Create and edit the route

With the route planning module, you can create routes with up to 250 stops. When you start route planning, the map view appears with the panel for creating a new route.

To create and edit a route, follow these steps:

Create a route

  1. Search for a location

      • Alternatively, you can select locations from your favorites list (see “Addresses/stops as favorites”). This limits the search to places you have already saved as favorites.

      • You can also perform the search in address layers (see “Data management”). This limits the search to locations stored in your address layers. The search also works using custom fields (e.g. name) if these are stored in the address records. If you have multiple address layers, you can choose whether the search should be performed across a specific address layer or across all address layers.

        Note: Since address layers can contain a large number of records, the results list is limited to 100 hits for performance reasons.

      • You can also search for POIs (points of interest). Using the category selection, you can specify which types of POIs are displayed. By entering a search term in the “Name” field, you can narrow down your search. You can also choose to limit the results list to only those within the currently displayed map section.
        The results of this search are displayed on the map with a tool tip. In addition to the name, the tool tip also shows the relevant POI subcategory.

  1. Use search results

    • As you type, matching results are displayed. Your search is gradually narrowed down until you reach the desired result.

    • Use the arrow keys to navigate the list – the map automatically zooms to the selected location.

    • Click the crosshair icon next to the result to zoom directly to the location.

    If entering search terms returns too many results in different countries, you can narrow your search to specific regions or countries.

    1. To do this, open the search options by clicking the gear icon next to the search field.

    1. In the search options, you will now see

      • the continents listed on the first level

      • and the countries listed on the second level

    2. Checking the boxes for the desired regions or countries will limit the search to those areas.

    3. When you exit the search options, the search filter will apply to your future searches:

    Alternatively:

  1. Add stop directly on the map

    Click on a position on the map to add it as a stop. The selected point is displayed on the map with a location icon .

    You can now decide:

    • The selected location should be set as the start of the route.

    • The selected location should be set as a waypoint (intermediate stop) on the route. The system determines the most suitable position within the stop list.

    • The selected location should be set as the destination of the route.

      Example: Click on the following image to see an example of the three different options.

      To stop the animation, click on the image again.

    Use the three-dot menu to access additional options. You can use the icon to copy the address or the coordinates of the stop to the clipboard.

  1. Configure the route

    • The first stop is the starting point of your route – the map automatically focuses on it.

    • Customize each stop individually (see “Edit the stops “).

  2. Once you’ve added more than one stop, the map view zooms out to show all stops. Hovering over a stop highlights it. Click the cross-hair icon next to a stop to zoom in.

  3. Select vehicle profile

    • Use the drop-down menu at the top of the list to choose a vehicle profile (see “Select a Vehicle Profile“ below).

    • A tooltip shows details like number of axles, emission standard, and CO₂ class.

    • Use the € symbol to set an alternative cost profile if you don’t want to use the vehicle’s default cost profile.

    For the cost profile selected in route planning, a tooltip shows the route costs per kilometer, the route costs per hour and the fixed route costs per trip.

  4. Choose calculation mode

    • Standard: Uses general planning values.

    • Dynamic: Considers additional parameters like time windows, driving and rest times, typical traffic load.

  1. Dynamic settings (optional)

    • In dynamic mode, you can e.g. set start or arrival times for stops.

    • See “Edit the stops ” for more information.

  2. View results

    Click <Calculate> to calculate the route.

Note: Instead of clicking the <Calculate> button, you can also start the route calculation using the F9 key.

Note: You can change the order of stops by dragging and dropping them in the list. Grab the number of the stop and move it to the desired position.

If the route was already calculated in the previous order, you must click the <Calculate> button again, as the result is reset when stops are changed.

  1. Route display

    • The calculated route is shown on the map.

    • On the left, you see the route sequence as a list (Further information can be found in the chapter “Information in the stop list”).

    • On the right, you get details on:

      • Distance, time, cost, toll

      • Emissions and consumption

    • These are based on:

      • Your vehicle and cost profiles

      • Individual stop settings (in dynamic planning)

      • The traffic situation typical for the planned time of the route (in dynamic planning)

Reverse the Order of a Route

To reverse the order of a route (e.g., to drive the same route in reverse the next day), click the <Reverse Order> button next to the “New Stop” input field at the bottom right.

The route will then be rebuilt in reverse order and can be recalculated.

   

Create a Route with Return to Start

If you want to define a route where the destination is the same as the starting point (a round trip), you can enter the starting point again in the “New Stop” field. Um Ihnen die To avoid re-entering the address, you can alternatively click the <Return to Start> button next to the input field.

This duplicates the starting point (e.g., “Frankfurt am Main”) and adds it to the end of the stop list.

Create Routes with Ferry Connections

By default, routes are calculated avoiding ferry connections. If a ferry can be bypassed (e.g., via a tunnel or reasonable detour), it won’t be selected.

If you want to include a ferry, search for it and add it as a stop:

Proceed as follows:

  1. Select a location near the ferry and click it on the map. It will appear with a context menu.

  1. Click the < Ferries> button to search for nearby ferry connections. Results are shown in the list in the left-hand panel.

    Note: Alternatively you can use the search panel option for ferries, to search for a ferry port.

  2. Hover over a ferry to view more details.

    The vehicle icons indicate the types of vehicles the ferry is authorized to carry. Vehicle types that are not allowed on the ferry are crossed out – ferries that carry only pedestrians are automatically filtered out by the search. Clicking the crosshairs icon displays the ferry route centered on the map, showing the starting and ending points. Clicking the icon adds the ferry to your favorites.

  1. If this is the desired ferry, click the row to add it to the stop list. The map shows all selected stops again, and the ferry is added to the stop list. The ferry's departure and arrival points are also marked on the map with stop numbers with the suffixes a and b.

Warning: The ferry connection is automatically added to the stop list at the most suitable position. However, please note the following: A ferry connection cannot be set as the start or end point of a route. If you have not yet defined any other stops in your stop list, or if the ferry connection stop is moved to the beginning or end of the stop list, e.g. by drag & drop, the route cannot be calculated.

You must then either add more stops after the ferry or manually move it within the list.

As long as the ferry is first or last in the list, the route cannot be calculated, and a warning is shown under the ferry connection.

In the detailed view of the stop, the ferry duration is displayed for the ferry in addition to the address and coordinates of the starting point. You can also enter the cost of the ferry connection here so that it is included in the cost calculation for the route. Apart from deleting the stop, no other editing of this stop is possible.

Select a Vehicle Profile

To select a suitable vehicle for your route, click the drop-down switch at the top of the route planner. The favorites list of available vehicles appears (see “Vehicles as favorites“). You can select the desired vehicle profile here. If the desired vehicle is not listed, click <Show More Standard Vehicles> or <Show More Vehicles> to access all vehicles.

This list is grouped by vehicle categories. For electric vehicles, additional information is available. Click the arrow button to select a vehicle.

   

Note: If you’re using the route planner for the first time, your favorites list may be empty.

You must select at least one vehicle via <Show More Standard Vehicles> or <Show More Vehicles> and optionally add it to your favorites (see “Vehicles as favorites“).

If no vehicle is selected or in your favorites, route calculation is not possible. The <Calculate> button will be inactive, and a tooltip will appear.

Optimize the Sequence of a Route

To plan a route efficiently and reduce unnecessary travel (and associated costs), you can use the “Optimize route” function. Stops will be rearranged to create the shortest route. Start and end points remain fixed and are ignored by the optimization.

  1. Click the split button on the <Calculate> button. A window for route optimization will open.

  2. Select whether you wan to to optimize

    • the sequence of all stops between start and destination

    • only a specific part of the route

  3. Click on <Optimize route> or <Optimize selection>.

Note: The “Optimize sequence” function is available for both the “Standard” and “Dynamic” calculation modes.

Note: The “Optimize selection” function can only be used if your route or stop list contains at least 4 stops.

Note: The “Optimize Selection” function can only be used if your route or stop list contains at least 5 stops.

Example:

The route shown here includes stops in Berlin, Karlsruhe and Hamburg on the way from Warsaw to Lyon.

By optimizing the sequence for all intermediate stops (stops 2-4), the stops in Hamburg and Karlsruhe are automatically swapped, resulting in a saving of around 1000 kilometers on the journey.

However, if only stops 2 and 3 or 3 and 4 are selected for the optimization, the optimization does not lead to any improvement.

Change the route using via points

In addition to the automatic calculation of the most suitable route, including alternatives, you can also manually adjust the route. This allows you to direct the route along specific roads (e.g., to bypass a certain area), even if this does not correspond to the optimal route from a mathematical standpoint.

You can change the route by adding via points on the map.

Warning: Via points are listed in the stop list, but not as stops. Therefore, there is no way to edit details (service time, loading, etc.) for via points. However, when the route is exported, the via points are written to the CSV file as coordinates.

Via points can be added in two ways:

  • by selecting a location on the map as a via point

  • by changing the course of the route using drag-and-drop

    Note: You can only change the course of the route using drag-and-drop if you have calculated the route in dynamic mode.

If you want your route to pass by a specific location, even if the automatic route calculation does not , you can select that location on the map and set it as a via point.

  1. Just click on the desired location on the map.

  2. Now select the "Via point" option from the context menu.

Note: You can only add a via point using this method if you have already defined a start and destination for the route—otherwise, the “Via point” option will not appear.

The selected location is now displayed in the stop list as V via point. Since these are not stops, only the approximate location is shown rather than the address. The via point is displayed on the map as a small circle. If you calculate the route now, the navigation will be forced to go via the via point.

Note: You can only add via points using drag-and-drop if you have calculated the route in dynamic mode.

To change the path of your route using drag-and-drop, follow these steps:

  1. The route must already have been calculated in dynamic mode and is displayed on the map. Move the mouse pointer over the route highlighted in color—for example, at the point where you want to change the route—and click on the route.

  1. This will change the color of the route. If you then move the mouse pointer over the section of the route you want to bypass, a green dot will appear.

  1. Drag this point to the area on the map where you want to reroute.

Your route is now being recalculated. If you zoom back in on the affected area, you can see how the new route goes through it. The via point is shown on the map as a small circle.

Note: The accuracy of a via point created using drag-and-drop depends on the zoom level in the map view. The larger the area displayed on the map, the less accurate the via point will be (deviations of up to 10 kilometers). However, in areas where the map is zoomed in very closely, a high degree of accuracy (deviations of up to 10 meters) can be achieved.

The created via point V is now displayed in the stop list. Since these are not stops, only the approximate location is shown rather than the address. As long as you do not discard the route, the via points will remain. So if you add additional stops, the new, modified route will be calculated using the via points you’ve set. The via points will also remain visible on the map.

If you export the route as a CSV file, the waypoints will be included in it.

In this case, only the file columns M (length), N (width), Q (search radius), and AB (charge) contain values.

To move individual via points, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the route to activate drag-and-drop mode—preferably near the via point you want to move.

  1. This will change the color of the route. Now move the mouse pointer over the via point you want to move. You can now move this via point using drag-and-drop.

The route will now be recalculated using the new location of the via point.

Note: You can only move a via point using drag-and-drop if you have calculated the route in dynamic mode.