Advroutes Web page - want to take it over?

[cooneyr]

another easy option would be to start using www.mapmyride.com, just means we do not have that specific kiwi routes thing, but would do the job I am sure.

Interesting site. The technology is obviously all there to allow somebody to load the data up themselves we would just need to adapt this for the ADVroutes site. The biggest hassle seems to me to be the file format conversion i.e. one track log in GPX format has to be converted to two route files (GPX format again) and in the process a whole heap of points stripped out (need a 50 point and a 250 point version). Also need a KML file for overlaying on the Google Map. i.e. one file must become three. Oh and the GPX route files need to have some of the header stripped out so they work with the PHP page that can upload directly to a GPS so make that 5 files!

I've been way to busy for the past week to write how the site works and I have more work to do on the DB1k GPS route this week so next weekend hopefully.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

Always thought you were doing too much for everyone on the Adv Routes site.
I'd have just given them one track log (or estimated track file for the unlogged stuff) and pointed them to Bable maybe with a quick start guide to convert the logs to routes themselves with what ever number of points they want.
It's really a quite simple procedure that anyone should be able to manage if they apply themselves for a few minutes.

[Eddieb]

+1

Google Earth supports gpx files, does Google Maps not?

Edit: No it doesn't. I did find this fairly comprehensive online tool for doing conversions to and from Google Maps.

[cooneyr]

Always thought you were doing too much for everyone on the Adv Routes site.
I'd have just given them one track log (or estimated track file for the unlogged stuff) and pointed them to Bable maybe with a quick start guide to convert the logs to routes themselves with what ever number of points they want.
It's really a quite simple procedure that anyone should be able to manage if they apply themselves for a few minutes.

Originally it was a bit much of a chore but now because it is automated (GPSBabel can be run with dos commands so I've written a batch file) so it is easy. Problem with this is creating the links.

I don't think it will do much to attract people to the site just giving people track files that they then have to convert to a route file with the appropriate number of points for their GPS. I suspect most people don't even know the difference between a Track and Route file or how many points a route file can have on their GPS.

+1

Google Earth supports gpx files, does Google Maps not?

Edit: No it doesn't. I did find this fairly comprehensive online tool for doing conversions to and from Google Maps.

Your right Google earth can handle GPX files and Maps not. I check some time ago and should really check again but I dont think I can use a GPX file as a google map overlay.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

.... I suspect most people don't even know the difference between a Track and Route file or how many points a route file can have on their GPS....

About time they learned, it's just some of the stuff the should know if they want to get the most out of their units.

[Eddieb]

opps, forgot to post the link I found earlier.

gpx to kml online converter.

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com

[cooneyr]

About time they learned, it's just some of the stuff the should know if they want to get the most out of their units.

Yes well you and I know that but then again we spend too much time on KB/computers too First point would be to get the GPX loaded via a upload page, automatically create a link and the KML file and go from them. The rest should be very easy from there on anyway as the process will already be established.

Cheers R

[rogerh]

I really do like the idea of automating it a little. While we could all use the technology I am sure, I like the way the site is pretty visual, and you can get a lot of benefit from it without using a GPS (which some don't have). I brought one so I could contribute tracks, but really don't use one otherwise.

I play with other technology at work most days and stuffing around with technology goes totally against having a good time on a bike for me. (just my view though) I want stuff that will survive the odd endo

Maybe different from others, but the simplicity and ease of use of the site is a big bonus I think. This does not mean the technology behind it is simple, but I think Ryan made a good choice of platform in google maps, as it is really user friendly. Best I have seen as yet, but another good one is motowhere. Pretty road oriented though, but good descriptions. Click on them. Google maps again.

[cooneyr]

....... Best I have seen as yet, but another good one is motowhere. Pretty road oriented though, but good descriptions. Click on them. Google maps again.

One of the things I was really keen to do was to have all the routes for each island visible on one map. This is because it shows the routes in relation to each other so you can pick a selection of routes that go well together to form a complete ride. Having a list of route and having to click on each one to open a map looses that completely.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

It's easy enough (sorta) to have the tracks converted by a script into 50/250 versions at upload time and even conversion from trk to rte can be totally automated.

If you have total control of the apache server.

I've had a website running for years that you upload a photo to and it resizes it down to commonly accepted sizes.

Nothing is unpossible.

Hmmm...

Now I'm not having to maintain the motorcycle club website this could be an interesting project.

[.chris]

Maybe we need to sit down over a few beers and nut this one out.

Friday night before the DB1k, might be a good plan.

I kinda envisioned cropping the files back to a raw gps data format, so they could be exported to whatever format requested, the file formats for the KML, GPX etc are all pretty simple to generate if you have the right gps data.

And it would be easy enough to have people upload these files in either format and strip them back to raw gps data.

But of course this would be a bit of development involved, but could be done.

[cooneyr]

It's easy enough (sorta) to have the tracks converted by a script into 50/250 versions at upload time and even conversion from trk to rte can be totally automated.

If you have total control of the apache server.

I've had a website running for years that you upload a photo to and it resizes it down to commonly accepted sizes.

Nothing is unpossible.

Hmmm...

Now I'm not having to maintain the motorcycle club website this could be an interesting project.

Sounds like you know what your talking about How do we figure out how more about the server (current or otherwise). Maybe WW and Rogerh might like to comment about this wrt the servers they were discussing/offering?

Maybe we need to sit down over a few beers and nut this one out.

Friday night before the DB1k, might be a good plan....

I agree that we need to have more of a chat about this but the Friday night before the DB1k is going to be dry and I'll not be around for long. I'm starting the DB1k at 8pmish with a few of the other SBC riders. When do you head south for the DB1k? I'll probably be in Chch all hols and will probably be around to talk about this more (note lots of probablies in this!)

Cheers R

[rogerh]

Sounds like you know what your talking about How do we figure out how more about the server (current or otherwise). Maybe WW and Rogerh might like to comment about this wrt the servers they were discussing/offering?

I am actually in Christchurch this week, so if you want to have a quick chat about it over a beer, let me know, (send me a PM) but the story with what I can offer is that at work we already host several simpler, and some database driven web sites, which are both on dedicated (one windows, one debian) servers. These have heaps of CPU cycles to spare, tons of RAM and disk space, and I can provide SSH/RDP connection to either via an IPSEC tunnel, so much more control that you would have in most data centres.

Nordie, you say you want control over the apache server. No problem, but I have made the wrong assumption more than once you are assuming a linux server (which I prefer for this sort of thing), as there is apache for windows!! Some box software we have uses this
Our windows server runs IIS, and the apache config on the linux one is pretty curly (well deeper than my peanut can deal with!) but I have access to people that can help if we need it.

All of this comes down to Chris's question about how the current site has been put together. And I think Chris's weapon of choice is C# (??? Chris can correct me if I am wrong, as my memory often fails me).

Is a phone conference in order here? I can jack up a bridge if you can all dial in.

Helpful? PM if you want more details.

[cooneyr]

Hi Rogerh,

Most of your went straight over my head so I'll leave it for Nordie and Chris to understand and comment! I'm not available this week with a work do tonight and heading to Hanmer on Thrursday night then NN on Friday morning so sorry I wont be able to meet up.

I'm hoping this long weekend (taking fri and mon off) I'll get the DB1k nav stuff finished and I'll try and write a document about how the current site works.

Cheers R

[rogerh]

Ryan,

No worries, I have plenty to do here as well. Good luck.