Export courses to GPS dialog
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This dialog is used to create data for a GPS application, such as O-Track

With a GPS application you can analyze your route choice after the race, and compare route choices with other people.  The GPS application may run on your smart phone and/or it  can be a web application.

In order for the application to show your route, it needs your GPS track.  You may record the track directly on your smart phone or you may have to upload it from a GPS watch.

The GPS application also needs the map and the course.  Condes has this data, and it can be transferred from Condes to the GPS application.  This is where this dialog comes in.  As a course planner, when you have completed the course design, from Condes you export the map and the courses into a file that you import to the GPS application.

Condes exports data in three different formats:  KMZ, GPX, and KML.  Which one you choose depends on which format the GPS application can use.

KMZ is used with O-Track (www.o-track.dk).   GPX (route) is used with GPS Orienteering (www.hippsomapp.se).   KML is used with MapRun (www.maprunners.com.au).


Important:  The map must be geo-referenced. 
In order for Condes to be able to calculate Longitude and Latitude coordinates for controls and for the map, the map file needs to be geo-referenced, and a reference coordinate system needs to be configured. 

Most - but not all - OCAD maps are geo-referenced, and the data is included in the OCAD file.  When you use a bitmap file, it must be accompanied by a World File.   See Setup Map dialog for more details.


Export format Options

KMZ format

KMZ is the format used by Google Earth.  A KMZ file contains the map and all the courses in one file.  When you have exported a KMZ file, you open it in Google Earth to view the map and the waypoints. 

The KMZ file contains a number of images:  The map is stored as a bitmap image in JPG format, and each course is stored as a so-called GroundOverlay image in SVG format.  The advantage of the SVG format is that it is scalable. The lines and circles remain smooth also when you zoom in. 

Please note:  Included in the map image are the graphics objects that are configured to be shown on "all courses".  Graphics objects that are configured as shown on "only this course", are  NOT included in the KMZ file.   Graphics objects include texts, lines, masks, and image graphics.

In addition the the map and course images, the KMZ file also contains the courses as lists of "waypoints". These waypoints are indicated as "push pins" if you open the KMZ file in Google Earth

Please note: If you use Google Earth to inspect the KMZ file, be aware that Google Earth unfortunately cannot show the course images in SVG format - in Google Earth the course images are indicated with red rectangles with a cross.  You can disable the course layers to be able to see the map layer

Alternatively, but not recommended, instead of the SVG format, as an advanced option, the courses can be exported as "KML graphics". KML supports graphics very poorly, so the KML graphics image is not very nice to look at.  The KML Graphics option will not work if you plan to use the KMZ file with O-Track.

GPX format

GPX is used by many applications to store GPS tracks.  A GPX file exported from Condes contains all courses (as "routes").  However, a GPX file cannot store the map.  So when using the GPX format, the map file comes from an other source.

KML (simple) format

KML is a Google Earth format, also used by some GPS applications to import courses.  A KML file exported from Condes contains courses defined as sets of waypoints, one waypoint for each control on the course.  The KML (simple) export does not include the map.

Export options

Export file format

Select either KMZ, GPX or KML (simple).

Export only relay variations used by relay teams

When this option is checked, only those relay course variations are exported, which are used by relay teams created in the Relay Team Assignments window.

After export, open the exported file

When this option is checked, Condes asks Windows to open the exported file.  If Google Earth is not installed, and no other application is installed that can read the exported file, Windows fails to open the file.


Advanced settings

Advanced settings are normally not used, and are hidden unless you click the "Show Advanced Settings" button.

Export Area

Use this option to select if the map area for each course is the "Defined printout page area" or the "Entire canvas area".  The default value is "Defined printout page area".

Map bitmap

Resolution

Use this to configure the resolution of the bitmap file that contains the exported map in the KMZ file.  The default value is 300 DPI.  If the map is very large, it may be necessary to reduce the resolution in order for Condes to have sufficient memory to create the file.

Dim map

When this option is checked, the map in the exported file is dimmed.

Courses

This controls the format of the "course images" when exporting to a KMZ file. 

Select either GroundOverlay as SVG file or As KML "graphics". KML "graphics" is experimental and not generally recommended.

SVG files are used for the course layers, as this format allows a scalable “image” of the course, including correct placement of number, bending of leg lines, cutting of circles and lines etc.  This allows the GPS application to display the course correctly as the course planner intended.

Make sure to use GroundOverlay as SVG file when exporting to O-Track.

O-Track (www.o-track.dk)
O-Track is a service which makes tracking, viewing and sharing orienteering easy and fun for both beginners and experienced orienteers.
As a runner you can use your GPS-Watch or your phone to track your activity, upload it to an event on O-Track and then view how you did in comparison to other users.
As a club or organizer you can create an activity in a few very quick and simple steps and thus offer a great tracking service to the participants of your race.

O-Track is developed and operated by TracTrac (www.tractrac.dk) in cooperation with the Danish Orienteering Federation (DOF)
O-Track (www.o-track.dk)
O-Track is a service which makes tracking, viewing and sharing orienteering easy and fun for both beginners and experienced orienteers.
As a runner you can use your GPS-Watch or your phone to track your activity, upload it to an event on O-Track and then view how you did in comparison to other users.
As a club or organizer you can create an activity in a few very quick and simple steps and thus offer a great tracking service to the participants of your race.

O-Track is developed and operated by TracTrac (www.tractrac.dk) in cooperation with the Danish Orienteering Federation (DOF)
KMZ
KML files are very often distributed in KMZ files, which are zipped KML files with a .kmz extension.
KML
Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is a notation for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers.
O-Track (www.o-track.dk)
O-Track is a service which makes tracking, viewing and sharing orienteering easy and fun for both beginners and experienced orienteers.
As a runner you can use your GPS-Watch or your phone to track your activity, upload it to an event on O-Track and then view how you did in comparison to other users.
As a club or organizer you can create an activity in a few very quick and simple steps and thus offer a great tracking service to the participants of your race.

O-Track is developed and operated by TracTrac (www.tractrac.dk) in cooperation with the Danish Orienteering Federation (DOF)
GPX
GPS Exchange Format, is a common GPS data format. It can be used to describe waypoints, tracks, and routes. 
Relay Team

A relay team consists of a fixed number of competitors.  A relay team in Condes is defined by the course variations that are run by each team member.
Defined Printout Page Area

This is the area bounded by the Print Area frame.   The Print Area frame can be set individually for each course, or it can be common for all courses on a canvas.
Entire Canvas Area

The Entire Canvas Area is an area that is the union of the area covered by the map, the area bounded by the Print Area frame, and any other objects, such as control descriptions or graphics.
O-Track (www.o-track.dk)
O-Track is a service which makes tracking, viewing and sharing orienteering easy and fun for both beginners and experienced orienteers.
As a runner you can use your GPS-Watch or your phone to track your activity, upload it to an event on O-Track and then view how you did in comparison to other users.
As a club or organizer you can create an activity in a few very quick and simple steps and thus offer a great tracking service to the participants of your race.

O-Track is developed and operated by TracTrac (www.tractrac.dk) in cooperation with the Danish Orienteering Federation (DOF)