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Significantly simplify GPS how-to guide.
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The information as-written is outdated for QGIS 3.28. There's a lot of
detail (including installation of an external dependency) that we should avoid
repeating here.
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trey-stafford committed Aug 9, 2023
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51 changes: 13 additions & 38 deletions doc/user/how-to/adding-data.md
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Expand Up @@ -131,41 +131,16 @@ Greenland-Specific Vector Data](#selecting-for-greenland-specific-vector-data) t
extract features from vector layers using the custom polygon boundary layer
instead of the "Greenland coastlines 2017" layer.

## Importing GPS and other GNSS Data Using the GPS Plugin
<TODO: this section outdated, see: https://docs.qgis.org/3.28/en/docs/user_manual/working_with_gps/plugins_gps.html>

Importing GPS (Global Positioning System) or other GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite
System) data into QGIS requires an internal plugin. A plugin is just a new feature or function
that you can add to QGIS that does something one of the built-in tools does not do. Many
plugins are ‘external’ meaning they are not developed and maintained by the QGIS
development team. Some plugins, however, are ‘core’ meaning they are maintained by the
QGIS team. The **GPS Plugin** is a core plugin and should already be installed in your version of
QGIS.

To turn on the **GPS Plugin**:
1. Go to **Plugins -> Manage and Install Plugins** in the **Menu Bar**.
2. Click on **Installed** in the left sidebar, then check the box next to **GPS Tools** in
the plugin list. If it is already checked, do not change anything.
3. Click **Close**.

You can import GPS data either directly from a GPS device that is connected to your
computer, or from a file on your computer. Note that QGIS uses the GPX file format for GPS
data, although you can import GPS data that is not GPX (see section below).

To import GPS or GNSS data using the **GPS Plugin**:
1. Go to **Vector -> GPS Tools** in the **Menu Bar**.
2. In the window that pops up, click on the tab most appropriate for the data you
want to import.
* If you are importing GPS data from a file on your computer, click on the **Load GPX file**
tab and navigate to the file on your computer. Indicate which feature
types you want to load from the file (waypoints, routes or tracks), then click **Ok**.
Each feature type you selected will be loaded in a separate layer.
* If you want to import data directly from a GPS device, click on the **Download from GPS** tab.
Select the GPS device you are importing from, the port the device is
connected to, and what feature types you want to download.
Give the data a layer name, which is what it will show up as in the **Layers Panel**.
The output file is where the downloaded data from your device will
be stored on your computer. Click **Ok**. The data should appear as a
new layer in the **Layers Panel**.
* To import GPS data that is not in the GPX file format, click on the
**Import other file** tab and fill in the relevant information.
## Importing GPS and other GNSS Data


QGIS supports importing Global Positioning System (GPS) and other Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data from GPS Exchange Format (GPX)
datasets. In the **Menu Bar**, go to **Layer -> Add Layer -> Add GPX Layer**.

QGIS can also interface with a GPS device to download data directly and provide
live tracking.

Please see the QGIS documentation on [Working with GPS
Data](https://docs.qgis.org/3.28/en/docs/user_manual/working_with_gps/index.html)
for more information.

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