How to Work with a Tracklog

Thanks to the GPS coordinates recorded in the photo metadata, the Map mode in Zoner Studio can display the exact place where the photos were taken. However, many cameras do not have the ability to record GPS positions, and the coordinates must be added to the files afterwards. This can be done manually by dragging the photo from the Filmstrip to a specific location on the map, but with a large number of photos from different places, this solution is inconvenient and not entirely reliable.

To simplify this process, you can create a so-called tracklog, upload it into Zoner Studio, and use it to assign coordinates to your photos.

A tracklog is a file that contains a record of your route, including the date and time of its start and end, and the coordinates of all the places you visited along the way. To obtain it, you need either a specialized mobile app, or a sports watch, fitness band, or outdoor GPS device.

Before starting to record your route, it is advisable to check whether your camera has the correct time, day, and year set. Incorrect settings can later significantly complicate the work. The tracklog then needs to be exported in GPX format and transferred to your computer.

If you place the tracklog into the folder with your photos, it will be automatically loaded and displayed once you open this folder in Map mode. If the tracklog is stored elsewhere, click the Load Tracklog button in the right panel. Locate it on your computer, select it, and click Open.

The tracklog will display a colored route on the map that documents your movement. The route will also display a window with the name of the tracklog, its time span, and additional control elements that allow you to adjust the start and end points of the time span.

The time and date when the photos in the folder were taken must fall within the time span of the tracklog; otherwise, it will not be possible to assign GPS coordinates to the photos using the tracklog.

If the Assign button is grayed out, the time and date of the selected files do not fall within the time span of the tracklog, or the files already contain GPS coordinates. A tracklog can only be used to assign coordinates to files that do not contain this data. If any location data is present, even if incorrect, assignment will not be possible. After assignment, the data is written into the EXIF of the photo.

The tracklog window can be opened or moved by clicking on any part of the colored route.

You can customize the color of the tracklog by hovering the mouse cursor over the Show/Hide Tracklog icon. The file name will be displayed along with a color box. By clicking the color box, you can select a different color. Customizing the color can be useful, especially if you have multiple tracklogs open at once.

You can open multiple tracklogs and display them on the map simultaneously by saving them all in one folder alongside your photos.