Is it possible to convert .gdb to .gpx ?

Former Member over 12 years ago

I have a route of a motorcycle tour I was on through Europe. The file is from another person's Garmin, I do not know the model.
I want to be able to see this route in my Base Camp software (or Mapsource, or Google, etc.).
Always has an error of un-supported version, etc.
The file sent to me was a database\3.3\ and 4 additional files; Alldata.gdb.bak, FolderData.gfi, FolderData.gfi.bak, and AllData.gdb.
I assume the one I need is the AllData.gdb.
I use a Zumo550 which is all .gpx files.
I have tried to drag and drop it into the gps and see it that way, etc. nothing works.

Any help? This route is very important to me.
Gary

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

The format of AllData.gdb is a much newer version than the gdb that gets used when you export to gdb. That version is an old version that can be used to exchange data with MapSource or BaseCamp running a different version.

AllData.gdb is not intended to be exchanged. It it tied to a BaseCamp version (like 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.0 etc.). If you want to exchange data, export to gdb (or gpx), don't copy BaseCamp's data files.

Copying the data files could work, but then you'd have to overwrite your own data and make sure you are using the same BaseCamp version as the person you got the data from.

As to why the Mac version was happy to read the data: did you import the gdb file or did you overwrite your own AllData.gdb? The latter approach should work on the PC as well (again, provided the version is correct).

0 Killtimer_ over 12 years ago

As to why the Mac version was happy to read the data: did you import the gdb file or did you overwrite your own AllData.gdb? The latter approach should work on the PC as well (again, provided the version is correct).

I imported it and it showed up as a new folder <Recently Imported From Alldata.gpx>, as usual. However I did have to work from Finder and launch the file there as BaseCamp would not recognize the original from the import menu. With your explanation that makes sense now.

0 kganshirt over 12 years ago

AllData.gdb is not intended to be exchanged. It it tied to a BaseCamp version (like 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.0 etc.).

If it's not a standard .gdb file and especially if it's not intended to be used like one, why did you decide to name it that way? It would have made a lot more sense, and saved a lot of confusion, if you had simply named it something else. How hard could that be?

In fact, if it's Basecamp version dependent you can rename it the next time you release a version in which the format/content of the not-really-a-.gdb file changes again. Simple and a big payoff in avoiding unrealized expectations. :)

...ken...

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

AllData.gdb is not intended to be exchanged. It it tied to a BaseCamp version (like 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.0 etc.).

If it's only tied to one BC version which implies that it can't be read by later version of BC then what possible good is that?

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

While the main problem has been solved, replying to the question in the title of GAZZO1963's post, if you import a gbd track
you can export it as gpx.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

It's named gdb because it is a gdb formatted-file. :) But I agree, naming this to something different would have certainly prevented some confusion.

Later BaseCamp versions can read older gdb versions, but older BaseCamp versions cannot read newer ones. Which is why we export a very old version, so that all BaseCamps (and even MapSource) can read them.