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

I like having the option. If I need to convert something I do not want to go to a different program and have it converted. It would be great for the user to choose.

By the way, I am old but I have never heard anyone use Imperial. Just heard of ours or metric. I take it Imperial is miles, yards, gallons, etc....?? (Texas schooling)

yes, imperial is miles, feet, ...

@ a_user:

When you load a GPX in POI-Loader, it asks for the units, but I was told to always use metric. Maybe POI-Loader converts them as well in Metric.

Also, I am not sure the GPS switches unit system when I cross the border.

When I download a POI from somewhere, it is sometimes in km/h and sometimes in mph. Then, I put all my POI in sub-directories to form categories. When I use POI-Loader, I use the automatic mode so I do not have to specify everything file by file.

I just feel it is easier to handle that way. I may be wrong somewhere. I will check what GeePeeEx is doing.

I'm new to GPX files myself so with the help of your program I'm building better POI files that take advantage of the extended capabilities using GPX.

As to changing values in the unit, they don't do it automatically, you set the display values under tools. So driving across the Canadian - or is that US border won't cause the unit to automatically start using the correct measurement system - it's something to do while waiting to clear the check point.

But it is interesting. When the GPX format asks for a value does it matter if the value is Imperial or Metric - or is it just an absolute value?

Even if I cross the border I still want miles. I know what a mile is and it is the same when I go to another country. I want to always use what I know and not the metric system. Too old to learn new things

It would be the best for me to be able to just set preferences to miles and not worry about anything else.

Most of us have newer cars which switch displays from MPH to KPH. What your asking is realistic but not useful.

After much messing around, I finally got the Extra_POI_Editor to properly load my speed and proximity alerts.

I use the Miles in my GPS, so I set Extra_POI_Editor to use miles.

When I tried to load my POIs using 50 mph and 5280 feet proxmity, it was converting it to 88 mph and like 7500 feet or something.

How I finally got it to transfer the way I wanted was to leave the Extra_POI_Editor set to Metric. Then when I enter a speed and proximity warning, I put the speed in MPH (even though the screen is asking for kph). Then I put the distance in meters. (If I want 1 mile I put 1610 meters)

When I run the POI Loader, I tell it I am using MPH and feet.

So even though I have entered 50 kph and 1610 meters in the Extra_POI_Editor, it will show up on the Garmin as 50 mph and 1 mile warning.

I had to mess around with it for a while before I figured it out. I think it has something to do with the gpx file always stores the distance in meters, and if you have the Extra_POI_Editor set to miles, it tries to convert the feet into meters incorrectly.

Anyways, I figured I would let others know how I got it to work if anyone else is using this program. I think it's a great program, and I have actually converted all my CSV files to gpx because they seem to display the information better in the GPX format.

That's a fairly elegant work-around. I'll have to try it with the latest camera files. If that works, I'll play with the others I have alerts set on.

I wonder if there is a software that will convert the .poi to .csv file.
Thank you

GPSbabel will do that. See http://www.gpsbabel.org/download.html

Mouse wheel support is coming soon.

Question: When scrolling in the top left window through the POI list, what should be the step of the mouse wheel?

a) one page (ie 4 POI)?
b) one POI?
c) other?

Thanks.

I am going to walk with my nuvi in Europe and not in a car. I want it to stay miles. Hopefully the new cars have a way to default to MPH because I do not know what KPH is and I am too old to learn.

Saying something is not useful is your own opinion for your own use. It is very useful to me, you have to remember not everyone likes the same way.

One page would be nice.

Thanks, Turbo!

Thought so! "a)" is the winner. This is what I implemented.

I am also implementing scrolling in different windows (like the Duplicate window) depending on the mouse position. I want also the ability to scroll the application window when the window is resized and smaller than the required size.

Coming soon.

A little delay. Mouse works well except when the Duplicates windows is enabled. I am using a ListView in VB6 and it seems it overrides my mousewheel subclassing.

You may have no clue what I am talking about, but don't feel bad, cause I have no clue either. Serious. If I do not get it soon, I will release anyways. It is a minor drawback.

**Changes from v3.40 to v3.50**

* Delayed Map display by 2 seconds to increase browsing speed. If you do not like it, just let me know and I will put it back as before. I can make this configurable too.

* Added mouse wheel support in POI List window (top left)

* Removed <cmt> field when same as the <desc> field. This happens when GPX are edited in MapSource. This feature can be enabled in Preferences->Options. This works only when reading GPX files.

* Added different unit configurations for file reading and saving. This means you can configure units in metric when reading a file and saving in a different units while editing with another units. Change units in Preferences->Options.

* Increased the comment field lenght

Is there a way to specified which fields gets extracted from the GPX to create a CSV. If so can you specify the order?

If not, Can we add this to the wish list?

Just downloaded the latest.

Thanks so much for doing this. This is a great thing you do for us, and I am sure a lot of work.

First, thanks so much for this program! Without it I can't imagine how big a pain editing POI's would be.

Second, can I make a request too?

I have several "like" files merged for my own ease, i.e. my Shopping file has Batteries Plus, Fry's, Trader Joe's, Guitar Center....etc. When any of those files are updated I merge the new version in, search for duplicates and that's where the trouble begins.

The search for duplicates automatically tries to save the original POI and not the new one. Is there any way an option can be added to Delete the Checked POI's in addition to the option to Delete the Unchecked ones? Or some way to delete the oldest version and not the new one?

Right now I have to uncheck all and then go through and manually check every one I want to keep and with some of the files this is becoming a very large pain in the rear.....lol.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give! And I apologize in advance if someone has asked this already, this thread is getting huge!

I was wondering why you are merging those POI files into one POI file and not just letting POI Loader create the catagorie for them? That way you can just pull in the new Fry's POI to replace the old one, etc....

Try this thread. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1297

I have some addresses in an MS Access file. I can easily export them to a csv file with the columns in any order, and with/without headers.

Does this program (or any other) support importing data, such that address, city, state, zip and phone will land in the correct GPX field?

When I last created a file, all of the address info imported into the name and desc fields.

Q

Yes, this program allows you to assign fields from your spreadsheet and place them in the corresponding csv field.

It also allows you to assign multiple spreadsheet fields to the same csv field.

Just open the program and select Options/CSV Fields.

Thank you!

Q

GPX to CSV: @DRMCMTR, very good feature. You are not the first to ask. Lots of job, but I think it is about time I do it.

Duplicates: @goldn40, interesting! Are you sure the most recent is always the best one? With GPX files, it is easy to know which one is recent if the time stamp is in the file, but for CSV I would need to look at the modified date in Windows. Or, do you want me to assume the last file you open is always the most recent? In this case, open the most recent one first and the duplicates will be the unchecked one.

POI file merge: @onestep, good question, but no answer. I just thought a good program should allow to do file merging. It was also easy to do. Now that you mention it, merging all McDo, Burger King, ... together would allow me to see which of all these fast food is closest without opening all categories one by one.

Importing from CSV: @Q, just create a CSV file with any column you want. Then go in Preferences->CSV fields and specify which column goes where. You can slo take 2 columns and assign them to the same GPX field. You could take your 3-column address and merge it to a single address field or have it in address, city & state. You choice.

originally answered by GadgetGuy2008. Sorry man. You answer was perfect. I saw it afterward.

Sorry Turboccc I was asking goldn40.

Your merging is proper.

I am just under the impression that goldn40 is doing it so that they can load one poi file.

Changes from v3.50 to v3.60

* Added file export to CSV with configurable column selection in Options->Preferences. This is a basic feature allowing one GPX field per column. Not possible to merge multiple fields in a column. This will come later. Use "Save As" and select "M-Column CSV".

* Added a scroll bar to the comment field in the POI edit screen.

* Removed quotes in CSV fields that were not required when saving to CSV.

Enjoy!

I don't see where you can choose the fields under Options->Preferences? May it is just me.....

In your new version 3.60, this feature doesn't appear to work. It was a welcome addition in 3.50

Thanks

Columns can be defined in Options->CSV Fields
Columns can be defined in Options->CSV Fields
Columns can be defined in Options->CSV Fields

Save As "M-Column CSV (*.csv)". The column can be assigned in Options->CSV Fields.

Example: Assign these columns first and then do a "Save As" and select the proper file type.

Col1: Longitude
Col2: Latitude
Col3: POI Name
Col4: Comment
Col5: Address
Col6: City
Col7: State
Col8: Postcode
...

About mouse support: sorry. I removed it for debug and forgot to put it back. Corrected in 3.61. Ready to download.

Thanks for all your great work.

Did you decide to do anything further with the delay?

Personally, I like the delay, although I would prefer 1 second rather than 2 seconds if there was no performance trade-off.

Thank you for such a useful program!

I can set it to one second if you want. You may have noticed that when the delay expires, the map appears, but it sometimes interrupt an existing action. For example, if you were clicking on "File" and wanted to do another action, just before that the delays expires and the File menu closes. It is a bit annoying.

When the delay was zero, the map was appearing before you had time to do anything. So, no problem. With a too long delay, it takes a long while before the map appears. At 2 seconds, I thought it was not so bad. There was enough time to read the full page of POI while searching... 1 second may be fine too.

Like I said, I do not mind changing it to anything. Others have an opinion?

I haven't had the chance to play with 3.50 yet and we're up to 3.61!

As to the delay, when you are waiting for it, 2 seconds seems to be an eternity. When you are trying to do something else and the timer pops, it seems like it is too quick. Either value is fine with me.

Just played with v3.61 -- the map has disappeared from mine. Opened several POI's and none show the map, even in edit mode.

Sorry, but it works here with v3.61. The maps appears after 2 seconds. In edit mode, the maps appear right away.

The bottom left window can be configured to display maps or images. Look at the window name to know how it has been configured. Click the top right or bottom right Image/Maps buttons to change.

It works now -- I since rebooted the computer, maybe something was holding it up. The older version I replaced was working before I downloaded v3.61.

It looks great.

I am currently adding HTML support. Stay tuned.

Just downloaded it...havent tried it yet....looks very promising!

Any chance of getting a "sort by state/city" option?

< br > does not perform a new line and is displayed in MapSource. If possible, an option to use ^M instead would be useful.

< cmt > and < desc >. When I use the < desc > field like my TourPoint Editor version of GeePeeEx, Extra_POI_Editor inserts a < cmt > < /cmt > record that causes the < desc > field to be ignored. Is the < cmt > field of sufficient length to store my TourGuide narratives and will it function identically if I switch over to that field? Perhaps the < cmt > field should not be output if it is a null field.

Great program from what I have seen. Now how about a manual to help us old ones that have senior moments so we can remember everything you have done. I know there is some help but sometimes it doesn't help to have to switch from what your doing to the help and back. Just thought I would ask since everyone else wants it to do everything for them. You may want to look into have it so all some ones has to do is type a place or address and it will do everyting else and them save it for them when its done.

FOr the life of me, I cant figure out how to EDIT with this util.

I mean there's the find/replace, but if i want to ADD info, how do I do that.

I admit i was also hoping this util would allow adding/editing garmin extentions. (adding phone #s to the GPX in particular)

... On the name in the list screen (upper left window).

For got to read the help where it tells you to put it in the same dir as the exe program then it works. Oh well "senior moments happen"

@Panache, Sort by City & State - done with 3.70.

@Dave817, Use ^M instead of - Noted. This is not something easy because I support many file type. There is a chance I will break something else. I will look at it.

@Dave817, Remove empty field. I put an option in Preferences to get rid of it. Check v3.70 later

@skunkape, Edit POI - As Panache said, just double click a POI in the top left window. If you did not see that one, you are missing a lot...

**Changes from v3.61 to v3.70**

* Added some support for HTML.

* Added sort by State and sort by City under the Tools menu.

* Added option to remove empty field in GPX in Options->Preferences

* Start POILoader from Tools menu or F8 key.

* Improved phone number extraction and CR/LF removal in "US Federal & State Campgnds.csv"

Hmmm - i did miss that course Im getting to be an old geezer, i miss the obvious sometimes

You da man, Turbo. Can't wait to try it out.

Curt

No offense intended, skunkape. I was referring to you missing a lot of the fields to edit only. Nothing else.

* Added option to remove empty comment field in GPX in Options->Preferences

This means EPE will not insert a dummy <cmt> </cmt> comment field in the GPX output is the comment field is empty or contains only a space. This option can be enabled in Option->Preferences.

If this option is not checked and the dummy comment field contains a space, MapSource will not display the description field as it should.

I really think this option should be enabled unless you find a problem elsewhere. For legacy reason, this option is not checked by default.