Can you create a Guide book?

 

I was reading some of the other posts and someone suggested a site for tour guides: http://www.travelbygps.com/TourGuide.php

Do we have the programs or instructions for how to create a tour guide for a particular city? I have all my fav places in San Diego, and I'd love to make a file with all my fav things to eat and do in the city.

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~Caroline =D Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities. - Aldous Huxley

POI file -> TourGuide

You could start by creating a POI file and then maybe later upgrade it to a TourGuide by adding photos / audio. Even a basic POI file would be interesting, especially to users with models that don't support TourGuides.

As for how to create a TourGuide, there's a brief discussion in the POI Loader's help file. Basically, it says you use MapSource to set the File/URL field for your TourGuide waypoints. It needs to point to an MP3 file with "tourguide" in the file name.

JM

you can

I've been playing a bit with the tourguide vs just mp3 associated with a poi. Both work.

- Tourguide - you can end up with one tourguide file with dozens of mp3's. you also get to look at a fancy bullhorn and a pair of lips, and a play > and stop button. You can add a comment about your tour site or add a jpg (haven't worked with jpg's yet). Mp3 files just need to have TourGuide in the name.
Files have to be saved in gpx format. They are fairly easy to create in mapsource. The proximity setting in mapsource overrides the manual mode setting in poi loader. When loading via poi loader you can leave the box unchecked where it asks if file contains a proximity alert.

However, for units that don't offer the TourGuide feature it is possible to accomplish the same thing, without the fancy icons. You just create a poi for your tour site #1 and attatch an mp3 to it. Mp3 needs the same name as the csv file name. Then repeat for site #2, #3, etc. You just end up with a bunch of individual files with one poi each. You still add your comments like a normal poi. You can save as csv file and set proximity distance via poi loader manual mode.

Similarities;

Visual appearance under custom poi's look the same.
You get the red bar at the top of the screen when you reach your proximity, in TourGuide it will read "TourGuide: Name you give it"
The regular poi way, you get the red bar and instead of tourguide it will read "Alert: Name you gave it"

I'm probably leaving something out, but using either method isn't that difficult. Use what will work for your unit.

Length of mp3 doesn't seem to matter, I've tried it with 3:46 and 3:50 songs, as a TourGuide and regular poi. I've not done a voice recording "And if you look to the right side of the vehicle..."

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........Garmin StreetPilot c550 / Nüvi 765...........

wonderful

Thanks for the insight! It seems that I first need to order my mapsource cd from garmin and play around with this. =) Thank you!

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~Caroline =D Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities. - Aldous Huxley

another note

Gigglychick,

Just email Garmin support and state that you would like to see if they could send you the mapsource dvd. Also state that you know that you cannot upload routes, but would like the dvd to manage your "favorites" as described in the owners manual (page whatever).

That's how I got mine for free..and many others here have received mapsource for no charge as well.

Something else I've found out while experimenting with tourguides.
If for example your mp3 for, say "tour" point 1 is longer than the time it takes to get to "tour" point 2, number one that's playing won't stop and play the second location.
So, make sure your mp3 is done playing by the time you reach the next "tour" point.

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........Garmin StreetPilot c550 / Nüvi 765...........

Love to have a copy

Gigglychick, when/if you finish the San Diego tourguide can you let us know? I'd love to get a copy when it's done.

Mapsource CD still not here.

lsmonop wrote:

Gigglychick,

That's how I got mine for free..and many others here have received mapsource for no charge as well.

How long before you received the mapsource CD? I called garmin at the end of Jan and I have not received it yet. Should I call again?

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~Caroline =D Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities. - Aldous Huxley

9 days

from email to mail box

They replied to my email request for the dvd, and included an order number if I needed to inquire about delivery.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/844

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........Garmin StreetPilot c550 / Nüvi 765...........

how long?

I originally tried e-mailing Garmin. They e-mailed back saying they would send the software. I waited about a month and never got it. So I called - there was no record of my request in their system. So I requested it again on the phone - this time I got an order confirmation number. I had the software within 5 days after the call.

Jeff

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Nuvi 350

free software ?

just wondering, if the software is free, why do they have to send it to you in the mail ? they dont make it available for download online anywhere ?

It is not free

webmail716 wrote:

just wondering, if the software is free, why do they have to send it to you in the mail ? they dont make it available for download online anywhere ?

The MapSource is a $140 product. You can only get it free if you purchased a Garmin GPSr with the map preloaded. This is why you need to contact Garmin to see if you qualify to receive a copy.

Also, don't get this confused with map updates. MapSource is a tool that uses map(s) which is currently 2008. When the next version of the map comes out (CN NT 2009?), you will have to purchase the new map.

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Garmin nüvi® 660, iPhone 8gb (Technology is not the solution. It's only a tool to help you achieve it.)

Mapsource DVD

I called Garmin when I bought my 2730 and asked for the Mapsource DVD and they sent it out within a few days.

Tell them you need it to load it on your computer(s) so you can manage POI's and routes.

But.... you can download the actual program off their site and unlock it once it's installed on your computer?

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209

I know you can download the updates too from the Garmin site.

Tim

.

pratzert wrote:

But.... you can download the actual program off their site and unlock it once it's installed on your computer?

What you download is updates and not the full version. This is why you first need to install MapSource from the DVD. Once you have it installed on your PC/Mac then you can download/apply updates.

Also, the unlock code is actually for the map and not the MapSource. It just seems that way because MapSource is useless without a map so when you install the map (i.e. DVD), MapSource is also installed at the sametime.

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Garmin nüvi® 660, iPhone 8gb (Technology is not the solution. It's only a tool to help you achieve it.)