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Times changing when exporting data?

rsupple
over 2 years ago

I am going through gps data that was recorded in the UTC+1 time zone with no daylight savings time while I sit in the UTC-5 time zone with DST. The time recorded by the device is different as I can read it by double-clicking on the track in Basecamp and when I export the same data to a csv file. When I view the data in Basecamp, it shows the time in UTC-5, and then when I export the data, it shows it in UTC. If I change the time zone of my computer to UTC+1, it will show the accurate times in Basecamp, but still shifts the times in the csv file to UTC. 

Is there a way to set the timezone of a track in Basecamp? Is there a way to make sure that it exports the time as I view it; why is it not already doing so? I would appreciate answers to either so I don't have to go through over 400 files and adjust the time by an hour. 

Thanks much! This is version 4.7.4. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    A timezone can't be set in BaseCamp.  It will always convert time data from UTC to the timezone set on the computer for display purposes.  BaseCamp always exports data using the stored units.  Distance/Elevation will be in meters, Data/Time in UTC, elapsed time in seconds, Lat/Lon in decimal degrees.

    UTC is the prefered way for logging time data and is the format that was required for the gpx format.  Boundaries for time zones change over time as do decisions on when or if daylight savings time should occur and these decisions are made at the country or sub-country lever.

    Imagine a data set collected on both sides of a time zone boundary converted to the correct local time.  A track would have you moving backwards and forwards in time.

    If you have excel, it will only take a few minutes to change UTC time in the csv file.  If you need help, I will provide instructions.  If it is track data, the computer set to the desired time zone.  Open the track properties and select all the points.  They can be copied and pasted into excel - I believe the data is tab delimited.  You can then export it to a csv file.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Set the dates in your CSV file by right clicking the column and choosing Format Cells... and then using the Custom or Date category. Try this.  MyCCPay