Why Have to Reload All POI's for just One New One

True. You’ve got to reload all the POI’s each time, even if you only want to load one. Shouldn’t be a problem though. Keep the original folder with all the POI’s in it, just add the new one and then reload it. Piece of cake. Only easy way is if you’ve a card reader and you use a Memory card. Load the POI’s to the card and yes, you’ve got to reload all of them even on the card. It just saves time having to hook the Nuvi to the computer and wait. If you do the memory card bit, when you start the Nuvi, you’ll get a screen that asks if you want to load then into the Nuvi in case the card is not available. Your choice there.

Thanks, for the good info. You have confirmed exactly what I was looking to know.

I just hate having to reset all of my alert distances (i.e. 4500' walmart, 2000' 7-11) as I like many different distances besides the redlight standard distance.

Can I insert the distance into the title line of a file somehow, before or after "RedLight" in the file name.

Regards

That you do not have a need to update often, load them separately and then rename the poi.gpi file in the poi folder on your garmin, it will then not be over-written. Then load the other poi's ...

edit: rename poi.gpi i.e. walmart.gpi, 7-11.gpi or walmart7-11.gpi..

Now thats an idea. If I tire of reloading distances I will employ this technique.

Sound like Garmin does not care if their are differnt file names, just looking for all ".gpi" files.

Thanks again.

For more info on the 'Renaming Method', see:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/16639

RT

Actually, it doesn't even care if multiple files are all named POI.gpi. Obviously, since you can't have multiple files named the same in the same folder, this requires that they reside in separate folders.

Why, you ask, is this important? Well, it allows you to not reload all of the files every time one file is updated AND you don't have to do any renaming. Best of all worlds. See ScrugneysGundogs' explanation at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/17095 .

That type of 'multiple folder method on the GPS' is about the same as renaming the file; the difference is you're renaming the folder instead of the file.

One big advantage of renaming the file is you know exactly what that file contains. Yes, I know that each folder containing a 'poi.gpi' file will have a different name; but if one puts the 'poi.gpi' file in the wrong folder (either accidently or on purpose), you won't have any idea what that file contains. And that does happen ... I don't know how many times I've repaired a computer where the user accidently dragged-and-dropped a file to the wrong location.

I'll stick with the file renaming method. It doesn't take that much more time than the folder method; and I know exactly what *.gpi files I have on my GPS. With multiple 'poi.gpi' files, you don't really know.

RT

Great information, although it's really not a big deal to upload all the other POI files either since they're all relatively small.

But it can be very inconvenient to load everything if you are in manual mode setting proximity alerts for some POIs. Or if you want to load some POIs in manual mode but others in automatic mode, then you have to use one of the alternative approaches that leaves multiple files on the GPS.

Here's one big problem with uploading all of your POIs in one 'poi.gpi' file. Before I discovered the 'File Renaming Method', we came to AZ and wanted to load a POI file for the Phoenix area. I didn't have the computer along that contained all of my POIs. Now what do I do; do I overwrite all of my other POIs by loading this new file; or just forget about adding the new POI?

Not a problem with the 'Renaming Method' ... simply add it to the other renamed POI files. This is only one of the many 'Renaming' advantages listed at:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/16639

RT

I gather since you refer to dragging-and-dropping, that you are under the impression that the created POI.gpi file must be MOVED to the correct folder, but that is not so. If the Source folder is Parks, you point to a destination folder called Parks -- no dragging, no dropping, no deleting of the old file (it just gets overwritten), and no renaming of the new file. Since you brought it up, I personally, I think the renaming technique is FAR more likely to result in a mistyped name causing custom alerts/icons not to load, or the deletion of the wrong file.

I realize that you have great affection for your method; I only ask that you let me make others aware that there is a different method.

Each method has it's advantages as well as it's drawbacks. I use different folder names for my different POI files. My reason is that, once I have the folders set on the GPS, I don't have to go back and rename a file or a folder. The POI loader lets you load your POI files anywhere on the GPS and the GPS will find them regardless of where you put them. Just select "Custom Folder (Advanced)" on the second screen.

If you like different alert distances set on different files, then you might like to try using .gpx files. They will let you set each entry's alert distance as well as different speed alerts. Do an Internet search for gpx and you'll find several good programs that will let you write gpx files and/or convert .csv to .gpx. But, like folders vs. files, there are advantages as well as disadvantages to .gpx files.

Jack j

As I stated in my previous post, "Everyone to their own". Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Yes, you can tell the advantages and disadvantages of your preferred method (and you did); but so can I and anyone who wants to post.

And I couldn't disagree more! Even if you misspell the gpi name, you still know what it it. A poi.gpi file is a poi.gpi file is a poi.gpi file. One is far more likely to write it to a wrong folder than they are misspell a *.gpi file so badly you don't know what it is. As far as custom alerts, they're already set up long before the *.gpi file is created. I don't see that being an issue whether using gpx or csv files; or whether using either of the 3 loading methods. Misspelling the *.mp3 file would be the problem, not the method used.

Like I said previously, everyone to their own. All three methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Probably the best is a combination of all three; but for now I'll stick with the 'File Renaming Method'.

RT

Can someone please post A simple way to load the POIs.
Thanks

There are multiple threads on loading POIs to the GPS, explaining all methods. Just do a search using the search engine at the top of this page.

RT

Are you talking about a specific technique? I see you've been a member for almost two years, so I'm guessing we are missing something in your question.

Here is a method I just started to use.Wanted to get alerts on certain pois but wanted to use the express mode for poiloader and do it by distance.After reading a post by Phil at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/7043 the 6 one down and a couple of emails to him this is what I came up with.The result is a alert by distance not speed.Once you read his post it will become clear.You can use speeds from 25 to 124.

Sonny's TourGuide 50.csv
Sonny's TourGuide 50.wav
Rest stop TourGuide 124.csv
Rest stop TourGuide 124.wav

TourGuide's are never speed-related, but, POI Loader uses any speed
information to alter the proximity distance.

I try the Sonny's out using the simulation mode and it worked very well.

Edit.Fixed some spelling errors.