Need help converting a KMZ file so it will show up on my 62S Base camp doing it.

I have been playing with BaseCamp and other programs to get this done

I have tried all kinds of converters trying to convert this file so I can be seen on my 62s but I have had no luck in making this happen.

Here is a link to the file. http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places-go/google-earth to download the file you will have to click a link to it which you can see at the bottom of the screen when the website opens you might have to scroll down to see it, I didn't want to put a direct link to the download.

It is from the Missouri Department of Conservation and what it does is so boundaries for MDC owned land.

From what I can tell the boundaries are track files and just have coordinates for boundary lines for each area.

In Base Camp I can see the boundaries when I add the KMZ file to my collection but when I try putting it onto the GPS it is not there. I have also converted it to a GPX file and added it to the GPS and still doesn't show up.

Base Camp also shows each area as a track file.

But for some reason it is not shown on my 62S.

Should this file be a GPX file or and img file or something else so it will show up on the GPS?

What I am wanting it to do is show the area boundaries as I come to each area, is that possible?

Do I need to do an overlay or what?

Thanks in advance for any help!!!!!!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    Hello Big,

    What a cool website.
    In Google Earth I right clicked the MDC Area Folder and Saved Place As... "MDC Area Folder.kmz" to My Documents.
    Then, in BaseCamp I have a folder named "Forum Files". I clicked it and then up top I clicked > File > Import to 'Forum Files' > and browsed to my new MDC Area Folder.kmz file.
    That file is about 8MB and took a few seconds to load. Like you said, each area shows as a track file.

    I do not have a 62S, I have an Oregon600.
    In BaseCamp I clicked the "MDC Area Folder" List > File > Export as gpx > browsed to my Garmin drive > GPX folder (that is where all my tracks go) > Save.

    After I started my 600 and selected Tracks, I saw the first 200 tracks from BaseCamp in alphabetical order.
    There are 1341 tracks in that MDC folder but my 600 (and probably your 62) has a 200 track limit.

    I selected several different tracks and they all showed up on the 600 screen so the data is good. You just need to experiment with getting them into your 62.

    The problem for me is that there is no waypoint set at these areas so I cannot navigate from where I am at to any of them.
    If I was going to use this data I would divide the state up into sections with 200 tracks in a section and put them in a List and add a waypoint to the entrance of the ones I want to go to.
    Then send that list to my gps and navigate to the waypoints. The track around the area is nice but not very useful.
    The useful part would be a print of those nice maps showing all the details of the area.

    And if you have "Birdseye" then you will see where you are on the trails and terrain of the area and maybe not need the printed maps.
  • Don

    Thanks for the reply.

    The MDC has a very good and easy to navigate website with all kinds of information and is considered by by most around the USA to be one of the best Wildlife and land conservation agencies.


    I will give what you suggested a try either today or tomorrow, I forgot about the track limit, I believe for 62s it is 200.

    Also I do have birdseye aerial with Topo 24K and 100K.

    I will post back once I get a chance to try it out.

    I am new to Garmin, I have used Delorme GPS's for many years and they are very nice but I was looking for a bigger screen so I went with the Garmin 62s.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    I forgot to mention that another reason to split those 1341 tracks into groups of 200 is to make it easier to load the gps.

    You are certainly correct about that MDC website, very informative and helpful.

    My state of Mexifornia is a complete opposite, full of warnings and regulations and restrictions and of course the Nazi-BLM ready to enforce those regulations.
  • How do I go about splitting the GPX files? I haven't gotten a chance to do anything yet.

    I really only need from about 100 or so of them and if needed I can add more later.

    Do I need to download a different program that will allow me to pick and choose which ones I want. I tried just opening in a notepad and that is just too much stuff to go through but if I have to I will.

    Our conservation agents like to write tickets too!! I have been let off for a couple of very minor things but I don't poach or anything like that so they don't hear my name all the time from people that complain. One thing for dang sure you better not leave litter behind on conservation or other public land because you will get a ticket 100% of the time and have to pick up.

    What grips my butt is they can go get the sheriff and search your house, fridge and freezer WITHOUT a search warrant if they have probable cause. It has never been an issue with me but I know a few people that where known poachers and the agent got the sheriff and searched there property without a search warrant and they got tickets because there fish was labeled incorrectly and confiscated the fish , but the agent was going to give them a ticket for something and they real did deserve to be caught. They would shoot deer and rip out the back straps and leave the rest. But being able to search your property without a search warrant is complete BS IMHO.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    In BaseCamp...Up top click > File > New > List > and name it something like "My MDC Areas".
    Click the list that has all 1341 Areas in it.
    Find one that you want > right click > Cut > right click your new list > Paste and you are done.

    Double click a track (icon with 2 shoe prints) brings up the Properties box.
    Click the Notes tab for driving info to the entrance.
    Based on the info and using your 24K Topo that has road names, make a waypoint for the entrance.
    Garmin 24K Topo has routing so you can use it to navigate to your waypoints.
  • Don,

    What size was the file you downloaded from MDC? I downloaded it tonight it was only 1KB 300 and something bytes.

    That doesn't sound right to me.

    I can get them so show on google earth but I can not get the KMZ files to show in basecamp. I had them showing before but I had so many duplicated I just uninstalled basecamp and restart the computer and reinstalled basecamp and now I can't get them to show?????? I had no files in basecamp that I can't replace.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    Hello Big,

    The 1KB file named "MDC Areas" is the one you double click to make Google Earth open up with all the tracks.

    Then in Google Earth you expand "MDC Areas" and find the 3rd folder named "MDC Area Folder" > right click it > Save Place as... > browse to a folder on your computer > Save.
    You should have a file "MDC Area Folder.kmz"

    Open BaseCamp > click folder "My Collection" > File > New > List Folder > and name it "MDC Files".

    Click folder "MDC Files" > File > Import into.... > browse to your file "MDC Area Folder.kmz" and double click it.
    It is a big file and takes a few seconds to load all 1341 tracks. It will be a List named "MDC Area Folder".

    Click folder "MDC Files" again > File > New > List > and name it "My MDC Areas".
    Now you can move the files that you want from the big List to your small List "My MDC Areas".

    With your 62 connected in BaseCamp, click your small List > then up top click > Device > Send to Device > pick your small List again and it transfers.
  • Don,

    I got it to work!!! Where I was making my mistake was in Google Earth. I wasn't expanding the KMZ file, I was just selecting it.

    I followed your instructions and it took maybe 3 mins!!!!

    Thanks for all your help!!!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    You are welcome and thank you for showing me a very cool website.