Export Import waypoint/routes on SD Card

[twowheelstom]

What someone else on this Forum suggested, (forget who, sorry) was when making a route or waypoints on Basecamp, to click on File menu, select Export > Export (waypoint/list/folder or route) TO a folder location on your computer, THEN connect XT device to the computer, set the XT into file transfer mode, THEN use copy/paste that exported file from the computer to the SD Card on the XT, then on the XT, you can select to IMPORT that file into XT memory. I hope i described this process well, this method allows the user to keep the files on the SD Card and just importing the waypoint/routes you want when needed.

[Rofor]

I will never understood why doing so - why not just transferring directly from Basecamp to the Zumo XT, when the unit is connected to the computer!?

Also there is no 'File Transfer Mode' on the Zumo XT, because it is Android based! You connect it to the computer and it will be displayed as a unique unit (at least at the pc), the you can open it and than open 'Internal Memory' or a 'SD Card' if inserted - than you can simple drag-and-drop files onto the Zumo XT - but this is really not necessary, when it is connected to Basecamp - you can directly copy routes/tracks/waypoints to internal memory or sd card per drag-and-drop directly in Basecamp...

For years now i'm doing so without any problems - in Basecamp i put my routes on the sdcard of my Zumo XT and import them to the internal memory just when i need them! Why adding some more steps when i can get the same result in one go!?

[Peobody]

The reasons I export to a file and then copy that to the SD card are:
1. The XT will never modify a file on the SD card. This is valuable in the event that a route gets modified due to an inadvertent action, like accidently changing a Via to a Shaping point. The resulting calculation can modify the route. When that happens, having the file on the SD card allows you to delete the modified route and then re-import the original from the card.
2. I can give the exported files filenames that identify the route, routes, or waypoint collection it contains. This is important when the files contain routes for a one-time trip because it makes it easy to remove the appropriate files from the card once I return from the trip.
3. When importing from the SD card, all waypoints are not automatically added to 'Saved' or 'Favourites'. It is rare that any waypoint in a route is worthy of being a 'Favourite' so having that list get quickly cluttered with never-to-be-used-again route points was maddening. This is made worse by the fact that Garmin did not build into the XT a way to filter the list to make it easy to selectively delete the ones you don't want.

[jfheath]

I agree with @Peobody. Placing data onto the SD card make it impossible for the XT1 and XT2 to mess around with it - and it is always available, should you wish to delete everything on your Zumo and go back to the original.

On the XT it is important to name your routes, tracks and waypoints so that you will recognise them - as it does not display the gpx file name. The XT2 does show you where it is getting your data from. When using Basecamp, data is sent to the XT as a temporary file called temp.gpx. But as the name suggests, that isn't a permanent store. The next time you connect to the USB cable to transfer more data, the previous temp.gpx is over-written.

If you send data to the SD card from Basecamp, routes and Waypoints are saved as Route1.gpx, route2.gpx etc. Waypoints are put in files called Waypoint.gpx, Waypoint 1.gpx etc.

Better to create the files yourself with your own names. and put them on the SD card.

Why the SD card ? Well - if the above is not enough, the XT's do something weird with data place in internal storage. Behaviour is slightly different between the two, and I forget precisely how each behaves. But they both do much of what I describe below. @Rofor - you may be interested in this!

Waypoints are transferred to Favourites or Saved. That is what Waypoints are. But it then removes their definition from the gpx file. Even if the waypoints were sent as part of a route. It puts them into favourites and discards the originals. This happens when the XT is turned on after unplugging the link to the PC with the USB cable.
Any tracks that you have creates are automatically imported into tracks and the entries in the GPX file are removed. If the GPX file contained only tracks, the file is deleted.

So if you accidentally delete a waypoint or a track. Tough - you cannot import it again. It isn't there.

None of this happens if the gpx files are placed in the SD Card/Garmin/GPX folder: Tracks and Waypoints are not automatically imported. The GPX commands for tracks and waypoints not removed. The file remains exactly as you sent it.

At one time I always preferred to use the internal storage. The behaviour of the Zumos changed, and so has my opinion. I always put things on the SD card - where the Zumo (At present) cannot touch it.


Create a gpx file. with your data. Name it as you want it.
Copy / paste the gpx file to SD Card/Garmin/GPX
Import the tracks, routes and waypoints as you need them. Delete them all if you want to. Reimport.
But note the point below about disappearing waypoints.




A few snippets also worth considering.


Disappearing Waypoints

• If you put Waypoints onto the SD card, the XT will not find them to import unless it has at least one waypoint already saved in internal storage. If this happens to you, then simply tapping the map somewhere to create and save a point will make the ones on the SD card visible to import.

Easier Route Creation

• On the XT1, having waypoints already defined and saved as Favourites / Saved locations makes it relatively easy to create a route using the XT1 screen. These points are never moved, re-named or relocated. Waypoints can be set as shaping points. Routes created in this way never display RUT behaviour

Organising Waypoints

• I believe that Waypoints, Favourites, Saved are listed in order of proximity to your current location. Turning off the GPS under Navigation, you can select any waypoint and set ut as your current location. This trick might make it easier for plotting routes on the Xt screen while still at home. Don't let the XT turn off though - it turns GPS back on when you press the power button.

• In Basecamp, there is a little known feature called 'Categories'. It appears as one if the tabs in the properties box for Waypoints. Select it and you get a large empty screen - which leaves you wondering what it is for.
  At the bottom is a small text entry box.
  
  You can multiselect waypoints, open the Waypoint properties, and enter a name in the categories tab. Any word you want.
  This assigns the selected waypoint to your own category. You can then add another. And another.
  
  Any waypoint can belong to a number of categories. So you might create a tour from your massive list of waypoints and assign all of the ones you have used to a category called '2024-Scotland'. You could then select some of those from your route and assign them to 2024-Day1, some to 2024-Day2 etc - so your stay for the night on Day1 would probably be assigned to all 3 - 2024-Scotland, 2024-Day1 and 2024-Day2.
  
  If this sounds familiar, it is the same sort of idea as that is used by Explore and Tread for Collections - but it has been there all of the time!
  
  On the XT1 screen, instead of searching for Waypoints, you can search for your categories. This gives a very much reduced list.
  You just have to be organised enough to use it.
  
  The XT2 doesn't show the option to assign a category to a waypoint. I've yet to try adding one in BC on the XT2. Sitting here waiting for MOT. I'll try it.
  
  It has been a long time since I used this feature. Some detail here may be a bit sketchy or incorrectly described - but the general idea is correct. I have a feeling that these categories are slightly different from the Zumo defined categories, but not much.
  
  If this is of interest, I'll dig out my notes on it and write this properly instead of relying on memory.
  
  I thought I had posted something on this once. Found it.
  
  viewtopic.php?p=12081#p12081

[Rofor]

@Peobody and @jfheath - I've stated in my post, i always(!) put my waypoints/routes/tracks onto the sdcard exactly for the reasons you do!

But i do it within Basecamp! I don't understand why so many people plan in Basecamp and than export the files on the pc and than transfer it from the pc to the Zumo XT? Why this extra step when it is possible do to this from Basecamp itself?

The 'name-problem' is for me no problem, as i can't see the filename on my Zumo XT - when i gave a route/track/waypoint to someone other, i do it directly from my Zumo XT via the drive app. Only thing i could think off is, when i would give the saved gpx-file to someone other. But thats also no problem for me, as i also always(!) have a copy of my planned routes on my smartphone, but this is only for our more-than-one-day-motorbike-holiday once a year...

It's no critic - just want to understand why this extra step...

[rbentnail]

@Peobody and @jfheath - I've stated in my post, i always(!) put my waypoints/routes/tracks onto the sdcard exactly for the reasons you do!

But i do it within Basecamp! I don't understand why so many people plan in Basecamp and than export the files on the pc and than transfer it from the pc to the Zumo XT? Why this extra step when it is possible do to this from Basecamp itself?

The 'name-problem' is for me no problem, as i can't see the filename on my Zumo XT - when i gave a route/track/waypoint to someone other, i do it directly from my Zumo XT via the drive app. Only thing i could think off is, when i would give the saved gpx-file to someone other. But thats also no problem for me, as i also always(!) have a copy of my planned routes on my smartphone, but this is only for our more-than-one-day-motorbike-holiday once a year...

It's no critic - just want to understand why this extra step...

I'm with you! Using Base Camp with my XT plugged in, I simply drag and drop my route(s) and waypoint(s) to User Memory. No going around my ankle to get to me elbow- no exporting or saving, no extra work at all.

[twowheelstom]

It's no critic - just want to understand why this extra step...

Here is a folder 'NB Trip 2025' that I created on my XT SD Card using PC File Explorer,
Garmin > Basecamp Data > NB Trip 2025 <--I created this
Garmin > GPX <--the XT created this one automatically
Garmin > SQL <--the XT created this one automatically

I opened Basecamp program on the PC, then under My Collection in a folder called NB Trips, I highlighted a waypoint 'Saint John NB Ferry'
Then in Basecamp, with the XT connected to the PC, right mouse clicked on Saint John NB Ferry waypoint, and slected Send To...
then in Selection Destination window on the PC, scrolled down to Devices > Memory Card > User Data
then clicked OK

what that did was send my waypoint 'Saint John NB Ferry' from Basecamp to the SD Card folder Garmin>GPX in a file called 'Waypoints.gpx'
the XT created this Waypoints.gpx file automatically and I think holds all waypoints.

But the reason I did the the extra step from Basecamp Export files to my own PC folder, then copy paste that onto the SD Card manually is because I wanted to organize my waypoints routes into my own seperate folders on the SD Card and not allow them to be sent automattically into the Garmin > GPX folder which XT does automatically.

I guess it's about how I wanted my waypoints and route files organized on the SD Card into separate folders for easy removal.

[Peobody]

But the reason I did the the extra step from Basecamp Export files to my own PC folder, then copy paste that onto the SD Card manually is because I wanted to organize my waypoints routes into my own seperate folders on the SD Card and not allow them to be sent automattically into the Garmin > GPX folder which XT does automatically.

I guess it's about how I wanted my waypoints and route files organized on the SD Card into separate folders for easy removal.

Yup! That is why I do it as well. No doubt the IT "geekness' of the user impacts whether file manipulation with a file explorer is preferred.

[jfheath]

Quite right - there is no need to create a GPX file to put data onto the SD card.
It adds the extra step - but you get to name the file so that when you come to clear out unwanted routes from the import list, you know which file to delete.

With the XT - I started emailing the GPX file to my phone. The let Drive open it and send the data to the XT - no need for the USB cable.
But that puts it into internal Storage - so you lose data from the file. But you always have the spare on your phone if you need it.

[Rofor]

@jfheath - this is also a point, why i don't get the sense of the above actions of copying the gpx-files in a personal order to the sdcard of the Zumo XT!? Did the Zumo XT see all this single gpx-files with personal names?

I would think, the Zumo XT will only import 'his' gpx-file in 'his' folder, or am i wrong (never have tested it)? If so, what helps me, if i have the file on the sdcard and the Zumo XT couldn't access it?

As 'real' backup the needed gpx-files would be better on the smartphone or in a cloud, so that i could access them with the phone and send them via Garmin Drive to the Zumo XT? Or am i completely wrong here?

As i said - for a 'real' backup, when we are more than one day off with our motorbikes, i have the necessary gpx-files on my smartphone and the same files (routes/tracks/Waypoints) on the Zumo XTs sdcard, copied to it directly per drag-and-drop from within BaseCamp, so that i could import them quickly when needed...