Recording Controls Output Format, "FIT and GPX"

yes, right, this works

Q: when I press in the menu of activity 'safe as track', is this file different then the one already existing in archive?

(have just no new file to try)

I have not performed such a test, to compare them line by line after.

It is OK to do what you are doing,  but not required.

OK, next time I have some activities of reasonable size (and archive tracks) I will make track with the conversion and compare them to existing archive versions

Thanks atlas_cached for making me aware of the GPASrChive.  I had NO IDEA that the track architecture was as described there. That information is not in the Owner's Manual.  Now I understand "Auto Save".

Believe it or not, SOME of this is just a matter of file format. And Garmin introducing confusing names which mostly equate to file formats.

Both activities and tracks are records of where you went. Activities are stored in .fit files. Tracks (at least what we used to call "logged points" on an iR device) are stored in .gpx files.

There is a similar distinction between route (.gpx) and course (.fit). On the proper device, both of them provide the ability to navigate along them.

There is massive confusion over which devices can do what with regard to navigation. For example, most Garmin docs indicate that the M2 will ONLY navigate courses. But someplace in the bowels of an obscure KB article, it correctly states that tracks and routes are automatically converted to courses when you sync them to the device... Some devices can navigate either. Some devices can also navigate tracks.

Confusion will continue to reign.

Generally, yes, some of the confusion is file type.  However, in this particular circumstance, I didn't know what "Archived Tracks" referred to.  I assumed (correctly), being a track it was a gpx file. I also assumed (incorrectly), that old tracks were stored there eventually.

Now, I know that newer tracks (gpx) are stored there, when Recording Controls output is set to "FIT and GPX". It seems it is intended for anticipated long outings resulting in large tracks. The archived track has an auto archive save feature.

If one selects a stored Archived Track as a Favorite, it is moved into the broader Saved Tracks directory.

The Owner's Manual description is full of holes.

>>I had NO IDEA that the track architecture was as described there. That information is not in the Owner's Manual.  Now I understand "Auto Save".<<

also here, I still could not find any such description in GPSrChive, can you point me to the right chapter there?

Make sure you are in GPSMAP 66i section. Select "Pages" from left hand menu, and then "Saved Tracks".  That will describe the Saved Track types/architecture.

If you select "Setup" from the left hand menu, and then "Recording" it will describe the Auto Save feature.  It's down near page bottom.

I need to make a correction, I do not understand "Auto Save" (A-S). 

According to GPSrChive, A-S applies while recording Activities (FIT file), even when output is "FIT" only. If it applies there, what is the purpose of the "Archived Tracks" subdirectory?  One would just convert the Activities (some of which have been auto-saved) to Tracks.

Since one has to convert Archived Tracks to Favorites (if output is "FIT and GPX"), this is basically the same thing.

If A-S only applies to Archived Tracks, why would it just apply to tracks? One would also have a FIT output which would grow and be subject to rendering and loss of data.

I guess I can experiment if I do a very long hike, but it isn't making sense.