Weird quirk uploading to the 'Active Log'

[Krein]

I noticed a weird quirk today with Garmin units and TopoFusion's track downloading:

I had been uploading a track to my Vista, and accidently selected "to Active Log" the first time (I always upload the saved tracks, not active log).  I canceled the transfer, then uploaded to saved tracks.  When I downloaded my track after the ride I noticed that I didn't have any time stamps!  What is this, the days of TopoUSA throwing away my time data?!

I thought maybe the Vista decided not to store the time since I uploaded a few points first on accident... but it was actually TopoFusion's fault.  Whenever you upload points (to anywhere) the unit will always throw away time data (so that you can tell the difference between collected and uploaded data, supposedly).  Anyway, when TF downloads a track, it only checked for valid time values on the first point of the active log.  Since the first few points weren't valid, it threw away the rest too.

I fixed it (will be in the next release).

Also, I changed it so the default radio button under upload track is "to Saved tracks" . . . why it was defaulting to ACTIVE LOG, I'll never know.

[Krein]

A further note on uploading to the active log:

There appears to be a bug in the Garmin firmware (at least on my Vista).  You cannot upload to the active log if you are in the "Tracks" menu on the GPS.  The first point will make it, but the remaining points will not be uploaded and the transfer will fail.  If you upload from any other menu or screen, it works.

Also note that uploading to the active log CLEARS it!  You will lose any collected data, so be careful!!  The nice thing about uploading to the active log is not only the capacity (10,000 points) but you can have as many tracks as you want and the breaks between tracks will not be shown as connected.  You can use this to upload a large network of trails, as a map, to your GPS.

[brentb]

Quote

.... but you can have as many tracks as you want and the breaks between tracks will not be shown as connected.  You can use this to upload a large network of trails, as a map, to your GPS.

Thanks for sharing this trick.  It will come in handy on complicated networks.