Problem creating my CSV file in Excel ???

 

Hi folks,

After a lot of reading, I do my best to create my own Excel page (CSV extension). All the ones from this site that i transfered on my Nuivi 660 works like a charm.

The way i try to do it, i copy an existing file i found on POI section and that i already had transfer on my computer, rename it, add the new coordonates (lon/lat) that i already found on GPSVisualizer and that i need just like the file I just copy (using the same pattern), erase the others coordonates and try to save it as a CSV extension.
This is where i'm stuck !!!
I always receive a message or error "problem (sort of...) with CSV compatibilty.
I know, i might be missing a step or two, If someone can give me a clue (or two !!!) it would really help me.
(sorry if i have a couples of mystakes in my text, i'm french canadian)

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------------------ BigBen63 / Bernard / From Montreal

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There's no need to make it 'compatible' as .csv's are not comma-delimited type files. Just click 'Yes' to save in the current format.

--
"Delete nothing, back up everything"

Hi Guy, Thanks for the

Hi Guy,

Thanks for the reply,

You mean i save it as a regular "xls" extension ???

All the ones i already download from the site are Excel file but show a "CSV" extension ???

--
------------------ BigBen63 / Bernard / From Montreal

Excel CSV

When you select the Save As file type CSV (MS-DOS)(*.csv) and then click Save, it is normal to get 2 errors - at least, that's what I get with my version of Excel. If these are the errors you are describing, they are normal.

First error - "The selected file type does not support workbooks that contain multiple sheets." Go ahead and click "OK"

Second error - "filename.csv may contain features that are not compatible with CSV (MS-DOS). Do you want to keep the workbook in this format?" Go ahead and click "Yes"

To make it more complicated, after saving the file, when you try to close it, both errors pop up again. So to avoid having to respond twice to both pop up boxes, you may just want to go ahead and first close the file, answer both pop up boxes and you will be fine.

If you are getting errors different from what I have described above, please provide more details.

--
Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold

file format pull down

When you go to save, do a Save As... and in the pull down for file types, look for comma delimited. Pick that. now save your file.

PT

--
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

** B - I - N - G - O

grin ** B - I - N - G - O ***

Wow, I just create my first POI !!!!

Thanks for your help Guy & Gary. I knew i was close to the solution.

THANKS !!! and have a great night

Bernard
from Montreal, QC Canada

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------------------ BigBen63 / Bernard / From Montreal

You Have A Great Night, Too

BigBen63 wrote:

grin ** B - I - N - G - O ***

Wow, I just create my first POI !!!!

Thanks for your help Guy & Gary. I knew i was close to the solution.

THANKS !!! and have a great night

Bernard
from Montreal, QC Canada

I wonder what Excel does differently between CSV(comma delimited)(*.csv) format and CSV (MS-DOS)(*.csv) format? Just out of habit, I've always used the MS-DOS selection and its worked fine.

Hmmmm?!? Any Excel guru's out there?

--
Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold

.

Comma delimited adds '''s and commas, of course to the entry and can be used for SQL databases.

Eg, 'Barry's Baked Beans',,'-123.0000',,'48.123456',,

That's the general idea of what it would look like.

--
"Delete nothing, back up everything"

.

Gary A wrote:

I wonder what Excel does differently between CSV(comma delimited)(*.csv) format and CSV (MS-DOS)(*.csv) format?

Presumably it just affects the character-set (and encoding) that is used?

--
------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ----------------------               http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy           »      

MS-DOS

The MS-DOS version of Save As csv seems to work correctly for me. It puts in the commas between each column/field and puts double-quotes around the data in columns/fields 3 & 4.

When building a POI file, I routinely switch between Excel and Notepad depending on what kind of editing or replacing I'm doing.

Next time I'm working on one, I'll have to try and remember to use the comma delimited Save As to see if I notice any differences.

I've forgotten so much of what I used to know about Excel. Must be more senior moments.

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold

CSV Flavors

Hornbyp wrote:
Gary A wrote:

I wonder what Excel does differently between CSV(comma delimited)(*.csv) format and CSV (MS-DOS)(*.csv) format?

Presumably it just affects the character-set (and encoding) that is used?

I just did a test by creating a simple spreadsheet in Excel 2003 containing POI-like data then saving it in both "normal" and MS-DOS CSV formats. I then compared the files in a hex editor and found them to be absolutely identical. Commas and quotes were in the places where you would expect them, rows were terminated with carriage return/linefeeds (0x0D0A) and line breaks (Alt-Enter) were delimited with linefeeds (0x0A).

There may be some difference when you get to special “high ASCII” characters (accented characters, etc.) but I see no difference when using plain vanilla ASCII characters.

CSV Creation

If you plan to create a lot of custom POI files, your best bet and highly recommended would be GeePeeEx Editor, created by one of the members on the forum Hornby.

I've been using it since I first got my GPS a few weeks ago and love it.

--
Zeus

If you're working on csv ....

Be aware that Excel can format your csv POI file in a way you don't want. When working on csv files, using POI Verifier at http://PoiVerifier.com will save you a lot of headaches.

RT

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"Internet: As Yogi Berra would say, "Don't believe 90% of what you read, and verify the other half."