Keep annotations when I download routes FORUMS HOME SEARCH FORUMS

Thank you all so much, I am so very grateful for the advice and the step by step instructions.

I think I wasn't using the GPX>Track>POI option, rather Route>POI/Directions

Now when I download it as GPX>Track>POI the annotations are visible on my Garmin (Edge1000), albeit very small and limited to 10 characters (although this may be a Garmin issue).

A definite improvement though and thanks so much to everyone for your help, which is sincerely appreciated 

Ian

Thanks, Peter!

I'll send those findings to the devs and hope that this is something that can be implemented to improve and clarify the download process.

All the best,
Julien

Ok, yes, and there is one other small but annoying difference between the view and edit download. In the view route, the download options are 'remembered' (maybe by device cookie). In Edit download, they are not, not at least the shift back directions that I set all the time to 15m (one of your unique features).

To compare your results with mine:

• GPX + Track + POI's, I get the same result as you if I add a label. That was a finding, and I also think it is quite confusing. The thing is that I never use labels on directions. Only use it if it's a fit file up-ahead.
• GPX + Track + Directions, I get the same result as you. Directions and Annotations were also added as Waypoints for me. (edited after 2 min)
• GPX + Route + POI, Same as you. Directions with labels become Route Points in the file. There are no Waypoints in your GPX route files.
• GPX + Route + Dir, All directions become route points, with or without labels. There are no Waypoints in your GPX route files.

My suggestion is not to use the POI word in your descriptions. Only use what you have in your toolbox:

• Annotations
• Directions with labels
• Directions w/o labels

Hi Peter!

Thanks for your step-by-step instructions on Garmin. :)
I'll copy the link to this topic, in case this question comes up again.
@Ian: I hope this helps and applies to your Garmin device as well.

I just checked out the download screens, and there are several differences:
The first difference is between Web app/mobile site and Desktop site.
When using the desktop version, you can hover/tap on "POI's", for example, and a tooltip will provide more information. This is the case for a lot of buttons on Plotaroute.
This doesn't apply to the web app and the mobile version. 
From "Viewing the route", the download screen is the same on the Web app/mobile site and the desktop site.
However, from "Editing the route", the download screen is different from the "Viewing the route" download screen and also the screen doesn't appear to be the same on the Web app/mobile site and the desktop site.
So, depending on what device you are using and on which page you're on when downloading, the screen is quite different.
This is no doubt something that can be improved.

Now, I wanted to truly understand all the outcomes of the situations you mentioned, and have created a test route and added two things:
I used "Annotate map" to add a car park next to the route (with a label).
I edited a direction and added a label (also did the test without adding the label).

GPX + Track + POI's = route + car park as waypoint and the direction as waypoint (only if I add a label to the direction)
This seems slightly wrong, as the tooltip says "Track points for the whole route with optional waypoints for directions" (for Track) and "Add Waypoints to the file for every direction that has a symbol or label" (for POI's)
If only directions with a label or symbol were added as waypoint, then the car park shouldn't be added as a waypoint.
The fact that the direction only shows up as waypoint when I add a label is in line with the tooltip information.
Maybe the tooltip should say "Add waypoints to the file for directions and annotations with a label or symbol"

GPX + Track + Directions = route + car park as waypoint and the direction as waypoint (no matter if I add a label to the direction or not)
This also seems slightly wrong, as the tooltip says "Add Waypoints to the file for every direction" (for Directions)
The fact that the direction gets added as waypoint, regardless of the label is normal and in line with the tooltip information.
But the car park isn't a direction.
Maybe the tooltip should say "Add Waypoints to the file for every direction and annotation"

GPX + Route + POI = a single point: the direction I changed, if I add the label
This is a bit strange, but I guess it's the normal outcome, because "Route" is "Just the waypoints (directions), but "POI's" needs the directions to have a label.
Maybe it could be clearer if the tooltip for "Route" said "Just the POI's or Directions - for devices with route calculation capabilities"

Does this all sound correct, and would those changes to the tooltip make things clearer as to what result you'll get?
If so, I can ask the devs if this is something they'd consider changing.

All the best,
Julien

I didn't use the GPX>Route download, I understand now.

I tested again, and it still works. At least with my Garmin Epix watch.

1. Create a route with both a route and Annotations.
2. Download the route with the options GPX>Track>POI.
3. Copy the file from the laptop to the Garmin/NewFiles folder on the watch.
4. On the watch, all annotations get a flag as a symbol.
5. On the watch, I can:

• Navigate to the Annotations/Waypoints/POI, but on my watch, I find them under the menu 'Saved Locations' or 'Locations'.
• Change the symbol or name after selecting a Saved Location.
• See all Saved Locations on the map regardless of which route/course I'm following. This can be toggled off in the Activity settings>Map layers>User locations.

Ok, then I understand how it's supposed to work, and it behaves the same for me.

Two things make this a little confusing.

• When downloading GPX>Tracks>POI's, then POI refers to the Annotations and they are made to Waypoints in the file. When chosing GPX>Tracks>Dirn's the directions are converted to Waypoints.
  When downloading GPX>Route>POI's, then POI refers to the Directions IF they have a symbol.
•  I couldn't see the instruction "POIs = only directions with labels/symbols", but after a while I found it when you download from VIEWing the route. If you download while editing the route, there is no such text.

@Peter: Before sending it to the devs, I have just tried editing your route, and am now wondering if this is somehow the expected outcome.

When downloading a route as GPX > Route > POI, it says "POI's = only directions with labels/symbols".
If you add a label to your directions, the GPX file does include this information:

"
<rtept lat="59.367213" lon="18.074926">
<ele>13</ele>
<time>2025-08-12T00:12:50Z</time>
<name>Test PO</name>
<cmt>{Stora Skuggans Väg</cmt>
<desc>{Stora Skuggans Väg</desc>
<sym>Parking Area</sym>
</rtept>
"

However, I don't have any route information.
The Route feature adds a waypoint for every direction and is meant for devices which calculate their own route between waypoints.
But the POI's feature adds a waypoint only if there is a symbol or tag.
I'm wondering if the POI's option somehow counteracts the Route option.

Have you used this download setting before?
Did you use to get both waypoints for directions and waypoints for directions with labels?

Thanks for your help!

Hi!

@Ian: I don't know if the fact that annotations aren't visible on your Garmin device anymore comes from a change on our side or Garmin's side.

@Peter: You said in your previous message that you can get annotations from Plotaroute to Garmin. Does this require a specific setting in the Garmin device (like activating Navigation-> Saved Locations), or do you change your GPX-files beforehand (and if so, how)? I haven't been able to find another topic in which you (or someone else) might have explained this specifically (most questions are about directions). If you have done and can remember the topic, would you agree to share the link to it?

Also, on the POI export, I get the same result as you.
I'll report this bug to the devs.
Thanks for bringing this up.

Julien

Julien, is there a bug in the gpx-route-poi download/export?

Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplayer/3069956?init=download

If I download the above test route as a gpx with the options Route and POI selected I do not get any route point data at all.

If I select the options gpx, route and dirs, then I get the directions as route points as expected. 

Thanks everyone,

In answer to Julien,I'm sure the annotations were visible in the past.  Unfortunately I have no way of proving it as I delete old courses from my Garmin, but I do have old couses with annotations in my route library on Plotaroute and I'm sure the annotations were visble on my garmin when I cycled these routes. The routes in particular were cycled about 2-3 years ago.

Any help would be gratefully received

Ian

Thanks Peter,

I'll add this to the feature requests to see if this is something the devs could improve.

Julien

Yes, actually Plotaroute has always been rather bad at file imports.

I've never been able to import routes (fit or gpx) from other platforms with preserved directions/waypoints/course points in an acceptable way.

Thanks Peter!

I've just tried downloading a route in every format we have on Plotaroute.
When using GPX-Track-Direction, annotations do appear in the GPX file as waypoints.

"</wpt>
<wpt lat="48.5871383" lon="7.7382508">
<time>2025-08-06T00:00:00Z</time>
<name>Test1</name>
<cmt>Test1</cmt>
<desc>Test1</desc>
<sym>Flag, Blue</sym>
<type>Waypoint</type>
"

If I upload the same GPX to Plotaroute again, the annotations and symbols disappear, but some get added to the directions panel.

If the annotation was on the route, it is in the directions panel at that place.
If the annotation was near enough, it gets added to the route's directions panel at the nearest place on the route.
If the annotation is too far from the route, neither an annotation nor a direction is displayed.

I get the same result on Garmin Connect's website.
I don't have a Garmin device ready to test it on a device itself.

Has this always been like this?
I'm wondering because Ian says, "I'm pretty sure that this wasn't a problem in the past."

Julien

Actually you can get annotations in an exported gpx file.

I've used it to get annotations outside route/course into my Garmin watch from Plotaroute. In my Garmin Fenix watch they end up in Navigation-> Saved Locations. The will also be seen on map if that is activated.

Unfortunately not with the correct symbol, but that can be changed in device. If I remember correctly Plotaroute doesn't try to save the correct one in the exported gpx

(Sorry, but I don't remember now if I used a gpx track or route, but you can open the file in a texteditor to verify before copyingto device.)

Thanks Julian,

I'll check out the link you sent but in answer to your question, it's annotations on the map

Ian

Hi Ian!

No problem, it's not always easy to navigate the forum!

There was a similar topic not too long ago, which you can find here.

Are you adding annotations on the map, or are you adding directions and notes to the route?

Kind regards,
Julien

Apologies if this has been covered already but can't find anything when I search the topics.

Also apologies for any stupidity but this is the first time i have ever posted on a forum.

Essentially the annotations I have added to my routes save on my Plotaroute account but when I download them to my computer or Garmin they disappear, irrespective of the format I download them in (gpx, tcx, fit).

I'm pretty sure that this wasn't a problem in the past.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

Ian