Any GPS/Google Earth gurus out there?

[herdbull]

I could use a little assistance with altering a course route I have put together for an upcoming 25K/50K trail race. I have never used a GPS or any of the software involved prior to this but have somehow managed to figure out the GPS, save the route, upload it via EasyGPS and print a map overlay from Google Earth.

The issue I'm running into is there's a couple segments on the route at the start and finish I'd like to delete. I can delete them by using the scroll bars in one of the tool bars but it won't save. Luckily they are at the start and end. I can't seem to find a way to save the new route though. Every time I do try and save it when I open it back up it is the complete route.

I did manage to take a screen shot or jpg of it but I'd really like to post the direct file to google earth to show the exact route. Does that make any sense? I could post the file if that helps.

Any input would be appreciated.

[pmeadco]

Are you using the standalone Google Earth or one in a web browser? In the standalone Google Earth you select the route (path) from the Places list in the left panel, right click and select Properties. Your route should be highlighted with red dots for each point in the route. To delete a point select it by clicking on it and then right-click it. That will delete it. You can then save the route or collection.

If you are using a web browser then you need to get into Google Maps, go to "Your Places", select the "Maps" tab, select the desired track, select "Open in My Maps", select the desired track (yes, again). At that point the track will be represented with dots for each point in the route. Right-click on the points you want to delete and select "Delete". When done, save.

Hopefully that is enough to get you started. If my brief instructions don't give you enough to work with feel free to ask more questions.

[herdbull]

thanks, but there are no dots or waypoints. It's just a path. Unfortunately I cannot upload. kmz files not allowed

[jdorje]

I'd just import it (has to be GPX I think, not kml) into hillmap.

[acidchylde]

kmz files are just zipped/compressed kml files, which may be part of the problem (I don't know if you can edit kmz - I don't work with the km format very often). You can just open up the kmz in 7zip or something, or change the extension to zip, and extract the kml file and then try that. Not sure if kmls are allowed here and that would also solve your uploading problem.

[CreekRunner]

Like jdorje, if you can't unzip the file, I would upload the .gpx file into a GIS like Caltopo/Hillmap, then modify the track and split the segments to what you want and what you don't. Then after you have the final product, export the new track and then import it into Google Earth (Make sure to include gps file on the file type when importing. google Earth's default is a kml or kmz extension).

[herdbull]

It's already a google earth file. It's not a zip file or at least doesn't appear to be. It loads into google earth just fine and I can alter it to what it needs to be but I then can't save it out. And by altering I mean I can adjust the start and stop time with the slider bar as those are the parts I don't want. If that makes any sense.

haven't done anything with caltopo/hillmap. Maybe I'll have to try those. I had to download a program just to get the files uploaded from the unit. It's not mine and I've never had one hence no working software other than google earth.

[ezabielski]

Do you have a .gpx file or a way to convert it into .gpx? With the GPX file, open it in Notepad/TextEdit, and manually delete the extraneous parts at the beginning and end of the GPS path based on what the start and stop times you want to have. Note that the time is given in UTC time (no time zone adjustment).

[jdorje]

Well, KML is an xml/text format. You could just open it in a text editor and cut out the parts you don't want. Save a backup.

[herdbull]

so I did manage to get it into a gpx file format. I'm able to delete log points but I run into an issue. There's 1 point that it shows on the part of the route I'd like to delete. When I delete it, it jumps to and includes part of the actual route. I'm then left with a gap in the actual route.

I knew I should have left this to the professionals

Thanks for being patient with me. Learning the software and using it for the first time should be 2 separate activities.

[herdbull]

Jeepers you guys. Why didn't you tell me how easy it is to edit these things in Cal topo..... just joking of course. Thanks for the tips!

It actually took me longer to register and log in than it did to edit and export the route. Problem solved Now let's hope I remember in a year from now when I have to do it again.

[CreekRunner]

I'm glad you decided to try out caltopo instead of working with the kmz/kml file. It's kind of a nightmare dealing with a lot of that Google earth stuff. I didn't even know getting a null pointer exception was possible on a map service until I used earth.