Opening Other Peoples Route Files?

[LOLGEOFF]

You know when someone posts a route, yeah?

Like this, yeah?

I take it it is a mapsource file.

Is there any way of opening it on the computer without owning the relevent software discs, to view the map?

 

[Deleted account W]

Yes, but you need to convert it to Google maps using ITN software which is free to download

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Thanks Kev, but without trying to mug myself off again, I'm only getting news links when I google ITN.

What am I missing? (Timmy's rule applies)

 

[Deleted account W]

ITN

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Ah Ha thanks Kev. Gonna have a play now.

 

[Katy M]

Help with others route files

Hello Folks,
Mr Blinkin' thicky here! I've downloaded the ITN thingy but it doesn't open the files I'm trying to look at.
i've no idea what I should be adding into the relevant boxes etc.
Can someone post an idiots guide please.

Love Katy.

 

[Womble]

What type of file is it? It will end in something like zip, gdb, gpx etc. but you might have to right click on it and view the properties to see the info.

 

[Katy M]

I'd like to try and be able to open any file. Is there a difference?
The ones I tried were gdb but there are others. Any advice greatfully accepted.
Katy.

 

[Womble]

Some software will open lots of different file types, but most manufacturers software will only open their own formats and the independent GPX format. You will need Mapsource to read GDB files. If you resave your route as a GPX file, ITNConv should read it fine.

There are a number of conversion utilities like GPSBabel and WinGDB3 that allow you to re-save in lots of different file types.

 

[Bumpkin]

The latest version of ITN Converter (1.76) will open GDB files. However, that file format produces hundreds of navigation nodes for relatively short routes (i.e. a 200 mile Welsh ride-out I organised a month ago has 390 nodes). This causes the ITN Converter editor, which runs off the Google Maps API, to run really slowly.

Best to open the GDB file in Mapsource and save as a GPX file. The same route as above only then included the 18 navigation nodes that I'd added manually to shape the route in Mapsource. This gave the correct route in the ITN Converter editor.

Whenever I post routes I include Garmin GDB, TomTom ITN, generic GPX and Google Maps versions to open it up to as wide an audience as possible. Routes tend to get made up in Mapsource but converted into the other formats (via a 'save as GPX' from Mapsource) using ITN Converter. Maybe you could ask the source of your routes to send you a GPX version, tell him/her to use the 'Save as' option in Mapsource.

Using the example above; Obviously with the full GDB version, sent to the GPS from Mapsource, with all 390 nodes a Garmin GPS should follow the route faithfully. Using the GPX version in a Garmin or ITN version in a TomTom, with only 18 nodes, there may be some anomalies depending on how the routing algorithm differ from Google Maps, the mapping differs and any odd routing preferences set on the device.

ITN Converter is a really great piece of software, I've been using it for years.

 

[Dazzle]

What files does roadtrip use as I have gdb and gpx files and niether will import
they show up on my macsimplegps which shows the waypoints can't get the route on roadtrip to see it ??????
Also can't open routes sent through to me as routes
any software for macs

 

[Womble]

It's not this bug, is it? http://www.gpsdiscussion.com/garmin-gps/7762-problem-finding-gdb-files-mac.html

 

[Dazzle]

no idea not that good if its not highlighted to use
I can see it on my saved documents but keeps saying its not valid ?