I provide tools for boaters and cruisers on this website. I call them “Tools for Cruisers”. Some of these tools are not user friendly, but now I have a solution—a Progressive Web App, PWA, that runs on both my server and your device. I’m talking specifically about my GPX to CSV and Clean Route utilities.
Note: I republished this post to address the version 1.1.1 update of the GPX Tool.
GPX Files
GPX, or GPS eXchange, files are used to import and export GPS user data between tools and devices. Navigation programs like OpenCPN and HomePort use GPX files to import and export waypoints, routes and tracks. GPX files are a type of XML, eXtended Markup Language file. GPX files are text files—you can view them with a text editor or browser, but there is a lot of extraneous information that makes it difficult to see the important things.
GPX Tools
My original GPX tools were Perl scripts that had to be run from a command prompt. One utility creates a CSV, Comma Separated Values, file and the other cleans up a route. Refer to Planning Multi-Day Cruises—GPX Tools for details. You also have to install a Perl interpreter on your device before you can run them.
The program Convert GPX to CSV extracts data from a GPX file and puts it in a CSV, Comma Separated Value, file that can be read as a spreadsheet.
Until now, this utility required a Perl interpreter, like ActivePerl. As a retired software engineer, this is not a big deal for me, but I understand why most people wouldn’t bother. After Perl is installed, you had to open a command prompt and type a cryptic command like …
gpx2csv WP-OWW.gpx
Another program, Clean Route, cleans up waypoint names and symbols in route. This program also requires a Perl interpreter and runs from a command prompt.
Now, you can create a CSV file by entering a URL in your favorite web browser. It brings up a menu that walks you through the steps.
Start at the top-left of the screen and work your way down. Unavailable options are greyed-out.
Creating a CSV File
To create a CVS file from a GPX file, do the following:
Click Show Help to see help information. Click Hide Help to continue.
Click Show Options to set options. The only option that works at this time is Lat/Lon format.
Click Hide Options to save and continue.
Click Choose File and select a GPX file. You will get a file selection menu. Choose the desired GPX file. The Upload GPX button is enabled.
Click Upload GPX to upload the file for processing. If the GPX file is valid, and contains a route or track, the Download CSV button is enabled, and the GPX file is displayed in a separate pane.
Click Download CSV to download the CVS file.
Click Clear to restart any time during the process.
The CSV files for routes or tracks are different.
CSV File for Routes
CSV files for routes contain the following fields:
- wp – Waypoint name
- lat – Latitude
- lon – Longitude
- nm – Nautical miles from previous route point*
- feet – Feet from previous route point
- brg – Bearing from previous route point, in degrees true
- * Future versions will have the option to show distance in Nautical Miles, Statute Miles, or Kilometers.
The nm, feet and brg values are calculated by the program.
CSV File for Tracks
CSV files for tracks contain the following:
- lat – Latitude
- lon – Longitude
- date – Date of track point
- utc – Time of track point in UTC, Universal Coordinated Time*
- dep ft – Depth at at track point (in feet**)
- elapsed – Elapsed time since last track point
- nm – Nautical miles from previous track point***
- feet – Feet from previous track point
- kts – Speed in knots***
- brg – Bearing from previous track point, in degrees true
- * The original version displayed time as local time, as defined in the users device, but now it is in UTC.
- ** Future versions will have the option to show depth in feet or meters.
- *** Future versions will have the option to show distance in Nautical Miles, Statute Miles, or Kilometers and speed in Knots, MPH or KPH.
The elapsed, nm, feet, kts and brg values are calculated by the program.
GPX to CSV Options
Latitude Longitude Format
There are three latitude longitude formats:
- dd mm.mmm (default) – Degrees and minutes to 3 decimal places.
- dd mm ss – Degrees, minutes and seconds.
- dd.ddddd – Degrees to 5, or more decimal places.
Distance Format
- Naut. Miles (Default) – Distance in nautical miles and feet, speed in knots.
- Stat. Miles – Distance in statute miles and feet, speed in MPH.
- Kilometers – Distance in kilometers, speed in KPM.
Depth Format
- feet (default) – Depth in feet.
- meters – Depth in meters.
Time Set
Time Set is used to filter our track entries that are close in time. If the number of seconds between track entries is less than Time Set, only the first will be displayed.
Running the GPX Tool
This tool should work on any device with a web browser, but it works best on a PC. A larger screen makes it easier to use, and many mobile devices have limited support for GPX and CSV files.
To start the GPX Tool open your web browser and go to https://questeria.info/gpx/. You will see the GPX Tool menu. You can look at the help screen, show options or choose a GPX file. Once you choose a file, you can upload it. Once uploaded, the GPX file contents are displayed if file is valid. You can download the CSV file.
You can add the page to your home screen to make it more like a regular app. I have done this on Windows using both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Future plans include cleaning routes.
Summary
I plan to continue making improvements to the GPX Tool. I hope that people will try it and like it. Send me any comments, suggestions and/or complaints.