Copy a section of a routeFORUMS HOME SEARCH FORUMS

I have uploaded a GPX file from Garmin, for a long 55 mile route across my area.

I want to copy different sections of this route and save them as new routes. I see from the advertising of Plotaroute, that they offer copy/paste functions.

I have tried both the Trace function and Delete function, but cant get them to work properly.

Does anyone have any video tutorial about these 2?

Thje trace function only seems to allow tracing of straight loines, which I dont understand. I never cycline straight lines. I think I'm missing something here, but cant find what.

Likewise, the Delete function is asking for start/finish points and joins them with a straight line, but then doesnt delete anything. Dont understand this at all.

I am new to Plotaroute, and joined to do this specific things ... copying sections of multiple routes, to then join them together to form a new one. But need some help.

Thanks in advance.

Graham

Hi Graham!

I'll answer here to your post and the support message.
This way, others may answer too, because a lot of members are way more experienced with the route plotter, and may know something I'm unaware of.
I've never tried what you want to do, and don't think there is an easy copy/paste feature, like you'd find for a text.

But let's get back to your questions:

Trace a route does indeed allow you to plot over an existing route. The idea is to use the original route as inspiration.
Once you select the Trace a route feature, the route gets added to the background, and you can plot like you would if there wasn't any route in the background.
So, if you're only getting straight lines after using the Trace a route feature, this likely means that your auto-plot isn't turned on.

Deleting a section deletes it and joins the section before and after that in a straight line, which doesn't seem to be what you're looking for.

Reploting a section could be more helpful.
If all the sections you want are on a single original route, you can just save a copy of that route to rework.
Once you open that copy, you can select "Replot section". You have to click on the route once where you want to change it, and a second time where you want the new route to end up. Once you select those places, the section between those points fades a little, and you can replot, like you always do, with or without auto-plot.
Let's say you have a route, going from A to B, B to C, C to D, D to E and E to F. But you want to change the route, to go from A to B, B to C, C to E and E to F.
For this, you'd select Replot section, click on the route around C and then where E is. Once this is done, you can plot a route from C to E by clicking on the map where you'd like your new section to go through. Make sure to click on Confirm at the top right corner.
You'll find a video tutorial here, around 2:00.

Now, another solution would be to save the sections you want and then combine them.
To do this, let's use the same example as before. You have an original route, and you want each step to be a section of its own.
Go to this route, and select Split a route. Now you need to add the split points. So in our example, if A is the Start, then you need to place the first split point at B. Set the second split point at C, the third at D, and so on.
Once this is done, you can save each section as a new route. They'll be named [name of the route] split 1-X
Now you have all your sections, go to Create > Plot a route
Select Combine routes, and you'll be able to search for your routes or any public routes.
Let's say this time you want to go from A to B, B to D, D to E and E to F.
To do so, you'll first search for [name of the route] split 1 and click on Append this route. Sections A to B show on the map.
Next search [name of the route] split 3 (because you aren't interested in section 2, from B to C) and click on Append this route. Make sure auto-plot is active; this way, it'll replot the section from B to D. You now have A to B and B to D on the map.
Next search [name of route] split 4 and click on Append this route, to add the section from D to E. You now see A to B, B to D and D to E on the map.
Next search [name of route] split 5 and click on Append this route, to add the section from E to F. You now see A to B, B to D, D to E and E to F.

I know a text explanation isn't as good as a video, but I don't have one for this step-by-step.

If you want to add sections from several routes, I guess the best thing would be to save each route and split it into 2 (the section you'd like and the one you're discarding). Make sure to delete the section you aren't using after splitting, to make it easier to search for it later.
Once you have done this with all the routes and sections you want, you can follow the same steps as before, but instead of all the sections coming from one route, you search for sections from several routes.

I hope this helps with your project, and I'm happy for anyone to help out if there is an easier way to copy/paste sections from one route to another. I'd be more than happy to learn about it!
All the best,
Julien