How to use Magellan Maestro with POI Factory

Hello, I’m new to using GPS. I researched and bought the Magellan Maestro 3250, needed “Route Optimization” with smaller carry size. Friend has Garmin 760 with better display and ability to enter Longitude/Latitude coordinates. Read where some people not sure about using POI Factory with Magellan. You need the Magellan POI File Editor Program.

You can download Magellan POI File Editor version 4.1.1.0 from this site - http://uploaded.to/?id=jflvii Close the box that appears and download “POI_Mgr” 6.5MB

Below are instructions for using this program to convert .csv files to .mgln files for Magellan Maestro GPS units.

After installing Magellan POI File Editor it will create folder named “My POIs” in My Documents, this is where you will place all POI Factory .csv files for conversion.

Next launch the Magellan POI File Editor. Click the “Yellow Folder”. This will open the default “My POIs” folder. Use the drop down menu in “Files of Type” and select “All Files (*.*)” and double click on the POI .csv, this will load the file to Magellan File Editor.

The next thing you will see is the box called “Import wizard” (Define the data you want to import)

On the left side in the “Start importing from line: Leave it set to 1

On the right side in the “Separator” click “Comma” then click Next

In the first numbers you see to the left, use the dropdown menu above and select “Longitude”

The next set of numbers to the right, select “Latitude”

In the third row select “Name”

Any other dropdown menus that appear after these first three just leave blank

Finally Click “Finish” and the POIs will load into a file in the upper left corner called “Default Category”

Right click on “Default Category” and select “Modify”, in the top of the box that appears where it says “Name” type the name of the POI, Example - State Parks. You can leave the “Description“ box blank. Next you can select an “Image” if you want to go with your POI. Next to “Distances in:” select measurements in either “Meters” or “Feet”. Next to “Detection Angle:” either use default 90 or change to 180 for a wider area of detection.

From this point its up to you, if you want to “Display this category on the Magellan Maestro map screen “ or not. All the options below the “Image” selection can be added from the Magellan GPS unit after the POI has been installed.

Click “OK”

Next click the “Save Icon to the right of the “Yellow folder” this will create the .mgln file in the “My POIs” folder.

INSTALL TO GPS UNIT:
Next you need to install the POI.mgln file into your GPS. Open the "My POIs" folder in My Documents, the simplest way I found and the one recommended so you don't damage your GPS unit by accidentally deleting a critical file, is to copy the POI.mgln File to an SD card directly, not in any folders. Then from the Magellan Maestro screen choose---

“Points of Interest” then “My POIs” then “Change My POI File” then “Display Categories” make sure there is a check mark next to the POI file and click save. Then click the back arrow one time and click “Select Category” and click on the POI. You will have an option of selecting “Nearest” or “Spell POI Name”. I find the nearest option the easiest to use as it will display the POI in the closest to your location and so on.

NOTE:
You can also create your own files in the Magellan File Editor Program by clicking on the GREEN (+) Plus Sign. Select a name for the location you are creating, and then select the Latitude/longitude. When entering the Longitude don't include the (-) minus sign

If you live in the USA you need to set Latitude (NORTH) and Longitude (WEST)

Click "OK" and then click the “Save Icon”. From this point just follow the same procedure described above under INSTALL TO GPS UNIT:

I found a site called http://www.itouchmap.com/latlong.html where you can type any address and get GPS coordinates. Can be used to locate newer streets not updated in NavStreets software.

Hope this helps someone, and is not too confusing. There are instructions in the help menu of the Magellan POI File Editor Program for a more detailed use of its features.