using routing on codeigniter

[eluser]gordon Stewart[/eluser]
Please can someone give a tutorial / Example of this :- (not MP3 / Video / sound)

I've tried :-

(no extra line in routes.php)

http://SERVER_NAME/maps?area=north
http://SERVER_NAME/maps/?area=north
http://SERVER_NAME/maps/north

All produce a 404 error...

added :-
$route['maps/(:any)'] = "maps/model_maps/$1";

( model_maps.php is a 'model' in the model sub directory )

http://SERVER_NAME/maps/north
http://SERVER_NAME/maps?north
http://SERVER_NAME/maps?area=north


All produce 404 error.


If I put :-

http://SERVER_NAME/maps/

the maps.php loads up correctly...

How do I pass the extra value "north" / "south" / "upper_north" / "Christmas tree" / "Whatever i want"

As a value - Function / Model / whatever. - or directly into maps.php

Thank you..