Help required from GPS experts please

[AndyW]

I'm currently involved in the design/implementation of a new website for my local IAM group and one of the 'resources' we're planning is an area for members to upload/submit ride routes.

With little experience with GPS I'm researching what file formats we are likely to get routes sent to us in....any input welcome
Garmin / mapSource - file types? compatibility, previous/current versions?
TomTom - "-"
AutoRoute - "-"
??

Recommendations for Software/applications for converting one format to another and any other tips/advice will be appreciated.

Thanks
Andy

 

[terayon]

Mapsource files are .GDP
Autoroute files are .axe

this program converts autoroute to mapsource

http://www.gpsu.co.uk/download.html

 

[Bumpkin]

The best tool for route conversion that I've found is ITN Converter.

Using this you can convert between Autoroute .AXE, Garmin specific .GPX and TomTom .ITN route file formats amongst others. It'll open Garmin .GDB files but only the version 2 format, when saving from the most recent copy of Mapsource you need to do a 'save as' as the default is v. 3 which ITN Converter has a problem with.

Saving a Garmin .GDB file and then using ITN Converter to make it into an Autoroute .AXE file gives a large number of way-points, I believe that these are the routing nodes generated by Mapsource that you don't normally see. If you want to avoid this save from Mapsource as a Garmin GPX file which only saves the way-points you've specified. Better to add extra ones, where there's any ambiguity, to ensure that the route follows the intended path on all devices.

An added bonus with ITN Converter is that it seems to be able to open the most recent Autoroute files and then save in the same format making the file readable in older versions of the program. I run AR 2006 and can now read AR 2007 files using this method which was extremely frustrating in the past.

 

[AndyW]

Thanks gents

ITN Conv - someone else mentioned this program to me but I've not had chance to look at it. Always reassuring when you get the same recommendation from different people, there's a minefield of programs/applications out there!.......and thanks for the tips on using it

Any further advive/tips from anyone still appreciated