Jun 05 2012

Fix RunKeeper Exporting Invalid GPX Files

Leading on from my previous post about exporting RunKeeper data it has come to light that RunKeeper doesn’t always export valid GPX files for each workout which will obviously cause problems when you attempt to load them up in other services including Endomondo (which I am now using in place of RunKeeper).

I had exported over forty workouts in GPX format and three were invalid. GPX files are simply text files in XML format which makes fixing them a snap. Commonly, errors with XML file validity stem from a problem with the order of tag nesting or tags that are not closed properly (the latter of which is the issue with RunKeeper and some of its exports).

The simplest solution is as follows:

  1. Load an affected GPX file in a text editor,
  2. Locate the first <trkseg> tag,
  3. Search for subsequent <trkseg> tags and ensure that there is a </trkseg> tag on the line above and, if it’s absent, add a </trkseg> tag,
  4. Repeat until you get to the end of the file,
  5. Save the file.

Try uploading the GPX file to your service of choice and you should find that there should no longer be any problems.

Boydo

My name is Boyd and I’m a Service Management Specialist with a knack for operational data gathering, transformation, analysis and reporting.

In 2012, I obtained my Masters of Science in Information Technology through the University of New South Wales @ The Australia Defence Force Academy (UNSW@ADFA).

I was also part of an online community known as the Panasonic Insider Crew in the capacity of “Insider Guru” for Panasonic Australia where I interacted with other tech enthusiasts and find out more about Panasonic's latest gadgets.

I love technology, gadgets, and the Internet and maintain a keen interest in these areas locally, nationally, and globally. I hope by sharing my views on these topics that people will receive an honest point of view from someone with a genuine interest in these topics.

I have also written and edited articles for Neowin - you can check out my articles over @ https://www.neowin.net/news/poster/boyd_chan

I hope you enjoy reading my blog!

2 comments

  1. I wanted to merge three activities to one. So I fixed the error with the closing tags, but when I now try to upload the .gpx-file to Runkeeper the activitiy shows the right distance, but the wrong duration and starting time. Do you know how to fix this problem?

    1. Just something off the top of my head – are the activities in chronological order? Weird stuff might happen if they are out of order.

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