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The instructions here will guide you through exporting data collected on the Garmin eTrex to a Tab Delimited file that can be imported into Excel for use in a variety of GIS software applications.
Install MapSource - Trip & Waypoint Manager Software
Insert the Trip & Waypoint Manager disk to the disk drive of your computer
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Leave the DVD in the drive once you've completed installation
Export Data from the Garmin eTrex Using Trip & Waypoint Manager
- Turn on the Garmin eTrex Venture HS GPS unit.
- On the GPS unit, flip up the black, rubber flap on the back, top, center of the unit to expose the USB port.
- Plug in the provided USB cable to the GPS unit.
- Plug the other end of the USB cable into a USB port on your computer. The unit will beep twice.
New Found Hardware Wizard (PCs)
- A New Found Hardware Wizard dialog box may appear (PCs).
- On the dialog box, Click Yes, this time only.
- Click Next.
- "Install software automatically" should be checked.
- Click Next.
- When the Hardware Wizard indicates that it is finished, click the Finish button.
Import Data from Garmin eTrex Unit to Trip & Waypoint Manager
- Open the MapSource - Trip & Waypoint Manager software by clicking on Start → All Programs → Garmin → MapSource
- In the Trip & Waypoint Manager, choose Transfer → Recieve from Device. The Recieve from Device dialog box will appear.
(click image to enlarge)
If you do not see eTrex Venture HC in the value next to Device, use the Find button to locate the eTrex unit. Be sure that the USB cable is securely connected to both the GPS unit and the computer. - Under What to Receieve, choose which datasets you want to download from the eTrex unit. If you'll be using the collected data in another GIS software application, you don't need to download maps from the eTrex unit.
- Click Recieve. The unit will beep once to indicate data transfer.
Once the data has been imported into the Trip & Waypoint Manager software, a number of tabs will indicate how many of each type of data you imported.
(click image to enlarge)
Exporting Data from the Trip & Waypoint Manager Software
- You can export data from the MapSource software by saving it as a Tab Delimited (*.txt) file. These types of files can be easily imported into Excel for use in a variety of GIS programs, including ArcMap.
- In the Trip & Waypoint Manager software, choose File → Save as
- Make sure that the file will be saved in a location that you can easily find. The default location that Trip & Waypoint Manager uses is the C:\Garmin file.
- Name your file something descriptive that lets you know what the data is for.
- Under Save as type, choose the Text (Tab delimited) (*.txt) option.