Sharing you Basecamp library between more computers with Dropbox

er-minio

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As requested.
This is a fairly easy procedure and will make your life simpler if you use Garmin's Basecamp across more than one computer.
I use Macs, but the procedure would be pretty much the same on Windows. Just the default location of the files will differ.


Prologue: I generally always use a couple of computers. I always have a desktop computer at home, no matter what. That in the last few years has been a trusty Mac Mini, and I always have a laptop that I use at work, and I bring along with me while traveling 99% of the times.
I don't generally backup much of my personal or more sensible data on cloud services (IE: I keep all my porn safely stored on a local NAS at home), but use Dropbox for all work files and also for some of my personal things I want to easily keep synced between computers.

By default all the data you save in Basecamp, routes, tracks, waypoints, is in this location on your computer:

PHP:
~/Library/Application Support/Garmin/BaseCamp

Where "~" is the name of your home directory (your unix user on MacOs X - home icon on the sidebar).

What you can do, is package all that information into a library file and place it in another location: your Dropbox folder.
You can then set the preferences of the various Basecamp apps you have on your computers to use that very same library on Dropbox.
You will have all your routes, tracks, waypoints, and everything you see on the sidebar on all your computers always up to date.

The steps to achieve this are just:
new_lib.gif


1) on your main computer (the one that has the library information you want to share) select from menu Basecamp > Preferences.
2) On the preferences window, click on the Advanced icon (cog)
3) In the Library section, it should say that your Library is in the default location. Now click the "New Library" button.
4) It will open a dialog where you can name and choose where to save your Library. Save it wherever you prefer on your Dropbox folder.

I keep mine in a specific folder inside my personal Dropbox, it's a single bundled* file:

basecamp_library.png


Done. Quit Basecamp.

Now, wait that Dropbox syncs the data (my library was about 400Mb, your mileage may vary). When done, open Basecamp on your secondary computer and repeat:

1) Menu Basecamp > Preferences
2) Advanced tab (cog)
3) Click on "Choose Library" and select the library file you created above on your Dropbox. File extension will be .bclibrary

Basecamp will load all the data and you will find all your routes in this computer as well.

Repeat for as many computers as you like.

A couple of important notes:

1) Never open Basecamp simultaneously on different computers. Big no no. It's like feeding Gremlins after midnight or crossing the streams. Bad.
You will probably lose some data (not all, just the most recent). The good thing is that you can roll-back Dropbox if this happens (but I guess only if you have a paid account) and fix the damage. I've been through it.

2) Maps and basecamp preferences are not kept in the Library, so they won't be synchronised between your computers. Not a tragedy.
Actually, maps and other things are kept at:
PHP:
~/Library/Application Support/Garmin/

One directory above where the Library originally lives.
I'm considering trying to move all that on Dropbox, but haven't had the time to test it/create a mess.

The library is a bundle.
In very simple terms, a bundle is a directory that presents itself like a file, or an application. Most apps libraries are like this.
If you really want to reach inside, right click the file, select "show package contents" and you will get inside and you'll be able to reach the single .gdb files contained in it.

library_menu.png


The catch is that the archival system within it is not exactly designed to be used by the everyday user, so it's not easy to understand what is what and where. But if you want to have a look inside it... you can.

basecamp_library_inside.png


Last but not least, after years of hating it, just in the last few months I gave up and started learning and understanding the (most times) non-user logical ways Garmin's software works. I might not get everything right – happy to be corrected where I'm mistaken.

Have fun.
Backup your data before messing with this.
 
Just a note Dropbox have changed their user policy and is restricted to 3 PCs whereas before it was any number.
 
Many thanks indeed for the great explanation I will give it a go. I mean, what can possibly go wrong? :blast :eek: :confused: :nenau:(
 
Haha – no, it's seriously almost impossible to do any "damage".
 


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