Can you convert a track to a route on a nuvi?

why not just create a route using waypoints along the roads you want to take?

and maybe either way you would get the flags and announced arrivals that you would rather do without.

but there may be a time when you decided after you completed the trip, instead of planning ahead, and therefore had not created waypoints at each turn, that for one reason or another you would like to be able to share that with another nuvi owner, say to share with a coworker.

You cannot convert a track to a route in either MapSource nor on a nuvi, currently.

thanks

I was pretty sure that I was not the first one to think of that!

sure would be handy at times to retrace your steps on your return route though...following the "breadcrumbs" back

I like this idea, I'm sure other industries already have this service or are using it somehow.

I would like to be able to press a track button and it would track my route, save it for use next time or for sharing.

In the meantime I guess I would have to rely on waypoints.

FWIW, the Magellan Meridian handheld I bought at least 5 years ago had the option to "Backtrack" the track you just created.

The Garmin handheld models have the "TrackBack" feature which enables them to follow a track.

Also, the Zumo series has the capability to convert a track to route. But doesn't have the "TrackBack" feature so it can't navigate a track directly.

I would be very surprised if this functionality is ever incorporated into the nuvi series as the nuvi series is designed primarily as an auto navigation unit.

But you can just look at the track line and navigate your way backwards.

Take the track you download from your unit into Mapsoource (or Roadtrip on a Mac) - and take the key points from the track, make waypoints out of them, and make a route using those waypoints.

I wouldn't want to be trying to watch the nuvi screen to follow a line, and drive at the same time.

I may give that a try over the weekend.

Well, if you know where you want to end up, then mark that spot and create a route. Then at every turn, if it doesn't follow the track, follow the track. It will reroute.

Besides, you have already driven over the route, you should be able to remember most of the way you came. You're making something way harder than it really is.

I tend to obsess a bit with new gadgets for the first couple of weeks

All part of the fun of learning from all of you great folks

Something to note is that you can transfer tracks to Mapsource. You can also open your Current.gpx (an output file) with Google Earth, and if you check the clickable box can get coordinates.

But, you cannot transfer tracks TO a nuvi. Waypoints from a gpx file in proper path in nuvi memory or SD/microSD are read automatically. Multipoint routable units can read in a route by importing it from MyData menu. But there is no menu item to import tracks on a nuvi. Although, if you try to transfer tracks with Mapsource, they are in the TEMP.gpx that creates, so you could open that file with old saved tracks in Google Earth.

I have not tried to transfer tracks to a handheld yet, but my eTrex Legend HCx does to track back to guide you on a track in reverse.

Having something like TracBack on an -autonav- unit is simply not a good idea, especially if you are in an area with one-way streets. Imagine trying to follow your track back the same way and turning the wrong way onto one of those one-ways...

Gpsbabel attempts this.

See:
http://www.gpsbabel.org/htmldoc-development/filter_transform...

A representative command might be:

C:\>gpsbabel -i gpx -f Current.gpx -x transform,rte=trk,del -o gpx -F newgpx.gpx


However...
it seems to convert each of the <trkpt> entries into a <rtept> entry (rather than a <rpt> entry).

The <rtept> entries are the ones that are marked with Flags and announced when you reach them, whereas the <rpt>'s are the 'shaping' points, that set the fine detail of the route.

(I only did a quick test, but my output file wouldn't load into Mapsource (Mapsource gave its usual vague error message)). Looks like quite a lot of post-processing might be required

most appreciated

Ditto for freeway exits and entrances. It would have you getting back on at the exit, etc.

Still think it would be cool to be able to convert a track into a route. My DeLorme Street Atlas had that feature and it was useful when taking a side trip off your route. It would take you right back to where you left the route. I only tried it on a standard highway, not an interstate, though.

Delorme is the Bomb, Blows any GPS out of the water! Still have mine and use it every now and then, and think if only Garmin could do this, then I look at the laptop balanced on my console. It is so feature rich it crazy.
It's only problem, no custom POI's, however I hear that might be in the next software release.

For anyone that might want to take a peek:
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?sect...

Bob

Speaking of Delorme, if you're ever near Yarmouth, Maine, take the time to visit Eartha. If you like maps (and who on this site doesn't?) it's well worth the trip.

http://www.delorme.com/about/eartha.aspx