GPS Tracklog Software

RapDaddyo said:

Does anybody know of a software package (or component) for editing and manipulating GPS tracking files (tracklogs)? I am specifically interested in manipulating Garmin Edge tracklog files, but the software package would probably work with tracklog files from multiple vendors. The only specific package I am aware of is Frontbase frontbasegps.comindex.phpOpen ↗. Does anybody use this? Does anybody know of another package? Thanks.

Mac or Windows?

sogood said:

Mac or Windows?

Windows. BTW, I have also found this product gpstm.comindex.phpOpen ↗. Know anything about it?

OziExplorer is the definitive softwares for this type of work.

http://www.oziexplorer.com/

Although commercial, it's well worth it if you are into that kind of things.

RapDaddyo said:

Windows. BTW, I have also found this product gpstm.comindex.phpOpen ↗. Know anything about it?

I use GPS Trackmaker pretty routinely. I like it and have done a lot with creating maps for my area using it. I use two pieces of software for GPS tracks: GPS Trackmaker and ExpertGPS. I use GPS Trackmaker almost exclusively because it handles creating overlay maps on top of scanned images/jpegs a lot better. ExpertGPS "upgraded" a couple versions since I bought it and it's just not as user friendly to me as it once was.

Also, I like the fact that GPS Trackmaker exports its files to just above every known format. This has allowed me to export to comma-delimited text files to work much cleaner with SQL databases for web work.

VW

sogood said:

OziExplorer is the definitive softwares for this type of work.

oziexplorer.comoziexplorer.comOpen ↗

Although commercial, it's well worth it if you are into that kind of things.

That looks pretty good. Do you use it?

NomadVW said:

I use GPS Trackmaker pretty routinely. I like it and have done a lot with creating maps for my area using it. I use two pieces of software for GPS tracks: GPS Trackmaker and ExpertGPS. I use GPS Trackmaker almost exclusively because it handles creating overlay maps on top of scanned images/jpegs a lot better. ExpertGPS "upgraded" a couple versions since I bought it and it's just not as user friendly to me as it once was.

Also, I like the fact that GPS Trackmaker exports its files to just above every known format. This has allowed me to export to comma-delimited text files to work much cleaner with SQL databases for web work.

VW

I assume you can download tracklogs from your GPS unit. What GPS unit(s) do you use? I'm planning to use Garmin Edge 305.

RapDaddyo said:

That looks pretty good. Do you use it?

Yes I do, quite a while now. However, I am primiarly a Mac person, I have other apps to go with that.

There's also a large community of OziExplorer users out there and you'll be able to find a lot of maps and other useful stuff associated with it. It's almost a defacto standard now.

BTW, have you used Garmin's MapSource to do what you wanted? MapSource has some basic track editing function. Try it and it might just be enough for your purpose. I run Windows XP on my Intel Mac via Parallels Desktop, so I can easily switch b/n the two OS environments without rebooting, all at native speed. Best of both worlds.

sogood said:

Yes I do, quite a while now. However, I am primiarly a Mac person, I have other apps to go with that.

There's also a large community of OziExplorer users out there and you'll be able to find a lot of maps and other useful stuff associated with it. It's almost a defacto standard now.

BTW, have you used Garmin's MapSource to do what you wanted? MapSource has some basic track editing function. Try it and it might just be enough for your purpose. I run Windows XP on my Intel Mac via Parallels Desktop, so I can easily switch b/n the two OS environments without rebooting, all at native speed. Best of both worlds.

Thanks. I'll look at MapSource. I am primarily interested in the raw tracklog data, so I am keenly interested in which export formats are supported and the sampling rates.

RapDaddyo said:

Thanks. I'll look at MapSource. I am primarily interested in the raw tracklog data, so I am keenly interested in which export formats are supported and the sampling rates.

Not sure about 305. But on my eTrex Vista Cx, the sampling rate can be customised. For basic raw tracklog data editing, I would think MapSource is adequate for the purpose. Even better if you have City Navigator maps and can overlay it.

One other you might want to check out is Google's GoogleEarth software. I don't remember if it has track editing functions, but the Pro version might. Overlay over street map and/or satellite images is even nicer.

I tried some of my Edge 305 data in a couple of programs. I also use another Garmin map program for my Garmin Vista, but I could not import the data from the 305 into the other Garmin map program. I will try again tomorrow.

I think I will upload the free version of the GPS Trackmaker tomorrrow. It looks pretty interesting.

This was last weekend's club ride at winter pace. Link

Felt_Rider said:

I tried some of my Edge 305 data in a couple of programs. I also use another Garmin map program for my Garmin Vista, but I could not import the data from the 305 into the other Garmin map program. I will try again tomorrow.

I think I will upload the free version of the GPS Trackmaker tomorrrow. It looks pretty interesting.

This was last weekend's club ride at winter pace. Link

I may be wrong, but that GPX format should be pretty universal.

sogood said:

I may be wrong, but that GPX format should be pretty universal.

I believe you are right. I can upload the file to Motionbased and then download it back to my computer in the GPX format.

I was trying to export from the Garmin Training Center software and it will only export to the following three type of files: history, course & training. Those were not recognized by the other Garmin program.

I suppose I could also upload from the 305 directly into the map program, which I have not tried. I'm curious now to see if the Garmin map program will recognize the 305.

Felt_Rider said:

I believe you are right. I can upload the file to Motionbased and then download it back to my computer in the GPX format.

I was trying to export from the Garmin Training Center software and it will only export to the following three type of files: history, course & training. Those were not recognized by the other Garmin program.

I suppose I could also upload from the 305 directly into the map program, which I have not tried. I'm curious now to see if the Garmin map program will recognize the 305.

Wish you luck but can't help you there as I don't have a 305. Will more likely go for one if,

1) Longer battery run time.
2) Combine it with iBike for power measurement.

I dream away...

You could try Topofusion or GPS Utility (http://www.gpsu.co.uk/). Topofusion has a fully functioning demo version and GPS Utility has a freeware version to try.

greg

Felt_Rider said:

I believe you are right. I can upload the file to Motionbased and then download it back to my computer in the GPX format.

I was trying to export from the Garmin Training Center software and it will only export to the following three type of files: history, course & training. Those were not recognized by the other Garmin program.

I suppose I could also upload from the 305 directly into the map program, which I have not tried. I'm curious now to see if the Garmin map program will recognize the 305.

Based on the website documentation, it sounds as though you can upload from the 305 directly into GPS Trackmaker. I'm going to test that option tomorrow. The Garmin Training Center software seems pretty limited in its import and export options.

yawg said:

You could try Topofusion or GPS Utility (gpsu.co.ukgpsu.co.ukOpen ↗). Topofusion has a fully functioning demo version and GPS Utility has a freeware version to try.

greg

I really like the looks of Topofusion. Thanks for the suggestions.

I use a Garmin Vista and GPSMAP 60CS. Both of them interact with ExpertGPS and GPS Trackmaker seamlessly. I've used OziExplorer but since I'd used other software before I could just never get the hang of it. Nice thing about GPS Trackmaker is it's publicly distributed version is free.

VW

NomadVW said:

I use a Garmin Vista and GPSMAP 60CS. Both of them interact with ExpertGPS and GPS Trackmaker seamlessly. I've used OziExplorer but since I'd used other software before I could just never get the hang of it. Nice thing about GPS Trackmaker is it's publicly distributed version is free.

VW

Thanks for the info. I'm going to try the free versions of GPS Trackmaker and Topofusion with a small tracking file that I need to edit (parse it into three tracklogs). I'll post my impressions of each program. I'm really astonished that Garmin's Training Center app doesn't have such features, given that they appear to be the industry leaders in GPS devices. I will need some customization work by somebody in connection with another project (that uses GPS tracklogs as source data), so my ultimate decision will hinge on the ability to get some custom work done. But, I'll report on my first impressions of both products. Thanks again for the info.

RapDaddyo said:

I'm really astonished that Garmin's Training Center app doesn't have such features, given that they appear to be the industry leaders in GPS devices.

Garmin definitely makes great GPSrs, but their ability to keep up with the technology of tracking and GPS software formats has been lacking since it started to get more and more public. They're chasing formats that other people are developing.

The best resources for GPS software and tracking remains the geocachers over at forums.groundspeak.com. They're the most outspoken and avid users of the software.

VW