Marble/Tracking: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:55, 7 January 2011

Warning

This page describes a version of Marble which has not yet been released (as of 07 Jan. 2011).

In this tutorial you learn how to record a GPS track with Marble and share it with your friends. The track recording is based on the mobile version of Marble (Marble 1.0 for Nokia N900). You can also use the Desktop version of Marble, but you need a more recent version (Marble 1.1 or later) and a GPS device.

GPS Tracking

The internal GPS of the N900 is used to retrieve your current location. The track is shown in the map and can be saved for further analysis in other programs.

Enable GPS on the N900 in Marble using the GPS button (second button from the left of the four large buttons on the bottom of the screen). Once enough satellites are in view, Marble shows your current position on the screen.

Tip

If the current location is not visible on the screen, you can move to it using the Go To... menu: Click anywhere on the map and choose Go To.... In the upcoming dialog, select Current Location.

Track Recording

Whenever you like, you can save your track in the Tracking dialog.

This track can be saved in kml format and can be used for further reference.

Sharing Tracks

It's very convenient that this kml file can be viewed on your Desktop. Prerequisite: Here you must be having Marble installed on your Desktop.

Using a command line interface converting from KML file format to GPX file format is very easy.

gpsbabel -i kml -f input.kml -o gpx -f output.gpx

where input and output are files in kml and gpx respectively.

Both Kml and gpx specify a set of features (like maps,images)that can be used by Marble, Google Earth and same kind of applications. These are standard formats. Kml is originally developed for being used with Google Earth but Now-a-days Marble is also providing support for it. GPX on the other hand is widely accepted by all the applications.

It is also much of use as we can share our kml/gpx tracks with friends and communities just by uploading them on gpsies.com like shown below.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''GPS Tracking Tutorial for Marble'''
+{{Warning|This page describes a version of Marble which has not yet been released (as of 07 Jan. 2011).}}
-Prerequisite: You must be having Marble installed on your N900 and it can be done by following our [[Special:myLanguage/Marble/Maemo/Installation|'''Installing Marble on a Nokia N900 Guidelines''']]
+In this tutorial you learn how to record a GPS track with Marble and share it with your friends. The track recording is based on the mobile version of Marble ([[Special:myLanguage/Marble/Maemo/Installation|Marble 1.0 for Nokia N900]]). You can also use the Desktop version of Marble, but you need a more recent version (Marble 1.1 or later) and a GPS device.
-Throughout this guide, We assume you have a Nokia N900 with an installation of '''Marble''' and an installation of [http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/MoNav '''Monav'''] on it.
+== GPS Tracking ==
-Please start Marble on the N900. The initial view should look similar to this one, possibly showing a different location on the map.
+The internal GPS of the N900 is used to retrieve your current location. The track is shown in the map and can be saved for further analysis in other programs.
-[[File:MarbleMaemoOfflineRouting-InitialView1.png|400px|center]]
+Enable GPS on the N900 in Marble using the GPS button (second button from the left of the four large buttons on the bottom of the screen). Once enough satellites are in view, Marble shows your current position on the screen.
-We'll use Switzerland, a country in Europe, in this example. Let's assume we're in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
+[[File:MarbleMaemo-Tracking01-EnableGPS.png|400px|center]]
-So we will now download the Switzerland map now. In order to do this please open the Marble application menu: Follow the '''Marble -> Virtual Globe''' text on the top of the screen. Choose the '''routing''' option on the bottom of the screen.
-[[File:MarbleMaemo-Tracking02-Menu.png|400px|center]]
-'''GPS Tracking and Route Guidance'''
+{{Tip|If the current location is not visible on the screen, you can move to it using the '''Go To...''' menu: Click anywhere on the map and choose '''Go To...'''. In the upcoming dialog, select '''Current Location'''.}}
-The internal GPS of the N900 is used to retrieve your current location. The track is shown in the map and can be saved for further analysis in other programs.
+== Track Recording ==
-For more information about Route Guidance follow our [[Special:myLanguage/Marble/Maemo/GuidanceMode|'''Route Planning Guidelines for   Nokia N900''']].
+Whenever you like, you can save your track in the '''Tracking''' dialog. [[File:400px-MarbleMaemo-Tracking03-TrackingDialog.png|400px|center]]
-GPS image somewhat looks like this.
-[[File:MarbleMaemo-Tracking01-EnableGPS.png|400px|center]]
-In route guidance mode, driving instructions are announced in front of turn points. The map follows you as you move; Marble adjusts the zoom value automatically according to your speed.
-[[File:400px-MarbleMaemo-GuidanceMode1.png|400px|center]]
-You can also save your route using the '''Tracking-Marble''' option.
-[[File:400px-MarbleMaemo-Tracking03-TrackingDialog.png|400px|center]]
 This track can be saved in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyhole_Markup_Language '''kml'''] format and can be used for further reference.
 [[File:MarbleMaemo-Tracking04-TrackingSave.png|400px|center]]
+== Sharing Tracks ==
 It's very convenient that this kml file can be viewed on your Desktop.
@@ Line 36: / Line 28: @@
 Using a command line interface converting from '''KML file format to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPX '''GPX'''] file format''' is very easy.
-== gpsbabel -i kml -f input.kml -o gpx -f output.gpx ==
+ gpsbabel -i kml -f input.kml -o gpx -f output.gpx
 where input and output are files in kml and gpx respectively.