GPSBabel – GPS data conversion and transfer

GPSBabel is open source software for GPS file conversion and transfer to/from GPS units. It has a command-line interface and a graphical interface.

GPSBabel converts waypoints, tracks, and routes from one format to another, whether that format is a common mapping format like Delorme, Streets and Trips, or even a serial upload or download to a GPS unit such as those from Garmin and Magellan. It also has powerful manipulation tools for such data.

GPSBabel supports dozens of data formats and will be useful for tasks such as geocaching, mapping, and converting from one GPS unit to another. Among the interesting formats it supports are several GPS devices via a serial link, various PDA-based mapping programs, and various Geocaching data formats.

GPSBabel is popular in the Geocaching community because it enables people with incompatible GPS units to share data.

Features include:

  • Manipulation tools to alter, filter and improve GPS data:
    • Horizontal Dilution of Precision (HDOP).
    • Vertical Dilution of Precision (VDOP).
  • Compacting GPS data.
  • Process data placed on maps, such as waypoints, tracks and routes.
  • Microsecond resolution in many formats.
  • Other formats supported include: Cetus, CoPilot Flight Planner, CSV, Custom CSV, Delorme Street Atlas, Delorme Street Atlas 2004 Plus, Delorms GPS Log, Delorme routes, DNA, EasyGPS Binary, Fugawi, Garmin serial, Geocaching.com loc, GeocachingDB, Geoniche,GPilotS, GPSDrive, GPSman, GPSPilot, gpsutil, GPX, Holux, IGC, Magellan serial, Magellan SD, Magellan Navigator Companion, Mapopolis.Com Mapconverter, Mapsend, Mapsource, Maptech, Microsoft Streets and Trips, Navicache, Netstumbler, NIMA/GNIS Geographic Names, NMEA sentences, OziExplorer, PalmDoc, PCX5, PocketStreets 2002 Pushpin, PSITrex, Quovadis, Tab-separated data, Tiger, TopoMapPro, Topo by National Geographic, xcsv, xmap, xmapwpt.
  • Cross-platform support. The software runs on Windows, OS/X, Darwin, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and other UNIX-based operating systems.

Website: www.gpsbabel.org
Support: Documentation, Tips, FAQ
Developer: Robert Lipe, Alex Mottram, Olaf Klein, Ronald L. Parker and many other contributors
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

GPSBabel is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

Return to GPS Tools


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