Go Easy, Newbie here!

We all had and still have many questions about our GPSs. You should read: http://snipurl.com/garmin_gps_tricks
also on the top of every page under the tabs for you to use for questions, "getting started and faq", You can type a subject in the search box to see if that topic has been asked, enjoy.

Paul,

Thank-you for the link. I too am a first time GPS (C-580) owner.

Tim

I store all my custom poi's on my card then I can do what I want and not have the gps always hooked to the cpu.

Welcome, it great to have another member. Personally, I put most of my pois, music, data, etc on my data card and leave the internal memory for maps. However, keep in mind that if you ever need to use your card slot for a map, such as Europe map card, then you will lose your ability to access any data you had on your other card, unless you transfer it over to your internal memory.

I downloaded the poi for the combined rest areas, after I installed it to main memory on my 760 (g) Now to find just the rest areas I have to type in "rest area" without the quotes, otherwise if I go by the ma[n poi menu:
Where to>POI>Auto Services>Rest Area/Tourist Info, I get the rest areas and Chambers of Commerce. I know one can make car .bmp icons, but is there a way to make an icon that I see posted here that will be displayed in the main menu that points to the rest areas only?
Can I delete the .cvs file I downloaded to get the file off the unit and start over?
I've been using computers since the 8088 came on the scene, but I'm struggling with this tiny wonder.
Thanks anyone for any pointers and your replies.
I did do a search but only found topics about car icons.
Thanks again,
Treeman

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/8674

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/9253

These 2 links should get you started for what and how to use the downloaded files, I am sure that if you have more questions that they will be answered within a short time,
YES you can delete the file you put on your unit, with the usb cable connected and navigate to the nuvi folder, and inside there you will find a poi folder, that is where it is hid, delete that one, do not delete anything that you shouldnt, stay away from the .IMG files, those are your maps,
To get to your files you download i would suggest putting them on the S/D card with the POI loader, and then to find them you would go to the EXTRAS on the touch screen and Custom POI, they are hanging out there, once you get all that figured out come back and i know you will have more questions. GOOD LUCK.

My opinion, I like using sd card to store poi's, don't have to hook up cable to GPSr everytime to load new data,I just update my sd card through my built-in card reader on my computer.and if you don't have built in card reader, you can pick up one cheap that works through usb port.

I've looked into the Garmin for restareascombined.cvs but as I understand it the POI Loader takes these files through the unit and changed them into one file:
poi.gpi
Is this the file I delete?
I've followed the links and now know how to set up the folders. I did a spotlight search for *.cvs but didn't find any info at all.
A quick answer to this will stop me from deleting the wrong file.
Thanks,
Treeman

Yes, that is the right file. However, if you are going to re-load your POI files to the same device (GPS vs. SD card) then you don't need to delete it. Running POI Loader again will overwrite the previous poi.gpi file.

If you are going to change the device where you are loading the POI files (GPS vs. SD card) then you can either delete the file through Windows, or when you run POI Loader, you can select "Remove all previously installed POI's from your device" which will effectively do the same thing.

On my Mac I deleted the poi.gpi file. I then created a folder on my SD card Called Rest Areas. Within that folder I inserted the restareascombined.cvs file. I also renamed Rest Areas 2.bmp file to restareascombined.bmp and nested it in the same folder on the SD card. I ran the POI Loader, pointed it to the SD Rest Areas folder and bingo all went well. I didn't see the"Remove all previously installed POI's from your device" on my POI Loader; latest version, but in true work around fashion I think I got it right!
I still have to spell "Rest Areas" from the Garmin to go to just the hi-way rest areas only and not the combined Rest Areas/ Tourist info from the Garmin menu. Maybe as I get more savvy , I'll be able to put an icon on the main Garmin menu so I don't have to spell it!
Thanks to all of you folks for your help. I know I wouldn't have found this info as fast on the official Garmin site.
You folks rock!
Treeman

Treeman,
You should be using the beta version of Mac POI Loader, or you won't have access to many features including manual mode to set alerts. It is available at http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218 .

If you delete a file with a Mac, it goes into a "trashes" folder on the gps and the gps continues to see and use it. You must empty the trash on the computer while the gps is attached or they never go away.

I recommend against storing the csv and gpx files on the SD card as it can result in surprising results -- gpx files (depending on the unit) can automatically be included into your Favorites when the gps sees them on either the gps or the card. Just leave the files on the computer in their respective folders until you need them again. If you need to access them on other computers while traveling, that would be an exception.

Finally, if I understand you correctly, you are not accessing your POI file correctly. It is located under Extras/Custom-POIs, not the built-in categories. Sounds like you are using the built-in list of rest areas that comes with the maps which are inaccurately placed for alerts and out of date.

Having gpx and csv files on an SD card and in use almost daily for 2 yrs. I've never had a problem with the gpsr confusing or including a csv or gpx file and displaying it within "Favorites".

However, this will happen if the gpx file is copied/drag/dropped into the file system or on the SD card Without using poi loader.

Poi loader will use the gpx or csv file info and create a poi.gpi file. In effect, the SD card or internal file system will Not contain a gpx file, or csv file of your custom poi.

The only gpx file that you should see in your gpsr file system would be ►garmin ►gpx ►current.gpx
That is where your "Favorites" reside.

This is how or why a poi gpx file will display in "Favorites" along with the "normal" favorites. The gpsr is reading two gpx files, the one copied there and the current.gpx

If the desired result is for the poi file to display in "Favorites" then copy/paste the file into the file system, w/out using poi loader. If the desired result is for the file to be displayed as "Custom POI", Use poi loader.

To answer you both I copied the .cvs and .bmp files to the SD card, then Used the POI Loader to install on the unit. You say I'm using the beta version of the POI Loader, hmmm, I got that off the Garmin site along with all the other apps I needed. As far as the differences between the Extras> Custom Poi's and using the POI menu; If I use the extras>custom POI's it shows me the Rest Areas everywhere and not in order, If I use the POI menu and spell Rest Areas, it let's me choose at my location or along my route, etc.
We'll be taking off for AZ in the motorhome for 6 months the first week in October. I'll be giving the unit a good work out by then.
Thanks for the help,
Treeman

If you copy the csv/gpx file to the sd card, then use poi loader to load the csv/gpx file from the sd card to the unit or back to the sd card, you still will have the "raw" csv or gpx file on the card. The csv will probably not cause an anomaly. The gpsr will read the gpx file as a gpx file and display it in "Favorites". If this is your preferred method...I'd go a step further and delete the csv / gpx from the card after loading with poi loader. Don't delete the newly created poi.gpi
I'm not sure why you would copy the file to the sd card then use poi loader to load it back to the unit (or card?)...just keep the csv/gpx files on the computer, then use poi loader to load to unit or sd card. I've not tried to have a file on the sd card then use poi loader to load the data back to the sd card...unless I've read wrong.

when you ►where to ►extras ►custom poi you'll only see the 50 closest to your current location. This is perhaps why they seem out of order.

Wow! You aren't disagreeing with me at all. You are saying the same thing. You merely misunderstood what he was doing. I did not say not to store POIs (as poi.gpi) on SD card -- I said not to store csv and gpx files on the card for subsequent loading with POI Loader.

I"ve downloaded the beta POI Loader from version tracker. I'll store my .cvs and .bmp files in a folder on my notebook. I'll use the POI Loader from that file to the unit. However I did notice that with the raw .cvs& .bmp files on the SD card the unit kept asking me if I wanted to update the unit with these files. Since I ran the POI Loader and extracted the files from the SD card, it has stopped asking me this question. So I have to believe both ways worked.I won't know until I"m on the road and get close to a rest area. BTW, How does the Garmin notify you when you get close to a POI? My old Tom Tom used to show an icon and bong within a mile of the rest area.
Yes, That's how new I am to the Garmin.

I switched from the Tom Tom since support said there were no user changeable parts for my unit. (battery) But for $80 they would be glad to do it for me, That's when I found this site:
http://www.batteryship.com/
They not only had the battery for $14 bucks, but included tools to take the unit apart, Changing the battery was the same as changing a battery in a walk around telephone.
Now that I've taken your advice, maybe this will give back to someone whose battery is dead or going out.
Thanks again,
Treeman