#134 Remove "OpenStreetMap (MapQuest)" map source

[lbayuk]

MapQuest Open is shutting down this month, July 2016, according to the post on their home page, and moving to a new model which requires signing up for a 'plan' and getting a 'key' to get access to map tiles. The built-in Viking Map Source "OpenStreetMap (MapQuest)" which appears as a choice when you create a new map layer should be removed from the source, since it will no longer work.

References:
[1] MapQuest Open home page with notice: http://open.mapquest.com/

[2] MapQuest Developer Blog: "Modernization of MapQuest results in..."
http://devblog.mapquest.com/2016/06/15/modernization-of-mapquest-results-in-changes-to-open-tile-access/

[3] OpenStreetMap post "Announcement: Direct Access to MapQuest map tiles without a key will end on 11 July 2016..."
https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk/2016-June/076106.html

[4] An OSM Help thread on OSM Mapquest. (See the last response on 19 June 2016 by moderator SomeoneElse, saying that MapQuest Open was already removed from openstreetmap.org)
https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/49939/osm-mapquest-tiles-slow-or-timed-out

[Peter F. Patel-Schneider]

So MapQuest actually followed through and turned off access. This is quite annoying for Viking as MapQuest is the default map.

[lbayuk]

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize it was the default - I guess I forgot I had changed my default map type for map layers to "OpenStreetMap (Mapnik)".

Let's add this to the bug report description then: "... and change the default map type for new map layers."

[Rainer Bielefeld]

Currently Viking 1.6.2 on WIN7 fills the complete screen with grey Map Quest Tiles, so that the program has become completely useless for me. This is a very serious issue.

[lbayuk]

Well, I'm pretty sure MapQuest Open isn't coming back, ever, so you need to switch your map layer to another source. Just right-click on the map layer, pick Properties from the menu, and change the Map Type to (for example) "OpenStreetMap (Mapnik)", and click OK. Then right-click again on the map layer and pick Reload All Onscreen Maps. That should do it. (I recommend also changing the layer defaults for map layers so new map layers use a valid source.)

[Rainer Bielefeld]

So my screen looks

[Rob Norris]

I've set my default map type to OpenStreetMap (Cycle) ever since I wrote that capability.

I've created a Mapbox (free) account for Viking use and updated the source code to use Mapbox Outdoors as the default map. Obviously this tile service is limited.

One can even register themselves on Mapbox - and then extend their Viking maps configuration (~/.viking/maps.xml) to contain lines something like this:

    <objects>
      <object class="VikSlippyMapSource">
        <property name="name">Mapbox-Streets</property>
        <property name="label">Mapbox Streets</property>
        <property name="hostname"></property>
        <property name="url">https://api.tiles.mapbox.com/styles/v1/mapbox/streets-v9/tiles/256/%d/%d/%d?access_token=your-access-token-key-here</property>
        <property name="id">191</property>
        <property name="copyright">© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap</property>
        <property name="license">Mapbox Specific</property>
        <property name="license-url">https://www.mapbox.com/tos</property>
      </object>
    </objects>

[Wilbur Ince]

I followed the steps above to change the default map source. When I exit and restart, the same default map error occurs.

Any instructions for setting the default map would be greatly appreciated.

I'm using Linux Mint 18, with teh Ubuntu Xenial codebase, so version 1.6.1something.

[Wilbur Ince]

For others who find this, here is how to set the default layer properties:
Under Edit menu, find Layer Defaults, and select Map...
Set new default layer, and press OK

This should set the default layer when Viking restarts.

[Akoine Makoff]

This has been very helpful. I chose mapnik, and Viking now works flawlessly !
Thanks a lot !