1.3 Creating a User Waypoint File to Import Waypoints in Bulk

ForeFlight Mobile allows importing a collection of user waypoints into the app using a CSV or KML file. CSV is a format that can be exported from Excel or Google Sheets. KML is an XML-based format that can be created from programs like Google Earth.

Creating a CSV Data File

To create a CSV, use Excel or Google Sheets and organize the file with the following five columns :

WAYPOINT_NAME

Waypoint description

Latitude

Longitude

Elevation

Once the column headers are established, fill in the waypoint information row by row. The waypoint name, latitude, and longitude are required items. If no text is entered, use ["] in the description column for non-required items.

Here is an example of user waypoint entries in a spreadsheet:

WAYPOINT_NAME	Waypoint description	Latitude	Longitude	Elevation
MY_HOUSE	My house	38.1	-79.2	321
PROPERTY_ALPHA	The first house to observe	40.588	-80.1295	775
ANOTHER	""	39.22	-81.966	413

Formatting Text

Waypoint Names: Waypoint names must:

Be at least three characters long, including at least one letter.
- For example, "12A" is acceptable, but "123" is not.
Be in all capital letters.
- For example, "THE_CABIN" is acceptable, but "The_Cabin" is not.
Have no spaces between words. Instead, Use a "_" or "-" between words.
- For example, "THE_CABIN" or "THE-CABIN" is acceptable, but "THE CABIN" is not.

Waypoint Description:

Add an optional description of the User Waypoint. Use [""] in the description column if none is provided.

Latitude and Longitude:

Format latitude and longitude values in a numeric decimal-degree format (i.e., 34.7 or -81.457, where "negative" longitude indicates W). No other coordinate formats are supported.

Elevation:

Enter waypoint elevation information in feet with no symbols. Entering user waypoint elevation results in more accurate flight planning results and allows Profile View to display climbs and descents from user waypoints.

Naming the CSV File

User Waypoint CSV files must be named:

user_waypoints.csv

The name must be in all lowercase letters and have no spaces.

Creating a KML Data File (not KMZ)

When creating a KML file, the file needs to contain the following items:

Waypoint name
Longitude
Latitude

The following are optional

Description
Altitude

Formatting Text

Waypoint Names: A waypoint name is required and must be at least three characters long, including at least one letter. For example, "12A" is acceptable, but "123" is not.

Waypoint Description:

A description is optional, and there are no formatting requirements.

Latitude and Longitude:

Format latitude and longitude values in a numeric decimal-degree format (i.e., 34.7 or -81.457, where "negative" longitude indicates W). No other coordinate formats are supported.

Elevation:

Enter waypoint elevation information with no symbols. The raw KML file text uses meters for elevation. Entering user waypoint elevation results in more accurate flight planning results and allows Profile View to display climbs and descents from user waypoints.

Here is an example of KML file text with all these attributes:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2" xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<Document>
<Placemark>
<name>Test KML</name>
<description>This user waypoint is important for our flight operation.</description>
<LookAt>
<longitude>-105.55</longitude>
<latitude>35.55</latitude>
<altitude>2000</altitude>
<altitudeMode>absolute</altitudeMode>
</LookAt>
<Point>
<coordinates>-105.5,35.5,2000</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Document>
</kml>