Convert a track to a route and back

A track records every point of a trip; a route is a short list of waypoints a navigation device calculates the way between. Many devices and apps accept only one of the two, so RouteConverter converts between them. See Understanding the Big Three for the difference.

Track to route

1. Open the file — a GPX file, for example — and select the track in the position list.
2. Choose Positionlist → Convert Track to Route.
3. Save the file in the format of the device, for example GPX, TomTom Route (.itn) or Garmin (.fit).

RouteConverter keeps the points that define the shape of the track and deletes the rest: every point that lies within 100 meters of the line through its neighbours goes (Douglas-Peucker algorithm). A track of thousands of points becomes a route of a few dozen waypoints that a navigation device can follow. For a different threshold, delete the points yourself with Delete duplicate positions first.

Route to track

1. Open the file and select the route in the position list.
2. Choose Positionlist → Convert Route to Track.
3. Save the file.

RouteConverter asks the selected routing service for the way between every pair of waypoints and inserts the positions it returns, so the track follows the roads rather than straight lines. This needs a routing service — see BRouter and GraphHopper. To fill gaps with straight lines instead, use Insert positions.

Only one of the two is offered

Convert Track to Route is enabled only while a track is selected, Convert Route to Track only while a route is. The other list actions are in The position list.