Courses

1. What is a course?
2. Creating a course
3. Editing a course
4. Deleting a course
5. Navigating a course
6. Transferring courses to/from a Garmin GPSr
7. Convert course to track, route or waypoints
8. Course limitations

1. What is a course?

1. Course Overview
   
   
   • A course combines elements from both tracks and routes to provide the best of both worlds.
   • Typically contains all detailed turn-by-turn information needed to route from start to finish without a map.
   • Can route from start to finish using routing information available from installed maps when desired.
   • May also include a tracklog style path that provides a detailed breadcrumb trail from start to finish.
   • Provides detailed travel times, distances and elevation profiles for the displayed path.
     
     
2. Garmin Definition
   
   
   • A course is a pre-defined path created from a group of location points entered into the handheld in the sequence you desire to navigate them.
   • Courses are saved in *.fit file format which can be used for reviewing or editing the course in platforms that read *.fit files.
     
     
3. Application
   
   
   • Courses are best used for reaching a specific destination, set of destinations, and creating a pre-defined path to navigate.
   • When navigating a course, the course will be highlighted for you to follow.
   • Course will appear as a point-to-point path or automatically calculated path based on device capabilities, maps, and course settings.
   • Course settings allow you to control how the course will calculate during navigation.
   • When the 'Direct Path' option is selected, there will be no map adjustments and no recalculations during navigation.
   • When the 'Roads & Trails' option is selected, the course will use available map data to recalculate as needed during navigation.
     
     
4. Course Terminology
   
   
   • POI: A formal Point Of Interest, or entry in the POI database including a name, location, and other useful information.
   • Waypoint: An arbitrary location saved in a database for future reference.
   • Course Point: Any database POI or Waypoint included in a course including the Start and Finish points.
   • Shaping Point: Any position along a course requiring a change in direction that does not otherwise exist in any database.

2. Creating a course

1. Garmin pushbutton GPSr:
    
   1. Example: Creating a course on a GPSMAP 66
       
2. Garmin touchscreen GPSr:
   
   
   1. Example: Creating a course on a Montana 7x0
       
3. Garmin BaseCamp:
   
   
   1. Not supported
       
4. Garmin Explore App:
   
   
   1. Example: Creating a course in the Garmin Explore App 

3. Editing a course

1. Garmin pushbutton GPSr:
    
   1. Example: Editing a course on a GPSMAP 66
       
2. Garmin touchscreen GPSr:
   
   
   1. Example: Editing a course on a Montana 7x0
       
3. Garmin BaseCamp:
   
   
   1. Not supported

4. Deleting a course

1. Garmin GPSr:
    
   1. Open the 'Course Planner' page on the GPSr.
   2. Select the desired Course.
   3. Open the option menu.
   4. Select 'Delete'.
       
2. Garmin BaseCamp:
   
   
   1. Not supported

5. Navigating a course

1. See Navigation - Navigating a course

6. Transferring courses to/from a Garmin GPSr

1. Transfer courses manually


1. Connect your GPSr via USB and copy the desired *.fit files to/from the device.
1. Courses saved on the device are found in the [GPSr]\Garmin\Courses\ directory.
    
2. Transfer courses using BaseCamp


1. Not supported
    
3. Transfer courses using the 'Share Wirelessly' feature


1. See Wireless - Share Wirelessly

7. Convert course to track, route or waypoints

• Convert course into a track
   
  • Garmin pushbutton GPSr:
     
    • Example (GPSMAP 66sr): See Save course as a track
      
      
  • Garmin touchscreen GPSr:
     
    • Example (Montana 7x0): See Save course as a track
      
      
• Convert course into a route
   
  • Garmin pushbutton GPSr:
     
    • Example (GPSMAP 66sr): See Save course as route
      
      
  • Garmin touchscreen GPSr:
     
    • Example (Montana 7x0): See Save course as route
      
      
• Convert course into waypoints
   
  • Garmin pushbutton GPSr:
     
    • Example (GPSMAP 66sr): First Save course as a track, then Convert track into waypoints
      
      
    • Example (GPSMAP 66sr): First Save course as a route, then Convert route into waypoints
      
      
  • Garmin touchscreen GPSr:
     
    • Example (Montana 7x0): First Save course as a track, then Convert track into waypoints
      
      
    • Example (Montana 7x0): First Save course as a route, then Convert route into waypoints
      

8. Course limitations

• Each Garmin GPSr is limited by:
• The total number of courses the device can index (reference user manual or device storage capacity).
• The maximum number of points per course the device can index (reference user manual or device storage capacity).
• Courses exceeding specified limitations will be truncated and may not route or display as expected.
• Tip: Courses created for 'direct path navigation' will not follow map data, will not recalculate, and are limited to 250 total course points.
• Tip: Courses created for 'roads and trails navigation' will follow map data, will recalculate as needed, and are limited to 250 total course points.