What is the difference between .GPX and . MAP files

4ndynorfolk

Please could someone explain the difference between the formats and how the Satmap treats each of them?

Let me expand:

I converted a .PLT file to .GPX using GPS Babel and transfered it to the Satmap.

I renamed it within the Satmap and then exported back to my PC. I had a quick look at it using Notepad and closed it without saving. It was still a .GPX file and the contents were in the familiar GPX layout.

I then edited it slightly and closed the start / finish WPs when prompted.

When I checked it next using Satsync it was a .MAP file with a different data structure.

Within the Satmap I could notice no difference, but outside of the Satmap it made online viewing impossible as all the sites I know of seem to want .GPX files.

I would love to understand what is going on, if anyone could please explain.

barny_100 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 18

.map is just a .gpx that SatSync has run through some code to standardise (and simplify?) the tags/data when you select the Import function in SatSync.

AFAIK anyway!

4ndynorfolk · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject:

jonesbach · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 07, 2008 Posts: 185

When you import a .gpx file into Satmap it is converted into a proprietary Satmap format, with the .map extension. This also happens when you create a route. The main differences are

(a) Latitude and longitude are converted to a form I don't recognise.

(b) Child tags of "rtept" are condensed into attributes of the main tag "Point". Satmap also stores other data in the file that is not exported such as

Comment="20/09/2008, 09:01, Odo0ft, TotTime00:00,
Start09:01StLine0ft, Mov00:00, AveMov0.0mph, Now0.0mph, Ave0.0mph,
Max0.0mph" Visible="1".

4ndynorfolk · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:43 am Post subject:

Sorry if I am stating the obvious, but this is new to me.

In Satsync the file-import and export options are greyed out for files selected on the SD card (where I keep all my routes). This means that routes can only be copied in the .map format.

Simply moving or copying the route to internal memory using the Active 10, means that you can then export (from internal) and convert to gpx in the process.

All seems obvious now, but a bit of a eureka moment for me.

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