Google Earth / Basecamp Fix

The program was updated 2018/07/18 11:27 EST (NYC) time.

Here's a program (BC2GE) I wrote that will copy BaseCamp or GPX/TCX/KML clipboard data to Google Earth. It's one extra minor step compared to the GE integration that no longer works in BaseCamp.

* It works with either 32 bit or 64 bit Google Earth.
* It should work with all versions of BaseCamp (I've tried it with 4.6.2 and 4.7).
* It should work with MapSource (I've tried it with 6.16.3).
* It works in a simple way (which means it would be easy to update if Google Earth changes how it works).
* You can drop gpx, tcx, and kml files onto the "Copy" button.
* It will copy text in the clipboard that is formatted as gpx, txc, or kml. Google Earth will only let you paste text that is kml).

More info here:

sites.google.com/.../bc2ge

How to use it.

1- Run BC2GE and BaseCamp (the order doesn't matter). (BaseCamp or MapSource.)
2- In BaseCamp, copy (Edit->Copy / ctrl-C / right-click-copy) the item into the clipboard.
3- Click the purple "Copy" button in BC2GE => This will send the file to Google Earth (running it if it isn't already running).

OR

1- Drag gpx, fit, kml, or tcx files onto the "Copy" button.

OR

1- Copy gpx, kml, or tcx (as text) into the Clipboard.
2- Click the purple "Copy" button in BC2GE => This will send the text to Google Earth (starting it if it isn't already running).

You might want to check "Top most" so that the BC2GE window floats on top (so, it's easily accessible).

The ">>" button gives you some more options. The "<<" button makes the window small (so it doesn't cover so much).

How it works.

When you copy items in BaseCamp (into the clipboard), the data is in GDB format. BC2GE extracts the clipboard data and uses GPSBabel to convert it to a KML file. BC2GE then runs Google Earth with the KML file.

You have to be running a recent version of GPSBabel (installed in the standard way).

https://www.gpsbabel.org/

(A bunch of things install GPSBabel in various locations. Sometimes, these are old versions that won't work for this.)

You can purchase and download the program from here:

www.google.com/url

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Some "techie" details.

The program uses the 4.6.1 version of the "dotnet" framework. This might mean it won't run on "really old" versions of Windows. Or it might mean you need to install the 4.6.1 version. If people have problems doing that, I can change it to use 4.5.2.

The program looks in the Windows registry to figure out where things (like BaseCamp, GPSBabel, and Google Earth) are installed on your computer. If these programs change how they save their configuration data to the registry, BC2GE would need to be updated (which is easy to do).

The program doesn't copy the data in exactly the same way as the integrated BaseCamp copy. In the future, I might change how BC2GE does the copy (it requires a fair amount of work).

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Nice!

But why convert? GE can read GPX files as well. Or is this what you mean about the required amount of work?
May be send an e-mail to JaVaWa to ask how he has done that with RTWtool (read clipboard and interpreter data)

0 dpawlyk over 6 years ago

The data that Basecamp puts into the clipboard is GDB (not GPX).

Also, KML is better for loading into Google Earth. Anyway, Basecamp does something like creating a KML file.

GPSBabel is a standard tool for this sort of conversion work.

There's some cleanup of the track point names that would be nice to have. And "folder" renaming that would be nice too. Doing that is a fair amount of work. Since people are likely to notice the difference, I provided an explanation. To do things more like Basecamp does requires manipulating the KML file. (I've done that for another program. So I know the effort it would take.)

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I put a lot of thought and effort into selecting the approach this uses as the "best". That doesn't mean I'm right but it also doesn't mean I'm wrong. ;).

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

:) JaVaWa also nows a lot about GDB ;)

I get an error, BC 4.7.0 is running and GE Pro is running and I get the followoing error: Can't start the process, because there is no filename specified.

Starting BC2GE and auto start BC does work. I have GPS Babel on the computer, it could be an old version.

0 dpawlyk over 6 years ago

JaVaWa also knows a lot about GDB

You mentioned GPX.

GPSBabel can convert files using command line options (meaning it can be easily called from other programs).

It's (relatively) easy extracting the data from the clipboard. It's (relatively) easy to convert the GDB data to KML.

The "complicated" part is finding the other programs (which can be installed in various locations on different PCs) that BC2GE uses.

I get an error, BC 4.7.0 is running and GE Pro is running and I get the followoing error: Can't start the process, because there is no filename specified.

Starting BC2GE and auto start BC does work. I have GPS Babel on the computer, it could be an old version.

Your screen shot shows that BC2GE tried to start BaseCamp but failed (the "auto start BC"). The only thing BC2GE does with BaseCamp is "auto starting" it.

Beyond providing an option to start BaseCamp, the only thing my program cares about is the data in the clipboard.

What path/folder is BaseCamp.exe in on your computer?

What version of WIndows? 32 bit or 64 bit?

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I updated the program to be more specific about errors and not let you do things that earlier problems would keep from working.

0 dpawlyk over 6 years ago

I updated the program 2018/06/14 15:11 EST (NYC) time.

* Fixed a few bugs.
* Got MapSource to work.
* Now, you can drop gpx, tcx, kml files on the "Copy" button.
* Now, BC2GE can process clipboard text that is gpx, tcx, kml and transfer that data (converted to KML if it is not KML) to GE. (GE only lets you paste KML text).

(It's not just for BaseCamp anymore.)

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

:eek::D:p

I have in the meantime installed GPSbabel in the Program Files folder (default location) I had it elsewhere on the computer and I installed Google Eart 7.3. And i works for me on my Windows 10 notebook, copy al list with content or a single waypoint/track/route and the push the button.

The thing you could change is the default file which you provide to Google Earth, it will overwrite the already transferred content in GE. A question with the choice; replace or add would be a good addition

0 dpawlyk over 6 years ago

^^^^
That's more like encouragement!

I have in the meantime installed GPSbabel in the Program Files folder (default location) I had it elsewhere on the computer and I installed Google Eart 7.3. And i works for me on my Windows 10 notebook, copy al list with content or a single waypoint/track/route and the push the button.

All sorts of things install GPSBabel. Including Google Earth (that installs an old version that doesn't work for this).

That's why I told people to install the standard version.

The thing you could change is the default file which you provide to Google Earth, it will overwrite the already transferred content in GE. A question with the choice; replace or add would be a good addition

That's part of the "much more work" thing. (I am doing something similar for another program).

I believe BaseCamp reuses the same name (it uses "BaseCamp"). I don't have the appropriate versions of GE and BaseCamp installed at the moment to check it.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I did notice that in the fresh installed GE version 7.3 the gpsbabel.exe is next to googleerath.exe file. Don't know if that is also true for older versions, but it could help to skip the need to install GPSbabel on its own.

0 dpawlyk over 6 years ago

The thing you could change is the default file which you provide to Google Earth, it will overwrite the already transferred content in GE. A question with the choice; replace or add would be a good addition

"Default file" sounds like you are talking about the name of the file being sent to GE. GE doesn't use the name of the file. The name GE uses is data inside the file (it's data that BaseCamp creates). Fixing that would require editing the kml file. That's possible (I'm doing that sort of stuff for another program I wrote) but it's a fair amount of work. I might get around to doing that but there were more essential issues to deal with.

I did notice that in the fresh installed GE version 7.3 the gpsbabel.exe is next to googleerath.exe file. Don't know if that is also true for older versions, but it could help to skip the need to install GPSbabel on its own.

It appears you are suggesting that my program should use the copy of GPSBabel that Google Earth happens to include.

You don't know if Google will contintue to include it in the future. It's also, as I said, an old version (a version that doesn't work for what I am doing).

You also might be suggesting that my program could install it (you aren't being clear enough). That's another approach but dealing with that is, from my perspective, not an interesting problem. Given how easy it is for people to install it, I have no idea why you are suggesting I do more (uninteresting and unpaid) work (work that other people can do easily).

0 dpawlyk over 6 years ago

The latest version of Google Earth 64 bit works with BaseCamp 4.6.2.

My program will let you have the Google Earth feature for BaseCamp 4.7.