Solved: Order of Loading POIs

Put them in folders on your computers and load them all at the same time and you won't have to worry about it. The folders will create categories which will be in alphabetical order.

Whoa... thats new to me.

I never heard of that. So are you saying if I make Categories of Folders i can separate Places to Spend Money from Speed Traps w/Alerts.

Okay so i get that this is useful for organization, but does it mean that i can have both the oregon rest stops loaded AND the national? Now wouldn't that give 2 Alerts or popups for the same coordinates?

Oh wait, I think i get it. You are saying that it creates folders on the GPS menu, whereas i could turn ON just the Oregon specific ones for this trip, but reverse that and click on the National when I am going through Idaho?

Am i catching the usefulness yet? OR am i still missing somethings? Thanks!

- ACougar

You can have subfolders under your main folder, if you want. The folders will create categories. You can't have more than one level of subfolder. The files themselves will create the subcategory.

For example, it might look like this.

> My POI (Main folder)
>> IHOP (subfolder)
... IHOP.csv
... IHOP.bmp
>> National Parks (subfolder)
... National Parks.gpx
... National Monuments.gpx
... National Recreation areas.gpx
... National Parks.bmp
... National Monuments.bmp
etc.

In this example, IHOP and National Parks show up as categories and then under National Parks, the subcategories of National Parks, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas show up.

Here are some screenshots of what it would look like.

This is a shot of the folder and files on my computer.
http://i18.tinypic.com/4q8bl8m.jpg

This is how the first level shows up on my Zumo.
http://i9.tinypic.com/4t6c8ye.jpg

When I select the National Parks category, this is what I get.
http://i2.tinypic.com/62qyi4z.jpg

Then if I select National Monuments, I get this.
http://i8.tinypic.com/4kbd8jc.jpg

You can't turn them on and off, but you could just load the ones for your trip. But there's really no reason to do that. The unit can handle all of them. And it will show the ones that are closest to your current position, so the list will change as you move.

If you load two POIs with the same location and set alerts for both, you will likely get two alerts.

The Combined Rest Area file is the most updated and accurate one, so you shouldn't need to load a specific state one unless you have a specific reason to do so.

That was very helpful. Both the explanation and the screen captures has helped.

Two questions left.

1. When/Where do i set up the Directories? On my computer before I use the POI Loader? Or do i have to set it up on the Garmin through USB and then manually switch each loading location using the POI loader?

2. Your Parks example is perfect for this second question. I have both the ALL Parks.csv and the Oregon Parks. I noticed that some of the same parks are in both, yet the Oregon parks has a lot more that are missing from the Larger POI. I understand that I could have both POIs in the Parks Directory, but when they BOTH contain the same Park, which one wins? Which gets overwritten? And do i have any control over that?

Thanks!
- ACougar

I think you just answered my questions....

If 2 POIs have the coords then both show up, and with Alerts set, I get 2 alerts. Is that a bad thing? Annoying? Im not sure what that would be like.

And thank you for the info on the Rest Areas, Ill only use the global one. I just realized that the more detailed explanations in the state one might actually not fit on the screen, so the National one probably was wiser. I just have to learn what the acronyms mean. Thanks for helping solve that one for me.

- ACougar

I have a garmin 260.
I want to load the rest area poi's.
I understand I need to load the csv file
but will my unit play the associated mp3 file
that is on this site (outhouse approaching) or do I
need to convert it to a wave file first?
thanks

The acronyms for the Rest Areas Combined POI file are listed in the tutorial on the file main download page.

Thank you. I'll remember to check those main pages for additional details like this.

And along the lines of what the guy above is asking for his 260, i believed my c530 wont play the audio alerts because i dont have an mp3 player. But will it play with Wavs? or anything else for that matter? Or do i just get the default builtin audio alert when alerts are set on? Thx.

Oh and i still am stuck on the exact method/location to create the directories spoken of above by MM.

- ACougar

i think only by alphabet and by folders

You set the folders up on your computer. Then when you run POI Loader, you point it to the main POI folder.

Nothing gets overwritten if you load them all at the same time. They both will be there ... each in it's own list in the menus. No problem. The icons on the map screen will just sit on top of each other.

So does that mean I need to convert mp3 to wave file for the Nuvi 260?

Yes, if you want to use them as Custom Alert sounds.

See this node for info on the wave files. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/13429

So back along the lines of Ordering POIs....

How many folder levels are allowed? Are there any good naming structures out there that people have come up with? Share some if you have one! Thanx!

Oops... I just tested it, and found out that anything with more than one level deep seems to FAIL on my GPS (Garmin c530). Anyone else have any verification of this? Thanks.

- ACougar

Instead of asking questions all the time, sometimes it can be better (or faster) to just set up every configuration I can think of and see what works and what doesn't. Keep in mind Ive been performing testing using a Garmin c530 (using approx 70,000 to 80,000 POIs) and loading to my 2Gig SD Card, not the Unit memory itsself. Your GPS unit may behave differently.

Here are the Results from testing (and Rules to live by, regarding POI organization):

1. Directories - Make Directories to store similar types of POIs. This is not necessary, but once you have more than 1 screen of POIs and some are of a similar type, it makes sense to organize them by this method.

2. Sub-Directories - Directories can be 1 level deep (ONLY), a directory under a directory will fail to load anything at all in or below that second directory down. So basically, no sub-directories allowed.

3. Single POI Directories - Making a directory for a single POI is mostly a waste, unless you are using that method to display a different Name (Title) than the POI filename. Clicking on a Menu Item which has only one POI in it, automatically opens that one single POI upon clicking the directory, it does not give the real POI name ever, nor does it ever list a single POI in the menu. Think that through to determine if you really want that to happen. I intend not to do it without a good reason. (Note: The one standard case in which I imagine you may want to have a single POI in a directory alone [and usually you will name it the same name] is for the purpose of having its locations mix with all the rest when clicking the second 'All Categories'. Usually people using this method will put all POIs in directories and leave no POIs in the main directory alone. Its something to consider anyway.)

4. 'All Categories' - Clicking 'All Categories' displays ONLY (but ALL) POIs that are found in directories (all directories). It displays NONE of the POIs already listed in the same open main menu of the top directory from which you hit the 'All Categories' button. (Note: That means if you had a directory of Parks, with State Parks and National Parks under it. And you clicked 'All Categories', it would show, possibly among others, State Parks and National Parks as two menu items here.)

5. The 2nd 'All Categories - Clicking 'All Categories' in this NEW subdirectory set of POIs displays the content of all POIs underneath ALL directories (and only those POIs, no others). (Note: Following the above example, if you click 'All Categories' this second time, the new menu will show, possibly among others, the actual park entries of both State and National, all mixed together, showing in order of proximity to your current location.)

6. Duplicates - It IS possible to name a directory the same name as the POI and have them in the same directory - this can get confusing - this DOES in fact cause the two identical listings to show the same name in the menu - however one goes to the names of the files in the directory, and the other opens its POIs immediately. (In short, probably try NOT to do this. Instead name your directories something different than what your POIs are named, especially if they are side by side in the same directory.) (Note: The one standard case in which I imagine you may want to name a directory the SAME as a POI is in the case that you will have only 1 POI in it for the purpose of having its locations mix with all the rest when clicking the second 'All Categories'. Usually people using this method will put all POIs in directories and leave no POIs in the main directory alone. Its a possibility at least.)

7. Slowness - Large POIs load significantly SLOWER (yes i tested this repeatedly) whenever placed in any directory at all, even if its the ONLY directory on the unit. Those same Large POIs load very fast when not in a directory. Directories seem to slow down loading, but tiny files do not suffer as badly. A good rule of thumb is to try to leave your LARGE files in the main directory if you are interested in loading speed. If you really just want organization, and don't care about loading speed, then drop them in a directory anyway.

8. Naming - Names of your POIs show up exactly as their filenames show. This means if you want the menu to show: 'PotHoles in Tampa' instead of 'Tampa-StPete-UPDATED-PotHoles_V' then you need to make sure you named the csv file before loading it to the GPS. (Note: When renaming, don't forget to match the bmp files so your icons will show up, and match your audio files names exactly for audio alerts. And keep in mind that changing names that end in _## such as _60 or _30 will cause them to lose their speed alert info, so either dont rename, or set it in the file with the @## notation in the 3rd csv field, or just set alert speeds manually with the POI Loader.)

9. Name Length - Names seem to be pretty safe if they are 30 characters or under. Over 32 is possible if you are using lots of letter 'i' 't' and 'l', but less than 28 will fit on the screen if you use ALL CAPS. A good rule of thumb is to name your files and directories under 30 in readable Mixed capitalization. Most importantly, just make it something readable to you.

Thats my 9 Results! Some things I haven't tested that maybe someone else will before i get to it, what characters are not allowed or will fail in POI and Directory Names? And on my Garmin, when i click Extras, it shows 'Custom POIs' as the only Menu option. Does anyone know a way to get other "extra"'s added so there are more menu options in that menu after clicking 'Extras'?

Thanks for reading, hope this has helped someone. This is a great and fun community. I'm enjoying learning to use my new GPS.

- ACougar

It is nice to have such enthusiastic new members, I can tell that you are going to have a productive impact on this community. Welcome to the family.

Miss POI

ACougar,

I am a newbie of about three weeks to GPSing and I too have had questions about limits, file volumes and hierarchy.

Your post about testing is both informative and helpful to this old cowboy.

Thanks.

Vegasbound,

Glad you could benefit from the Testing Results. I have to admit that the inspiration for the work came from those above in this thread, most notably: Motorcycle Mama. So props to them!

As new POI organization facts and solutions are found, I'll post them to this thread. Others are welcome to share what they found too (especially when their unit line behaves differently from the results above).

EDIT: Thanks Miss POI. You've built a great community here, so its nice to be able to contribute to help others, especially new people, since in my 2 days on here, so many people have happily helped me get started.

- Acougar (74256)