GPX Versions 1.1 vs 1.2 for Garmin Visually Explained

[Papasmurf2]

So, with a Zumo 595, if I export as 1.2, do I import as a track ??

[Steve Jarrell]

@Papasmurf2 No. Import it as a route if you want your 595 to create a route from it. You can import both the route and the track if you wish.

The 1.2 .gpx format embeds the track information in the route information of the file. This embedded track information within the route forces the Garmin to create the route exactly like you intended when it imports the 1.2 .gpx file.

The track itself is also included in a separate section of the .gpx file so you can import the track as well as the route.

In other words, the 1.2 .gpx files contains two copies of the track. One is embedded within the route information section, and another copy is in a separate track section. When you use the "Save As" feature from within MRA you'll see that the file contains the route (with embedded track information), the track itself and the POI information.

To illustrate this, I created a VERY simple route with just the starting point, one shaping point and the finish point. You can view my route here in MRA.

Here's a copy of that simple route saved as a 1.2 .gpx file. You can download it and then view it with any text editor. I also created a .pdf file to clearly show the various sections that you can view here from the .gpx file.

You'll see in my example .pdf file that the green section is the Header, the yellow section is the actual route with the embedded track which forces the Garmin to follow the exact path that you intended, and the blue section is the actual track that can also be imported.

I hope this helps!

[Sam Ellis]

I'm confused - I have had an XT2 and an XT3 (free upgrade thanks to Garmin). I only export using GPX 1.1 and have not had any issued at all when using complex route.

It's late at night, but how I'm reading it, is that you're suggesting only using GPX 1.2 with the XT3?

[Steve Jarrell]

If you want to have your route follow EXACTLY what you've planned in MRA you will absolutely have issues using 1.1 unless you put shaping points virtually everywhere along your route.

When the Garmin XT imports your .gpx 1.1 route IT decides the fastest or shortest route, whether to get on the freeway or not, etc. (depending on your settings) and the resulting route may, but probably won't be exactly what you had planned in MRA. 1.2 doesn't have these issues as the actual track is embedded in the route and the Garmin unit is forced to follow EXACTLY what you had planned.

[Mzokk]

@Steve-Jarrell but you have to turn off auto recalculation and navigate yourself back to the magenta line if you are diverted. Otherwise the Garmin will take you to the end of the route using it's own routing logic.

[Steve Jarrell]

That's not accurate. Auto-recalculation will try to get you back on the route as best as it can using it's own logic when you are on a 1.2 .gpx route.

This is an overly simplistic way of thinking about it, but because the 1.2 gpx route has to follow the actual track, it's like having thousands of shaping points in the route section of the .gpx file that forces the Garmin to calculate the route the way that you want it to go.

In a 1.1 .gpx file's route section you have the starting via point, your shaping points and via points, and your ending via point. The Garmin uses it's own logic and your setting to determine how to get between these points.

Read my previous posts in this thread and look at my examples and you'll see what I mean. Even better, take one of your own routes, save it as a 1.1 and a 1.2 route and examine the .gpx files in a text editor for yourself, then import them into your Garmin and see if the route that they create exactly matches what you're seeing in MRA.

A really quick way to check this is to check the route's distance in the Garmin against what's shown in MRA. It should be almost identically the same in both if the route is the same. Another way to quickly check is to show both the route and track in the Garmin simultaneously in different colors and you can easily see where they deviate.

Many times the deviations are small and insignificant. Other times they can be quite substantial. I showed that previously very clearly with a sample route that I created with just a very few shaping points.

[Mzokk]

Have you tried riding gpx1.2 and going off route to see what happens with auto recalculation turned on? In my experience the XT unit routes using it's own logic to the next via/stop waypoint or to the end of you only have shaping points. Hence my suggestion to turn it off. That said I only use the XT as a backup and for tracks and proximity alerted POI's these days. Maybe something has changed? I'll test it again on the road and report back.

[Steve Jarrell]

Yes, actually I have. It was quite annoying as it did keep trying to get me back on the route (magenta line) and I didn't want to go back quite yet. Let me know what happens in your testing!

I normally keep recalculation turned off as if I get off route it's normally on purpose and I prefer to find my own way back.