HOWTO: Sync BaseCamp data between Macs

If you are comfortable with using Terminal to execute a few commands, you can set up BaseCamp to share its data between multiple computers. Note that this is a Mac-only solution. Download and install the free Dropbox application from www.dropbox.com. If BaseCamp is currently running, quit it. In Finder, go to <your Home directory>/Library/Application Support/Garmin. Move the BaseCamp folder from that directory to your Dropbox directory. Launch Terminal. Enter the following two commands:

cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application\ Support/Garmin
ln -s <your Dropbox directory>/BaseCamp

Now go to another computer that you want to sync BaseCamp data to. Install Dropbox. Again, quit BaseCamp if it's running. In Finder, go to <your Home directory>/Library/Application Support/Garmin. Delete the BaseCamp folder. Note that any BaseCamp data that was on this computer that was not on the other computer will be lost here. So, you may want to manually sync that data before you do all this. Next, launch Terminal and repeat the two commands shown above. That's it. Your BaseCamp data will now be automatically synchronized between the two computers. If you have a third (or fourth, etc.) computer that you want to sync to just repeat the second part of these instructions on that computer.

BIG WARNING!!!!

Make sure that you run BaseCamp on only one computer at a time. If you run BaseCamp simultaneously on multiple computers that are syncing data this way, it is very likely that your data will be corrupted or completely lost. The easy way to protect against this is to quit BaseCamp on each synced computer when you are done using it on that computer.

0 PSEABOLT over 14 years ago

Agreed. A Garmin solution would be best. Mobileme on the other hand just works so make it a very close second. If an independent like MarkSpace can utilize Apple's sync for their smartphone apps it shouldn't be beyond Garmin's capability.

Yes I like the way Mobil Me just works but it is Apple's servers that make it work. Yes you can use apple's sync to sync your phone but you have to connect with bluetooth or usb. By Garmin solution, are you saying it would be a good business decision for Garmin to maintain servers for mac users to sync BaceCamp? I wonder what percent of Garmin's user base would use a sync.

If Garmin thinks it is worth their time they will put a preference that allows you to point your folder to a DropBox or any other folder. Google is putting big bucks in DropBox and Garmin would be foolish to build something that Google offers for free and they can do the same thing for windows users that don't have Apple's sync.

0 Killtimer_ over 14 years ago

If Garmin thinks it is worth their time they will put a preference that allows you to point your folder to a DropBox or any other folder. Google is putting big bucks in DropBox and Garmin would be foolish to build something that Google offers for free and they can do the same thing for windows users that don't have Apple's sync.

They've already got the tech........ It's called myGarmin.

0 PSEABOLT over 14 years ago

They've already got the tech........ It's called myGarmin.

Where is the information on MyGarmin having any functionality related to syncing. I would think syncing like we have with mobil me and address book or DropBox is cutting edge technology or almost bleeding edge and takes quite a bit more investment than just a support web page with logins for users. MyGarmin firmware update is very impressive but not related to syncing.

0 mp_gps over 14 years ago

For the non guru's between us. it's about creating Symbolic Links at an Operating System and not for Application Builders.

And for that to create you can use Terminal (guru style) or use GUI style.

But there it is, the SymbolicLinker application. GUI to the people :D

SymbolicLinker at MacUpdate
Official SymbolicLinker v2 webpage

(i just used google search to find this ..... ;) have fun.)

0 PSEABOLT over 14 years ago

The change directory command has a backward slash ( \)
cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application\ Support/Garmin
I believe is should be
cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application Support/Garmin

Am I missing something?

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

The change directory command has a backward slash ( \)
cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application\ Support/Garmin
I believe is should be
cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application Support/Garmin

Am I missing something?

Yes, you are...

The backslash is being used to "escape" the space between Application and Support. If that's not done the shell program would identify the space as the end of the cd command and would not know what to do with "Support/Garmin".

0 PSEABOLT over 14 years ago

Yep, I should have tried it before I posted.

0 saeedi over 14 years ago

The change directory command has a backward slash ( \)
cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application\ Support/Garmin
I believe is should be
cd <your Home directory>/Library/Application Support/Garmin

Another Unix-y thing you can do is to put the directory in double quotes, such as

cd "<your Home directory>/Library/Application Support/Garmin"

Then you don't have to encapsulate the space using a backslash.

0 PSEABOLT over 14 years ago

The dropbox works great for syncing here is clarification if you are like me and only visit the terminal when double click fails.

My home directory is pseabolt and my dropbox is in my home directory. Below it the terminal output. I added the numbers for line identification.

1. MBPro-7:~ pseabolt$ cd ~pseabolt/Library/Application\ Support/Garmin
2. MBPro-7:Garmin pseabolt$ ln -s pseabolt/Dropbox/BaseCamp
3. MBPro-7:Garmin pseabolt$

4. MBPro-7:Garmin pseabolt$ ln -s ~pseabolt/Dropbox/BaseCamp
5. MBPro-7:Garmin pseabolt$

Line 1 changes directory to the garmin directory.
Line 2 will cause garmin to crash. I left the ~ off and the In -s created a alias but pointed to the wrong place.
I trashed the BaseCamp link created in the garmin folder, corrected the syntax in Line 4 and basecamp is happy.

0 PSEABOLT over 14 years ago

I have been using dropbox to sync my basecamp data on three computers and it has worked extremely well. Absolute no issues what so ever. Thanks for the tip.