Extra_POI_Editor - A tool to View/Edit/Convert POI/TourGuides (Part 1)

 

Well, I guess it's time I start an official thread about Extra_POI_Editor at POI Factory.

It does too many things for me to explain in a short post, so let's say it will allow you to view, edit and convert (new!) any GPX/CSV/OV2/JPG/KML/MGLN POI file to GPX/CSV/OV2/KML. Yes! Geocoded JPG can be imported too!

* There are preview windows specially designed to simulate a 4.3" widescreen GPS like a nuvi 760, but the program will work for other GPS; the display in the program will not match exactly the non-widescreen GPS.

* The tool will allow you to see the POIs on a map. You can drag also the marker on the map and update the new coordinate. This is very cool to fine tune the POI location.

* You can also preview linked images and sound files used in TourGuides.

* EPE can do batch geocoding and reverse geocoding. It has special filters to extract State, Postcode, Phone and more. You can create custom column formats for your CSV files input and output, ...

* You can open POI Loader, MapSource or GoogleEarth directly from EPE to see all POIs on the map.

This is it for now. It does more than that and will probably do more later. Please post your comments and suggestions here.

Turbo.

Oh yeah! For those who do not know, the download link is here:

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor

If you find something missing, just post your requests. I will see what I can do.

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Kudos, turboccc

Extra_POI_Editor is evolving nicely. I've been writing programs for over 30 years (mostly on mainframes and SAP systems) so I can really relate to the fun you're having.

I do have one small issue. If I have a link to a mp3 file in the Link: field, and click on the "play" icon, it plays fine, however it does not play .wav files. Not a big deal, but I'm just curious if it's my system or the program.

Thanks...and keep up the great work.

Some answers here...

1- Reading GPI:

I spent a little time yesterday editing a GPI file and reading about Simon Slavin's tools. Yes, I am loaded and pretty tired these days (not related to you guys...). This is why I did not add any big stuff lately. Be assured that more big stuff will come. JD4x4: if you want to have fun, be my guest. However, it seems GPSBabel can do the conversion for you.

2- Find Duplicates with distance

Yes. It is in the pipe. In fact, it is already implemented but hidden. It slows down the search by a factor of 10 (not quite but close enough). I will provide a pop-up to configure the search and make sure it runs full speed (like now) when the distance is zero.

3- Play WAV.

It should work. I just tested by specifying only a directory that contains a wav and by specifying only a wav file in the link field. Both are working here. Any funny characters in the file path? Anybody else?

3- Play WAV.

turboccc wrote:

It should work. I just tested by specifying only a directory that contains a wav and by specifying only a wav file in the link field. Both are working here. Any funny characters in the file path? Anybody else?

Nope. No special characters. It's probably me...just haven't figured it out yet.

Update: Made it work by moving the file, but very inconsistent results trying different paths.

This did not work:
C:\Documents and Settings\Dan\My Documents\My Garmin\Alerts\KrispyKreme.wav

This worked:
C:\Documents and Settings\Dan\My Documents\Alerts\KrispyKreme.wav

This did not work:
C:\My Alerts\KrispyKreme.WAV

This worked:
c:\Alerts\KrispyKreme.wav

Any thoughts?

I am mystified...

Hi Dan3426,

Very good debug information, but this is weird, man!

This worked for me (although I do not have the same wav file):
C:\My Alerts\KrispyKreme.WAV

I tried also a file in "Documents and Settings". It does not make any sense.

And the only side effect is that it does not play? Does the green arrow goes red square? And what if you try again?

Weird! Weird! Weird!

Weird is the word!

Turboccc,

This is indeed strange. When it does not work, the green play button changes to the red square button, but there is no sound.

I tested c:\My Alerts again with a different wave file, and still no go. Renaming the folder to MyAlerts worked. This would seem to indicate a problem with a space being in the folder that contains the wave file, but...the original problem appeared in C:\Documents and Settings\Dan\My Documents\My Garmin\Alerts, but worked when I used C:\Documents and Settings\Dan\My Documents\Alerts, so I thought maybe it was a problem with directory levels.

I'm running XP SP3, but I can't imagine that being significant. This is basic windows directory stuff. Very puzzling indeed.

At any rate, I can make it work, so it's really a non-issue. Just perplexing.

Thanks again.

Possibly 5 levels of dir/subdirs?

Is it possibly the number of directories/subdirectories that it's in? I remember some early versions of windows or dos only worked for a given number of directories, or the total number of characters in the directory path. Maybe your problem?

I'm just trying to be helpful here.

--
Garmin Nuvi 750

Thanks for editor

Just a quick thanks. Just d/l'd and will try it out.

--
NUVI 2595 & 2599

Possibly 5 levels of dir/subdirs?

tomkovacic wrote:

Is it possibly the number of directories/subdirectories that it's in? I remember some early versions of windows or dos only worked for a given number of directories, or the total number of characters in the directory path. Maybe your problem?

I'm just trying to be helpful here.

That's exactly what I thought until I used the simple path, c:\Alerts (worked) and c:\My Alerts (didn't work). Ergo, the puzzle.

Audio not playing - debug code

dan3426,

Here's a debug code for you. Try to play an audio file in a path where it is not working. Tell me what is the error message.

special debug code can be found here:

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/file/detail/Extra_POI_Editor_...

Edit: Do you have MS Exchange 2007?

Audio not playing - debug code

Turboccc,

No, I don't have MS Echange 2007.

I downloaded the debug code and ran it. Trying a file that would not play did not produce an error.

???

Audio not playing - debug code

Do you have Win98?
A Novel Netware Server?

Audio not playing - debug code

Nope. Running XP Home SP3. No server.

Audio not playing - Answer

Open a DOS window (Start-Run->cmd)
type this (this is just a query - does nothing):

fsutil behavior query disable8dot3

My computer returns 0. I guess yours will return 1. To enable 8.3 filename creation, just type (this will do something):

fsutil behavior set disable8dot3 0

and reboot your computer. It is pretty harmless, but it will ensure 8.3 filename compatibility on your computer.

This problem seems to happen on WinXP with SP3.

Audio not playing - Answer

Hmmm. Never would have thought of that. No change, though. With disable8dot3 turned off, wave file appears to play, but no sound, just as before.

Netbook screen size 1024x700

Turboccc,

I like the program greatly. It will come in handy for keeping my personal POIs updated.

I do have 1 small problem. I am now using a NETBOOK for my travel computer. I have everything that my larger Gateway has in it (ALL Programs) and more.
The problem is with most NETBOOKs the screen size is 1024x700. So the problem is can't see the bottom of the first display page (the control buttons on the bottoom screen display). The edit page is fine because you added the scroll bar. If a scroll bar could be added the the first display page that would fix the problem.

Then I could update/fix my POIs on the "FLY" (LITERALLY).

If one can't be added don't worry, I could live without it.But not be able to use the controls on the bottom 2 screens.

Thanks in advance.

H Hannah

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

An addition maybe...

I love this program and use it alot.
One addition I would like, would be the ability to search for a map location vai Long/Lat i.e put a Long/Lat in the 'Add New POI' screen and click Geocoding and I am taken to this location on the map.
I use this process to verify that locations I am inputing are correct.

Paul

Requests + Audio issue

deppeler,

I agree with you. I will add a button to show the POI on the map after a coordinate change.

H Hannah,

I will see what I can do. Adding a scroll bar is not difficult, but just require a lot of tweaking. Hopefully, the second time will be easier than the first... BTW, the current window only takes 670 pixels vertically. How much are you missing? Maybe I can just tweak the placement on the first page.

Audio issue,

I searched a lot to find this solution.... I am very disappointed it did not work.

One last try. Run this new debug program and tell me what appears on the 3 lines that will pop-up when you play a file:

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/file/detail/Extra_POI_Editor_...

Edit: one last thought... It would be wise to delete your test directory and create it again. Since the directory was created before the disable8dot3 was set to 0, it is very possible just setting disable8dot3 to 0 will not create the 8.3 filename.

PROBLEM SOLVED

IAHMALE wrote:

I need some help.

I can't seem to get the program to work.

I downloaded the original file and then the current file.

When I open it - i get the error message --

"Component 'rich32.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid"

I am not nearly as knowedgeble as most of you snd am in need of "dummy" help[/quote
I deleted the files that I had downloaded and started over -- problem solved --- all is well

Audio Issue solved!!!

Ok. Renaming or re-creating the directory with spaces was the only thing you had to do after setting the bit to 0 and reboot.

Here's what rufree4t had to say about this:
------
My folder structure is: C:........My Documents\My Garmin\etc
I copied my base Garmin folder ("My Garmin") which holds all my Garmin related files. Once copied, I renamed the original to "My Garmin Old" and renamed the "Copy of My Garmin" to "My Garmin". That was all I needed to do to get the links to mp3 files which are under the new "My Garmin" folder to play back. Simple!!!(I think?)
------

So, set that damn bit to 0, reboot and create your new directory and forget about this issue forever. WinXP is not bright enough to set the 8.3 filename for existing directory, just new ones.

Appreciated

turboccc wrote:

deppeler,

I agree with you. I will add a button to show the POI on the map after a coordinate change.

Thanks Turboccc I appreciate your willingness to add these things.

Paul

Netbook Screen Size 1024x700

Turboccc,

Here is a screenshot of my screen when ExtraPoi Editor is running.

http://home.comcast.net/~hannah.burns/ScreenShots/NetbookScr...

As you can see there is quite a lot missing from the bottom.

H Hannah

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Getting Custom icons into Extra POI Edit

Hi TurboCCC:

Awesome program. I downloaded it and compared to numerous others, it is very flexible and reasonably easy to get started with.
I do have a few hardspots to overcome and the one I'm concerned with right now is "How do I get custom Icons to be recognized by the program so that they appear on the drop down menu each time it's used?
Thanks for any help.

--
Nuvi 2595LMT Oregon 450 - Always drink upstream from the herd.

Audio Issue solved!!!

turboccc wrote:

Ok. Renaming or re-creating the directory with spaces was the only thing you had to do after setting the bit to 0 and reboot.

Here's what rufree4t had to say about this:
------
My folder structure is: C:........My Documents\My Garmin\etc
I copied my base Garmin folder ("My Garmin") which holds all my Garmin related files. Once copied, I renamed the original to "My Garmin Old" and renamed the "Copy of My Garmin" to "My Garmin". That was all I needed to do to get the links to mp3 files which are under the new "My Garmin" folder to play back. Simple!!!(I think?)
------

So, set that damn bit to 0, reboot and create your new directory and forget about this issue forever. WinXP is not bright enough to set the 8.3 filename for existing directory, just new ones.

You da man. Works like a charm. Glad to have that mystery solved.

Thanks.

Custom Icons

If you want to share your custom symbols with MapSource, you have to put them here:

"C:\Documents and Settings\'User'\My Documents\My Garmin\Custom Waypoint Symbols"

Then, go in the Options->Preferences and put the same path there. All custom symbol should be named 000.bmp, 001.bmp, ... The program will scan this directory at start-up and include the symbols in the program. MapSource does the same.

1024x700

H Hannah,

Wow! So much is missing. Are you sure there are 700 pixels vertically? Anyways, I will add a scroll bar, but I would have preferred to make it fit entirely in your viewing are.

Thanks TurboCCC: Sure seems

Thanks TurboCCC: Sure seems easy when you have instructions on how to do it. Love your program.
Best Regards:

--
Nuvi 2595LMT Oregon 450 - Always drink upstream from the herd.

Here's a small v3.00

**Changes from v2.99 to v3.00**

* This is just a small release although the major version number changed. I am out of numbers for v2.xx. My faulf for releasing too often. I still have big hopes for 3.xx versions.

* Extract the phone number from the description when not found in the address.

* Improved display of POI name and address in Duplicates window.

* Corrected a bug when opening a file in the history that did not exist anymore.

* Map is now updated automatically after you change the (lon,lat) fields manually in the POI Edit window. You will have to click to a different field after the change for the map to update.

* Removed "°" in some lon/lat coordinates

* Made the main window a bit smaller to fit in low res screen. I may add a scroll bar later.

* Improved duplicates search speed. Distance configuration to come soon.

Extra POI Editor new Screen Size

Turboccc,

Thanks for resizing the Extra POI Editor initial screen.

It fits better and I can move it high enough to be able to see and use the bottom control buttons.

A screenshot of my new screen here:

http://home.comcast.net/~hannah.burns/ScreenShots/NetbookScr...

Thanks Again !!

H Hannah

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Need help....

turboccc wrote:

**Changes from v2.99 to v3.00**

* Map is now updated automatically after you change the (lon,lat) fields manually in the POI Edit window. You will have to click to a different field after the change for the map to update.

Maybe I am doing something wrong but I can't get this function to work.
I change the Lon/Lat click in another field but nothing happens.

It would be great if you could put in JUST a set of coordinates with no other address info and click Geocoding to give you the location on the map.

Paul

Lon, Lat & Map Update

deppeler,

It seems I screwed up. It works only on existing POI, not on the ones you create using "Add New POI". Sorry. I was looking at the wrong variable...

Ok. I just released v3.01.

Great...

turboccc wrote:

deppeler,

It seems I screwed up. It works only on existing POI, not on the ones you create using "Add New POI". Sorry. I was looking at the wrong variable...

Ok. I just released v3.01.

Thanks, works great now. I really appreciate it.

Paul

Al last... Find duplicates with distance radius

**Changes from v3.01 to v3.10**

* Added optional search distance radius for Find Duplicates.

* Added File->New
* Better phone extraction in Google Earth kml files.
* Corrected "Add New POI" which becomes "Find Next" after the first Find.
* Increased click area in top left POI window for click, right click and dbl click.

YOU ARE THE MAN . . . . .

turboccc wrote:

**Changes from v3.01 to v3.10**

* Added optional search distance radius for Find Duplicates.

* Added File->New
* Better phone extraction in Google Earth kml files.
* Corrected "Add New POI" which becomes "Find Next" after the first Find.
* Increased click area in top left POI window for click, right click and dbl click.

Thank You

--
Looking for a place to go this summer? Try Oshkosh, WI, July 20-26, 2015. The largest gathering of aircraft in the world. http://www.airventure.org/index.html

.ov2 files created by Extra_POI_Editor

This last weekend, I created a .GPX and .ov2 file from the work I had been doing using Extra_POI_editor, and the CrackerBarrel csv downloaded from the poi factory. See my discussion on that at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21603

The gpx data come out great on my DNX7100, but the when I created and loaded the .ov2 file for my Go720, I only had the name and obviously, the co-ordinates. Specifically I was missing the Tel# and the address.

Is there something different I should be doing to create the ov2 from extra_poi_editor?

OV2 files

Hi zierk0310,

Correct me if I am wrong, but OV2 files only contain lon, lat and POI Name. This is why you do not see the address or phone number.

If this is not the case, just post me somewhere an OV2 file with a fourth field and I will manage to make it work.

Otherwise, I can always merge the POI name, with the address & phone number, but it can be a very long string. I do not know if it is limited but the TT.

Any idea what is the maximum length of the POI name field? And the length of the 4th field if there is any?

Turbo

ov2 files

Unfortunately I don't have anywhere to easily store a file that you can pick up. HOWEVER, I was able to create an ov2 file using poiedit ( see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6675 for information). I used the garmin csv version of the crackerbarrel file and converted it to ov2 using poiedit. It was not perfect because poiedit placed everything after the telephone number into the telephone number as well, but I did get address and tel# fields displayed on my go720

1 from Column A

turboccc wrote:

Hi zierk0310,

Correct me if I am wrong, but OV2 files only contain lon, lat and POI Name. This is why you do not see the address or phone number.

If this is not the case, just post me somewhere an OV2 file with a fourth field and I will manage to make it work.

Otherwise, I can always merge the POI name, with the address & phone number, but it can be a very long string. I do not know if it is limited but the TT.

Any idea what is the maximum length of the POI name field? And the length of the 4th field if there is any?

Turbo

An .OV2 file consists of 3 columns: Lat; Long; and Data. Using POI Edit you're allowed 64 characters max - including spaces!

Hope this helps! smile

Mike

--
Freedom isn't free...thank you veterans! Heard about the tests to detect PANCREATIC CANCER? There aren't any! In Memoriam: #77 NYPD-SCA/Seattle Mike/Joe S./Vinny D./RTC!

HTML Tagging

Turboccc:

Thanks for all the work that you've put into this program. It is excellent.

Future suggestion would be to add the more screen to show the actual colors/sizes/etc instead of just the html codings. I like to use different sizes and colors in TourGuides and to see the result would be helpful.

--
Garmin Nuvi 750

POI name in ov2

After much searching I found a reasonable description of how to add the Tel# at http://www.poieditor.com/articles/how_to__add_phone_numbers_... Simply put the TEL# must be placed as the last item in the POI name preceeded by the ">" character. The reading that I have done seems to infer that the POI name field is really more of a POI description. In terms of the length of string, the best I've found is that it should not exceed 60 bytes.

I found a description of the record types for ov2 at http://www.tomtom.com/support/ce/downloads/ttnavsdk_manual.p... I'm curious about record type 3, and what is contained in the last (unnamed) field

Thanks for the editor

As a newbie I am just learning about all the great things available here. I want to give a great big thanks for the POI Editor. I have just started playing around with it and it is great. Hope to contribute more POI's in the future.

--
NUVI 2595 & 2599

HTML & OV2 phone

Hi tomkovacic,

HTML was on my original list. I just forgot about it. I wrote it down in the readme to remember it.

Mike L. and zierk0310,

Thanks for the information. I will make sure I do not exceed 64 characters (or 60 to be on the safe side). I can easily add the phone number at the end with the '>'. I will get back to you.

Edit: Ok. Did it. One small problem: if you add-up the POI name and the address and phone, the string gets longer that 60 characters very fast. What I did was to trunc the address until all fits under 60 characters. Obviously I preserved the phone number. The only drawback is that sometimes the address gets cut in two and it becomes a bit useless.

Here's an example:

"Cracker Barrel TX: Abilene-1602 Highway 351 I-20 Exit #288 >(325) 672-0280"

After trimming, it looks like:

"Cracker Barrel TX: Abilene-1602 Highway 351 >(325) 672-0280"

Sometimes, it gets worst. See also that this POI name "Cracker Barrel" is not very long. What do you suggest? Shall I keep only the POI name and phone number?

Looks awesome, thanks for

Looks awesome, thanks for providing such a useful tool.

OV2 Phone

Hi turboccc
Thanks for the quick response.

Speaking for myself, POI name and phone number will be just fine.

I edited one of the POI's directly on my Go and found a phone number format of 1-aaa-555-5555 or (aaa) 555-5555 works just fine, and I could dial out using either format. I also found that I could enter a poiname of up to 127 characters excluding the phone #, but that only 64 would be displayed.

This is going to be great for people like me who have both TT and Garmin devices!

OV2 Phone

127 characters, nice! However if just half is visible, it is worth nothing. The good news is that I can keep up to 127 characters. When reading back an OV2 file, it should preserve nearly everything (POI Name + Address + State + ...) that was saved and put it in the POI Name.

Others have opinions?
1- POI Name + Phone?
2- POI Name + Address info + Phone?

Anybody has issues with the fact that I am adding the adrees info although it may be trunc'ed?

Personnally, both are fine with me.

ov2 phone

I'll stick with Poi name + phone for now. The POI menu could get too busy with address info as well.

I found a later version of the TT SDK at http://www.tomtom.com/lib/doc/ttnavsdk3_manual.pdf
It gives more detail on the contents of the type 1, 2 and 3 records. I'm going to spend some time manually building a type 3 record and testing the results on the GO. I'll probably only do that this weekend, and I'll post the results.

Name, address and phone number

turboccc wrote:

Edit: Ok. Did it. One small problem: if you add-up the POI name and the address and phone, the string gets longer that 60 characters very fast. What I did was to trunc the address until all fits under 60 characters. Obviously I preserved the phone number. The only drawback is that sometimes the address gets cut in two and it becomes a bit useless.

Here's an example:

"Cracker Barrel TX: Abilene-1602 Highway 351 I-20 Exit #288 >(325) 672-0280"

After trimming, it looks like:

"Cracker Barrel TX: Abilene-1602 Highway 351 >(325) 672-0280"

Sometimes, it gets worst. See also that this POI name "Cracker Barrel" is not very long. What do you suggest? Shall I keep only the POI name and phone number?

Personally, I feel that if you have a specific POI and its icon, in this case 'Cracker Barrel', then you don't need the name to appear in the description. After all, if you're looking at the 'Cracker Barrel' POI then you should realize that the info displayed will refer to that specific POI. If you feel it's still necessary then you could always abbreviate the name - CB.

If you want to combine several businesses within a POI and call it 'FAST FOOD JOINTS' then yes, you'll need the name of each company to appear in the description, i.e., Cracker Barrel; Burger King; McDonalds; Wawa; etc.

Does this make sense?

Mike

--
Freedom isn't free...thank you veterans! Heard about the tests to detect PANCREATIC CANCER? There aren't any! In Memoriam: #77 NYPD-SCA/Seattle Mike/Joe S./Vinny D./RTC!

I have just started using it

I have just started using it and the Editor is excellent. The only question I have is there any way to search the open POI to locate a City name?

I travel extensively and have the entire POI Factory Redlight & Speed cam files loaded and to go through to validate/correct any errors would take ages when you have to page up/down 3,000+ pois per file!!

Hopefully I am just missing something!!!!

Find a city name?

Just make a search for it. You can do "Edit->Find" or Ctrl-F. Enter the city and click Find. You can use F3 to search for the next POI with the same city name.

Once you found the city, you can make a Tools->Sort by Location and it will sort all POI according to the distance to this POI. The same as the GPS. This should make all POI for that city one after the other.

OV2 Phone and type 3

The type 3 contains the same POI information plus sone proprietary/copyright information that will not be visible. I am pretty sure this is only for commercial purposes.

Mike L.,

Good suggestion. I personnally do not mind. It is worth nothing to have "Cracker Barrel" on all lines. However, some POI files are sometimes done differently and the POI Name may contain additional information which should not be abbreviated. I guess this should be programmable. I will keep this in mind for now.

Thanks! I will try that

Thanks!

I will try that search when I get home tonight!!!

Vis

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