Google maps has an option to save map as a GPX file. Has anyone successfully imported this to Computrainer with or without third party software? Also I have DeLorme computrainer edition (version 4) and it is really outdated, is there another topo software that is compatible with Computrainer?
Try CyclingPeaks Real3d. Reads GPX and has a superior graphical editor for courses.
But first point me to where Google Maps themselves are giving a GPX output of a route. Can’t find it.
Paul Smeulders, developer
OK, thanks. I have the Real 3d I will try it tonight. Here follow this link, it is a 3rd party application but I got the link from google maps page, you can convert any google maps into a GPX file:
http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/gmaptogpx
Kinda off topic but how do you transfer a garmin file to a gpx file. I can’t seem to figure it out.
Grant
I don’t do the sw support anymore, and this is a bad place to be doing it. contact the help at TrainingPeaks.com
In the past I always ditched the Garmin SW for the forerunner range. I ALWAYS download my garmins with Topofusion, it goes direct to .gpx in a much more orderly way: You get choices about which tracks to load and how to divvy them up into files. Garmin used to put everything you ever did into one big .xml file .xml …and kept adding to it. I also notice topofusion it is better behaved than EasyGps gpx. Topofusion includes tools for athletes training data as well.
I am not sure if Garmin has improved their file formats and if they now support a nice gpx format. I expect so, it has been a long time since I looked in, and I think the TrainingPeaks guys have exerted some influence.
Paul
Hey Paul, should have dropped you a note earlier, but since I saw your post here I wanted to thank you for the ErgVideo. I was having my handlebar controller serviced by RacerMate, but should be up and rolling and able to try out the ErgVideo next week. I’ll be sure to post about it. Thanks again!
This may not be the only option or the easiest option. Download the data into Motion Based, it has the option to export the data as a .gpx
You’ll have to create an account, and if I remember correctly you can only store the latest 10 files with the free account. The site is pretty slow and cumbersome but you can get some pretty good analysis out of it if you take the time and have the patience.
Training Peaks may also allow you to export the file as a .gpx also. I know you can export it to Google Earth from there.
Thanks Uncle Phil. Cool.
I’m real busy on producing new titles and even new kinds of rides. Very exciting stuff coming. Really aggressive, always unique.
Paul
www.ergvideo.com
Before you can go from Google maps to GPX, make sure you can go from GPX to the CompuTrainer format 3dc.
I invested the ~$200.00 for the combined Topo/GPS Course Creator, only to find that the GPX to Computrainer conversion doesn’t work. I (and numerous others) have submitted a trouble ticket.
It’s frustrating.
In the interim, I have to go from GPX to CSV, then from CSV format to the Computrainer format. That seems to work as a secondary solution.
I think this is what you want:
Before you can go from Google maps to GPX, make sure you can go from GPX to the CompuTrainer format 3dc.
I invested the ~$200.00 for the combined Topo/GPS Course Creator, only to find that the GPX to Computrainer conversion doesn’t work. I (and numerous others) have submitted a trouble ticket.
It’s frustrating.
In the interim, I have to go from GPX to CSV, then from CSV format to the Computrainer format. That seems to work as a secondary solution.
Will that also take into account the turns on the course?
I have encounterd a GPX formats that it appeared as gpx, it had a tag that a standard .xml (gpx is xml) importer such as integrated with popular development tools (very GOOD industry standard ones, mind you) will yak upon this strangely placed tag, saying it is an ill-formed database. IIRC, the GPX that is spit out by EasyGPX, had this flaw. It’s a long time ago, probably fixed now.
Topofusion doesn’t have this problem. You may want to start there to create your GPX.
I have no idea whether this is the reason for your GPX failure with GPS Course Creator. I have no connection there, but I think its a good bet that the GPX itself is “odd”. Sometimes, open standards can be that way.
Paul
AJHull:
No, it doesn’t master that aspect. I’m hoping to overcome the basic problem of importing directly from .gpx format. If I do, I’ll let you know.
Thanks
Paul,
Great idea. I’ll look into the the .gpx format issue.
Thanks
My Performance Pro software made specificially for the CompuTrainer can convert any Gpx/Garmin file to CT .3dc course file. As long as the gpx file contains the elevation information it’ll convert it in one step. For google, go to MapMyTri.com and draw up your route then save as a Garmin file. You can then import the garmin file into Performance Pro and get your course file. You can also update individual legs, change grades, add wind, etc.
Course conversion is just a small section/function of what Performance Pro can do. I am the sole developer for this software so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.
Thanks,
Drew.
Paul and everyone else, thanks for suggestions. I had CompuTrainer support send me some sample test GPX files to use, and the cause of the problem quickly became apparent. First and foremost, you must have the BETA version of the TopoGPS software, which you can get here.
I then started to inspect/analyze the differences between the samples that were sent to me by CompuTrainer support and the XML tags from other GPX files, such as those created by other popular bike-mapping programs, e.g. MapMyTri or Bikely. Basically, the TopoGPS software is too rigid to understand any XML tags except the ones used to develop the software, such as the ones from EasyGPS. TopoGPS does not recognize the XML tags from other programs, even though the overall file is completely compliant with the GPX standards.
When I changed the XML tags in Bikely-produced .GPX file, everything worked (with the BETA). It still didn’t work with output from MapMyTri because the output didn’t include elevation data. If we still want to use MapMyTri or a similar program, there are other low-cost alternatives that allow us to export from MapMyTri to Garmin (instead of GPX), then go from Garmin to CompuTrainer’s .3dc. Otherwise, a quick XML translation program would enable me to make the TopoGPS software (i.e. changing the XML tags to be consistent with what TopoGPS is expecting).
It still didn’t work with output from MapMyTri because the output didn’t include elevation data.
So what would be the point then, of converting the MAPMyTri data to a 3dc? A flat course. You need to find a database that will take your route and provide elevation data.
Topofusion will do that too, for USA and slivers of canada. You could skip the whole mapmytri issue and just download to topofusion. I think the piece you are most concerned about (compatibility with TopoGPS) is testable on the demo version of Topofusion. You ought to look at Real3D as well, but you’re hoping the cash you spent on TopoGPS isn’t for naught, I understand.
Paul
there are other low-cost alternatives that allow us to export from MapMyTri to Garmin (instead of GPX), then go from Garmin to CompuTrainer’s .3dc.
I downloaded a trial copy of Real3D last night, and it wouldn’t import .gpx, garmin, or .crs files as exported by mapmyride.
Do you know if the Computrainer software can import files of these types? The only file type which had elevation data was the .crs file, & its XML looks like:
2007-11-21T21:45:16-05:00 35.66608287850653 -83.59909057617188 648The Real3D software allows you to import (x,y,z) .csv files. Using your own VBA program or some creativeness in Excel, you should be able to manually re-format the .crs file into a .csv file.
There’s gotta be an easier way. Any ideas? Thanks.
My experience with the Beta version of the TopoGPS software was that the elevation profile of the 3dc courses it created only vaguely resembled the actual elevation profile of the gpx file I used. You may want to check your results against what you expect if you go this route. I had a couple circular routes I tried to turn into 3dc files using this method, (which of course should end at the same elevation as the beginning) and the 3dc files both ended up with a significant net downhill.
So, you might want to just eyeball your results to make sure they match up with what you expected.
By the way, how are you guys going from Garmin to 3dc? As I understand it the Beta TopoGPS software will only go from the actual garmin unit, not a saved garmin file (and it didn’t seem to want to work with my garmin either…)
So my reading if the .gpx standard is such that what you post is not at all .gpx. It appears they have simply adopted a proprietary and convenient format in plain old .xml and given it .gpx extension.
Whoops, edit…you claim what you posted is a .crs format??? WHoa. WHO’s .crs format? That is NOT AT ALL the computrainer .crs format, and Real3d DOES NOT ever claim to import .crs, either. The “Garmin” format is the orginal .xml format of Garmin 201, and is mostly obsolete…very unweildy, and after you use it once, you’ll stop.
So now I will say as well “It appears they have simply adopted a proprietary and convenient format in plain old .xml and given it .crs extension.”
For example, one usual encoding of a .GPX trackpoint is encoded as:
82.810791 2002-04-21T14:47:56Z Waypointand a .crs file:
UNITS = ENGLISH
DESCRIPTION = Wisconsin
FILE NAME = Wisconsin.crs
; DISTANCE GRADE WIND
;
0.005 1.55 0
0.009 1.67 0
0.237 -0.39 0
0.012 -0.86 0
0.060 -0.25 0
etc
I wouldn’t expect anything other than MapMyTri/ or mapmyRide to read any of the misleading stuff they are giving you. From where I’m sitting, it shouldn’t be a .gpx nor a .crs. (I’m assuming you may have mistyped one of .crs or .gpx)
Those tags are not recognized in the standard. Suggest you try to find if GPSBabel will convert it to real .gpx.
Appears to me they have used extensions that will lead to confusion. There is no “law” against it, but this is what is leading you in the wrong direction.
Paul