Data Management


 

Managing Your Data

• BaseCamp stores saved waypoints, routes, tracks, and other data in the Library and Devices area. The Library and Devices area is displayed (by default) on the left side of the BaseCamp window.
• The Library and Devices area consists of two panes:
  • The upper pane displays Lists in My Collection, saved geocache searches, downloaded Adventures, and connected devices.
  • The lower pane displays the contents of the item selected in the upper pane.
• Using the Library and Devices area, you can organize your data, import data from a file, export data to a file, and transfer data to and from a Garmin device.

Lists and List Folders

• You can use lists and list folders to organize data in My Collection.
• A list is a collection of items stored on your computer. You can include a single item in multiple lists. For example, you could include a waypoint for a camp site in a list of vacation spots and in a list of hiking locations.
• A list folder is a container used to organize lists. A list folder can only contain lists and other list folders. It cannot contain user items, such as waypoints, routes, or tracks. You cannot place a list into more than one list folder.
• Items that have not been added to any list will appear in the Unlisted Data list.

• Create List

  1. Click File > New > List.
  2. Enter a name for the list.
  3. Add items to the list.

• Create List Folder

  1. Click File > New > List Folder.
  2. Enter a name for the list folder.

• Add Items to List

  • Drag items to the list from My Collection, from another list, or from a device.
  • Copy and paste items to the list.
  • Click the target list before you create an item.

• Add List or List Folder

  • Drag lists or list folders to the list folder.
  • Select the target list folder before you create a new list or list folder.

• Remove Item from List

  • Removing an item from a list does not delete the item from My Collection.
    1. Click a list.
    2. Click an item, or hold Ctrl while clicking to select multiple items.
    3. Click Edit > Remove from [List Name].

• View All Lists for Item

  1. Double-click an item.
  2. Select References.
  3. If necessary, select × to remove the item from a list.

• Move List or List Folder

  • You can move a list or list folder into a different list folder.
    1. Right-click a list or list folder, and click Move To.
    2. Select a list folder, and click OK.

• Remove List or List Folder

  • When you remove a list folder, all lists in the folder are removed, as well. When you remove a list or a list folder, you can choose whether to delete the items included in removed lists or keep them in My Collection.
    1. Select a list or list folder.
    2. Select an option:
       • To remove the list or list folder and keep all the list items in My Collection, click Edit > Remove.
       • To remove the list or list folder and delete all items that appear only in the deleted lists, click Edit > Remove and Delete Unique content.

• Folders:
  • Single Click: Display contents of nested lists in Data list (3).
  • Double Click: Single Click + Show/Hide all nested lists in folder tree + Focus Map around data in selected folder.
• Lists:
  • Single Click: Display contents of selected list in Data list (3).
  • Double Click: Single Click + Focus Map around data in selected list.
  
  

Viewing Data

• You can use the Library and Devices area to view, search, and manage your data.
  • Folders:
    • Single Click: Display contents of nested lists in Data list.
    • Double Click: Single Click + Show/Hide lists in selected folder + Focus Map around data in selected folder.
  • Lists:
    • Single Click: Display contents of selected list in Data list.
    • Double Click: Single Click + Focus Map around data in selected list.
• You can click or [Ctrl-Tab] to swap the map and data views and view your data in the large data pane.
• Sorting columns unique to each data type will be available for the selected filter while viewed in the large data pane.

1. Library: Manage lists and list folders stored on your computer (see Lists and List Folders).
2. Devices: Manage data stored on the connected device.
3. Data: View data included in the selected list, list folder, or device.
4. Search field: Enter the name of an item in your data.
5. Filter Data: Click an icon to filter the data by type. The number next to each icon indicates how many items of that type are present in the data. You can also click a column heading to sort data.

Add Notes & Links

• You can add extra information to waypoints, routes, and tracks using the Notes tab.
• You can add notes, Web links, or file links, such as photos or documents.
  1. Double-click an item.
  2. Select the Notes tab.
  3. Select one or more options:
     • To add a note, enter text in the text field.
     • To add a file, click Add File Link, select a file, and click Open.
     • To add a file from another window, drag the file to the Drag and drop files to add new links area.
     • To add a Web link, click Add Web Link, enter the URL, and click OK.

Edit Multiple Items

• You can edit certain properties of multiple items at the same time (all items must be of the same type).
• For example, you can select multiple waypoints and change the properties of each at the same time.
  1. Hold CTRL or SHIFT on your keyboard, and click multiple items of the same type in the Library and Devices area.
  2. Right-click the selected items, and select Open.
  3. Select the Properties tab, and change the properties as needed.

Importing Data

• The following file types can be imported into BaseCamp:
  • GPX (*.gpx) GPS Exchange Format
  • GDB (*.gdb) Garmin GPS Database
  • TCX (*.tcx) Garmin Training Center
  • LOC (*.loc) GPS Location
  • KML (*.kml) Google Earth Map
  • KMZ (*.kmz) Garmin Custom Map
  • JPG (*.jpg or *.jpeg) Photo
• To import data from a file:
  • Drag and Drop any file(s) from your computer to the desired List, or:
    • Option 2
      1. In the Library and Devices pane, select the location into which you wish to import data (If you do not select a destination for the imported data, it is imported into the Unlisted Data folder).
      2. Click File > Import.
      3. Select a supported file, and click Open.

Exporting Data

• You can export items from the BaseCamp Library to the following formats:
  • GPX (*.gpx) GPS Exchange Format
  • GDB (*.gdb) Garmin GPS Database
  • TCX (*.tcx) Garmin Training Center
  • CSV (*.csv) Comma-Separated Values
  • TXT (*.txt) Text File
• The file containing your exported data can be transferred to another computer or imported into other Garmin software.
• To export data:
  1. Click a list or device from which you want to export data (to export all data in the Library, click My Collection).
  2. Optionally, click specific items you want to export (to select multiple items, hold Ctrl on your keyboard).
  3. Click File > Export.
     • Click Export [Name] to export all items in the selected list or folder.
     • Click Export Selection to export only the selected items.
  4. Browse to a list where you want to save the file, select a file format, and type a file name.
  5. Click Save.

Transferring Data

• You can transfer data items between your computer and your device.
  • Select and drag an item from a connected device to My Collection or to a list.
  • Select and drag an item or a list from My Collection to a connected device.
  • Right-click a list on your computer, select Send to, and choose a destination.
  • Select to send a batch of items from your computer to your device (See Send Data to Device).
  • Select to receive a batch of items from a connected device (See Receive Data from Device).

Send Data to Device

• You can send saved data from your computer to a connected Garmin device.
• The data will appear in the Internal Storage folder on your device.
• You can also send maps of the areas surrounding the items you are sending to your device.
  1. Connect the device to your computer via USB cable.
  2. Your device will appear below the "Devices" heading in the Libraries and Devices window.
  3. Select an option:
     • Select Device > Send to Device > Send '[List Name]' to Device to send all data in the selected list.
     • Select Device > Send to Device > Send Selection to Device to send only the items selected within the list.
  4. A list of available devices will appear.
  5. Select your device from the list.
  6. Select OK.

Receive Data from Device

• You can receive a batch of data from your Garmin device and save it on your computer.
• The received data appears in a list within a folder named "Data received from [device name]."
  1. Connect your device to your computer via USB cable.
  2. Your device will appear below the "Devices" heading in the Libraries and Devices window.
  3. Select Device > Receive from device.
  4. A list of available devices will appear.
  5. Select your device from the list.
  6. Click OK.

Deleting Data

• When you delete an item, the item is deleted from all lists and from My Collection.
• To remove an item from a list without deleting the item, see Remove Item from List.
  • Option 1
    1. Locate the data you wish to delete in My Collection or Connected Devices.
    2. Select the item(s) you want to delete.
    3. Right-Click and select Delete.
  • Option 2
    1. Locate the data you wish to delete in My Collection or Connected Devices.
    2. Select the item(s) you want to delete.
    3. Click Edit > Delete.

Backing Up Your Data

• You can back up the data in the Library to prevent data loss.
  1. Click File > Backup.
  2. Browse to the location where you want to save the backup, and enter a file name.
  3. Click Save.
  4. Click OK.

Restoring Your Data

• You can restore data from a backup file to the Library.
  1. Click File > Restore.
  2. Browse to the location where you stored your backup file, and select the desired backup file.
  3. Click Open.
  4. Click OK.

Cloud Storage

• Garmin retired cloud storage capabilities in May 2018 with the release of BaseCamp 4.7.0.0.
• Users may still configure desired databases to be saved with their favorite cloud storage service in Edit > Options > General > Database Options.
• BaseCamp can store and sync up to 150MB of data in the cloud, per Garmin account.
• Data stored in the cloud will be synced with all computers running BaseCamp software logged into the same account.
• Any changes made to data stored in the cloud on one computer will be duplicated on all computers signed into the same Garmin account when they are synced.
• At this time, folder and list structure within the cloud is not supported.

 

Migrate From MapSource

• You can import saved waypoints, tracks, and routes from your MapSource database into the BaseCamp library.
  • Option 1
    1. Save your MapSource waypoints, tracks, and routes to a Garmin DataBase file (*.GDB)
    2. Close MapSource
    3. Open BaseCamp
    4. Import the *.GDB file
  
  
  • Option 2
    1. Save each waypoint, track, and route individually to a GPs eXchange format file (*.GPX)
    2. Close MapSource
    3. Open BaseCamp
    4. Import the *.GPX files
  
  

Move BaseCamp Database

• You can move or copy your existing BaseCamp database to a new location.
• Verify hidden files and folders are visible on all computers before you continue.
  • Option 1 - Move BaseCamp Database
    1. Close BaseCamp on both computers.
    2. Navigate to:
    • WinXP: 'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Garmin\'.
    • Vista, Win7-10: 'C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Garmin\'.
    3. Right-Click > Cut > the 'BaseCamp' folder.
    4. Paste the BaseCamp folder to a removable USB drive.
    5. Connect USB drive to new computer for BaseCamp database.
    6. Right-Click > Cut > the 'BaseCamp' folder saved to the USB drive.
    7. Navigate to same folder from step 2 above.
    8. Delete any existing 'BaseCamp' folder (removes all existing data)
    9. Paste the USB drive 'BaseCamp' folder here.
    10. Open BaseCamp.
    11. Verify BaseCamp database integrity.
  
  
  • Option 2 - Copy BaseCamp Database
    1. Close BaseCamp on both computers.
    2. Navigate to:
    • WinXP: 'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Garmin\'.
    • Vista, Win7-10: 'C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Garmin\'.
    3. Right-Click > Copy > the 'BaseCamp' folder.
    4. Paste the BaseCamp folder to a removable USB drive.
    5. Connect USB drive to new computer for BaseCamp database.
    6. Right-Click > Cut > the 'BaseCamp' folder saved to the USB drive.
    7. Navigate to same folder from step 2 above.
    8. Delete any existing 'BaseCamp' folder (removes all existing data)
    9. Paste the USB drive 'BaseCamp' folder here.
    10. Open BaseCamp.
    11. Verify BaseCamp database integrity.
  
  
  • Option 3 - Custom BaseCamp Database Location
    1. Close BaseCamp.
    2. Create new directory for BaseCamp Database (example; 'C:\BCDB\Master\'.)
    3. Use Option 1 or Option 2 above to move or copy existing database to new location.
    4. Open BaseCamp.
    5. Select 'Edit > Options' (Ctrl + O).
    6. Select 'General'.
    7. Select (Create new database) under 'Database Options'.
    8. Enter a name for the new BaseCamp Database.
    9. Select 'Browse,,,'.
    10. Navigate to the directory created in step 2 above.
    11. Select 'OK'.
    12. Select to open the selected database.
    13. BaseCamp will restart automatically.
    14. Verify BaseCamp database integrity.

 

Multiple BaseCamp Databases

• You can create and switch between multiple BaseCamp databases as desired.
• Verify hidden files and folders are visible on all computers before you continue.
  
  • Option 1 - Create Multiple BaseCamp Databases
    1. Close BaseCamp.
    2. Create a master directory for all BaseCamp Databases (example; 'C:\BCDB\'.)
    3. Create a sub-directory for each BaseCamp Database (example; 'C:\BCDB\Database 1\', 'C:\BCDB\Database 2\', etc.).
    4. See Move BaseCamp Database above to move or copy an existing database to the desired location.
    5. Open BaseCamp.
    6. Select 'Edit > Options' (Ctrl + O).
    7. Select 'General'.
    8. Select (Create new database) under 'Database Options'.
    9. Enter a name for the new BaseCamp Database.
    10. Select 'Browse,,,'.
    11. Navigate to the desired directory created in step 3 above.
    12. Select 'OK'.
    13. Select to open the selected database.
    14. BaseCamp will restart automatically.
    15. Verify BaseCamp database integrity.
    16. Repeat steps 3 - 12 to create additional BaseCamp databases as desired.
    17. Enable the desired BaseCamp database:
    • Open BaseCamp.
    • Select 'Edit > Options' (Ctrl + O).
    • Select 'General'.
    • Select desired database from menu in 'Database Options'.
    • Select to open the selected database.
    • BaseCamp will restart automatically.
    18. Tip: Make a copy of the master directory created in step 2 above to backup your databases as desired.