Gpx files

[Jaxter]

Apologies if there's already a topic about this, I had a search and couldn't find anything.

I've been trying to upload gpx files to my reports but for longer walks it says that they're too large. Is there a way of resizing them, or uploading via another site (like using Flickr for photos) to avoid this problem?

It's a very new toy so I'm sure there's an easy fix that I haven't come across yet!!

[Paul Webster]

Hi, there are two ways around this.

One is that the program you use on your computer (or most of them) offer the opportunity to 'simplify' or 'resample' routes to reduce the number of points. You could do this if there are too many (instructions will depend on the program you use)

An alternative (that would only work for future walks) is to make a change to the settings on your GPS so that it records fewer points - if the files are too large it's probably recording your position every few seconds, which is really more often than you need unless you are a very fast runner Again instructions would vary depending on what sort of GPS or phone software you are using.

[Jaxter]

Ah, that sounds like a plan. I'll have a play around
Thanks!

[Paul Webster]

Third option is that the free program GPS Babel (https://www.gpsbabel.org) will do the job. Set both import and export to be 'GPX XML' format, and use the filter button, choose routes and tracks and it lets you choose a maximum number of points (500 should be fine IMHO)

[Jaxter]

Brilliant! Maybe it'll remove the points where I went wrong and err...tried to climb a cliff

Cheers for your help

[Marty_JG]

Third option is that the free program GPS Babel (https://www.gpsbabel.org) will do the job. Set both import and export to be 'GPX XML' format, and use the filter button, choose routes and tracks and it lets you choose a maximum number of points (500 should be fine IMHO)

That's a great wee program, thanks for the tip. Very "clean" interface, just tested it on a 1.5 meg WHW file (so a nice long route) and stripped it down to 500 waypoints, it's now 70kb but loading it up seems to follow the route really well.

[Jaxter]

Worked a treat
Thanks Paul

[igourlay]

Just found the site but can't download gpx files onto laptop. Windows 7 says it has no program that will open this type of file. Do I need to download a gpx file onto a laptop then into an Etrex 10 (how?) or plug gps into laptop and download directly into gps.

[basscadet]

Just found the site but can't download gpx files onto laptop. Windows 7 says it has no program that will open this type of file. Do I need to download a gpx file onto a laptop then into an Etrex 10 (how?) or plug gps into laptop and download directly into gps.

You need a program to upload/download files to/from your GPS. I have used easyGPS with much success, but am using the garmin one at the moment Mapsource, as I have a garmin GPS, and my Dad gives me map files which seem to work with it but no other programs! Basecamp is OK as well for garmin although never did figure out how to do some things with that - they seem to make the programs very counter intuitive.
If you jut want to view the routes on your computer though, you can use any of these programs to convert a GPX file to a GPS file which you can then view on google earth.

[igourlay]

Easygps seems perfect. Got a few routes onto my laptop. If I can pester you for some more info seeing as how the Etrex documentation is minimal to say the least, what gets downloaded into the GPS - geocache, waypoint, route or track. Since I want to have a complete route I expect it would be the route but maybe not. I won't be in Scotland until Oct so I can't try these out just now.

[freebagger284]

I recently updated my iPad to IOS11, since doing so when I try to open a GPX file to MemoryMap I get a text script, and route doesn’t open. Any ideas?