Exporting GPX Tracks for BasecampFORUMS HOME SEARCH FORUMS

Here is the problem i have been having with the steps i have taken:
Create a route

Save it, then download the route as GPX Tracks

Import into Garmin Basecamp for use in my GPS

I get errors because upon validating the GPX file i have downloaded its not a properly formatted GPX/XML file.

I upload my GPX file to this site to validate http://www.validome.org/xml/validate/

and it returns several errors.  I'm not am XML coder so not prepared to correct the issues!

To resolve the issue i have been downloading the file as a KML file.

Open Google MY MAPS and importing the KML file.

Then i save that as a GPX file which i can now succesfully import into Garmin Basecamp and upload into my GPS.

Anyone else experiencing this problem? By the way even if i plot a very simple route i still have the same problem. I really should learn some XML and figure out how to resolve myself!

HI Frank,  Anyone else experiencing this problem?  

No problems to open gpx track files generated by Plotaroute in Mapsource, nor Basecamp, nor in any other program.

Validate by http://firstobject-xml-editor.software.informer.com/2.4/

Tools -> MSXML Validate: Succesfull Result MSXML 6.0:Valid.  

Can you share an exported gpx testfile via dropbox link, toghether with the link to your Plotaroute public design.?  

Regards.

Hi Frank - I'd need to look at an example file to determine what the issue might be.  I'll email you with an address to send it to.

John

Thank you John I will get one to you tonight.

frank.

Ok John i dont know how many gpx files i have deleted because they wouldnt load into Basecamp. Of course now tonight I've downloaded several GPX (Track files) from Plot a Route and not one of them has been giving me issues!

I'd say it must be user error (on my part i mean).

Thanks for your quick response to help me out (you too Willy Van Driessche), if i do encounter this in the near future i willl be sure to not delete the file and forward it onto you for further investigation.

Thanks again,

Frank.

Hi.

I'm new to PlotaRoute so forgive me if my comments are rubbish.

To test out the reported problem I used your site to create a 20-mile "work to home" route.  I saved this in different formats (i.e. both routes and tracks with and without turn-by-turn directions) and then tried importing them into BaseCamp.  The routes didn't work at all (but they did successfully import manually into my Garmin) but both of the tracks did.  Once imported the tracks could be converted into Garmin routes without problems.

The only thing I did notice (and I've seen this using ViewRanger as well) was that a large number of "locations" were now listed in BaseCamp; and on my Garmin if I manually added the routes/tracks.  In the past, when I used ViewRanger to post a 50-mile circular route, someone wrote back that their attempt to import it to their Garmin device resulted in their memory being filled with a vast number locations - they were not best pleased ... 
I subsequently tried it with my Edge 510 and the same thing happened - I was able to get around this by using a PC to manually delete all locations (this was a TCX track and the turn instructions were still there).  However, it was less than ideal.

Is there a commonality here?

If you need them I can make the routes and tracks (and the BaseCamp versions) public, so you can play with them.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Peter Callow.

A Route (rte) by Potaroute. Import failure in Garmin Mapsource and Basecamp.

Failure caused by: In routepoint (rtpet) <time> is after <name> 

Correct: In routepoint (rtpet) <time> should come after <ele> before <name>

Thanks for identifying the Route file syntax issue Willy - I'll get that fixed asap and report back here.

John

This seems to be an old issue however, as a new user, I have saved several files as gpx routes however, when I try to import them into basecamp (import into my collection), each file errors out with the following:  Unknown error. Error opening import file. This is the header info in the file including a couple of start points to see if it helps anyone to determine the issue. Also, I deleted basecamp and downloaded the most current version. I cleaned out all the leftover files/folders prior to installing the new version to ensure a clean install. Version 4.6.2 2008-2016. The systems I am using are Windows 10 and Windows 7, all current with updates. This system is Windows 10 Pro build 10.0.15063. If you need more input, let me know as I will be happy to help you, help me get this fixed.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<gpx xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1" creator="www.plotaroute.com" version="1.1"  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1/gpx.xsd">
<metadata>
<desc>Route created on plotaroute.com</desc>
</metadata>
<rte>
<name>Stop#6_2017</name>
<rtept lat="40.52441" lon="-75.8733">
<ele>102</ele>
<name>Start near</name>
<time>2017-06-06T00:00:00Z</time>
<cmt>Start near 403-439 Main St, Virginville, PA 19564, USA</cmt>
<desc>Start near 403-439 Main St, Virginville, PA 19564, USA</desc>
<sym>undefined</sym>
</rtept>
<rtept lat="40.52441" lon="-75.8733">
<ele>102</ele>

Hi Richard, when you download your file from Plot A Route are you downloading it in this format, when the popup window is displayed you get several options, you muct use these ones:

File Type - GPS

File Format - GPX

GPX Type - Track

Once you answer that i will try to help you further. But that seems to work well for me, i am also using Win10.

Frank.

File Type - GPS

File Format - GPX

GPX Type - Route or Track both fail.

I am trying to use two (three actually) differnt types of Garman GPS units. The 3590 which requires basecamp and a Zumo 660 and a Zumo 665 (motorcycle GPS units) that do not require basecamp.

No saved version (route or track) will load into basecamp for use with the 3590. same error  as shown in my original thread.

Both Route and Track will go into the Zumo's. You simply connect those units to the computer and drag over the files into the gpx folder. When it reloads, it tells  you that there are new files to import, select route, select the files and then import and they import successfully.

HOWEVER.... when you use either of them, they simply show up on the gps screen as a vector (straight line between the two points, not following the actual flow of the road). this creates issues as the gps is trying to put that vector on to the road flow so when the vehicle actually comes to an intersection, it starts calling out turns and U Turns to put you on track but the vector maintains itself to the next turn point.  Bottom line, although plotaroute is much better at plotting a route than other programs (wonderful considering some alternatives), it is absolutlly useless for my Garmins. I have about 10 of them and half way through writing this, I tried the otherones as well but except for the Zumo's, they all need basecamp.

I did the 110 mile ride today in unfamiliar territory and ended up turning off the Zumo after 5 miles as it was a safety distraction and simply shot from the hip. I printed out the turns and used green painters tape to tape it to the tank and just drove, pulling over when needed.

I think the problem could be caused by the "#" character in the name of the route.  Can you rename it (edit and resave with a different name) and try again please?  If this is confirmed as the problem I'll get the download propcess changed to automatically remove hash characters from the route name.

John   

I had thought of that and renamed the file as stop62017 (no special characters), however, the same issues exist. 

I'm going to retract that last statement as I've seen the error in my ways. Everything is packed up so I can not try until this evening however, I need to 'save' the file in plotaroute to remove the special characters from inside the file. I 'renamed' the file name using the Windows OS. That may be the issue still. 

Hi Richard you cant just drag the GPX file into the Garmin Zumo 660 (thats what i use) the Basecamp still has to create the route. Hey i have a "how to" guide i made for my fellow riders i can send you that if you like it explains how to get it into the zumo. So again what i do is after i download the file from Plotaroute i open up BaseCamp with the GPS connected and you need to create a new folder to save the new route. There are a few steps that must be done in Basecamp to make this all work and i can email that to you if you like, in fact if you want to view my desktop i can give you a live demo!

First, I have not had time to try the save with a name w/o special characters. sorry.

Frank, actually, that would make sense based on what I saw the other day however that is unique with plotaroute then.

Previously, we have used https://www.myscenicdrives.com/ to do this. The GUI is a lot harder than plotaroute (which is why we wanted to give it a try), however when we take our gpx files from them and drag them into the Zumo's, they work perfectly without the use of basecamp.

If I have to use plotaroute, then import to basecamp and then install into the Zumo, it is useless. I don't, nor do a lot of riders, carry laptops to go through all these steps.

Just some input.

To my surprise this issue has not been corrected.  @ Plotaroute export gpx ROUTE !

So a total failure/reject at import into Basecamp/Mapsource still excist !

Tuesday 16 Aug 2016 20:24:57

A Route (rte) by Potaroute. Import failure in Garmin Mapsource and Basecamp.

Failure caused by: In routepoint (rtept) <time> is after <name> 

Correct: In routepoint (rtept) <time> should come after <ele> before <name>

Sorry, I thought we'd done this but it looks like we only applied it to waypoints not route points. It's been fixed now.

Hi John, that was fast. Thank you.

The gpx (rte) route export is Garmin Basecamp_Mapsource conform now. 

Plotaroute rtept's, (ref via's) are positioned @ critical streetjunctions !

Imported into Mapsource_Basecamp and triggered a recalculation. The result is disappointing ! 

The original Plotaroute design is partly destroyed by the (Garmin) router recalculation.

Resulting track_route contains short trackglitches (by non exact identical routable maps) and some out and return trajects (by different router design rules)

Imo the created (compact) gpx rte route output result is rather useless.

Note RWGPS: "GPX Routes are not as useful and should be avoided"

Other opinions/experiences ?