of a route, as well as time-management for professional tour organizers and driving instructors.

More on the RoadMap:
Check the RoadMap here
Check the 1.1. update here
Check the upcoming 1.2. update here

Drabslab · 19 Nov 2020, 13:11

@Timo-Martosatiman-MRA Congratulations!!!

It will be fun experimenting with these new options. Not being able to travel due to COVID, we can at leats dream about it and make the most remarkable routes

Stefan Hummelink · 19 Nov 2020, 14:15

Nice! Very nice!

I do however expect another one of those very useful webinars by Serge concerning these new functionalities! Tips & tricks from the MRA masters are a absolute must regarding new functionalities.

Great work MRA team!

MyRoute-app community · 19 Nov 2020, 14:24

@Drabslab That's the spirit! Luckily our hobby is one least affected (but still, very impactful) so far by COVID.

@StefanHummelink Great idea. We'll probably schedule it in among the webinars starting in march-april next year, or possibly already in one of the upcoming MRA Community Broadcasts on facebook.

On last week's broadcast I briefly discussed some features with Serge on the Broadcast. I've added the time-stamped video here:
https://youtu.be/FiCDCpZTg48?t=911

Stefan Hummelink · 19 Nov 2020, 14:44

@Timo-Martosatiman-MRA I would prefer it to be held earlier, within a month or two after the release. March/april is already at the eve of the new season!

MyRoute-app community · 19 Nov 2020, 18:56

@StefanHummelink You're right. I'll see what I can do!

Ian Street · 19 Nov 2020, 19:02

Well just had a play with the new updated MRA 1.1 and it's looking good, being able to add a start time to new routes is great but when I looked at routes that I have already built, I find that I can't add a start time to this route only pause times for stops. But great work and looking forward to the upcoming new releases.

Nick Carthew · 19 Nov 2020, 21:19

@Ian-Street The ability to add a start time to existing routes would be a good addition so I second that

Nick Carthew · 19 Nov 2020, 22:35

@Ian-Street Surprise, surprise. It is possible to add a start time to existing routes. Choose to edit a route in your library by clicking the 3dots on the right of the route and you’ll find ‘Start Time’ as an option.

Gary France · 20 Nov 2020, 08:06

Break out the champagne!

The ability to add start times to a days route, add pause times that reflect the likely timing of the riding day and see what time you will arrive at each waypoint is brilliant. Congratulations MRA, for me this is a real game-changer that allows me to use MRA as a tour leader, organising many multi-day rides over the course of a year.

As you know Timo, I have been wanting / needing this for a long time and I am delighted you have been able to add it so early in the Road-Map. As soon as I do some testing to make sure I know how it works, I will then be at the stage where I can now start to use MRA for all of my tours and to start to convert all of my existing tours to MRA. This is just BRILLIANT. Christmas has come early!

I am delighted.

Best wishes,

Gary.

Gary France · 20 Nov 2020, 08:16

@Nick-Carthew Thanks, I struggled to find how to add a start time to an existing route at first, but it certainly is there, just as you describe it. Gary.

Drabslab · 20 Nov 2020, 08:33

@Gary-France Now we ned to do some testing and iron the bugs out before the season starts

MyRoute-app community · 20 Nov 2020, 08:57

On behalf of the team, thank you for your kind words everyone. Next week we hope to polish out the few blemishes that have so far been found in the features.

@Gary-France I do hope the release lives up to your expectations and allows you to use the MRA Routeplanner! As time goes on, we'll incrementally add new features to this existing feature base depending on how big of an impact they have on development capacity for the rest of the roadmap. An example though of a neat little nice-to-have that was slapped in is the waypoint calculator (I didn't see anyone mention it AND it's pretty niche, but still).

The calculator is found under "Toolkit"

This shows you a pop-up screen that allows you to do simple calculations without breaking out Windows' own calculator.

It works by selecting two waypoints. The calculator then shows you the real (not including breaks) distance in both time and kilometers between two points.

Drabslab · 20 Nov 2020, 09:09

@Timo-Martosatiman-MRA well, it was not mentioned... because I did not notice, but it is a very nice addition.

We need a wiki??? to document features? Video's are fine for a general training but difficutl to find details. A documentation wiki could do a lot

Stefan Hummelink · 20 Nov 2020, 09:42

@Timo-Martosatiman-MRA wow! This is what I indeed did by head! Great to see this addition! Keep this trend going MRA Team!

Drabslab · 20 Nov 2020, 12:52

@Timo-Martosatiman-MRA We can now also "skip" waypoints so that the route from the previous waypoint to the next is not calcaulted. However, it seems that we are unable to unskip?

Drabslab · 20 Nov 2020, 13:02

@Timo-Martosatiman-MRA We can search using an address:

clicking on the adres leads to it being added as waypoint:

clicking on the waypoint now gives:

and I can now change the name:

Confirming now gives:

exactly as ity is expected to be but the diadvantage is that the original address is gone in cyberspace and I am not able to retrieve it anymore.

Could this functionality be altered so that the original address in automatically added (not replacing) to the note of that waypoint. If this data would then also be maintained if we make a favorite of this waypoint then that would eb aven better.

Or am I not aware of a feature here?

Drabslab · 20 Nov 2020, 13:08

@Drabslab In addition, the button with extra options on a PC screen seems a bit unnecessary, maybe slightly increase the pop-up and have all available options visible if everyone agrees.

Ian Street · 20 Nov 2020, 18:11

@Nick-Carthew Thank you for another valued reply with information we can all use, stay safe mate.

Nick Carthew · 20 Nov 2020, 18:34

Thanks for your kind words @Ian-Street. You stay safe too buddy.