Converting Files

This can be done by another way around. If you connected the unit to the PC then started Mapsource, Go to Transfer ->Receive from device. By this, you can retrieve all your favorites stored in the unit in Mapsource. Then, from file->save as in mapsource you can save them in gpx format.

I've done that and it loads all the way points from favorites but not the poi file ( redlight, speed, ect.) and neither the tourguide files.
What am I doing wrong?

If you have a gpi file, it would be logical to presume you created it from one or more csv or gpx files. CSV files can be converted to gpx via programs such as poiedit. Am I missing something else?

It is a file I down loaded from geo tourguide and according to what I understand I can us this file to make a custom tourguide route. But when I try to open it I get an error message that mapsource cann't
open gpi file.
Maybe I am not understanding this right after all
I no computer wizard.

AIUI, the Geotourguide website creates .GPI files directly. This is the finished file and should be copied to the \Garmin\POI directory on your Nüvi.

Gpsbabel (http://www.gpsbabel.org) can convert .gpi files to .gpx. It doesn't convert all the fields, but Mapsource doesn't allow access to all the fields anyway...

Note: TourGuides are not routes. TourGuide audio alerts are Custom POIs that play custom audio. They different from 'normal' alerts, in that the Proximity is measured in a true circle, rather than along a road and the audio can be stopped and played again, if desired.

Yeah, use GPS Babel to convert it and you will get Waypoints/Favorites in MapSource. And as Phil indicates, this process will lose data, so be sure to still load the original TourGuide file to your GPS unit with POI Loader.

But you won't be able to save a route to the 660 anyway no matter what the source of data is.

And everyone should be aware that Custom POIs that are loaded to the GPS unit will NOT get transfered to MapSource using the "Receive from Device" function. Only Waypoints, Routes and Tracks are transfered.

Thanks for the help so for really appreciate it.

Ok, here's the thing nuvi 660 will not let me make my own route on mapsource and load to gps.

So is there any way I can make some kind of
program/file that will show the way I want to take
instead of the one the gps makes?

MM have you used the custom folder on the upgrade to the POI Loader. I tried it the other day and keep getting an error that it was not the right format. I was using excel.csv. I then went to the load to gps device and it loaded like it should and gave me the option to go to the device or sd card like before.

You might want to give us a bit more info since there are many ways to force a different route. For instance are you talking about forcing a southern route across the country vs a northern route? Or, are you talking about taking a very meandering route to see very specific sites in 20 different cities? Your model doesn't support routes, so you might have to get a bit creative, but your single viapoint might be enough to force an obvious but slightly longer alternative route.

There are lots of ways to TRY to force the GPS to change the route and or break it into manageable pieces. You might want to read the following thread:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/12301

Since the 660 doesn't support stored routes, the best thing to do is to create a series of Waypoints along the route. You can then load the Waypoints as Favorites directly from MapSource. Or you can save the file as GPX format and load the points as a Custom POI file. Or both (which is appropriate in some situations.)

You will then need to select the Waypoints manually sequentially in order to route to them. If you name them sequentially (eg 01 Waypoint, 02 Waypoint, etc), you will know the order that you want to go.

In addition to the pointers you've been given, to techniques to force a particular route, there is a technique to make it show the way, as well.

If you plan a route in Mapsource, the resulting file contains the minute detail of the route to be followed in <rpt> statements. Each one of these is a longitude and latitude. It is conceivable to change these into 'data' statements for input to cgpsmapper - to produce a Custom Map. If the points from Mapsource are used to define a single major road (ie Interstate/Motorway), then you end up with a map that can be overlaid on City Navigator, that shows your custom route as a single, highly visible RED road.

By using custom audio at each major Route point <rtept>, you can add some "Turn Left","turn Right" type instructions.

I release that the effort and skills required to produce such a map will put the majority of people off - but I have used it to successfully define a "rat-run" through the back-streets of a town that usually takes an eternity to traverse at rush-hour.

You may, or may not find this approach useful

Yes, I've done it and no, MapSource won't read GPI files.

Those new options still create a file named POI.GPI (the same as before) except they make it on your computer. Unfortunately, MapSource does not currently have the ability to read GPI files.

It seems to me that the POI Loader developers didn't talk to the MapSource developers.

Thanks, I thought I had gone brain dead as I looked for errors in my file for hours before gong back and just select device. Oh well I guess with a low IQ, no education, exposed to lead paint as a kid and now and old fart I am allowed to me have senior moments.

It turns out that someone else had been thinking along similar lines - there is tutorial available here:
http://www.snowmobileworld.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=799...

(I've not had a chance to read/view it yet).

It would be logical not to try answering the question if you don't know the answer ...

Is there a reason that you dug up a four year old thread?