Where to find creation date of waypoint?

We'll look into adding that.

Thanks for your feedback.

In the latest Windows version of Basecamp, the creation date of a waypoint is displayed as the modified date when you view a waypoint’s properties.

However, Basecamp treats the creation date as a modified date. Therefore, a change to any waypoint field will permanently change the creation date and it will be lost. If you need this data, you should revert to an earlier version of Basecamp.

waypoint creation date

Hi
I agree totally, the creation date is absolutely critical. Did you find that earlier versions of basecamp kept the creation date? Or were you referring to older Garmin GPs's, like the 60c series, automatically adding the creation date to the comment field. Or to versions of Mapsource?
My partner and I have been trying to work on a solution to this problem for months. Garmin does not seem to care much, but we keep bugging them anyway. Perhaps if we all keep the pressure up to simply keep the older function of adding the creation date to the comment field. Surely the software is still in there somewhere.

Tony

Hi Tony,

I assume you are asking me. I was referring to basecamp. You should check the update changes for the different versions. In earlier versions, the time stamp for a waypoint was not visible and I am assuming that it was not being altered, so look for when this shows up in the changes. You should check older versions by creating a waypoint on your GPSr, wait a while then send it to basecamp. From basecamp export a gpx file of the waypoint, make a change to the waypoint symbol or add a comment and export another gpx file. Finally make a change to latitude or longitude and export another gpx file of the waypoint. The gpx files can be examined with any text editor, for example Notepad or Wordpad on Microsoft systems. Compare the time stamps of basecamp exported waypoints with the original gpx file on the GPSr.

The current version of basecamp is actually worse than I originally stated. It seems that merely transferring the waypoint from the device to basecamp alters the time stamp.

I’m not sure what Mapsource does. Keep in mind that if you are using a newer device you can use the file menu and import the gpx file directly from the unit. You can run the same test as above.

While the some of the older units copied the time stamp into the comment field, this is really a bad practice and it is good thing that the GPSr programmer’s stopped doing it. I suspect all GPS manufactures export the time stamp and it is up to the software programs to capture and display it.

If you need to see the time stamps, one thing you can try is to open a gpx file of waypoints with Microsoft Excel. At least some versions of excel will parse the file into columns and rows. The information you will be interested in will be to the far right. Remember not to save anything from excel to the gpx file. Instead, safe the file in xl format to prevent the original gpx file from being altered. Not a good solution, but one that might suffice in the short term.

To Garmin folks. This is really a critical error and should be fixed ASAP. My recommendation would be to remove this change or alter it so that the time stamp is never changed. Then take some time to find the best solution on how to treat the time stamp so it will remain compatible with the devices (for example I upload a waypoint to a device to collect more waypoint averaging data) and meet the needs of most people who use this information (I am not one of them). The units themselves will alter the time stamp only when position data (latitude, longitude, height, depth) are altered. From a practical standpoint, I can see people wanting to alter depth or height without altering the time stamp. But you should get external feedback before implementing a final solution.

Waypoint creation date

BTLaatke
thanks for the detailed reply. My version of Excel (Office mac 2011) will open the gpx file but its not in columns, its more of a text file. Mac "text editor" opens them directly as well, but its not editable by the average biologist, nor is it very readable.

One way I've found to preserve the waypoint dates with a Mac, is to open the gpx file with MacGps pro, which doesn't mess with the date at all, (and uses UTM's) then save the file as a csv or tabbed text file and THEN import into Excel or Open Office, which is favored by the staff.

Most of the staff merely wants to get the data from the field onto their computer in one step (which Basecamp does very well, and more easily than MacGps except for the modified date problem), save it in folders in one place, and be able to view on a map, and easily export to a spreadsheet to edit. We have both Mac and PC users, so Basecamp was favored for cost and convenience.


We are phasing out all the older serial port gps's in favour of the usb port models, as they are faster and easier to download, but a few users are going back to their Garmin 60's to get the time stamp!
I will experiment with a few older versions of Basecamp but its not a preferred option obviously.


I'm curious why you feel that having the automatic date stamp in the comment field is such a bad idea? The newer gps's have room for more characters now, space is not an issue. It would be good if the date stamp was an option that could be turned on and off for different users, then we could use BaseCamp and not worry about the modified date.

Tony

I'm all for BaseCamp not changing the Creation (Marked) Date of Waypoints. There is no reason why it should and it looks like from FALAGAR's comment that they will fix this. But, I don't want BaseCamp making another mistake by duplicating that information in the Comments Field and potentially overwriting information that I put into that "user" field.

It would seem that from a fieldwork perspective that [time] data would be accessed more easily by Exporting the Waypoint(s) as a CSV file whereby Excel could be used to open it and the [time] creation date be found in it's own column.

Cheers,

When I use my old GPSmap 60CSx the date shows up in the notes field, but using a new eTrex 20 this field is empty.

I find this very frustrating since the creation date is essential information.

I am assuming that the new eTrex uses a system like my Montana and other new Garmin handhelds. Actually they have integrated waypoint creation dates very nicely into the user interface and filesystem on these models. If you go to the calendar on the device, you will see highlights on any dates where you saved data, and selecting the date will show you what was saved.

Now connect the device to your computer and look in the \Garmin\GPX folder. You will see a lot of files with names like Waypoints_01-MAY-12.gpx. That file would contain all the waypoints that you saved on May 1, 2012.

So I realize this hasn't been implemented in Basecamp in the way you might like, but the information is all there. Personally I think this system is a big improvement over the way data was stored on the 60csx (I also have one of those).

I don't use Basecamp all that much for managing wayppoints, but I *think* if you were to drag that .gpx file to your library (or import it), a list would be created named Waypoints_01-MAY-12 and it would contain all the waypoints created on that day.

Tony

My reasons are more principle than practical. A time stamp is information that should be protected from accidental alteration regardless of how unlikely it is to occur.

Although I don’t own a 60c series GPS series, I suspect that the time stamp is saved the same as in the 62 series, but, in addition it copies the information into the comment field (possibly changing from UTC to local time?). Some folks will like having the date in the comments, some will find it a nuisance. I suspect that all brands and models of GPS receivers save and transfer a waypoint time stamp. There is no reason why any software can’t capture and display this data. It would be there for those who need it and could be easily ignored by those that don’t. (For those who want to check this, export a gpx file of a waypoint from any gps software and look for a <time> within a <wpt> using a text editor like Notepad or Wordpad).

Regarding Excel, I have MS Office 2002 Professional. I think this is the first edition that tried this feature, but I suspect it may have undergone changes and may not be available in all versions. You should search Excel help for the term “XML”. Perhaps there is a computer wonk on the forum that can look into this.

Hi Btlakke,

I notice you experience the problem where "merely transferring the waypoint from the device to basecamp alters the time stamp".

According to Garmin Product support this is a BaseCamp bug caused by the user not following the instructions during a firmware upgrade on the receiver to delete the \garmin\gpx\ folder.

I followed the advice below and no longer have this particular import problem.

However this does not resolve the primary issue that BaseCamp overwrites the waypoint creation date when other waypoint fields are edited.

Nicholas

-------------------------------------

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 2:26 PM, [email][email protected][/email] <[email protected]> wrote:

I will be happy to assist you. I was able to repeat exactly what you are seeing. It appears since Basecamp is accessing the
waypoints it gives it a modified date of the time it was accessed. We believe we know what the issue is. You will need to delete
your GPX folder from your device. First transfer all your information into Basecamp. Then follow these steps to delete the GPX
folder:
1. Plug your device into the computer.
2. Access the Garmin drive. (My computer/computer on windows or the desktop of a MAC)
3. Open the Garmin folder.
4. Delete the GPX folder.
5. Eject your device from the computer.
Now go ahead and reconnect to the computer and open Basecamp. You can load the information back to the device. To test
whether or not it is still working create a new waypoint and wait a little while then connect it to the computer and open Basecamp.
Does it modify the date to the exact time of connection?
Please let me know so I can better assist you.

With Best Regards,
James J
Product Support Specialist
Outdoor/Fitness Team
Garmin International
913-397-8200
800-800-1020
913-440-8280 (fax) Att: James J, Associate #5747
www.garmin.com

I haven't tested Win-BC yet but when you delete the GPX folder from your device and then connect the device to Mac-BC, the Send Selected Data to device is not enabled. You must Drag & Drop your data to the Montana or µSD card for BC to create a new GPX folder for the applicable data.

The Waypoint creation date is retained (not overwritten).

Hopefully these bugs will get some attention before the next update.

Cheers,