Jump to content

GPX exchange file


benalexe

Recommended Posts

GPX is an abbreviation of GPS Exchange Format. This means those files contains information related to GPS, like a list of waypoints, routes, tracks,...all with their corresponding coordinates.

 

Example:

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<gpx xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1" creator="MapSource 6.13.6" version="1.1" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.garmin.com/xmlschemas/GpxExtensions/v3 http://www.garmin.com/xmlschemas/GpxExtensions/v3/GpxExtensionsv3.xsd http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1/gpx.xsd">
 <metadata>
<link href="http://www.garmin.com">
  <text>Garmin International</text>
</link>
<time>2008-04-29T11:22:33Z</time>
<bounds maxlat="50.2286050" maxlon="5.6006408" minlat="50.1981065" minlon="5.5372759"/>
 </metadata>
 <trk>
<name>ACTIVE LOG</name>
<extensions>
  <gpxx:TrackExtension xmlns:gpxx="http://www.garmin.com/xmlschemas/GpxExtensions/v3">
	<gpxx:DisplayColor>Transparent</gpxx:DisplayColor>
  </gpxx:TrackExtension>
</extensions>
<trkseg>
  <trkpt lat="50.2279735" lon="5.5993166">
	<ele>533.6689453</ele>
	<time>2008-04-27T14:07:54Z</time>
  </trkpt>
  <trkpt lat="50.2279530" lon="5.5994740">
	<ele>533.6689453</ele>
	<time>2008-04-27T14:07:57Z</time>
  </trkpt>
  <trkpt lat="50.2282572" lon="5.5990226">
	<ele>533.1883545</ele>
	<time>2008-04-27T14:08:04Z</time>
  </trkpt>
  <trkpt lat="50.2282631" lon="5.5989858">
	<ele>533.1883545</ele>
	<time>2008-04-27T14:08:05Z</time>
  </trkpt>
</trkseg>
 </trk>
</gpx>

 

You see things like

<trkpt lat="50.2279530" lon="5.5994740">
	<ele>533.6689453</ele>
	<time>2008-04-27T14:07:57Z</time>
</trkpt>

Which means a point with corresponding coordinates, heigth (ele) and time when it was recorded. Those details can be used in several solutions like mapsource to view those waypoints or tracks.

 

A possible use of GPX: If you sync your digital camera with your GPS, you can put your gpx file together with the picture and create a (google)map with the track you have followed. On that track you can see where you have taken those pictures. This process is called GEOTAGGING (click)...

 

Regards,

Hans

Link to comment

 

That looks a lot like a LOC file, but they are nearly the same for the information as shown by that post.

 

A real GPX file will have a lot more useful information such as the cache type, size, terrain rating, difficulty rating, date hidden, owner, contents of the last 5 actual logs (or 20 if done individually)...

 

Programs like GSAK can process all this information. Palm and Pocket PC programs can process all this information. GPX files are the only way to go 'Paperless'.

Link to comment

 

That looks a lot like a LOC file, but they are nearly the same for the information as shown by that post.

 

A real GPX file will have a lot more useful information such as the cache type, size, terrain rating, difficulty rating, date hidden, owner, contents of the last 5 actual logs (or 20 if done individually)...

 

Programs like GSAK can process all this information. Palm and Pocket PC programs can process all this information. GPX files are the only way to go 'Paperless'.

 

The code that Weedboar posted *is* a real GPX file. The GPX files that are available from geocaching.com via a waypoint download or pocket query are GPX file with Groundspeak extensions. Both LOC and GPX files are just text files that contain XML tags. An XML file, by definition, is eXtensible and Groundspeak has merely taken the standard GPX format and added their own namespace to it, thus providing addition tags specifically for geocaching (the GP in GPX stands for GPS, not for Geocaching). See the following for how a waypoint is defined using the GPX format *with* the Groundspeak extensions.

 

<wpt lat="42.3996" lon="-76.16755">
<time>2005-09-03T00:00:00</time>
<name>GCQEKA</name>
<desc>Rockefeller Center by Tellico Gap, Eagle Eye and Magnolia Bud, Traditional Cache (1/3.5)</desc>
<url>http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4eec945c-601e-4274-89a8-8ac1f3d8f083</url>
<urlname>Rockefeller Center</urlname>
<sym>Geocache Found</sym>
<type>Geocache|Traditional Cache</type>
<Groundspeak:cache id="288126" available="True" archived="False" xmlns:Groundspeak="http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0">
  <Groundspeak:name>Rockefeller Center</Groundspeak:name>
  <Groundspeak:placed_by>Tellico Gap, Eagle Eye and Magnolia Bud</Groundspeak:placed_by>
  <Groundspeak:owner id="128945">Tellico Gap</Groundspeak:owner>
  <Groundspeak:type>Traditional Cache</Groundspeak:type>
  <Groundspeak:container>Regular</Groundspeak:container>
  <Groundspeak:difficulty>1</Groundspeak:difficulty>

  ... a bunch of stuff deleted to save space

 </wpt>

 

Tools such as GSAK and EasyGPS are written such that they understand GPX format with or without the GPX extensions, whereas an application like a Geotagging application like Google's GPicSync will understand

basic GPX format but would not know what to do with the Groundspeak extensions.

 

If you have ever captured a waypoint with your GPS and used an application like EasyGPS or GSAK to *Receive* waypoints from your GPS the waypoint is going to use standard GPX format and won't have tags

for container, difficulty, or any of the other Groundspeak extensions.

Link to comment

If you have ever captured a waypoint with your GPS and used an application like EasyGPS or GSAK to *Receive* waypoints from your GPS the waypoint is going to use standard GPX format and won't have tags

for container, difficulty, or any of the other Groundspeak extensions.

 

But the database in GSAK will allow you to set the value of all the 'tags' that it understands and the GPX file created will therefore have the very 'extensions' that make a GPX file so useful. Mush easier to use the 'real' GPX files from Groundspeak.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...