Thursday, March 22, 2012

Quick Start Guide

Thanks for using GPS Hiker. This quick start guide walks you through three steps to make the best use of the application for its intended scenarios. Please note that you can always use the application in whichever way suits you.

1. Before the trip, visit community websites to find GPX files for trips already made in your destination. 

 Go to the website for Everytrail.com (use as an example).


 Enter your destination in the big search box.


 There are three kinds of results displayed in the web page. Destination, Guide and Trip. You can directly pick the trip you're interested in or drill down into the specific destination to further filter the trips down to match your destination. Do not pick guides as you cannot download GPX files from them.



 Once you go into the detail of the trip, look at the section on the right, just below the big map.


 Further down the section, you can find the link to download the GPX file. Please note that you'll need an EveryTrail account to download the file or the link will not even appear.


 After you download the file, connect your iOS device with Mac/PC, open up iTune and choose iOS device on the left.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4094


 Click on Apps on the top bar and choose GPS Hiker in the Apps section below.


 Click on Add button to add the GPX files you've downloaded to the iOS device.


 Once the files are added, they will be shown on the Documents folder for GPS Hiker. Disconnect your iOS device from Mac/PC when done.


2. On the trip, use GPS Hiker to import the GPX file you've downloaded for your destination, switch on GPS and follow its tracks on the map. You can also start the GPS logging to record your own tracks during the trip. 

  Launch the GPS Hike application on your iOS device.


 Click on the Action icon on the bottom bar.


 Scroll through the GPX file list to select the file you want to import by tapping on it.


 Click on the top right icon and import the trip when prompted. Once the trip is imported, it will be shown on the map. You can now switch on GPS and see your location on the map. Please note that the application will always keep your current location visual on the map if the GPS is switched on. If you swipe the map off the visual region of your location, the map will be automatically switched back to your location after 10 seconds.


 After GPS is switched on, the buttons for GPS logging will be shown up on the left of the map. GPS reading shown on the top and coordinate for current location on the below.  Click on the play button to start logging your tracks. After the logging starts, the play button becomes the pause button on which you can always click to pause the logging anytime you wish. Trip information are shown below the map and can be changed by tapping on its context.



  You can also add marks during the trip by clicking on the Mark button. Quick Mark mode can be enabled in the Config screen to allow you to mark the place without entering the name. You can always go to the detail of the mark to add the name and description later.


 Click on the Information icon in the toolbar below to get more detail information about the trip in progress and the imported trip.


 Virtual Hike for the imported trip allows you to hike through its tracks within minutes.


  Click on the Config icon in the toolbar below to change configuration for objects on the map promptly. All changes will be saved for your next use as well.


 Once the trip is done, click on the End button and choose to save the trip. The saved trip can be found in the GPX Files screen where you imported your file. It allows you to immediately import the trip you just hiked for a quick review.


3. After the trip is done, upload the GPX file for your trip to the community website to share with others.

  Follow the same procedure for adding files to your iOS device but click on Save To button to save your GPX file back to Mac/PC.




  Go to Evertrail.com, choose Create Trip  on the top bar, follow its procedures to upload the GPX file for your new trip.


- End -

2 comments:

  1. Well explained and does work, but the transfer this way is overly complicated. Much easier is to send an email to yourself, receive it on the phone and click on the gpx attachement. Then GPX Hiker will load it.

    ReplyDelete