Zumo User Forums

I am hoping that someone knows a trick for getting Basecamp to always open to the same map display area. I use one trick which is that I have a list folder named "_Blank map". The leading underscore symbol sorts it to the top of My Collection. Selecting it before closing prevents BC from opening in the Library item that was active when it closed (wish there was a config option to disable this). That solves one problem. The one I am trying to solve now is that map always open to the same area the was displayed when BC was last closed. I live in the Southeastern U.S.. All of my routes originate from here so it is frustrating when I last worked on a route in the Northwestern U.S., the map opens to that area on next run of BC. Sometimes I remember to change the displayed map area before closing BC but often I don't. Finding a way to get it to always open to the same map area would be awesome so please pass along any tips and tricks to accomplish that.

Well you could always put a waypoint in that folder so a simple 'click to display on map' would recenter it on that waypoint?

sussamb wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 3:56 pm Well you could always put a waypoint in that folder so a simple 'click to display on map' would recenter it on that waypoint?

Thanks @sussamb. I have tried that but all the map does is zoom out far enough so that the clicked waypoint is visible, which in my case will zoom the map out until the waypoint flag is visible on the screen. This can result in the entire U.S being displayed with that waypoint flag (my home) showing lower right . I there an option that I am not aware of that will center a waypoint when it's clicked in the lower left pane? I know about the one when clicking them in a route details list.

I believe the current map view is saved to the database when you close Basecamp. There are no options to select the initial view in Basecamp and no configuration files that can be edited to specify a starting location.

There are a few Basecamp settings that be specified on a command line (or in a shortcut), but you cannot specify an initial point, route or area from the database.

I like @sussamb 's suggestion to just display a waypoint in your preferred area of operation (I think a double-click will work the same). That can zoom in pretty close to the point so some adjustment might be necessary.

Double-clicking on a folder will also make the map move and zoom to show the the locations of all the folder data (plus a little). So try setting the map to your preferred area and zoom, then creating a new list ("Local Area")in your "_Blank map" list folder with two waypoints in the diagonally opposite corners of the map. Then a double-click on "_Blank map" folder should show just the map area you want at the zoom level you want.

It also occurs to me that you could also just double-click on a folder containing any existing lists to set the general area and zoom level before starting a new plan.

lkraus wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 6:36 pm I like @sussamb 's suggestion to just display a waypoint in your preferred area of operation (I think a double-click will work the same).

Single-click does not zoom and center but double-click does. Doing this before closing BC should alleviate my frustration. Thanks @lkraus .

OK, you got me thinking (this could be dangerous).

Some of the questions in this and other forums have me using maps all around the world, and then it is a pain to get back "home" when I want plan a route for my own use.

So, I am stealing the underscore idea for my Temp planning folder, and adding a Local Area (two points) list to the normally empty Temp list in that folder. Double-clicking on " _Temp" displays a default map of the nearby region and also opens the folder, so with one click more on the "Temp list" I'm ready to start my planning. If I have work in progress extending outside that area stored in Temp List, the double-click on "_Temp" will still quickly show the entire plan.

That is exactly what I have figured out following your first post. Double-clicking is the key.