For Mac Users

blue, where is the update located on the Garmin web pages? I've looked in the usual places and can't locate it. They do have a statement on the Garmin Software for Mac page that they are working on a solution to the 10.5.6 problem. Clicking on the upload page still has version 2.0.4

And it checked for the update, then fetched and installed it.

That’s what ya got to do. Run the old installer and it will tell you there is a new one and will download it for ya, then you can run it again.

Yep, running the earlier WebUpDater did the trick. Thanks!

Much better

Just had to have the latest programming. After plugging all the cables in and out, and pulling the sd cards out of the units, (yes, the 270 won't show up on the desktop with the card in; I have to make all the changes to the 350 sd card and then copy that card to another for the 270) Anyway, after all nonsense swapping cables and cards and getting all the software working with the Mac OS 10.5.6, my big message was that I could have skipped the whole thing. No changes; both units were up to date. Sure glad that retirement provides the extra time for essential activities.

If you must get Mac WebUpdater 2.0.5 software itself you can find it at:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3699

This is my first post; only recently joined.

I have a Garmin Nuvi 650 which, thanks to the posts I read here, I have updated using WebUpdater.

I also have a 30GB SD card in my Nuvi.

I am in the midst of my first attempt to download and install POIs on my Nuvi and am failing dismally.

Reading the FAQs here, I have learned a lot, but now how to do this...yet.

I downloaded a file of used bookstores in the DC area. I then downloaded Mac Garmin Tools from http://www.hearsay.demon.co.uk/mac/MacGarminTools/ and converted the file from a .gpx file to a .gpi file,

I tried using the Garmin POI loader to load them but when I navigated to the file of .gpi POIs, they were grayed out.

I then followed the instructions at Mac Garmin Tooks and connected the unit to my computer and copied the .gpi files to the Nuvi's POI folder but when I disconnected the Nuvi, I couldn't find them on the unit.

I then dragged and dropped the .gpi file onto the SD card's icon, disconnected the Nuvi, but again, could not find the bookstores on my Nuvi.

Would anyone mind giving me a hand and pointing me in the right direction??

Thanks,
Speed3

You do not need to convert a gpx or csv file. The poi loader will see them just fine.

I suggest you make a folder somewhere called Nuvi650 or what you like. Then make another folder inside it called Bookstore or something. Place your gpx file in the bookstore folder.

Nuvi650
->BookStores
-->dcbooks.gpx

Now run the poi loader and it will ask you where to look for your files. Point it to Nuvi650. Load in manual mode. It should say loaded xx number of files.

Now reboot your nuvi, look in where to / extras / custom poi and you should see a folder bookstores with the locations listed.

You can make other folders to put more files in as well.

Daniel

POI Loader will not load gpi files -- it compiles csv and gpx files into a gpi file and loads it into the POI folder on either the unit or the card.

Assuming the Mac Garmin Tools program created a good gpi file, and you copied it to the POI folder on either the unit or the card, that should work fine. You didn't say WHERE you looked for the POI, but you should find them under WHERE-TO/EXTRAS/Custom-POIs.

Make sure if you are using POI Loader to load csv and/or gpx files, that you are using the beta version -- otherwise, you will be unable to operate the program in manual mode to set alerts. Also, if you delete files from the unit or card via the Mac, it will put the deleted files into a trash folder on the unit or card. The GPS will continue to see the file unless you empty the trash on the computer before you unplug the GPS.

Edit: Beta ver of POI Loader at: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218

Thank you so much Daniel!!

Here was my problem. I was expecting the Loader to find the actual file, not a folder in which the file resided.

Once I followed your clue to set it up thusly:
Nuvi650 > Bookstores > DC Area Used Bookstores.csv, and then to navigate to the folder and not the file, it worked perfectly.

Many thanks, again.
Speed3

Thanks to you also, bentbiker, for your help.

A follow-up question, two actually, if I may.

I now find that I have loaded the Used Bookstore POIs twice and I'd like to remove the duplicate copy.

If I understand what I have read, you can't pick and choose when you remove custom POIs; the entire file gets removed. So, my plan was to remove all the custom POIs, then re-install the Used Bookstore POI again.

I ran the POI Loader, found the Nuvi, chose
"Remove all previously installed custom POIs from your device"; got the caution "To reinstall your custom POI's you will need to run POI Loader again. Are you sure you want to proceed?".

I did so and got "Congratulations! You have successfully removed all custom POIs from your device."

Congratulations were premature: when I disconnected the Nuvi and turned it on, the duplicate listing of the bookstore POIs were still there.

Can anyone see what I did wrong here??

Many thanks, again,
Speed3

I am not sure, but you should probably look at some of the other mac threads. You may have to empty the trash for them to remove all. You may also need to remove the gpi file you copied over to the nuvi.

daniel

As I said in my previous post, "Also, if you delete files from the unit or card via the Mac, it will put the deleted files into a trash folder on the unit or card. The GPS will continue to see the file unless you empty the trash on the computer before you unplug the GPS."

Plug in and empty the trash, and you'll be good to go. This presumes you did not load to both the unit and the card.

OSX 10.5.6 broke the POI loaderwith my 760. The beta version doesn't work either.
Anybody getting it to work?
The Web updater 205 worked fine.
thanks
jeff

OSX 10.5.6 broke the POI loaderwith my 760. The beta version doesn't work either.
Anybody getting it to work?
The Web updater 205 worked fine.
thanks
jeff

I haven't had a problem with it using 10.5.6 and 2.0.2.1 Beta POI Loader. I'm not sure what Garmin has available right now but I seem to recall the version I have disappeared, and I don't know where to get it. I sure hope this problem is solved fast cause this is an important program.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218

Thanks, I had that version and it doesn't work for me.
jeff

PPC or Intel Mac?

Intel mac

tico,

I'm running 2.0.2.1 beta on my Intel Mac Pro and it's working fine with my 260W (old version). What's the nature of the problem you're having? Does the program not start? Does it not recognize your GPS? Are you not able to get the upload completed???

You might try throwing away the POI Loader preferences file. You can find it in Library-Preferences. It's: com.garmin.PoiLoader.plist I find that dumping the preference file of problem applications frequently helps. The application will create a new file when you run it again. No harm done either way.

Slightly off topic but has anyone else had trouble with updating map? I just tried to update my new nuvi360 with 2009 map (free) and was sent to: http://downloads.garmin.com.dmg/ Both Safari and Firefox said they couldn't find site and I couldn't find way around download manager. Ended up using an old, slow PC instead. Had to free up nearly 2 GB of space on my hard drive but at least it worked.

Hi all,
After spending a few weeks perusing this site & learning, I tried to load my first test POIs (POI,icon & alert sound) to my 765 via POI Loader (Mac). It finds my device, I drill down to my POI folder, click next & POI Loader crashes. I'm using using an Intel MacBook Pro running OS 10.5.6. I've tried restarting both my Garmin & Mac with no luck.

I've also tried deleting the preference file.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Do you have the beta version of POI Loader (from Versiontracker)?

I've got version 2.0.1 that I downloaded from the Garmin site. Is that the beta?

Try http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218 as it alone will allow you to run in manual mode. Don't know how it does with Leopard.

The current beta as of Jan 13, 09 is:

Version 2.0.2.1 Beta

... but thanks for the suggestion.

I deleted my preference file again, downloaded & installed the beta & ran onyX (a program that cleans out unnecessary files & runs the maintenance scripts) just to be sure we were starting out with a clean slate. POI loader found my device, asked me to choose the file & even asked me if I wanted express or manual loading (I chose manual per other discussions here), I set the proximity alert & distance for it, clicked next... all gone. I really thought it was going to work.

As a test, I tried to load it on my wife's 765t (we exchanged them for Christmas) but the same thing happened.

I guess I'll first try another POI file, then I'll try loading them via my G5. It's not Intel based so maybe I'll have better luck.

Any other suggestions??

1.) When POI Loader finishes, what message does it give you?
2.) Did it say it successfully loaded xxx locations?
3.) If so, are you looking in the correct place for POIs? Under Extras?
4.) What OS is on your G5?

Thanks again Bentbiker for the help. I tried a different POI file & it worked, mostly, but I'll get to that in a moment.

Part of the POI that I was using (Longhorn Steakhouse) as a test included an icon that I had made following the instructions found here, in another post, but I'm guessing that I got something wrong which was causing the crash.

As to your questions:
1 & 2. I never got any message because POI Loader would crash upon clicking "next" after inputing the proximity settings.
3. I checked under Extras, just in case something loaded before it crashed but nope.
4. The OS on my G5 is 10.5.6, same as my laptop but I figured that there may be a difference because the G5 wasn't Intel based. I had a similar problem with the Garmin Web Updater when I first tried to update our units. It kept crashing on my G5. I tried all the usual fixes & just before I was going to call Garmin, I tried it with my MacBook Pro & it worked.

The successful POI test I ran late last night was with Costco, however, I simulated a route past the closest location & while the icon appears if I'm zoomed way in, the proximity warning never triggered. As per the directions on this site, all 3 files (GPX, icon & mp3) are in the same folder, they have the exact name (other than their extension-I copied & pasted them to be sure) & I set my machine to show extensions & there aren't any duplicates. I checked under "Settings>Proximity Points" on the unit & "Custom POIs" is checked as is "Single Tone" under "Audio Notification". I originally set the distance at 2500 ft. when I loaded them with POI Loader.

Any idea what I forgot to do?

Sure sounds like you did everything correctly, and I'll be really surprised if a POI loaded as you have, can't be made to alert. I'd be suspicious that one of two things is occurring:
1.) The coordinates of the POI are too far (more than 50 ft) from the road.
2.) Your route is on a different street than the POI. Alerts are along-the-route in nature, and not radial.

Let us know.

Yes I did all of those things and it still doesn't work using the beta POI loader. It will recognize the 760 and I can point to my POI folder. When I press continue the program crashes, no warning or error messages. I can get the "dump" info thats sent to Apple if that would help.

I don't know whether Poifect's success finally came on his G5 with Leopard or whether he finally succeeded with the Intel Mac. If he had to switch to the G5 to have success, perhaps it is the cpu. However, I believe somebody reported success with the Intel Mac and Leopard.

I’ve loaded many a time POI’s using the current POI loader from Garmin. The only problems I've had are those I made. It’s not all that complicated, but it has to be just right for it to work. I’m using 2.0.2.1 Beta. The steps have to be followed. All items with the same name, placed in one folder. Then the choice of either mode, manual being my choice. When finished, it says Congrats, you’ve loaded xxxx POI’s. Sounds must be in MP3 format. Icons BMP and again with the exact same name. If all are done right, there should be no problem running them on a Mac. But, let there be one little mistake, and, well, it’s frustrating. Took me several times to get it right. And, I put all the POI’s on my SD card, putting them directly on the 780 had possibly caused other problems. Since being on the SD card, no other problems.

It worked on my Intel based MacBook Pro once I tried a different test POI. Going to the G5 was the next step if I couldn't get it to work on the laptop. As I mentioned earlier, I think my problem was a homemade icon. I'm going to try & load the original offending POI with the original icon. If it works, my icon was the culprit.

*Update* It was my icon that was causing the problem. I reloaded the original & it worked so I tried to rebuild mine, got it to load but it reboots the Nuvi any time I pass the icon while in simulation mode. At least I know it's my fault. I'll try something else with the icon. I'll get it yet, dern it.

I looked at the error dumps and figured it must be a problem with one of my POI files and the PIO poorly written error handler. I found the villain the US_mines.csv downloaded from this site. Once I removed that file my POI's loaded fine using the MAC beta POI loader.

I looked at the error dumps and figured it must be a problem with one of my POI files and the PIO poorly written error handler. I found the villain the US_mines.csv downloaded from this site. Once I removed that file my POI's loaded fine using the MAC beta POI loader.

Something I don't fully understand about using POI on an SD card.

I am one week into learning how to load POI, how to create my own list of POI, etc., and so far all is going well, thanks entirely, to use Blanche's expression, "the kindness of strangers" (Streetcar Named Desire).

While experimenting, I put some POI on my SD card. When I started my Garmin Nuvi 650 it found these and asked if I wanted to, if I remember correctly, load them onto the Garmin. I thought, "If I wanted to load them onto the Garmin, I would have put them on the bloody Garmin in the first place!"

Is this just poor wording on Garmin's part? Do these POI just load temporarily each time you fire up the unit but in actuality reside on the SD card with the Garmin really accessing them and not really "loading" them?

Finally, is it generally considered wiser to leave them on the SD card or load them onto the Garmin itself??

Many thanks,
Speed3

Whether you keep POIs on your unit or on a card is a matter of personal preference. One big advantage to using the card is that you never run the risk of screwing up something on the unit -- cards are cheap. I'm not sure I understand your question about transferring to the unit. Yes, they stay where you put them unless you authorize the unit to transfer storage to the unit. Regardless of where they are stored, the unit must read them into volatile memory at startup. If you get tired of saying "No" to the offer to transfer, there is a checkbox directing the unit to quit asking you. I would expect that checkbox to be on the initial page of a 650 since that is where it appears for the 660. However, if the checkbox is not on the first page, instead of saying "No" to the offer of transferring, you must answer "Yes". It will then offer you a second opportunity for each gpi file on the card, and these pages will have the checkbox.

I allow the majority of my POI's to stay on the card and put the ones I want to put alerts on go on the GPS so I don't have to use the manual load on everything. Works like a charm. Simply tell the GPS you don't want to transfer the ones on the card to the unit and stop asking. No problem.

You can do this and keep both POI.gpi files on your card? They just need to be in separate folders, e.g. Garmin/POI/Express and Garmin/POI/Manual.

I tried the Mac programs a few years back but it didn't work very well. At that point I started using an old PC for the updates. The software doesn't require a power user machine so it makes sense to use an old pc and keep my mac free from extra software. If you don't have an extra pc then I would use parallels and run the software on that.

Bob

"You can do this and keep both POI.gpi files on your card? They just need to be in separate folders, e.g. Garmin/POI/Express and Garmin/POI/Manual."

I had, after a little reading, settled on .csv files for my POI.

Do .gpi files offer some/any advantage?

In general, which do folks prefer to use? I see that the POI available here are in different forms and that was one of the first decisions I faced. Was I wrong to have chosen the .csv files?

Many thanks,
Speed3

POI Loader reads your files and writes the GPI file to the unit or memory card. It's the GPI file that is used.

You also mentioned about being asked if you want to load the files to the unit when it is turned on. The way to stop this is to answer yes, then tell it to not ask again and then hit skip. It won't try to load again until there is a new file,

As answered by a_user above, the gpi is the output from POI Loader. You are confusing this with a gpx POI file that is the alternative for csv. GPX has a couple advantages over csv but requires more than a text editor for most people to create/edit the files. GPX files can display phone numbers that are dialable with a BT phone (and BT GPS). GPX files almost always display correctly, regardless of the unit. CSV files display differently on the various models.

The good news is that with POI Loader you are not tied to a single format. You can use a gpx file if it is available, and a csv file if gpx is not available. GPX files are larger, but if you are using an external card, that is irrelevant.

Finally, did you succeed in turning off the units continuous offers to transfer your POIs to the unit from the card? If so, is the checkbox to stop asking on the first screen (like the 660), or must you say "Yes" first, and then get the checkbox on a second screen?

Followed your instructions the first time I ran the unit after loading the POI to the SD card, restarted, and the Garmin loaded my POI from the SD card with no further ado.

Many thanks,
Speed3

I've had no problem using the recent Mac software. I would rather not have to deal with any PC. With the size of drives and memory now, I don't think there's any problem using my Mac.

The problem often is that if the software was created for PC's then ported for use on a Mac, most often the Mac version is missing some features.

E.g. POI Loader for PC and for the Mac differ, with the Loader for the PC offering a few more options.

Specifically, on the second screen of the PC Loader, it offers:
Save Options -
Garmin Device
MapSource (Advanced)
Custom Folder (Advanced)

Speed3

Is it the option to save to MapSource that you feel is so important? Last I heard, MapSource doesn't support the option. And the Mac beta has the other two options.