Help Loading Custom POI's Please - Newbee

 

Unit: Garmin 750. Map 2009 NA NT. System: 3.00

This is my first attempt at installing custom POIs and I've obviously done something wrong. I've used POI Loader to remove all Extras so I'm ready to try again with a clean slate. Can and will you help?

First, on my laptop I created a >Garmin Custom POI folder in >My Documents, then two sub-folders - >Good Sam and >KOA. I then downloaded the Good Sam and KOA .csv files onto my desktop and downloaded and dragged the icons from the new windows into which they appeared onto the desktop. Using MS Explorer I then dragged the .csv files and .bmp icons into their respective Good Sam and KOA folders.

Next, I used the Garmin POI loader to load the KOA files and then the Good Sam files in the 750. I did NOT select the radio button to remove any custom files.

The POI Loader told me I had successfully loaded over a thousand KOA's and about 450 Good Sams.

What I ended up with, in the Where To?>Extras section, was a single Custom POIs bar, which when touched revealed exactly 52 Good Sam campgrounds, not nearly the number I was told was loaded, and no KOA campgrounds. No icons visible either.

Thanks,
Irish

It only shows nearby locations

or maybe 50 is the limit, I check my poi file for schools which has a gazillion and I could down arrow 13 times 14X5=70, the furthest away one was 2.2 miles so I think it is distance that is the deciding factor.

Change to a city where you know there is a KOA and see if it appears then...

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

also are

the bmp files named exactly the same as the poi file except for the bmp extension and are they in the same folder?

Also you need to zoom in quite close to see the icons and may need to be in 2D mode...

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

It sounds like you done the

It sounds like you done the right steps.

1.My documents you create Garmin Custom Folder.
2.Subfolder Good Sam
3.Subfolder KOA
4.Put csv and bmp into correct subfolder.All named the same except extensions
5.Ran poiloader did you direct to main folder not subfolders?
6.Sat download to gps so many pois downloaded.

Should look like this.

>Main folder=Garmin custom folder

>>Subfolder=Good Sam
>>>Good Sam.csv
>>>Good Sam.bmp

>>Subfolder=KOA
>>>KOA.csc
>>>KOA.bmp

Only the closest 50 will show up on under extras.
Note.Make sure to direct the poiloader to the main folder after reading your post again it appears you done each subfolder separate.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Closest 50

Only the closest 50 will show up under extras.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Where are the POI's

It sounds like you ran POI Loader twice, first for KOA and the second for Sams. If that's what you did, the second run deleted the first one. That's the way POI Loader works.
Just put the KOA and Sam entries in separate folders but both under a common folder, then run the loader. After you press "Custom POI's" you should see TWO entries, one for KOA and the other for Sam. And like it's been already been stated, only the closest 50 entries will show. The rest are there, but until you physically get closer to them, you won't see them.

--
"No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."

Help Loading Custom POI's Please - Newbee

OK! Part of the problem is solved. As plunder said, I did run the POI Loader twice, so this time I pointed the POI loader to the Garmin Custom POI file and, indeed, both the Good Sam and KOA POIs loaded.

Secondly, I do find additional CG's when I start from another city so the 50 limit problem is solved.

But, I don't see the icons anywhere. I went back into MS Explorer and changed the view from Filmstrip to Tiles and changed the names of the .bmp files to add the extension .bmp. Then I reloaded all the POIs but still don't see the icons on the map or in the listings. Where should I expect to see the icons?

Irish

Help Loading Custom POI's Please - Newbee

I should have mentioned that I am in the 2D mode. And, Charlesd also mentioned that I should have pointed the Loader to the main folder. Thanks,

You have to zoom in very

You have to zoom in very close (200 or 300 feet) in order to see the icons.

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Nuvi 350 Nuvi 3597LMT Nuvi 1450LMT Nuvi 55LM

BMP Icons

irishmist20 wrote:

OK! Part of the problem is solved. As plunder said, I did run the POI Loader twice, so this time I pointed the POI loader to the Garmin Custom POI file and, indeed, both the Good Sam and KOA POIs loaded.

Secondly, I do find additional CG's when I start from another city so the 50 limit problem is solved.

But, I don't see the icons anywhere. I went back into MS Explorer and changed the view from Filmstrip to Tiles and changed the names of the .bmp files to add the extension .bmp. Then I reloaded all the POIs but still don't see the icons on the map or in the listings. Where should I expect to see the icons?

Irish

By any chance do you have double extensions for the bmp files?Unless you have changed your settings just type in the same name you have for the csv and the extension will take care of itself.Just hold cursor over the file name and it will show the extension after you have typed the name in.Like bluestring says zoom in and 2d mode is the best some users report for seeing the icons.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Help Loading Custom POI's Please - Newbee

Yep. I think I did double extensions. Anyhow, when I select a campground and then choose Map I do see the icon.

Thanks a bunch, folks. Your help was terrific!

Irish

POI Loader

plunder wrote:

It sounds like you ran POI Loader twice, first for KOA and the second for Sams. If that's what you did, the second run deleted the first one. That's the way POI Loader works.

Not quite... smile On the 750 you can load new files without deleting your old files provided they are in folders with diffent names. They just show up as different categories. Just today I added one category (some stores near Virginia Beach) without affecting my other POI categories?

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Fletch- Nuvi 750

To Clarify

fletch wrote:

Not quite... smile On the 750 you can load new files without deleting your old files provided they are in folders with diffent names.

Plunder was talking about running POI Loader multiple times and pointing to a different folder each time. If you do not rename the POI.gpi file that POI Loader generates, before running POI Loader again, it will overwrite the original file.

I'm guessing that you meant you added a new folder/category and re-ran POI Loader, pointing to the main folder, and therefore reloading ALL of your files.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

To Clarify

No, I only load the "new" poi's. What I forgot to mention was that I was renaming the .gpi file as I was loading them. My bad... sad But also a good habit to get into so you can update one list without having to reload all of you POI's

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Fletch- Nuvi 750

Help Loading Custom POI's Please - Newbee

What, and where, is a .gpi file?

I seen post by other members

I seen post by other members doing the same thing by re-naming the gpi file.I guess it depends on what type of files you are maintaining.I just don't see any advantage with either method.Re-loading each time with poiloader just does not take that much time.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

gpi file

irishmist20 wrote:

What, and where, is a .gpi file?

When you run poiloader the csv or gpx file is converted to a gpi file for the gps.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

And

All your gpi files must be in the Garmin/POI folder on either the unit or the card.

--
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

WOW

How do you guys KNOW all these things? grin

Usually multiple ways...

To start with reading:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1631

and reading questions like you have asked, by asking questions and playing with/using our gpss.

I've been a member of this site less than a month and have learned a tremendous amount from the many knowledgeable contributors..

Keep reading, asking questions and in no (know) time you also will be answering questions like "how to load a custom poi" .... mrgreen

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

Other members

irishmist20 wrote:

How do you guys KNOW all these things? grin

From the informed members on this site.Lot of things not covered in your manual.By reading a lot of comments on this site you pick up a lot of information not only on your unit but others.So when you upgrade you will have a good idea on what other features are out there.A lot of information also listed in the FAQ.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.