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Looking at GPX Files


laker2

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In anticipation of soon updating to an eTrex 30, I have been trying to learn about GPX files. I have a Mac (OS 10.5) and have installed GPS Connect (Beta version 0.2). After constructing a PQ and downloading it, I can open two files on my desktop: one appended with .gpx and the other with wpts.gpx. When I open them, both are identical. I am under the impression that a gpx file can be created with more information about a cache site (logs, difficulties, etc). Why can't I see such information in the gpx files that I am downloading from my PQ's?

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In anticipation of soon updating to an eTrex 30, I have been trying to learn about GPX files. I have a Mac (OS 10.5) and have installed GPS Connect (Beta version 0.2). After constructing a PQ and downloading it, I can open two files on my desktop: one appended with .gpx and the other with wpts.gpx. When I open them, both are identical. I am under the impression that a gpx file can be created with more information about a cache site (logs, difficulties, etc). Why can't I see such information in the gpx files that I am downloading from my PQ's?

Have you tried viewing them with a text editor? Maybe the software you're using just can't read the extra Geocaching tags.

Here's what mine look like:

Main GPX file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<gpx xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" creator="Groundspeak Pocket Query" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/1 http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/1/cache.xsd" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0">
 <name>Saanich Peninsula</name>
 <desc>Geocache file generated by Groundspeak</desc>
 <author>Groundspeak</author>
 <email>contact@Groundspeak.com</email>
 <time>2012-02-10T12:04:11.0999981Z</time>
 <keywords>cache, geocache, Groundspeak</keywords>
 <bounds minlat="48.464333" minlon="-123.572483" maxlat="48.706" maxlon="-123.303017" />
 <wpt lat="48.5989" lon="-123.388967">
   <time>2009-10-07T07:00:00Z</time>
   <name>GC1ZJR6</name>
   <desc>Sea Breeze 103 by JUNGLEMOUTH1/SEWSUE, Traditional Cache (2/1.5)</desc>
   <url>http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ac777b83-8bf9-4596-a017-d01e73778786</url>
   <urlname>Sea Breeze 103</urlname>
   <sym>Geocache</sym>
   <type>Geocache|Traditional Cache</type>
   <Groundspeak:cache id="1424179" available="True" archived="False" xmlns:Groundspeak="http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/1">
     <Groundspeak:name>Sea Breeze 103</Groundspeak:name>
     <Groundspeak:placed_by>JUNGLEMOUTH1/SEWSUE</Groundspeak:placed_by>
     <Groundspeak:owner id="1976890">Junglemouth1</Groundspeak:owner>
     <Groundspeak:type>Traditional Cache</Groundspeak:type>
     <Groundspeak:container>Micro</Groundspeak:container>
     <Groundspeak:attributes>
...

Notice all the <Groundspeak:___> tags.

 

And the WPTS GPX file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<gpx xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" creator="Groundspeak, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.Groundspeak.com" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0 http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/cache.xsd" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0">
 <name>Waypoints for Cache Listings Generated from Geocaching.com</name>
 <desc>This is a list of supporting waypoints for caches generated from Geocaching.com</desc>
 <author>Various users from Geocaching.com</author>
 <email>contact@geocaching.com</email>
 <url>http://www.geocaching.com</url>
 <urlname>Geocaching - High Tech Treasure Hunting</urlname>
 <time>2012-02-10T12:04:06.9087193Z</time>
 <keywords>cache, geocache, waypoints</keywords>
 <bounds minlat="48.475917" minlon="-123.563283" maxlat="48.667817" maxlon="-123.311467" />
 <wpt lat="48.578733" lon="-123.563283">
   <time>2007-02-25T21:42:30.443</time>
   <name>AATME7</name>
   <cmt>This is where the first trail comes out onto the logging road.</cmt>
   <desc>logging road</desc>
   <url>http://www.geocaching.com/seek/wpt.aspx?WID=bd0f27f5-fb06-40d5-81c6-e86810531ccb</url>
   <urlname>logging road</urlname>
   <sym>Reference Point</sym>
   <type>Waypoint|Reference Point</type>
 </wpt>
...

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In anticipation of soon updating to an eTrex 30, I have been trying to learn about GPX files. I have a Mac (OS 10.5) and have installed GPS Connect (Beta version 0.2). After constructing a PQ and downloading it, I can open two files on my desktop: one appended with .gpx and the other with wpts.gpx. When I open them, both are identical. I am under the impression that a gpx file can be created with more information about a cache site (logs, difficulties, etc). Why can't I see such information in the gpx files that I am downloading from my PQ's?

Have you tried viewing them with a text editor? Maybe the software you're using just can't read the extra Geocaching tags.

Here's what mine look like:

Main GPX file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<gpx xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" creator="Groundspeak Pocket Query" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/1 http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/1/cache.xsd" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0">
 <name>Saanich Peninsula</name>
 <desc>Geocache file generated by Groundspeak</desc>
 <author>Groundspeak</author>
 <email>contact@Groundspeak.com</email>
 <time>2012-02-10T12:04:11.0999981Z</time>
 <keywords>cache, geocache, Groundspeak</keywords>
 <bounds minlat="48.464333" minlon="-123.572483" maxlat="48.706" maxlon="-123.303017" />
 <wpt lat="48.5989" lon="-123.388967">
   <time>2009-10-07T07:00:00Z</time>
   <name>GC1ZJR6</name>
   <desc>Sea Breeze 103 by JUNGLEMOUTH1/SEWSUE, Traditional Cache (2/1.5)</desc>
   <url>http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ac777b83-8bf9-4596-a017-d01e73778786</url>
   <urlname>Sea Breeze 103</urlname>
   <sym>Geocache</sym>
   <type>Geocache|Traditional Cache</type>
   <Groundspeak:cache id="1424179" available="True" archived="False" xmlns:Groundspeak="http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/1">
     <Groundspeak:name>Sea Breeze 103</Groundspeak:name>
     <Groundspeak:placed_by>JUNGLEMOUTH1/SEWSUE</Groundspeak:placed_by>
     <Groundspeak:owner id="1976890">Junglemouth1</Groundspeak:owner>
     <Groundspeak:type>Traditional Cache</Groundspeak:type>
     <Groundspeak:container>Micro</Groundspeak:container>
     <Groundspeak:attributes>
...

Notice all the <Groundspeak:___> tags.

 

And the WPTS GPX file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<gpx xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" creator="Groundspeak, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.Groundspeak.com" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0 http://www.Groundspeak.com/cache/1/0/cache.xsd" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0">
 <name>Waypoints for Cache Listings Generated from Geocaching.com</name>
 <desc>This is a list of supporting waypoints for caches generated from Geocaching.com</desc>
 <author>Various users from Geocaching.com</author>
 <email>contact@geocaching.com</email>
 <url>http://www.geocaching.com</url>
 <urlname>Geocaching - High Tech Treasure Hunting</urlname>
 <time>2012-02-10T12:04:06.9087193Z</time>
 <keywords>cache, geocache, waypoints</keywords>
 <bounds minlat="48.475917" minlon="-123.563283" maxlat="48.667817" maxlon="-123.311467" />
 <wpt lat="48.578733" lon="-123.563283">
   <time>2007-02-25T21:42:30.443</time>
   <name>AATME7</name>
   <cmt>This is where the first trail comes out onto the logging road.</cmt>
   <desc>logging road</desc>
   <url>http://www.geocaching.com/seek/wpt.aspx?WID=bd0f27f5-fb06-40d5-81c6-e86810531ccb</url>
   <urlname>logging road</urlname>
   <sym>Reference Point</sym>
   <type>Waypoint|Reference Point</type>
 </wpt>
...

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This is how the files appear on my Mac desktop. What application can I use to get rid of the tags to produce a file that is only text? Thanks

Why do you want to get rid of the tags? It's the tags that make it a GPX file.

 

Like StarBrand said, all you need to do is to drag the GPX file to your /garmin/gpx folder on your eTrex device after you connect it to your Mac. No need for additional software unless you need to edit or filter them. If you do, then maccaching looks like the way to go. I'd recommend GSAK but I doubt you're getting a Windows box or VM just for this :)

 

The xxxxxxxx.gpx file contains the geocache waypoints. the xxxxxxxx-wpts.gpx file contains the additional waypoints (parking coordinates, additional waypoints for multistage, etc.) when they are provided by the cache owner. I don't usually bother with the additional waypoints.

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