Garmin .img
The Garmin .img format is what Garmin devices use to store the maps for its GPS units. The img files contain a header and many subfiles. Img's filestore is based on FAT system.[1] Some old GPS units are not able to work with multiple img files so they need to be merged into one file called gmapsupp.img using programs like Mapsource.[2]
The IMG file contains the needed information for rendering a map on a Garmin GPS unit, and may support autorouting information for those GPS units that offer navigation (i.e. in-car GPS routers and some types of devices intended for hikers).[2]
The .img file is basically a hard-disk image (complete with partition table) containing a filesystem which itself contains subfiles that provide the functionality for the Garmin GPS unit. The filesystem seems to be "flat": that is, it doesn't directly support the concept of subdirectories, however the .GMP subfiles do provide a kind-of subdirectory structure.[2]
Programs that read .img format
- Mapsource
- GPSMapEdit
Programs that write .img format
- CGSPMapper
- Mapwel
- mkgmap
Open Source Tools for .img Format
Garmin IMG Format This program is designed to aid in the decoding of Garmin IMG files. It hexdumps the IMG file side-by-side with plain-text descriptions of what the particular bytes in the file represent.[3]
References
- ↑ "OpenStreetMap wiki". IMG File Format. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/IMG_File_Format.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "OpenStreetMap wiki". OSM Map On Garmin. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Format.
- ↑ "Garmin IMG Format SourceForge Project". 28 November 2015. https://sourceforge.net/projects/garmin-img/.
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