Upload a route
Table of contents
Overview of 3 main steps in uploading a route
A route can be uploaded from your GPS system to the RouteYou website so the route can be edited (change your track, add POIs, change the description and title), printed and displayed in the RouteViewer.
- Put the route/track (there is a difference! - read more about it here) from your GPS to your PC
- Upload the route/track from your PC to the RouteYou web environment
- Edit and enrich your route with the RouteYou-tools
Step 1: Upload the track from your GPS to your PC
If the track is already on your PC, jump to step 2.
Copy using File explorer
- Connect your device via a (USB) cable with your PC
- Activate File Explorer
- Selecter via File Explorer your GPS-device and search/find the directory where the GPS track-files (*.GPX or *.GDB or *.TCX or *.FIT) are located. The directory structure is different for each type of GPS device.
- Copy/paste the track-file (GPX) to you PC
Transfer a track via Basecamp to your PC (only for Garmin)
Basecamp makes a connection between your Garmin GPS and your PC. If your GPS is connected, Basecamp will show you GPS device and you can select the files via File/Export.
Step 2: Uploading a track to the RouteYou environment
- Put the file of your GPS-track from your GPS to your PC.
- Log on
- Select in the hamburger menu the option 'plan a route' and then 'upload a route'
- Select the file (GPS-track) for upload (see below the supported formats)
- Give a name, type and description to your route
- After upload, your route will be processed and you will receive an email when it is done
Formats and content supported for upload
Not all formats and versions are supported for upload!
- The GPX format (recommend). Your GPX can contain as well a continuous track, as a a route (see further). Remark: when a GPX-file contains several tracks/routes, only the longest track/route will be processed.
- The format GDB 2.0, and 3.0. Your GDB can contain as well a continuous track, as a a route (see further). Remark: when a GDB-file contains several tracks/routes, only the longest track/route will be processed
- TCX
- FIT (remark: your fit file has to contain an 'activity') (read more about FIT files)
- Not yet: KML/KMZ
Content restrictions:
The GPX format is very flexible. You can store about everything. Obviously, we have some content restrictions to be able to convert your GPX file to a route
- One file (GPX/GDB) should contain only ONE track or route (not several routes). If you have more, use one of the suggested tools
- In case the file contains a route (vs a track), the way-points will be used as markers on the RouteYou network and we will (re)calculate the route between the way-points. (We use the OpenStreetMap network.)
- This is only the case in countries where we support the routing (read more about it here).
- If we don't support, there will be a straight line between your waypoints.
Restricted number of shapepoints:
There is no theoretical limit to the number of shapepoints your track or route has, but you will "suffer" later on if you have more than 1000 points. It's hard to handle.
Read our item on generalization and how to reduce shapepoints .
Step 3: Further processing of your route wihtin RouteYou
Once your route is uploaded, you can still do a lot of things to improve the route
- Edit your route in the RoutePlanner (read more about it here)
- Add POIs to your route (read more about it here)
- Link characteristics and themes to your route (read more about it here)
- Change the layout of your route with the RouteDesigner(read more about it here) or by customizing the visualisation of a group (read more about it here)
Problems & FAQ related to the upload of routes
Error massage related to format
Check out the item above about supported formats
Incomplete track after upload to RouteYou
The problem is probably related to the fact that your GPX file contains more than one track. See above the restriction on one track.
Unable to edit the route after upload
Read here how to edit a route. Problem: "You click on the edit marker of a route but it takes ages before the route is displayed."
There are probably too many shapepoints in your route. See above or check the help-item on generalization.
For a list of the RouteYou functionalities per type of account: have a look at the RouteYou Functionality Overview per accounttype.