Adding and editing tracks

If you are a registered user, you can add tracks and later update update any informaiton attached to the tracks.

You need to register before you can access these pages. Sorry, we know this is a pain, but it is the only way we can keep your tracks linked to you so you can come back later and keep them up-to-date.

Register

Enter a user name, password, full name and email address and that's it, you are registered.

We don't ask you to enter your password twice, so take care you enter it correctly. Worst case, if you don't, you can reset your password from the log in page.

If you are an AdvRider.com user, you can use the same user name and password. Don't worry, your password is fully encrypted on our system, so even we can't tell what it is.

Add a Track

To add a new track to the system there are a few things you need to be aware of.

Help tips

As you go to each field in the form, a help tip will appear above the field. This should provide contextual help related directly to this field

Track types

We can handle a large range of GPS track types. If the file you select has an extension that we recognise, we will set the track type automatically. If not, you need to select what type of GPS you are using from the pull-down menu.

If you are unlucky enough to be using an obscure GPS that we can't convert, firstly see if you can export the track in GPX format, as this is a standard format that we can use. If not, you will need to find a service that can convert it for you. There is one here at http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert_input. Just remember to choose 'GPX' as the 'Output format'. You can then use the output file to load into Taut.

Some hints for what should be entered in to each field:

New track file

Click the 'Browse' button to select the track you want to upload from your machine.

Note, the file you upload should not be larger than 5 MBytes.

Title

Enter a concise, relevant title for your track. Think what you would want to see if you were searching for the track. This title is what gets displayed in the main listing on the search page.

We recommend using a simple list of the locations visited on the track.

For example, a day ride from Canberra might look like 'Canberra, Brindabellas, Tumut, Wee Jasper, Canberra.

Description

This is where you can, and should, get verbose. Put in a good description of the track, conditions, and points of interest, etc. If the track varies from any of the overall ratings you specify below, describe the exceptions here.

Country

Choose the country. Currently defaults to Australia.

State(s)

Choose all states the track passes through. This will enable searchers to find it even if it doesn't start or finish in the state they are interested in. To select multiple states, hold down the <Ctrl> key on the keyboard (<Cmd> on a Mac) while clicking on each of the states.

Track type

Choose whether the track is mainly dirt, mainly tar, or a walking track.

Difficulty

Rate the track on a scale of 1 to 5 from easy to difficult. If you're a gun rider, try to image how difficult it would be for a normal human being.

Track time (elapsed)

Give an estimate of the number of hours riding/walking time involved in the track. It doesn't need to be exact, just to give an indication to searchers whether they can fit it in to a day or two.

Track length

Give an estimate of the number of kilometres covered on the track. Also doesn't need to be exact.

Start date and end date

Enter the dates on which the track was done. Helps searchers know if the info is likely to be dated or not.

You can click on the little Calendar icon to choose a date, or just type one in in Australian format, ie dd/mm/yyyy.

AdvRider user name

If you are a member of AdvRider.com, enter your user name here. Searchers can then contact you if they would like more info.

Ride report web address

If you have a ride report on AdvRider or any other website, enter the address (URL) here. Note, the address should include the http:// bit.

Status

This controls whether the track will be displayed on the 'Find tracks' page. It is normally set to 'Active' meaning that it will display. If you don't want the track to display immediately for whatever reason, set it to 'Pending'. If you ever want to remove it from display, set it to 'Archive'.

Tags

Tags will allow searchers to find tracks based on any tags that have been attached to each track. There are a set of basic tags available, but you can also add any new (sensible) tags you like.

To view the current list of tags, click on the 'Get tag list' link. You can then select any relevant tags by clicking on them.

To enter new tags, just type them in to the field separated by commas. Note, you can enter multiple words as a single tag, eg 'Group rides' would be a single tag.

Standard tags

There are several standard tags that you can select if appropriate.

Trans Australia trail

This should be selected if you think your track would make sense as part of a ride across or around Australia. So, day loop rides would normally not qualify.

Around Australia, Australia East-West, Australia North-South

One of these should be chosen if you have also chosen the 'Trans Australia trail' tag.

Edit tracks

The 'Edit tracks' page will display all of the tracks that you have uploaded.

You can see what your track will look like on the 'Find Tracks' page by clicking on the 'View' link for that track.

You can edit any track by clicking on the 'Edit' link.

You can also delete any track by clicking on the 'Delete' link. Note, this is not reversible, once it's gone, it's gone. If you just want to stop the track from being displayed for whatever reason, edit the track and change the status to 'Archived'.

Edit a Track

Editing a track follows much the same rules for adding a new track. See the help above.

The differences are:

New track file

This field will be blank. You only need to select another track here if you want to replace the one you have already uploaded.