New POI Loader 2.5.2

Thanks Phil,BUT why is it then that you can supposedly save the files to mapsource and be able to read them. or am i not thinking correctly.

No one seems to know. It seems like the POI Loader development team didn't talk to the MapSource development team.

Unless they are going to release a new MapSource update soon. But it still doesn't make sense to have this feature in POI Loader now.

Sounds like the "Carrot Syndrome" to me!

At least, now i know why it DONT work. But the funny part of it i am using XP home and the path that Hornby says it should show up Dont show up on my system, but being it dont work anyway I'm not going to worry about it.

I'm not actually familiar with the Home edition. But if you do a search for *.GPI, you should find the file(s) somewhere

In addition to the undocumented changes noted so far, I think they've introduced the bugs/unhelpful features from the latest Mac version of PoiLoader as well...

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/10993

It's now doing the "I won't display your address, if you've got no description or bitmap trick", that the Mac version is keen on performing .

These are not the sort of changes that slip in, by accident. Someone, somewhere, has a plan! I wonder what it is?

My email to Garmin has made it past the first hurdle. I got the following reply from 'techsupport':-

"I'll pass along your information to our Developers. I apologize for any confusion or inconvenience."


The aplication data folder is a hidden folder. To see the path, you need to change your folder options to show hidden folders.
In My Computer go to tools>folder options>view>files and folders>hidden files and folders>show hidden files and folders.

Be careful! This allows you to see folders and files that can get you in deep trouble if you make changes without full knowledge of the use of the file.

wish Garmin would've made it known that the directory structure has to be '/Garmin/poi' on the card either choosing the 'Garmin device' option or manually creating the directories and then using the ' custom folder (advanced)' option. I was just about to give up after 3-4 hours of frustration. Searched all over the Garmin.com site and no sign of this info.

Using Garmin nuvi 750 and POILoader 2.5.2, I cannot load a custom POI file using matching .bmp and .gpx files. POILoader errors out. If I use the same .bmp file with a .csv file, it works just fine. In my case I am trying to associate a .bmp file for Wyndham Resorts with the downloaded Wyndham Resorts.gpx file, but no go. The same thing happens with any other matching .gpx and .bmp. Anyone have any idea why this would happen?
GeneS

loading a gpx file, harley davidson, with a bmp file which I renamed to match the gpx file and it loaded without any problems... Have you tried loading the gpx file alone? What operating system are you using? Mac, PC, xp, vista?

Thanks for the update news

Thanks for the prompt reply. I'm using a PC with XP Pro SP3. I can load .gpx without a .bmp, I can load .csv with or without a .bmp, but it simply will not accept even the same .bmp with a .gpx file. It's not the end of the world, but when all the instructions and all the forums talk about loading .gpx and and associated .bmp and it doesn't work for me, I start getting frustrated.
GeneS

I am using the same OS as you, I did try the test with a card reader rather than my unit. You don't have an issue with the card or units memory being full or near full do you?

Haven't loaded any files into memory except two routes. All else is using about 500K on a 2-Gig card. Guess I'll have to send the error log off to Garmin and see what they say.
Thanks,
GeneS

I downloaded and saved POILoaderforWindows_252. When I run it, it appears to install normally, but the program disappears! It is supposed to be in C:\Programs\Garmin (which is the default) but when I check the folder, nothing is there!

I've tried this procedure several times beginning with the download. Even tried rebooting, to no avail. The windows search routine can't find it either, so something is causing not to be installed.

Any ideas?

As you said, it gets loaded in the "C:\Program Files\Garmin\POILoader.exe" folder. That's where it is on my WinXP machine.

Are you logged on the PC with administrator privledges? The other thing that comes to mind is any firewall/antivirus/anti-spyware programs that may be running. Try temporarily shutting them down, if you can, while you do the install. I've had other programs not install because of one or more of these type programs running in the background.

Which OS are you running - WinXP, Vista?

I don't know why the new version installs in a different location. My shortcut didn't work with the new version until I noticed it was not in C:\Garmin as the previous version was.

Gary,
Thank you for your quick response. I tried your suggestions – I disabled my AVG software and Microsoft Security center so they would not run at startup.

I rebooted and checked to ensure AVG was not running, and I ran the POI install program with the same results.

When I try to launch POILoader from the final install screen, for brief moment a popup with WINZIP Self Extractor for POILoader, etc. comes up then disappears.

I have also tried not selecting the launch option in the final install screen and looking for it in the Programs\Garmin folder, but the .exe file is no where to be found – I even did a full search using the search routine on my START tab and included any hidden files or folders.

I am running WinXP Home Edition. POILoader is the only program I have ever had a problem installing.

Correct places... Have you tried re-downloading the poi-loader? Maybe it was corrupted during the download...

I've downloaded it several times. I also logged in as Administrator and tried it to no avail.

Yesterday I asked a friend to try it on his system and he was able to download and install as advertised. Could it be my ISP? I am on Wildblue and my friend has Verizon DSL. I will ask him to burn a CD with the downloaded file and try it that way to eliminate my ISP as the problem source.

It's probably something running on your computer that is interfering with the installation, the other day someone had Photoshop installed and one of its features interfered with the operation of poi-loader.. it was Vista though:

upmm019

issue resolved.
I have adobe photoshop elements which was launching when I plugged in the nuvi.
Once I changed the setting to not auto launch the POI Loader found the Nuvi.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/14863

One thing you could try is run msconfig and try to figure out what is causing the problem in either services or startup... It would probably have to be a time consuming process..... Or call Garmin.....

Having your friend burn a CD with the downloaded file is a reasonable thing to try.

If that doesn't work, I agree with the other posts that something else running on your PC is causing POI Loader a problem when installing. Try this, set a restore point in WinXP, reboot your PC in Safe Mode (F8 key) and try installing POI Loader. Booting in Safe Mode loads only basic files and drivers. Even your video display will probably be in a different resolution and look a little wonky, but it will still work.

After the install completes, see if you can find the folder and files for POI Loader. If they are displayed, try running POI Loader just to the first screen. If you can get to that point, then reboot the PC normally and try running POI Loader again. Check to see that your other applications are also still working.

Make sure to do the Windows updates. Sometimes that will correct an install error. Remember to check for updates to the updates and updates to those as well.

asinfire and MM are good but I just did it let you know.
jolleyr

After disabling all the startup programs allowed under msconfig, and going through the SAFE MODE procedure Gary recommended, I still have the same problem.

I contacted Dell Support and was told to download the POILoaderforWindows_252 file from
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=927#I...

instead of the Garmin site I had been downloading from:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=999-99....

I downloaded from the Dell-suggested site and it still didn’t work. I then right-clicked on the downloaded file, clicked on “run as” and clicked OK to run as the current user. Result – “WinZip Self-Extractor header corrupt. Possible cause: bad disk or file transfer error.”

My next stop was the WinZip FAQ page, http://www.winzip.com/xcih.htm The explanation here suggests I may have the CIH virus. I checked with the AVG Free Forum http://freeforum.avg.com/read.php?4,27725,backpage= and confirmed that AVG (I have the purchased edition) does indeed detect CIH. Next I scanned the downloaded file with AVG. It came up clean, so I ran a complete scan of my entire computer. No threats found. I followed this with Disk Cleanup and downloaded the file again. Still no go. It appears that the POILoader is installing and uninstalling the executable during its routine.

The clues are suggesting to me that the download is being corrupted during transfer. Does anyone else on line have Wildblue satellite internet service, and if so, have you encountered any problem like this?

That's it for tonight. I will doublecheck my Windows Updates tomorrow as suggested by another poster. Thanks everyone. Your suggestions are welcome and educating.

Well, those download links end up at the same page, so I'm not sure why they directed you that way.

Is it possible for you to download the EXE on a different computer over a different ISP. (Friend, family, work, etc) and then copy it to your computer with a flash drive? This might rule out downloading and network issues.

I've never heard anyone have this problem with POI Loader on XP.

Works fine with my Garmin 250W . . . Mapsource has no clue!

I would stick with your original idea of having your friend download it for you and writing it to either a CD or a flash drive.

I am not at all familiar with your ISP.

This morning I connected to a different ISP through backup dialup connection, downloaded the file again,and ran it with the same results. This is one of those problems we old tekkies refer to as a "dog." Today I plan to remove one program at a time, reboot, and try installing the POI Loader in hopes of finding the culprit that is keeping me from running it.

I think I've got the problem narrowed to my computer, but the download could still be corrupted. If this doesn't work I will get a CD from my friend.

Wow, 15MB over dial-up. That's persistence!

As MM said, I can't remember anyone else having the problem you're having with installing POILoader.

Please, when you get the problem fixed (and I am confident you will) share your solution back here in this topic.

You have me and several others scratching our collective heads.

Problem solved! Instead of tediously uninstalling all my applications, I first checked my Microsoft Updates and found them to be current.

So I looked again at WinZIP. As a client I had no privileges except to open/run downloaded zipped files. I downloaded WINZIP Pro and opened the downloaded POILoader so I could see all its components. The first file is "MAIN.msi" which is the Windows Installer Package. I ran that successfully and it called POILoader's Setup.exe, which installed as it was supposed to! I tested POILoader.exe by installing red light camera files on my NUVI 680, and all seems well now.

I certainly do not know the cause of my problem but unzipping POILoader to display its components, then starting with MAIN.msi overcame it.

Thanks to all who weighed in.

You say you downloaded Winzip Pro, was that what solved the problem?? Maybe a corrupt version of Winzip because of the virus? Still curious...

Re-posted below with quote

I really don't know what the cause was because AVG did not find any virus.
The traffic light POIs I loaded into my NUVI 680 worked fine yesterday, so the loader worked ok.

This morning, however, when I turned my computer on, I received an Update Manager (InstallShield) Error # - 3. So I will spend some time tracking that down.

First, let me say that this version is great, since it introduced the ability to use WAV files on units that don't support MP3 players, and the ability to save the POI.gpi on the hard disc is also nice.

Now the bug:
This applies only to csv files that used name or description quoted across multiple lines.

If the start of the "quoted" name or description, has spaces between the comma and the quotes, POI Loader gets confused and stops loading that file.

Example:
---------------------v Problematic space
-79.123456,43.876543, "Purolator
Concord, ON L4K 5N1
(905)660-6601"

An entry like this used to work fine, but not anymore.

There might be some POI files out there, that all of sudden won't load properly because of this.

The fix is rather simple: Just don't put spaces between the comma and the quotes when using multi-line entries.

What is the purpose of putting a space before the 'Name' field when that field is enclosed in quotes? In fact, it is not correct Garmin csv format per Garmin's examples (see 'Help' in Garmin's Loader).

This format problem would had been corrected had it been checked with http://PoiVerifier.com

RT

Thank-you for this post. I have searched my computer for the poi file created with the map source option. I used my computers search feature and could not find it. Until i turned on the "show hidden files" feature I could not find it. It was driving me crazy.

I just asked "POI EDITOR" to translate a gpi file to a loc or gpx file which mapsource can use.

I tried the same thing . . . no luck! It looked like it was working for a while (green bar moving) but it just stopped. Oh well.

Yeah, software conflicts are a bummer. I had the Rosetta Stone trial installed, and when I put in new printer software, I almost lost it. I had to restore to a point prior to new printer, uninstall the Rosetta Stone, and then reinstall the printer. I too have the XP Pro SP3 on my laptop.

What gets me, it was not obvious what the problem was, the computer never said. It was my printer that ratted on Rosetta Stone.