OK folks this is my first ever post in the Basecamp technical section, so I hope you gurus will be gentle with me and I apologise if I’m telling you something you already know!
By way of a bit of background: I’m off to tour Switzerland, which will be my first time I’ve been on the continent on my motorbike in a very long while. Having hated Basecamp for some time I was spurred on to try harder by Wapping’s posts and encouragement to invest some effort into it.
I started plotting routes between the places I’m staying on my holiday by letting Basecamp do the calculations and using the route preferences and avoidances to give me something close to what I wanted. This worked reasonably well and meant I didn’t have to spend too much time dragging routes around.
I then discover that Google maps can plot some really good routes too, if you set it up for avoidances such as tolls and motorways.
I try some routes and compare with the Basecamp ones which of course are different. Well actually the same in some portions but then veer off and go their separate ways (using different algorithms I guess).
So now the problem:
Turns out I quite like the Google route so what do I do? I guess I can sit there and force Basecamp to mimic it by elastic banding, or putting in places as way points, or is there a better way?
And finally (with thanks for your patience) the solution:
Well hoorah apparently there is, in that you can simply export your lovely google map route straight into Basecamp and here is how:
• Plot your route in google maps
• Copy the URL link in your browser window
• Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert_input
• Paste your google link into the box entitled- Provide the URL of a file on the Web:
• Ensure your select GPX as the output and then hit the convert button
• You will then get a page which shows you the content of your file in a big box. Above this is a donation box should you be feeling generous and above this is a “click to download” link
• Hit this and your route will be downloaded, rename it something nice
• Go to Basecamp and import the file as normal
• Convert to a route and fine tune it as required
• You may get a bit of a mess if your avoidances in Basecamp won’t allow you to follow the Google route so make sure you un-tick appropriate ones.
• Upload to your device
• Enjoy
I just wondered if anyone else had done this and found it works or has feedback?
Of course the other way to do it is to plot in Basecamp to start with and then use the rubber banding to pull a route to where you want to go, rather than the suggested one, but for now I’ll save that for another trip when I’m a bit more experienced.
Oh, and I nearly forgot – I am of course taking a map, paper and a pencil just in case!
By way of a bit of background: I’m off to tour Switzerland, which will be my first time I’ve been on the continent on my motorbike in a very long while. Having hated Basecamp for some time I was spurred on to try harder by Wapping’s posts and encouragement to invest some effort into it.
I started plotting routes between the places I’m staying on my holiday by letting Basecamp do the calculations and using the route preferences and avoidances to give me something close to what I wanted. This worked reasonably well and meant I didn’t have to spend too much time dragging routes around.
I then discover that Google maps can plot some really good routes too, if you set it up for avoidances such as tolls and motorways.
I try some routes and compare with the Basecamp ones which of course are different. Well actually the same in some portions but then veer off and go their separate ways (using different algorithms I guess).
So now the problem:
Turns out I quite like the Google route so what do I do? I guess I can sit there and force Basecamp to mimic it by elastic banding, or putting in places as way points, or is there a better way?
And finally (with thanks for your patience) the solution:
Well hoorah apparently there is, in that you can simply export your lovely google map route straight into Basecamp and here is how:
• Plot your route in google maps
• Copy the URL link in your browser window
• Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert_input
• Paste your google link into the box entitled- Provide the URL of a file on the Web:
• Ensure your select GPX as the output and then hit the convert button
• You will then get a page which shows you the content of your file in a big box. Above this is a donation box should you be feeling generous and above this is a “click to download” link
• Hit this and your route will be downloaded, rename it something nice
• Go to Basecamp and import the file as normal
• Convert to a route and fine tune it as required
• You may get a bit of a mess if your avoidances in Basecamp won’t allow you to follow the Google route so make sure you un-tick appropriate ones.
• Upload to your device
• Enjoy
I just wondered if anyone else had done this and found it works or has feedback?
Of course the other way to do it is to plot in Basecamp to start with and then use the rubber banding to pull a route to where you want to go, rather than the suggested one, but for now I’ll save that for another trip when I’m a bit more experienced.
Oh, and I nearly forgot – I am of course taking a map, paper and a pencil just in case!
