Saving Tracks and recordings

Can anyone give me some advice on storing the tracks, recordings, etc. It seems that when I export a day's data to my SD card it overwrites the MATRIX and RECORD files. So when I import the new files into AutoChart, the Chart File Index Manager does not reflect the file locations unless I have export all the data every time.

QUESTION 1 - Is this a problem that the Chart File Index Manager does not reflect actual file locations? It does not seem to make a difference when creating a map.

If I need to keep the Chart File Index Manager locations accurate, I would not ever be able to delete the tracks and recordings off my unit. And I would need to export everything every time.

QUESTION 2 - Is on-board memory capacity on the unit a concern? Does anyone have a system for deleting tracks, recordings, etc?

QUESTION 3 - Is there a better way to do this like copying the data to my computer first before importing?

QUESTION 4 - I have also noticed that the SI File Index Manager is always blank. There is no default folder as there is with the Chart File. Do I need to create one and keep the file locations accurate here as well?

Thanks for your help.

Question 3 is your answer. At the end of a day of saving sonar records, I will export my humminbird tracks (.ht) and waypoints from my depthfinder to an SD card.

I then take that SD card, and copy those folders to my computer, BEFORE importing anything into AutoChart.

I have a few tips for organizing files.

On my computer, I have a folder titled "AutoChart Files" in My Documents. Inside the AutoChart Files folder, I create a folder for any new lake that I do surveying on. Inside that lake folder, I create a new folder for each day I collect survey data. Inside that dated folder, I create a MATRIX folder and RECORD folder. When I come in from collecting data, I copy the files from my SD card into those MATRIX and RECORD folders.

So, it would look something like this:
April 23rd:
My Documents/AutoChart Files/Lake Henry/2015-04-23/RECORD
My Documents/AutoChart Files/Lake Henry/2015-04-23/MATRIX
May 3rd:
My Documents/AutoChart Files/Lake Henry/2015-05-03/RECORD
My Documents/AutoChart Files/Lake Henry/2015-05-03/MATRIX

My Documents/AutoChart Files/Lake Thomas/2014-09-22/RECORD
My Documents/AutoChart Files/Lake Thomas/2014-09-22/MATRIX


By doing it this way, if my Chart File Index ever gets messed up, or I want to change the location of those files, I can reopen/link the whole batch of files for a particular lake, by going into Chart File Index -> Open Directory. There, I'd choose the lake folder (ex. Lake Henry), open it, and it would import all of the dated folders, tracks, and sonar recordings for that lake.

Another thing that I do, is create a text file in each dated folder, that includes the water levels for that day. That way I have a method for keeping track of changing water levels.

Once you've placed your sonar recordings and tracks in separate folders like I described above, you can delete them off your depthfinder unit if you want.


As far as Question 4 and the SI File Index, I haven't figured that one out either. I've tried loading files into it, only to see them blank when I reopen AutoChart. I'll have to try playing around with that some more to see if I can figure it out.

Thanks CamoHunter I appreciate you insight into file storage.
This is excellent advice on how to stay organized from the start. The last thing I want to do is start loosing my data.

Keeping track of the water levels is a great idea.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.