Discussion: Google earth

Thanks for coming. Most enjoyable to have you along for company, and the answer to a question I've had for a long time. Now for the next question. I downloaded and installed Google earth and tried to launch it, but nothing happens. If I were to get it open, how would I use this file you sent? Just looks like a bunch of text to me.

Google Earth won't load? Or clicking on the gpx file won't load it? I'll assume the latter...

Download the GPX file to your computer, then open it under Google Earth. It will default to asking you for a kml file, but if you click the file types drop down, one of the options is for gps files including the gpx extension. Google Earth should then zoom in on Ratlum mountain and show you the track.

I save in the gpx format as it is a fairly common file type between programs - lets me open the file in programs other than google earth as well. The KML file is pretty specific to Google Earth.

And it is just a bunch of text - its a type of XML markup describing the location of each trackpoint the GPS saved while we were running.

1. Google earth doesn't seem to launch. I downloaded and installed, but when I go to all programs and click on launch google earth, nothing happens.

2. How would I download the gpx file? When I click on it, it just appears as a weblink with text.

Hmmm, that's odd - Google Earth sometimes takes a moment to load on my computer, but I'm not sure why it wouldn't load. It does require a reasonably recent computer with plenty of memory. Older computers might not have the resources available to run it. If I try to run too many programs while Google Earth is running my system chokes and I have to shut google earth down.

To download the gpx run your mouse over the link, then right click and 'Save As...' . Remember where you put it for opening later...

If all else fails, I posted a JPEG image of the route, but you can't do all the fun google earth stuff like pan, zoom, tilt etc...

OK, thanks for the additional tips. I've got it now. I re-booted and Google Earth was able to launch, and then saved the page as a .gpx file and that all works. I have not yet figured out how to tilt, and I assume there may be other views available, like the topo map, but I haven't figured that out yet either. Very cool.

if you run your mouse into the upper right corner, the navigation controls will appear - compass rose to rotate the view, scroll bar on right side zooms (I prefer to use the mouse wheel to scroll if your mouse has one) and the scroll bar above the compass rose tilts the view.

A couple neat views are looking at the SW corner of the route looking over Lake McDonough at Ski Rundown. (just like you said, it was indeed just down the road). Also looking at the little detour we made to get across the beaver pond in the beginning of the run.

Its a fun program to play with - enjoy...

OK, I'm getting the hang of it. I can certainly see the utility of a Garmin device with it.