Editing favorites with EasyGPS

I think I've seen that happen to me before, where the nuvi doesn't like something about the edited current.gpx and restores to an "internally" saved version of it.

Try to create a separate file (eg. AdditionalFavs.gpx)and place in the same place as the current.gpx. When the nuvi restarts, it integrates the POIs contained in that file into the current.gpx automatically, and gets rid of the file.

I figured it out and it works.

Current.gpx is a Nuvi output file only (for input via transfer to MapSource if that is used) that the Nuvi overwrites from information (favorites, routes on the 7xx series etc) in its internal memory each time the Nuvi is booted. So when you copy a file named Current.gpx with new favorites to the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory, that file is simply overwritten when the Nuvi is booted and will therefore contain only the favorites (if any) etc that are already on the Nuvi. The solution, as noted, is to rename the file to something else.gpx and copy that file into the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory. On the 7xx series at least, one has to even rename a Current.gpx file which was previously copied to the PC for backup to something else .gpx to get the Nuvi to restore the favorites when the file is copied back to the Nuvi. Any gpx files copied into the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory, other than Current.gpx and Temp.gpx (which is an input file from MapSource) will stay there (and not be overwritten), even on a master reset, until you delete them, which you can do if you wish once the Nuvi has loaded their contents into its internal memory.

So, if the Nuvi, deletes a temp.gpx file after adding it to favorites, wouldn't it make sense to use that name for all files you want added to favorites -- saves you the trouble of having to eventually delete it.

If I understand you correctly, I can create a gpx file named new.gpx, copy it to the same location as the current.gpx file and the new.gpx file will overwrite the favorites file in the system with the listings in the new.gpx file? Thanks for the clarification.

No, the items in the new.gpx file will be ADDED to your favorites. It will create duplicates of the existing favorites and you'll have to delete the duplicates on the Nuvi. This is not the fault of EasyGPS. It's just how the Nuvi works.

Thanks, This will let met set up a delivery route. I will just need to delete each entry before adding the next set which I can keep on file in my computer. This really helps and does not require me to purchase an upgrade for a route plotting unit. Once again thanks.

I noticed that problem. When I updated the waypoints in current.gpx and saved it to my Nuvi, it created a new waypoint, therefore, the old on and the new ones were showing in my favorites. As you said, this is because the old waypoint was kept in memory even though I deleted it from the Nuvi. I then had to go back and delete the old duplicate waypoint on my Nuvi.

There should be some way around this but I guess it is a safety feature in case you accidently delete your current.gpx file. It automatically restores it from memory when rebooting.

On my 200, any gpx file on the SD card will be imported into My Favorites, then the gpx file is deleted.

Are you suggesting that when I create changes in EasyGps then I save those changes to my sd card? Therefore, when I reboot, the changes will overwrite the current.gpx file on the Nuvi. Thanks

The Nuvi does not automatically delete Temp.gpx. The old Temp.gpx (if one is already present) is overwritten if you copy a new Temp.gpx to the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory and answer yes to the overwriting of the existing file prompt from Windows. Or the Temp.gpx file is automatically overwritten when you transfer new information to the Nuvi from MapSource. Temp.gpx is a special Nuvi file and is only temporary in the sense that it can be overwritten as above. On my 750, no gpx file copied to the Nuvi subdirectory will disappear on its own. Current.gpx and Temp.gpx can be overwritten as above, and if you delete them, the Nuvi will automatically recreate Current.gpx (from the information in its internal memory) on the next boot up and Temp.gpx is recreated on the next MapSource transfer. Yes, if you directly copy in a file named Temp.gpx with new favorites, it will simply overwrite an existing Temp.gpx file (if one exists, or place the new Temp.gpx file there if not) and if you do this each time, you will not end up with an accumulation of .gpx files. However, this would work the same for any other file name that you used over and over again (not because Temp.gpx is a “temporary file” that the Nuvi deletes when no longer needed). If you use the same file name repeatedly, you would always have only the latest version in the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory. I don't overwrite my gpx files because I keep special routes (ie all my Florida trip routes in one gpx file and other special routes in others) in them and I want to keep them saved in the Nuvi at all times or be able to easily swap them in and out as needed (you can have many gpx files there at one time, each with many routes, so you can store many more routes than the stated 10 on the 7xx Nuvi this way. But that is another topic).

And just to clarify, Current.gpx is not where the Nuvi actually stores its favorites. Favorites are stored in the Nuvi’s internal non-user accessible memory and Current.gpx is simply a copy of this internal information that is recreated each time the Nuvi boots. Current.gpx is a one-way “output” file from the GPS. You cannot add new favorites or delete old ones on the Nuvi by modifying a file named Current.gpx. But you can copy Current.gpx to your PC, modify it using MapSource or other software, save it as a gpx file under another name, and copy it back to your Nuvi. The Nuvi will then import all the information in that file to its internal memory. And unless you deleted your old favorites on the Nuvi before the copy back, you would now have duplicate favorites in the Nuvi for all those favorites in the new file that match one already in the Nuvi’s memory. And any old favorites you may have deleted in the modified file would still be there in the Nuvi. This process only adds. It does not delete. You must use the Nuvi’s Tools options (or a master reset to delete favorites).

Note that if you do a master reset, it may appear that your favorites may not have been deleted if you have any gpx files, other than Temp.gpx and Current.gpx in the Nuvi’s GPX subdirectory. This is because, on a reset, the Nuvi will automatically re-import favorites residing in any other gpx files. If you don’t mind this happening, leave the gpx files there. If you want to start over again from scratch, delete them. No problem with deleting Current.gpx and Temp.gpx too, since they will simply be recreated as needed.

The above is based on my experience with my 750. Other Nuvi models may differ. I don't use an SD card so I don't know if gpx files copied to an SD card are handled the same way (ie automatically deleted or not by the Nuvi) as reported above for the Nuvi 200.

That agrees with my experience with the 760.

Other units (that don't support downloadable routes, or tracks) do tend to automatically delete .gpx files, after the Favourites contained therein, have been (automatically) imported.

Also, they tend not to understand that CURRENT.GPX is supposed to be an output file and read that as input too. (Based on my observations of the StreetPilot C510 and Nüvi 310)

Both of you seem to have a handle on this so maybe you can explain to me about this.I have ue google maps to transfer 21 waypoints or favorites to my unit.After reading all your posts.I went to the Garmin drive and took a look see.In the gpx folder I see the current gpx file and the 21 gpx files I just sent to gps using google.I expected to see only one file.The one marked current that would contain all the waypoints.

Charlie, what you saw is normal, each time you transfer a new favorite from google maps it creates an additional gpx file.

Restart the nuvi and you'll see all the 21 files gone, and they would have been integrated into the current.gpx.

That's not how it works on my 760 and 350. Those gpx files are never deleted. They just pile up and up. My Nuvi's never delete any of the gpx files. The Nuvi knows to only import them once, however. Just to keep things orderly, after I download or transfer gpx files to the Nuvi, I boot it up so that they get added to the internal memory. Then I hook it up to the USB cable and delete all the gpx files that are in there. It's just a messy system that's begging for an upgrade from Garmin.

I have restarted the unit and all the gpx files are still showing in the folder.Little nervous about deleting them and end up putting them back in again.

Update.That is the same way it works for the 265 wt.They just build up.After making a copy of all of them just in case I deleted files from the folder.Done a re-boot and only the current gpx file showed back up.

I copy the current.gpx file from the \garmin\gpx folder on the GPS unit to my PC, modify the file with GeePeeEx Editor, save it as MyFavorites.gpx and copy it back to the same folder on my nuvi 765t. Nothing seems to change or get updated on my GPS unit.

Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong?
Thanks...

I can't tell from your post whether you realize what your procedure will do. Most importantly, it won't do anything until you reboot the gps. Upon rebooting, it should take those items in MyFavorites.gpx and ADD them to your Favorites -- if they are already there, they will be duplicated. You don't mention deleting all the original Favorites and rebooting.

On some models using the name Temp.gpx will result in an automatic deletion of the file after the contents are added. It saves you the trouble of having to manually delete the file.

Here is the procedure that works. Using GeePeeEx editor, (with your GPS attached to the computer so it can be read) go to "file", then "import favorites."

Do what you want with the file. Do not save the file. Instead, go back to "file", then "export favorites."

Just be aware this will make doubles of any favorites that existed prior to you working on the file. The way around this is to only export those files you changed or added. Then, only the changed files will have duplicates and you can delete those on the GPS unit.

Or, you can delete the favorites file just prior to exporting from GeePee.

Thanks for helping me with this problem. After copying the MyFavorites.gpx file back to the /garmin/gpx folder, I turn the GPS off then on again. Does this do the reboot or is there something else I need to do?

I did try to delete the favorites on the gps first, then copy the files (with a new name) back into the folder, then turn the unit off and on again, but still do not get them in my favorites on the GPS.

When I copy a new file into this folder without deleting any of my favorites, then turn the unit off and on again, I still don't get any duplicate or new favorites in from my file, even though there are some that should be duplicates.

Maybe I am not rebooting properly?

Thanks tampa8, I'll give this a try too.

To keep from getting the duplicates, would I unhook the unit from the computer after I import the files, erase the favorites on the GPS's menu's, reconnect the unit to the computer, then export the updated files back to the unit?

Turning off and on is all that is required. If you are sure there are no double extensions, I would say it is entirely possible that the 765T has changed the way it handles gpx files. Garmin has not been consistent in the past -- it has been reported that some units append gpx files found on cards, some don't, etc. It would be a shame to lose this undocumented feature.

In addition to changing the file name did you change the name of the modified favorites? It seems that, contrary to some of the previously presented information, my Nuvi 750 will not automatically import a revised favorite from a new gpx file if a favorite with that name already exists in the Nuvi (even if the co-ordinates have been revised) (ie one does not end up with duplicates). After copying current.gpx to your PC and modifying it on the PC and before copying the renamed file back to the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory, you can either delete all the favorites on the Nuvi (if your new file contains all the favorites you want on the Nuvi) or just delete the favorites you have revised on the PC. Either way your changes should end up being reflected in the Nuvi with no duplicates. You might also want to delete any other gpx files (including Temp.gpx) that may be in the Nuvi's GPS subdirectory, if any of these files may also contain a favorite with the same name as one of your revised favorites, since upon reboot the Nuvi may import these "old" favorites first and then ignore any revised ones with the same name in your renamed file. You can delete All the gpx files in the Nuvi's GPX subdirectory without any negative effects on the Nuvi. It will recreate anything it wants. At least this seems to be the way my 750 handles it.

Everything seems to be working fine now. I used the imported the favorites files into in GeePeeEx Editor, made the changes that I wanted, unhooked the GPS unit from my computer and deleted all of the favorites. Then I had reconnected the unit to the computer and exported the favorites back to the unit. It looks like it just added a file called GeePeeEx.gpx to the GPX folder and updated the unit when it restarted. Not sure what I was doing wrong before, but it seems to be working fine now. Thanks for all of the help and suggestion.

I just ugraded to a nuvi 760 and wanted to save my favorites from my nuvi 660. All that was necessary was to open the folder named Garmin/GPX, then copy and save the file to my desktop as temp.gpx. Then I copied it to the 760 folder with the same name. All my favorites are now on the 760. Very easy and not a glitch!

Thx!!

Testing this on my Nuvi 255 -
---
just tried messing with it.
Plugged my Nuvi 255 into my laptop,
waited until it appeared,
went to the D: drive
found the /Garmin/GPX/ folder
and edited the Current.GPX directly with Notepad.
Changed the name of a waypoint.
Saved the file directly back to Nuvi.

Un-plugged Nuvi & waited for bootup
Looked at Favs screen -
and YUP - BOTH names were there.... old + changed

Also, looked at the flash...
and the Current.gpx file now has both names... old + changed..... where before it just had the changed.

SO - it must first READ the Current.GPX file....

Looking at the Current.gpx XML file with Notepad, there is a "timestamp" at top of the file, and maybe the firmware compares this to any internal "favs" file, so it knows if the "current.gpx" is really a shadow, or should be read like any other input file.

Timestamp idea makes sense. I use nuvi editor v1.13.1 from http://www.slowjim.netii.net on my nuvi 265. Like others, I can change garmin/gpx/current.gpx except changes to name result in two records and deletes don't work at all.

I've found following to handle everything: 1.) copy garmin/gpx/current.gpx file to the hard drive. 2.) disconnect the nuvi and delete all waypoints on it using tools/my data/delete favorites/select all. 3.) edit the current.gpx file previously saved on the hard drive and save as a new file called NuviEditorChanges. 4.) Connect the nuvi and copy the new file to the garmin/gpx folder. 5.) Disconnect the nuvi and restart.