27 Browsing the XT File Structure

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Where Trips are stored on the Zumo XT

When the Zumo is connected to a computer by a USB cable, it gives access to the folder structure - part of which is shown in the screen shot below.
In Internal Storage / GPX there are a number of files. Two of these are relevant to the transferred and imported routes.

 

 

 

temp.gpx This file stores recently transferred data from Basecamp. Current.gpx

Current.gpx is used to store the list of routes that have been transferred and imported into the Zumo. ie it stores the current list of saved routes.

 

Trips can be deleted from the list of Saved Trips from the Zumo’s screen. Any routes that are still present in temp.gpx can be re-imported. Very handy - but do not get caught out by the ‘Garmin XT USB Gotcha’.

 

Either of the above files can be deleted, but Current.gpx will rebuild itself when the XT is powered up from cold.

To remove all of its contents, any saved Trips must be deleted first from the Trip Planner App, along with any Waypoints or Favourites.

 

 

These can be accessed from Where To -> Favourites -> 3 bar menu.

 

CurrentTrackLog.gpx

This file stores your recent tracks. When it is full, the file is moved to the Archive folder and given a number (eg 27.gpx). A new CurrentTrackLog.gpx is created. The Archive folder keeps the most recent 20 files.

 

The Garmin XT USB Gotcha.

The XT behaves differently from earlier Zumos when transferring Trips from Basecamp to Internal Storage.

The Trips are transferred from Basecamp to a brand new temp.gpx file. This means that temp.gpx contains only the Trips that were transferred from Basecamp during the last session when the USB cable remained connected.

 

Some Significant Consequences of this behaviour.

  • Any Trips that were transferred from Basecamp in a previous USB session will not be available for importing.
  • Trips that had been transferred to the Zumo but which have not yet been imported will be lost.
  • Trips that have been imported and are in the saved list can not be imported again.
  • In certain situations, the imported Trip can be altered by the Zumo when it is in use.

 

Don’t get caught out.

  • Send all of the Trips that you wish to be accessible in the Zumo in one USB transfer session from Basecamp
  • Do the above, even if some of them have been transferred previously.

 

What do I mean by a Single USB Transfer Session ?

A USB Transfer Session starts when the USB cable is used to connect the Zumo to a computer and the screen indicates that it is going into transfer mode. The screen displays an orange image representing a computer and a Zumo connected by a white cable.

 

The USB Transfer Session ends when the connection is terminated - eg by unplugging the USB cable. It does not end if you close down Basecamp and restart it. But it does seem to end if left connected and unattended for a while.

 

So it is not necessary to select all Trips, Waypoints and tracks with a single mouse operation. You can still send items all at once, individually or a few at a time. That is not a problem. The problem arises if the USB connection between computer and the XT is closed between sending some data and sending remaining data.

 

 

As soon as I plug in the USB cable to the XT, what I do next may well delete temp.gpx

Alternatively, store your Trips on Memory Card which doesn’t have this problem.
More details, advantages and issues are covered on the next page.

 

 

Editing Trips on the Zumo XT screen

If you load and edit a saved Trip on the Zumo, this may change the saved (ie imported) Trip without prompting you. If so, the next time you access it from the Trip Planner app, it will contain the changes. To get the original Trip you need to re-import it. BUT - if you transferred your Trips in two different sessions, only those from the last session will be available to re-import. The Trip that you want may be no longer available.

 

Get into the habit of starting a new USB session and transfer all of the Trips that you need in the Zumo at the same time.

Any existing Trips with the same name will be replaced, not duplicated.

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The information on these pages has been acquired from personal experience of using and testing the behaviour of Basecamp and my Zumo XT. I have no links with Garmin, and these pages should not be regarded as instructions. They are presented for interest only. The contents of these pages must not be shared, copied, transmitted, redistributed or re-published in any form without my permission. (C) JHeath 2021.