Wikivoyage/Lounge/Archive/2015-05

GPX integration enhancement

After almost a month of work and experiment, and also thanks to the precious support of Joachim, on it:voy: we have implemented a new GPX feature that allow to download a GPX of all the POI (i.e. listing with coordinates) and tracks (i.e. path shown in the dynamic map) present in an article, into a GPX formatted file that can be uploaded in a GPS equipment compatible with this format.

Once uploaded a traveller will be able to reach any POI (or follow any track) without the need of an internet connection.

Current implementation has the benefit of following the same numbering and colors of our listing, of any language version. Downloaded file will be saved as Page title_lang.gpx, so it would be possible to store more than one file for each location.

Its implementation is quite easy for all the Wikivoyage language version that are already configured to use listing/mapframe & the new MW indicator feature:

• Create the equivalent of it:voy:Template:Indicatore GPX
• Patch Template:Listing for POI
• Patch Template:Mapframe for tracks

Once done a new icon will appear in the indicator section. Through this icon will be possible to download the GPX file. Try any it:voy article to test it.

Feel free to propose suggestions and highlight any bug in this functionality that you may find out. --Andyrom75 (talk) 11:41, 13 April 2015 (UTC)

That's great! One of our admins has been asking for this feature since the very start of Wikivoyage. I am thrilled to see it working! --Alexander (talk) 18:48, 14 April 2015 (UTC)

Alexander feel free to roam aroung the it:voy article and click on the GPX icon to download any GPX file you like :-)

The implementation on ru:voy should be quite easy, but in case of need feel free to ping for help ;-) --Andyrom75 (talk) 21:47, 14 April 2015 (UTC)

I have implemented it already. The long-sought connection to OsmAnd is awesome! Thanks to all who contributed! --Alexander (talk) 21:06, 15 April 2015 (UTC)

Further thoughts

I suggest to think what else could be done in this direction. For example:

• Would it be possible/practical to read opening hours and descriptions? Can one store them in gpx-files and eventually display in OsmAnd or any other software?
• Could one automatically generate "packages" of gpx-files for all destinations in a given region? Or perhaps gpx-files for all destinations at once?
• We already have offline version of Wikivoyage in Kiwix. Would it be possible to integrate gpx-files into it?

--Alexander (talk) 18:24, 16 April 2015 (UTC)

Everything have been tested so far on OsmAnd. By now we haven't found a standard way to add further information, but for sure in the future it would be possible.

It shouldn't be difficult to download packages. Any suggestion on where to add the icon/link that would activate it? Putting other icons in the indicator's area could be messy.

I know people that work on Kiwix. I can try to investigate it with them. --Andyrom75 (talk) 22:01, 18 April 2015 (UTC)

Regarding the packages, the main question is how to build them. The download icon could simply go to the end of the page close to the article status bar. --Alexander (talk) 03:44, 20 April 2015 (UTC)

The script must be written server side. Thinking on it:voy, the easiest & quickest way is collecting all the article of a certain territory through the categories that are automatically created. Do you use categories on ru:voy?

The icon in a status box template (or another non-standard) will became locally dependent (i.e. it won't have the same implementation over the various language versions).

What about implement this feature outside the articles (i.e. in a separate dedicated page)? --Andyrom75 (talk) 07:25, 20 April 2015 (UTC)

Yes, separate page could be a good solution. So, to my understanding, next step is to have a script that will produce gpx files for all pages from a given category. --Alexander (talk) 14:39, 20 April 2015 (UTC)

I think that a category is the easiest way to evaluate which (city?) articles are linked to another one (region?).

Does ru:voy use category as well? In that case we may think on adding this icon, not in a "generic" separate page, but exactly in the page of the category. What do you think? --Andyrom75 (talk) 20:02, 20 April 2015 (UTC)

We almost do not use categories, probably extra categories need to be discussed at the Travellers' Pub.--Ymblanter (talk) 18:09, 24 April 2015 (UTC)

I currently developing a graphic-oriented solution for downloading GPX data for selected regions [1]. But that will take a while. - Joachim Mey2008 (talk) 10:02, 30 April 2015 (UTC)

That's a great idea too! But I think we should not give up simple solutions like a single gpx file for all pages in a given category. Will it be feasible? --Alexander (talk) 08:08, 1 May 2015 (UTC)

There are already advances in program development (working example). A solution with categories I want to rethink later. - Joachim Mey2008 (talk) 08:44, 1 May 2015 (UTC)

The script is now almost finished [2]. Please test and make suggestions. -- Mey2008 (talk) 04:40, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

Excellent job as usual :) If possible I would suggest to add a switch-button on the main map (i.e. e.g. The one contained in it:voy:Tematica:Destinazioni) that will activate/deactivate the possibility to select a group of destination to download their GPX. Is it possible? Ps see also your de:voy talk page. --Andyrom75 (talk) 10:47, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

With the layer control you only can switched on and off the map layer. But I plan the summary of Poimap, Articlesmap and Gpxmap. A switch for GPX downloads would be useful then. -- Joachim Mey2008 (talk) 04:44, 17 May 2015 (UTC)

Pagebanner extension for Wikivoyage

Hi all, I'm Sumit. A proposal for a pagebanner extension for Wikivoyage which had been posted sometime back, is now moving ahead under the guidance of User:Jdlrobson and User:Syced. As of now only a basic setup of the extension has been developed which adds a default specified banner on all main namespace pages, and replaces it with a custom banner, if a construct like {{PAGEBANNER:File.jpg}} is used. As it is being developed, all its live changes can be tried out at this test wiki. Your comments and/or views and/or feature additions shall be very helpful during the development process. The development shall follow the lines of the proposal much of which has been taken from Template:Pagebanner and its discussion page and will be modified depending upon the feedback.
For giving feedback, one can view the pagebanner workboard which has a few open tasks to be achieved in the coming time. If a task you wish to comment on already exists, simply go to that task and leave your comment. If it does not exist, you can create a new one from here(both require a phabricator account). While creating a new task, remember to add WikidataPageBanner to the Projects list so that it appears on the pagebanner workboard. Example of a task thats already open for discussion is this.
Whenever I'll add any significant feature, I'll leave a comment here, for everyone to see on the test wiki. For all other purposes, the progress can be monitored any time by looking at the tasks on the pagebanner workboard.
Looking forward to your cooperation. Feel free to comment and discuss.--Sumit.iitp (talk) 07:27, 20 May 2015 (UTC)