RouteConverter 3.1.386 / 3.2.391 Pre-release

RouteConverter is a Windows software that serves as a versatile and user-friendly GPS tool. It offers a range of features including displaying, editing, enriching, and converting routes, tracks, and waypoints. Whether you need to plan routes or consolidate tracks, RouteConverter provides the necessary tools.

One of the standout features of RouteConverter is its compatibility with various GPS data formats. It supports over 85 of the most commonly used formats, including the popular GPX and KML formats. A notable advantage of RouteConverter is its ability to automatically detect the file format, eliminating the need for manual guesswork. Simply drag and drop your GPS files into RouteConverter, and within seconds, the software will display detailed information about the loaded data.

To understand how RouteConverter handles GPS data, it's important to grasp the distinctions between routes, tracks, and waypoints. A track represents the recorded path of a journey, whether it's by driving, walking, or flying. On the other hand, a route is a sequence of waypoints that, when combined with a street map and routing algorithm, provides a guided path for driving or walking. Logging waypoints during a route generates a track. Waypoints, on their own, are collections of specific points of interest (POI) data, often used for various purposes, including creating routes.

RouteConverter excels in its ability to display, edit, and convert GPS data seamlessly. Many GPS software and devices employ proprietary file formats, making compatibility a challenge. However, RouteConverter's support for a wide range of formats eliminates this problem. The software automatically detects the format of any given file, removing the reliance on file name extensions. When a file is loaded, RouteConverter employs all available formats to determine the format and efficiently read the data. During the detection process, the currently working format is displayed, providing transparency and convenience to the user.

In terms of accessing GPS data, RouteConverter offers multiple methods. It can read routes, tracks, and waypoints from files stored on the local filesystem or network storages. Additionally, data can be obtained via URLs from the Internet or from files within ZIP archives. The software provides various ways to initiate data reading, including drag and drop functionality, the traditional file open dialog accessible through the File menu, and even reading from the system clipboard. Users can simply click on a file or ZIP archive, drag it over the task list or RouteConverter window, and drop it for quick and seamless data import.

RouteConverter prides itself on its user-friendly approach and accessibility. It requires no installation, only the free Java platform needs to be installed on the system. Furthermore, it is available across multiple platforms, including Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. As an open-source software, RouteConverter is licensed under the General Public License (GPL) and benefits from continuous development by an active community of contributors.

Whether you need to view, modify, enrich, or convert GPS data, RouteConverter provides a comprehensive and intuitive solution. With its broad format support, automatic detection, and user-friendly features, it offers a seamless experience for users working with routes, tracks, and waypoints on the Windows platform.