The tab on "How to Download Tracks (and routes)" will be expanded over the next month to include more devices from both Apple and Android and some chartplotters.
Thanks Bob! Don't know if it's just my iPad setup but since I have Google Drive installed on my iPad this DL method didn't work. Others might have the same issue...
When I attempted to DL the GPX file in iCab, my Google Drive app steps in to do the DL but then fails to recognize the GPX so I couldn't save the file nor open it in the Garmin App. I tried a few workarounds, like trying to "Open in App" from G Drive, etc. but nothing but uninstalling Google Drive from the iPad works. After that, iCab worked great, just as you said.
Any chance you have the GPX for Little Mud River hanging around?? ;-)
Hi Doug, I have Gdrive installed and used iCab without a problem. I downloaded the file but didn't try to open it, just downloaded it. After that I went to the downloaded files in iCab and clicked on the file of interest and followed instructions to load it I to Garmin app. It ought to work the same way for you.
I do not have a GPX route for mud river, I just go down the middle and search a bit for the deepest water.
Doug, I have iCab Mobile in full screen mode and I've selected iCab icons to appear on the screen when in full screen mode. One of the icons is the "view the download folder" command, a down arrow in a circle so even when I get a blank screen sometimes after downloading a GPX file, I still have access to the download folder by touching the download folder icon (down arrow in a circle).
So when the download folder comes up, I just scroll down to the most recent file and follow the directions from there.
OK, please forgive my naivete == but I'm totally new here and can't for the life of me find á file of GPX routes' to download.. where is it/how do I do that? Thank you.
Ted and Beth, a GPX file can be downloaded by clicking on one of the route names with the underline with your left mouse button. You will see a screen showing the GPX route displayed and an option to download the GPX file displayed with the icon of a down arrow against a short, horizontal line (in the upper right corner of the screen). Clicking on that arrow will download the file to your computer and will show a box in the lower, left corner of the screen. Double click on that box with the name of the file displayed and the download will complete.
I take too many things for granted since as a former IBM'er, I've been using computers since the first one came out. I will put a more detailed explanation with examples and screenshots to hopefully make the procedure clearer.
Thanks for the question, many people won't ask and so don't use the GPX files. They are a great time saver compared to manually entering the Lat/Long numbers into your chartplotter or PC navigation program.
Look for a post on better explaining how to download a GPX file in the near future. I am currently hard at work on my 2017 version of the ICW Cruising Guide. There are many, many updates and more detailed charts. Ann is even writing a section on cooking on a boat.
One thing of note, I deleted many of the GPX files since they are no longer needed with all the dredging of this year but there are still a half dozen or so that are still useful. The most important one is BFernRed which shows the route through the shallows south of Fernandina Beach. It is very hard to "eyeball" the route, you really need to enter the waypoints to avoid running into an uncharted shoal.
Hi Bob, Thanks for your reply & the info. When I left click on the underlined GPX file title above (like BFernRed) -- a new page opens in the browser that shows 'the computer code' for that route I guess it is. Possibly this is happening this way because I am doing it on a Windows laptop, and not on an iPad directly? I can download that file onto the laptop just fine, and then presumably I'll be able to transfer it to the iPad. Or, maybe the best way to go is to download directly to the iPad. Thanks again.
Ted and Beth, please read through the revised instructions on how to download GPX files to see if the instructions are clear. Please point out anything that could be worded better. Best of all, please tell me if they work on your iPad or computer. Often instructions will work on my devices because I have functions enabled that I'm not aware of. Feedback on your experience would be valuable. Thanks!
Hi. First thank you for what you do! You made our trip so much more fun and safer. Question, we read your blog ever day and we will be doing first trip south to Key West and if you have a route format from Ft Lauderdale, we would be appreciative if you would share waypoints. Again you are the best! Cheryl s/v Renaissance
Cheryl, thanks for the compliments. I roughly know the number of people that read it but not if they find it useful or not. I will be adding more GPX routes over the next month for more shallows if I'm convinced I've found a stable route. The route from Ft Lauderdale to Key West for us is all in the Hawk channel. The inside route is too shallow to our liking although some have tried. We can't take the ICW to Miami due to a low bridge.
Jon, glad it worked for you. It should have worked with a direct download to the iPad app. Oh well, at least you got it. Be sure to check back periodically as the GPX files change as the shoal areas change, especially Lockwoods Folly and Browns Inlet.
Hi Bob I am running an iPad 4. Have tried the direct download to GDrive. It says unrecognized file. Then I click on "Open in BlueChart". Nothing seems to happen and I dont get any routes appearing in BlueChart. I see the workarounds discussed above but am stubbornly trying to do it the direct way. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for all this work! Kathy Bearden S/v Charm
Kathy B, it's not your fault. I'm going in circles with Google Drive support. Two months ago, Safari supported the steps I outlined in the GPX download page but for some unknown reason, they deleted that support in one of their numerous updates and the GPX file then gets converted into an XML file which is not recognized by any iPad app for route download.
The routes are stored in the cloud on Google Drive which also decided not to recognize the GPX format. I've been at war with them for the last two weeks to no avail so far. I will continue. I am current sitting out the high winds at Windmill Harborwalk on Hilton Head Island so I'm taking today to try to resolve the issue.
Downloading to a PC and then sending yourself a message with the GPX files attached seems to always work - until Apple changes something again. I will keep trying today to find a solution so a PC doesn't have to be used.
An alternate technique is for me to send you an email with the files attached. Opening them in the iPad will bring up and option to upload to The Garmin app (the Open In command).
I'll post an update if I can ever keep ahead of Apple and Google in their ever changing handling of GPX files!
Kathy B, I just got one file to work a second ago by loading it onto my website (not the blog, my own site) and giving a link to the file via Safari. I put the new link into Safari and the file came up with the option of loading it into Garmin Bluechart app.
I will change all the links from the Google Drive cloud to my own website over the next few hours and test it out. I will post here when I'm done so please check back to see if my changes work for easy downloading. I need the external verification since what works on my system doesn't always work on all systems.
Kathy B, please try Option 3 now. I've changed all the links to my own website and got rid of links to Google Drive. It works on my iPad but I need an independent test which you could do. Please let me know if it works, Thanks!!
Bob....got all the routes into my iPad BlueChart. Don't suppose you have a magical way to import them into Raymarine equipment. I bet they use a different file format. Kathy
Kathy B, the key is to download the GPX file to your computer. Then you have to use one of Raymarine’s programs to load the GPX route into their chartplotter.
Raymarine, as does all chartplotters, does accept the GPX format - it’s universal. But you have to use their software to load it into the chartplotter. There is a possibility that Raymarine has an iPad app that can communicate with their chartplotter (Garmin has such an app for their chartplotters). You would have to look to see.
By the way, you are not restricted to the Garmin iPad app. There are other navigation apps that accept GPX files.
Hi Bob, first off thanks for all you do, makes traveling the ICW much easier. I always looked for your comments on Active Captain. I noticed in you last update note you said you had updated the route files for Sawpit Creek and the all routes file. However, I can’t seem to find the all routes GPX file.
Steve, I deleted my AllRoutes file for now. I updated some of the routes which made my AllRoutes file out of date. I have to reform that route manually each time one of the constituent files changes - to keep the AllRoute file current. I ran out of time for now, I’m in the middle of writing the next edition of my ICW Cruising Guide due out July 15. I’ll do a new AllRoutes after that.
Thanks Bob!
ReplyDeleteDon't know if it's just my iPad setup but since I have Google Drive installed on my iPad this DL method didn't work. Others might have the same issue...
When I attempted to DL the GPX file in iCab, my Google Drive app steps in to do the DL but then fails to recognize the GPX so I couldn't save the file nor open it in the Garmin App. I tried a few workarounds, like trying to "Open in App" from G Drive, etc. but nothing but uninstalling Google Drive from the iPad works. After that, iCab worked great, just as you said.
Any chance you have the GPX for Little Mud River hanging around?? ;-)
Thanks Again!
Doug and Victoria
Thunderchild
Hi Doug, I have Gdrive installed and used iCab without a problem. I downloaded the file but didn't try to open it, just downloaded it. After that I went to the downloaded files in iCab and clicked on the file of interest and followed instructions to load it I to Garmin app. It ought to work the same way for you.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a GPX route for mud river, I just go down the middle and search a bit for the deepest water.
Doug, I have iCab Mobile in full screen mode and I've selected iCab icons to appear on the screen when in full screen mode. One of the icons is the "view the download folder" command, a down arrow in a circle so even when I get a blank screen sometimes after downloading a GPX file, I still have access to the download folder by touching the download folder icon (down arrow in a circle).
ReplyDeleteSo when the download folder comes up, I just scroll down to the most recent file and follow the directions from there.
Thanks Bob,
ReplyDeleteI'll reinstall G Drive and try that.
OK, please forgive my naivete == but I'm totally new here and can't for the life of me find á file of GPX routes' to download.. where is it/how do I do that? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTed and Beth, a GPX file can be downloaded by clicking on one of the route names with the underline with your left mouse button. You will see a screen showing the GPX route displayed and an option to download the GPX file displayed with the icon of a down arrow against a short, horizontal line (in the upper right corner of the screen). Clicking on that arrow will download the file to your computer and will show a box in the lower, left corner of the screen. Double click on that box with the name of the file displayed and the download will complete.
ReplyDeleteI take too many things for granted since as a former IBM'er, I've been using computers since the first one came out. I will put a more detailed explanation with examples and screenshots to hopefully make the procedure clearer.
Thanks for the question, many people won't ask and so don't use the GPX files. They are a great time saver compared to manually entering the Lat/Long numbers into your chartplotter or PC navigation program.
Look for a post on better explaining how to download a GPX file in the near future. I am currently hard at work on my 2017 version of the ICW Cruising Guide. There are many, many updates and more detailed charts. Ann is even writing a section on cooking on a boat.
One thing of note, I deleted many of the GPX files since they are no longer needed with all the dredging of this year but there are still a half dozen or so that are still useful. The most important one is BFernRed which shows the route through the shallows south of Fernandina Beach. It is very hard to "eyeball" the route, you really need to enter the waypoints to avoid running into an uncharted shoal.
Hi Bob, Thanks for your reply & the info. When I left click on the underlined GPX file title above (like BFernRed) -- a new page opens in the browser that shows 'the computer code' for that route I guess it is. Possibly this is happening this way because I am doing it on a Windows laptop, and not on an iPad directly? I can download that file onto the laptop just fine, and then presumably I'll be able to transfer it to the iPad. Or, maybe the best way to go is to download directly to the iPad. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteTed and Beth, please read through the revised instructions on how to download GPX files to see if the instructions are clear. Please point out anything that could be worded better. Best of all, please tell me if they work on your iPad or computer. Often instructions will work on my devices because I have functions enabled that I'm not aware of. Feedback on your experience would be valuable. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi. First thank you for what you do! You made our trip so much more fun and safer. Question, we read your blog ever day and we will be doing first trip south to Key West and if you have a route format from Ft Lauderdale, we would be appreciative if you would share waypoints. Again you are the best!
ReplyDeleteCheryl s/v Renaissance
Cheryl, thanks for the compliments. I roughly know the number of people that read it but not if they find it useful or not. I will be adding more GPX routes over the next month for more shallows if I'm convinced I've found a stable route. The route from Ft Lauderdale to Key West for us is all in the Hawk channel. The inside route is too shallow to our liking although some have tried. We can't take the ICW to Miami due to a low bridge.
ReplyDeleteThe blog will restart 9/15.
This is absolutely OUTSTANDING!! Thanks a bunch.
ReplyDeleteTo get it on to my iPad Blue Charts I did this process:
Downloaded that Allroutes file to my PC.
Sent an email to myself with this file attached.
Opened my Gmail in SAFARI, NOT IN GMAIL app.
Touched the file attachment, box popped up that said OPEN, then OPEN IN BLUE Charts.
Blue charts asked if I wanted to import, I said yes and it imported all 12 routes.
Seamless, it did not work trying to do it directly to my iPad from my iPad but this method was easy and fast.
Thanks again!!\\\
Jon Goodson
Km4UJP
Jon, glad it worked for you. It should have worked with a direct download to the iPad app. Oh well, at least you got it. Be sure to check back periodically as the GPX files change as the shoal areas change, especially Lockwoods Folly and Browns Inlet.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob
ReplyDeleteI am running an iPad 4. Have tried the direct download to GDrive. It says unrecognized file. Then I click on "Open in BlueChart". Nothing seems to happen and I dont get any routes appearing in BlueChart. I see the workarounds discussed above but am stubbornly trying to do it the direct way. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for all this work!
Kathy Bearden
S/v Charm
Kathy B, it's not your fault. I'm going in circles with Google Drive support. Two months ago, Safari supported the steps I outlined in the GPX download page but for some unknown reason, they deleted that support in one of their numerous updates and the GPX file then gets converted into an XML file which is not recognized by any iPad app for route download.
ReplyDeleteThe routes are stored in the cloud on Google Drive which also decided not to recognize the GPX format. I've been at war with them for the last two weeks to no avail so far. I will continue. I am current sitting out the high winds at Windmill Harborwalk on Hilton Head Island so I'm taking today to try to resolve the issue.
Downloading to a PC and then sending yourself a message with the GPX files attached seems to always work - until Apple changes something again. I will keep trying today to find a solution so a PC doesn't have to be used.
An alternate technique is for me to send you an email with the files attached. Opening them in the iPad will bring up and option to upload to The Garmin app (the Open In command).
I'll post an update if I can ever keep ahead of Apple and Google in their ever changing handling of GPX files!
Bob at
423sail@gmail.com
Kathy B, I just got one file to work a second ago by loading it onto my website (not the blog, my own site) and giving a link to the file via Safari. I put the new link into Safari and the file came up with the option of loading it into Garmin Bluechart app.
ReplyDeleteI will change all the links from the Google Drive cloud to my own website over the next few hours and test it out. I will post here when I'm done so please check back to see if my changes work for easy downloading. I need the external verification since what works on my system doesn't always work on all systems.
Thanks for the note and help
Bob
Kathy B, please try Option 3 now. I've changed all the links to my own website and got rid of links to Google Drive. It works on my iPad but I need an independent test which you could do. Please let me know if it works, Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteWorked like a champ...tested Shallotte...will now do them all! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBob....got all the routes into my iPad BlueChart. Don't suppose you have a magical way to import them into Raymarine equipment. I bet they use a different file format.
ReplyDeleteKathy
Kathy B, the key is to download the GPX file to your computer. Then you have to use one of Raymarine’s programs to load the GPX route into their chartplotter.
ReplyDeleteRaymarine, as does all chartplotters, does accept the GPX format - it’s universal. But you have to use their software to load it into the chartplotter. There is a possibility that Raymarine has an iPad app that can communicate with their chartplotter (Garmin has such an app for their chartplotters). You would have to look to see.
By the way, you are not restricted to the Garmin iPad app. There are other navigation apps that accept GPX files.
Route across St Johns River into Pablo Creek to avoid new shoaling. Revised 1/12/2019
ReplyDeleteHi Bob, is this any more complicated than just following the new buoys?
Hi Bob, first off thanks for all you do, makes traveling the ICW much easier. I always looked for your comments on Active Captain. I noticed in you last update note you said you had updated the route files for Sawpit Creek and the all routes file. However, I can’t seem to find the all routes GPX file.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I deleted my AllRoutes file for now. I updated some of the routes which made my AllRoutes file out of date. I have to reform that route manually each time one of the constituent files changes - to keep the AllRoute file current. I ran out of time for now, I’m in the middle of writing the next edition of my ICW Cruising Guide due out July 15. I’ll do a new AllRoutes after that.
ReplyDeleteLast fall there was a file that included all the current routes rather than download one at a time. Are there any plans to do that for spring 2020?
ReplyDeleteDdsadler2, I will do just that in the next few days.stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this. I am getting a 404 file not found error trying to download BHobe-FtLaud031720
ReplyDelete