Complex "Along a Route"

[+Earl B. Fisk]

I'm trying to put together a route in Google Earth to create an "Along a Route" pocket querry. I'm able to create simple ones like from City A to City B. But what I'd like to do is create one that goes from City A to City B to City C to City D where the route taken from City A to City D isn't the one Google Earth wants to create.

 

I assume this can somehow be done. Is this my first mistake?

[+JABs]

Here's one that I use as it uses Google MAPs and lets you create a route anywhere and not just by the shortest route as in Google Earth. It does take some working out but once you get the hang of it, it lets you have more opptions.

 

 

 

 

You CAN use Google Maps to do the routes. A member of our local caching group was kind enough to post the following instructions:

 

There is a trick you can use to automate this, but it's a little clumsy.

 

The interesting part is that Google MAPS (not Google Earth) will let you modify the route interactively. If you generate directions in maps.google.com , you can then left-click anywhere on the route and drag that point somewhere else to modify the route. For example, just drag your Torreya route off of I-10 and onto Blountstown highway!

 

The clumsy part is exporting the modified route as a KML file from Google MAPS. If you look at the top right of the map, you'll see a link called [Link to this Page]. The trick is

• Left-click on [Link to this Page]
  
• copy the text with the URL in the first field (called "Paste link in email or IM) with "Cntl-C"
  
• paste that text somewhere (probably in a new browser window)
  
• add the following to the end of the text: &output=kml
  
• open a link to that new URL (with the &output=kml at the end of the address) and you should get options about either opening it with Google Earth, or saving it on your computer. From there, proceed to use the KML file of the modified route in the usual way to make a "Caches on a Route" query.
  

Here's an example of a modified URL ending in &output=kml See what it does in your browser.

 

The last bulleted step will be a little different on every computer, depending on the browser, the way you handle KML files, etc. But the point is that you can (1) modify the route in Google Maps and then (2) use the &output=kml trick to export the modified directions.

 

I hope this makes sense...

[+ventura_kids]

I'm trying to put together a route in Google Earth to create an "Along a Route" pocket querry. I'm able to create simple ones like from City A to City B. But what I'd like to do is create one that goes from City A to City B to City C to City D where the route taken from City A to City D isn't the one Google Earth wants to create.

 

I assume this can somehow be done. Is this my first mistake?

 

Certainly it can be done. There are tons of public routes already out there, that you can search thru.

 

One problem you may have with a really long route, is that you may max out the 500 waypoints before you get them all. This will cause the query to skip whatever caches it feels like...over the 500.

[+Markwell]

markwell.us/route.htm

 

Streets and Trips

Mapsource

Other...

[+Kealia]

Your other option is to create a series of small routes from point A to B, B to C, etc.

 

This will help you stay on the route that you want.

 

Once you have all the KML files, you can cut and paste them together to create one file you can upload to use for your PQ.

 

I don't havethe directions handy, but a quick search on this should turn it up for you.

[+Morning Dew]

I ran into the same problem with Google Earth. My solution:

 

I noticed that the along the route will not only accept a .KML file but a .GPX file as well. The mapping software that came with my GPS (Delorme PN-20), Topo 7 can create routes that can be converted to .GPX files.

 

Not only can it create routes but I can easily manipulate them to go anywhere I want. Just like in your exampe, from A to B then to C, then to D etc. instead of the standard (quickest A to D route that Google creates).

 

So I created a route in Topo 7 traveling exactly how I wanted it. Converted to .gpx and then upload that to the "Along The Route" and bam it spit out a nice list of waypoints along that route for me.

 

I don't know what GPS you have but if it came with some mapping software perhaps in can do this. I'm betting the Garmin software is capable of doing this.

[+beejay&esskay]

The GMapToGPX plug-in is a quick way to grab a complex Google Maps route and generate a GPX file that you can upload to Groundspeak.

[Neos2]

MapSource will indeed let you crete any kind of route you want. You can double back on yourself two or three times if you want. Markwell has some directions for how to do it (and other methods as well).

[+Nachtraaf]

In case you have Mapsource with a routable map (like city navigator), you can use the following method: http://geocachingwithweedboer.blogspot.com...geocaching.html

 

Kind regards,

weedboer

[Mushtang]

In case you have Mapsource with a routable map (like city navigator), you can use the following method: http://geocachingwithweedboer.blogspot.com...geocaching.html

 

Kind regards,

weedboer

 

The linked method above for MapSource shows how to create a path from A to D in whatever way MapSource decides is best, and doesn't cover the problem the OP has with wanting to go from A to B to C to D his way. It also doesn't use the Caches Along A Route feature and assumes you already have the caches in GSAK to use the filter.

 

You can still easily use MapSource to create the route, with any twists and turns you want, and upload to the website by following the link Markwell provided to his FAQ page.

 

The formatting for step number 9 on his page is kind of messed up, and shouldn't contain everything on the rest of the page, but I'm sure he'll fix that soon.