Images with POI Files

This is not possible. You don't have the data in your gps and it is not part of the gps software.

What you would do is set it up much like a tour guide. Basically it would be a location where you can type text, have an attached picture and music associated with it.

See Phil's pages below or do a search here for GeePeeX and tourguides.

http://geepeeex.googlepages.com/

What do you mean "you don't have the data in your gps?"

If there was a way to do such a thing you would add the images just like you add images for Icons. You would just be calling the image out at a different place?

I would think it would just be a 'coding' thing.

Thanks!

Your nuvi needs to be able to support tourguides though!

Here's a dumb question?

Is there an opensource version of this software?

You have to contact your GPS manufacturer. Just a thought I think you need an Iphone. Cheers...

You could also try mapsource but it is more work than it's worth. If I remember correctly, you have to make a folder on your computer and put the pictures in there. You then go to mapsource and in the Waypoint properties, browse to that particular picture. Then save that as a gpx file to that folder same folder. Then use POI loader and load that folder to your nuvi.

You should make a copy or change the name of your poi.gpi that is on their first or you will overwrite it.

Other members might be of more use. It's late and I'm not think straight right now.

This information is from the POI Loader Help File.
But Phil's program is probably an easier way to do it.

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Creating TourGuide Files

TourGuide is a feature available on compatible Garmin devices. TourGuide files include Custom POIs with descriptive .mp3 audio files. When you approach a TourGuide point, the .mp3 file plays and provides you with information about that point, much like a guided tour. TourGuide files must be saved as .gpx files.

NOTE: TourGuide files are usually created by third party developers.

To create TourGuide points, follow the steps for creating Creating Custom POIs in MapSource and use the File/URL field to attach the appropriate .mp3 files to the points. The .mp3s must contain the word “TourGuide” in the file name to activate the TourGuide feature. For example, “TourGuide.mp3”, “TourGuide USA.mp3”, or “TourGuide 12.mp3” are all valid TourGuide file names.

After you have created all your TourGuide points, save them as a .gpx file. See Creating Custom POIs in MapSource for more information.

After you have saved your TourGuide points in a .gpx file, you can save them on an SD card or load them on your compatible GPS unit using Express Mode or Manual Mode.

Adding Pictures to TourGuide Points

You can add .jpg images to your TourGuide points by following the steps for creating Creating Custom POIs in MapSource. Save the .jpg images and TourGuide .mp3 files in a directory, then use the File/URL field to link to that directory.

You can also include the path to the .jpg image in the ID3 data of your TourGuide .mp3 file. Search the internet for more information on ID3 tags for .mp3 files.

Forget about creating a TourGuide. You can do exactly what you suggest with a simple GPX file. GeePeeEx Editor makes it so simple you won't believe it. Picture in the upper right hand corner just as you suggest.

Agreed... I've built a few using Mapsource, it will link the pic or mp3 files. There is a pic file size limit, most pics 200kb or smaller work. Pic file size is limited by amount of text in column 4 (long discription). Sometimes I had to save pics at 100kb.

POILoader just seems to incorporate the associated .JPEG file 'as-is', into POI.GPI. Different devices have different display capabilities - but this seems related more to image dimensions, than image file size.

When I did my initial investigations, (using a StreetPilot C510); I found that above a certain (x.y) size, the image started to be displayed smaller rather than larger! I don't recall encountering any file size limitations - but there again, the results with large files weren't very useful anyway. They just took longer to render, with no increase in quality.

I didn't understand the point about 'column 4'. AFAIK, the only way to persuade POILoader to include a .JPEG file, is via a .gpx file's <link> statement...and .gpx files don't have 'columns' ...

Certainly a .gpx file can have many thousands of characters in its <desc> field and still display an associated .JPEG.

Used Mapsource to create gpx file. I wrote text to the description field (csv column 4 equivalant). The POIs (about 30) I was creating had several paragraphs, all had pics. Used POIloader to install on my nuvi 350. Those POIs exceeding a limit did not show pic, some did not show all text. I did not trim any pic x,y, used a graphic program from a digital frame to reduce the file size. Reinstalled the file. A few POIs now did not showed text and pic. Reduced the text some and all worked.

BYW, do you know of a way to install a pic and mp3 to a single poi?

Using the link tag doesn't show a photo on the 'main' screen above the Go button. Instead, you have to click 'More,' then 'Image' to see the photo. I tried pointing to both the jpg itself and a subfolder containing the jpg. I also tried with the jpg at multiple dimensions.

Has anyone had any luck making this work on a 7x0? If so, I'd love to see your gpx file.

This could explain some of what you've seen. Mapsource duplicates your text to the <cmt> field (which is equiv. to the 4th col. of a csv file) and also to the <desc> field (which isn't).

As of V2.5.2, POILoader copies both to the .gpi file (it never used to). Most units appear capable of displaying both, but the 3xx series truncates the <cmt> to about 250 characters. So if you scroll down, you should find you've got the 'description' twice - once truncated and once in full.

I think this is probably coincidental...
I tried an experiment with my 310 (the 310/360/370 runs different firmware to the 300/350, but it seems to be functionally identical).

I built a gpx file containing a single POI. This had all the address, phone no.& email fields filled in and about 4000 chars. in the description field. I attached a 3MB jpeg file (@3888x2592).

After selecting the Custom POI from the list, it takes over four seconds for anything to appear and a further six seconds for the thumbnail to be 'filled in'. The thumbnail did appear eventually though and touching it brought up the image after another 5 seconds.

All a bit impractical (and I wouldn't suggest actually using huge images) - but it does work, if you leave it long enough.

That's done by linking to a directory that contains the pic and mp3 (and bmp if desired).

Mapsource allows you to specify multiple files (using multiple <link> statements in the gpx file). Unfortunately, that is not implemented by POILoader

No, the 7xx has a different interface. Garmin seems to have several teams that move from product to product, taking their own ideas with them. On no account do they ever talk to oneanother