How best to merge GPX files to get multi-day DIY validated

[Frank9755]

I've just done a 3-day DIY and would like to get it validated.  I have different files for each day.  I presume that, for validation, I need to merge them into a single file. 

Assuming so, what is the best way to do it, taking into account file size limits, etc?

Rather than me searching and finding several ways which might not be the best, I thought I'd ask as others are bound to have done this!

[αdαmsκι]

If it's GPX then I just use a text editor, but it requires a bit of knowledge what to merge. Then the files can be shrunk if needed using Phil W.'s website

If it's FIT files there are tools online that can merge these files, eg: https://www.fitfiletools.com/#/combiner#view

[GdS]

Open both files with notepad; strip out everything after the last </trkpoint>

then strip out everything in the next day's file before the first <trkpt etc> Select All and copy the 2nd day after the first.

make sure you save both files as #2 first

etc for multiple days

make sure you save but not as a txt file, leave as a .gpx

just tried it with 2 200s I did in a row

Distance = 416km
Climbing = 4,934m

Duration = 38 hours 32 minutes

Start Time  = 22 Jan 2022 07:20:16
Finish Time = 23 Jan 2022 21:52:30

[marlan]

This site always works for me, easy to use

https://gotoes.org/strava/Combine_GPX_TCX_FIT_Files.php


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[Lightning Phil]

If GPX then my app https://simple-gpx.herokuapp.com/ will do it.

Merge

Just select all three GPX tracklog files after you’ve clicked choose a GPX file(s). You don’t need to change any settings, it’ll do the rest based on the track segment time stamps.  The merge operation doesn’t simplify just joins them together in right sequence. You get a single gpx returned in a zip file.

Simplify

If you need to simplify to reduce tracklog size for validation then choose the returned single gpx file and tick retain time stamps and retain elevation data. The default settings for everything else are fine for tracklog validation, and validation doesn’t need any extension data. The output GPX from that will be small enough for file size limits of validation if the first merged GPX file was too large.

[Manotea]

My go-to tool is gpsbabel, a Swiss army knife for manipulating tracks. Supports all formats in common use.

[Manotea]

Having said that, Phils application is brilliant for processing GPX tracks.

[aidan.f]

AUK validate the tracklogs using some kinda custom software. Post processing, replacing a missing section when my GPS went off threw an error for me (unlike Strava!) Of course the OP is joining contiguous tracklogs. quite possible that Phil W. OTP wrote the validation tool so his combination method would be my preference.

[GPS]

I use Phil's app & gotoes - both are excellent !

[Lightning Phil]

quite possible that Phil W. OTP wrote the validation tool

Nah not me, but it’s pretty easy to work out what it’s doing, even if not knowing the exact implementation details.

[Frank9755]

Thanks all - looks like several proven methods.
I'll start with Phil's.

[Frank9755]

So I tried a few methods and nothing worked.  Essentially the output file was always too big, or something else went wrong.

I actually had fit files, not GPX.  The best way to convert them to TCX turned out to be RWGPS.  Other methods maxed out on file size.  @Manotea, I'll email the file to you!

[Lightning Phil]

I’d be surprised if ithe GPX was too big after you ran the second step of simplifying after the first step of merging.

[chrisbainbridge]

To move sideways.

I submitted my first DIY by GPX at the weekend using the link provided on the reply email.  I had no acknowledgement or anything to say it had been received.  is this normal?  should I redo it?

EDIT

Just used Phil's software to edit it down and uploaded it,  Got an immediate automated email acknowledgement.  brilliant piece of software Phil!

[RichForrest]

Do you need to join them together? I'd just send 3 files through to your org.

[Frank9755]

I’d be surprised if ithe GPX was too big after you ran the second step of simplifying after the first step of merging.

It wasn't a gpx though. I managed to merge the FIT files and took convert them to TCX.
Could I have simplified the TCX?

[Frank9755]

Do you need to join them together? I'd just send 3 files through to your org.

Yes, I expect I could have done but I'd already merged them by the time I needed to resort to emailing.

[Lightning Phil]

Do you need to join them together? I'd just send 3 files through to your org.

Yes, otherwise you are just passing the extra workload onto them.

[Lightning Phil]

To move sideways.
EDIT

Just used Phil's software to edit it down and uploaded it,  Got an immediate automated email acknowledgement.  brilliant piece of software Phil!

Thanks! Wrote it to improve my own GPX workflow around audax.  Used a few different tools over the years but they were either too much work, too complicated, didn’t do exactly what I wanted, or a bit flaky.

[chrisbainbridge]

 Next deviation
I am riding across Holland and Germany to Czech Republic over 7 days. Whilst I am aiming to do it all at 1400km pace in preparation for another ride, I am conscious that I probably need to be more careful about sleep, etc riding in a different road environment.
Do I do a DIY for the whole 1400 and accept that I might run out of time or do a series of 2-300km diys?
I presume I cannot do both?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

One option or the other, not both simultaneously.

[RichForrest]

Do you need to join them together? I'd just send 3 files through to your org.

Yes, otherwise you are just passing the extra workload onto them.

Fair enough   
It's changed since I used to get half a dozen files and some jpeg pictures emailed through to me then 

[GdS]

My go-to tool is gpsbabel, a Swiss army knife for manipulating tracks. Supports all formats in common use.

gpsbabel -w -r -t -i gpx -f C:/Users/Mr M Malins/Documents/ECE/Martin Malins/Current Track 002 001.gpx -o gpx -F js200
Cannot open 'C:/Program Files/GPSBabel/js200' for write.  Error was 'Access is denied.'.

Error running gpsbabel: Process exited unsuccessfully with code 1

 :'(

[GdS]

If GPX then my app https://simple-gpx.herokuapp.com/ will do it.

Merge

Just select all three GPX tracklog files after you’ve clicked choose a GPX file(s). You don’t need to change any settings, it’ll do the rest based on the track segment time stamps.  The merge operation doesn’t simplify just joins them together in right sequence. You get a single gpx returned in a zip file.

Simplify

If you need to simplify to reduce tracklog size for validation then choose the returned single gpx file and tick retain time stamps and retain elevation data. The default settings for everything else are fine for tracklog validation, and validation doesn’t need any extension data. The output GPX from that will be small enough for file size limits of validation if the first merged GPX file was too large.

did that

Distance = 73km
Climbing = 0m

Duration = 0 hours 0 minutes

Start Time  = no time found in the gpx file
Finish Time = no time found in the gpx file

Minimum Altitude = 0m
Maximum Altitude = 0m

Total number of trackpoints in gpx file      = 434
Number of points separated by more than 150m = 183
Largest distance between 2 trackpoints       = 1119m
Number of trackpoints used to measure climb  = 374
Total climb if measured with all trackpoints = 0m

this was for a 200 yesterday which my errant device has now decided to split into different files due to switching off / on or going out of signal (the Woolwich foot tunnel)

[GdS]

This site always works for me, easy to use

https://gotoes.org/strava/Combine_GPX_TCX_FIT_Files.php


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same thing; only returns the last file uploaded