POI Loader problem - Nuvi 855

POI.GPI file must be stored in x:\Garmin\POI folder where x is either your Nuvi internal or external memory.

You should only nest one subfolder deep. Keep all your pois in the same place, then load them all with poiloader. When you go to Extras-Custom pois You will get a list of your subfolders.

Thanks Ralphy1, but I only nested one sub-folder. I also tried loading a single customer POI file with no subfolders. From my PC, I see a POI.GPI file in my device's POI folder, and nothing else. And when I turn on the GPS and go to "Extras" in the Nuvi 855 menu, I get a message that there are no extras installed. I used to get a Custom POI menu item with the rest areas listed under it. But since I deleted the contents of the POI folder (to try to re-load multiple custom POIs in sub-categories), I've lost all custom POIs and can't re-load them. POI LOader says they are loaded, but the Garmin says I have no extras installed.

Thanks for any help you can offer...

chewbacca,
Thanks. I see a single file in the device's POI folder - POI.GPI. But when I go to "Extras", the nuvi reports no extras are installed.

I tried reloading the Custom POI file from POI Loader, and it says it succeeded. But then the Nuvi still reports no Extras installed. I believe I deleted a file I wasn't supposed to delete. What else is in the POI folder?

Thanks again...

There shouldn't be anything else in your POI folder, just POI.GPI. Run POI Loader and let it delete all of your custom POIs. Then run it again and re-load your POIs in the folder you desire. Are you trying to load the POIs onto an SD card or the internal memory?

If that doesn't work, point your POI Loader to a folder on your computer's hard drive and then copy the result to x:Garmin\POI\ folder.

Good luck
Jack j

Most likely you have done a lot of the following but this is what I have typed out for making subfolders.See if it helps.

How to make subfolders, download files and develop categories.

1.Go to my documents on your computer and make a folder and name it My poi’s.
2.Click on My poi’s folder. Now right click and make subfolders naming them based on type of files you plan to download. Example: Food, Alerts, Parks, Attractions and etc.
3.Go to POI Factory main page and click on poi files. Scroll down until you see View all poi files ( listed alphabetically) .Click on first file you want to download and save it in one of the subfolders you created. Repeat process until you have downloaded and placed all the csv or gpx files into the correct subfolders.
4.Now if you want to add bmp (icons) or mp3 (sounds) files select icons or sounds from the POI Factory main page. The process is the same for all to download. Click on the title and when you see attachment just right click on it and pick save target as. Save it in the correct subfolder you want the mp3 or icon for. Make sure gps has the capability for mp3 before downloading. .

5.Now go to each subfolder and name the csv, bmp, and mp3 file the same name except for the extensions. The biggest problems with the alerts and icons not working are the files not being named the same except for extensions and having double extensions. Double-check each of them. The best way to prevent double extensions is to go to your folder options in the control panel and click view then find hide extensions for known file types and remove the check mark. Click ok.

This is how it should look.

>My pois=main folder

>>Department stores=subfolder
>>>Pennys.csv
>>>Pennys.bmp
>>>Pennys.mp3
>>>Sears.csv
>>>Sears.bmp
>>>Sears.mp3

>>Restaurants=subfolder
>>>Cracker Barrel.csv
>>>Cracker Barrel.bmp
>>>Cracker Barrel.mp3
>>>Sonny's.csv
>>>Sonny's.bmp
>>>Sonny's.mp3

>>Alerts=subfolder
>>>Redlight cameras.csv
>>>Redlight cameras.bmp
>>>Redlight cameras.mp3
>>>Speed cameras.csv
>>>Speed cameras.bmp
>>>Speed cameras.mp3

6.Connect your GPS to your computer using the usb cable.
7.Now run poi loader http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/ .
8.When you see screen find device make sure you select the proper one. If using sd card use the pull down window .The arrow located across from device and selects the sd card.
9.Click next and put mark in Install new custom Poi’s onto your device.
10.Click next. Using Browse make sure to select the folder location for My poi’s not the subfolders. Looking below on same screen you will see selection for either express or manual mode. If you plan to set alerts for your custom poi’s select the manual mode . This will allow you to set alert by speed or distance. Click next.
11.Now you should get message so many points of interest has been installed to your device.
12.Based on model. Touch where to, extras and touch custom pois last and you will see the ones you downloaded.
13.Each time you run poiloader it will over write the existing files.

Jack J,

Thanks - it worked! I was using POI Loader to create POI.GPI to the internal memory of the GPS in POI folder. I saw the file go from 0 kb to 629 kb, but Nuvi 855 would still report no extras loaded. So I tried creating the PI.GPI file to my hard drive, and then copying it to the GPS unit's POI folder, and that worked.

Thanks again. I still have no explanation for VERY erratic behavior - including seeing a POI.GPI file of 0 kb, and yet Custom POIs found by Nuvi...?? and later having a POI.GPI file of 629 kb, but Nuvi reporting no extras installed..?? Oh well... Creating the POI.GPI to my harddrive and copying it seems to have worked.

Good news, I'm glad it worked. I have no idea why your GPS couldn't find the POIs installed on your GPS. The file could have been corrupted but overwriting with POI Loader should have taken care of that.

Jack j

OK - so I can't leave well enough alone...i wanted to add another custom POI - so I set up my files on the PC and used the POI Loader, but nothing changed.

So I used POI Loader to remove Custom POIs, and the POI.GPI file on my Nuvi 855 went to 0 kb. Then I restarted the 855 and the device still had my custom POIs! So then I deleted the POI.GPI file and restarted my Garmin. Now, "Extras" reported no extras installed. Then, I went into file manager and created a new empty text file and named it POI.GPI and stored it to the Garmin. Restarting the 855 and whoola - all the Custom POIs were back. They must also be stored somewhere else in the Garmin. Any ideas? (I do not have an SD card...)

OK - I may have it now.... after updating the POI.GPI file with POI Loader, changes were not taking effect. Then I tried removing the battery from the unit for a few seconds. This seems to force the nuvi 855 to re-read the poi.gpi file, and changes take effect. (Changing the POI.GPI file by itself didn't update the Custom POI list).

Thanks for all the advice...

GREAT instructions charlesd45!

Prior to reading your instructions, I struggled for 3 nights trying to figure out how the POIs worked on my Garmin Nuvi 855. If I had only read your posting first....

~Mike
www.RadioShackCatalogs.com

I don't understand why you are having these problems with POIs. Doing a reset should have forced it to re-read all the user-input type of files (poi, jpg, mp3, etc.). I do know that Nuvi's will find and use .jpg and .mp3 files regardless of folder name or where in memory they are stored. Maybe it treats POI files the same way. Hookup your GPS to your computer and do a file search for "*.gpi". Delete any that you find on your GPS. Reset your GPS and reload your POI files using "Garmin Device". That should ensure that you have only one POI file on your GPS.

Jack j

Garmin's Nuvi's do not have a hard drive. Everything is stored in memory. Some files, like the Operating System files, are stored in non-volatile memory and others like POI files are stored in volatile memory that is kept alive by the battery. Turning the unit off does not remove power from the volatile memory so all your files remain on the unit. When you overwrite a file with one of "0" size, you only reset pointers, you don't actually overwrite that area in memory. Removing the battery will completely erase everything in volatile memory and give you a brand new unit with no custom files. Doing a "Hard Reset" should do the same thing by completely resetting all of the memory pointers without actually erasing the memory. It is possible that you were doing a "Soft Reset" which will leave all of your user file pointers intact while resetting some of the internal OS pointers.

In any case, removing the battery IS a hard reset. If you continue to have problems with the unit, contact Garmin tech support.

Jack j

The data written to the unit and stored as POI will remain without power. The units use much the same type memory as found in flash or thumb drives.

Jack,

OK - so the only thing missing from Charly's instructions (above) is the "hard reset" after updating the POI file. I was simply turning the GPS off and back on again, which apparently did not re-load the new POI file into non-volatile RAM. So besides removing the battery, how else do you get the GPS to re-load the non-volatile RAM with the new POI file?

(Apparently it's not just a power off / power on cycle.)

Thanks,

New City

Thanks,

It SHOULD read the new info after you disconnect it from the computer. I install all of my POIs to my expansion card and my 750 asks me if I want to transfer the new POIs to the Garmin. I answer "yes" then tell it to skip the transfer on the next screen. You should not have to do a reset, either hard or soft, to use your new POI files.

My 750 goes into "computer mode" when I plug in the USB cable. I run POI Loader and then disconnect the USB cable and the unit reboots with the new POI info read to use. If yours isn't behaving this way, you should contact Garmin's Tech Support.

A Hard Reset will clear all of your user data including Custom POIs. A Soft Reset will leave your user data alone and just clear some internal pointers used by the operating system. Soft is the one to use when the unit freezes up and cycling the power won't bring it back. Your manual should give instruction on how to do both.

Jack j

You have two options to do a reset, when either of the 8X5 series units restart they do a normal cold boot just like my 760 does every time I turn it on. You can remove the battery or hold the off switch in the off position for 10 seconds. You will not loose any user settings, custom POI's or your favorites. I have done it many times and never have lost anything.

I had a 855 and now have the 885T and that worked on both of them.

Go to upper left paragraph on page 54 of the user manual and it will say that either method is ok and both do a reset. With the removable battery in these units allowing you to swap batteries it would have been a disaster if you lost all your user settings every time you swapped the battery.

My Garmin would not delete the old custom POI and load the new POI with the Garmin POI Loader, unless I take out the battery each time to do a reset.

If it wasn't for this thread I would have been pulling my hair out for more hours.

Thanks for the suggestion to remove the battery.

This must be a fairly common problem with the 855 as I to could not see recently loaded POIs until after a hard reset via removing the battery. I learned this because I used it today for a trip, I left it on for several hours even though I was not moving and the device locked up (it has locked up several time before) I removed the battery and presto there the POIs were.

So I cam home, added a few more POIs, did nor see them, did a hard reset and there they were.

I did send an e-mail to Garmin Support asking if this was standard behavior for an 855

excellent example of how to set up sub directories in the 855. Thanks

On some other posts other users have reported the same problem you can also hold the off switch in the off position for 10 seconds to clear the memory before your new pois will take effect.

Garmin responded to my query (which makes me wonder why they did not document this "feature" that a 855 needs hard resets and that you can do a hard reset via the Power button for 10 seconds instead of removing the battery?):

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

I apologize for the inconvenience. Generally, the unit has to be power cycled (turned on and off) to see new data loaded to it. With the Nuvi 8xx series, when powering off the device, it goes into a standby/sleep mode. It does not actually turn off completely. Removing the battery (like what you have been doing) would be the next step if the data is not being seen on the device.

With Best Regards,

Luke C
Software Support Specialist
Software Team
Garmin International

I have not seen any reference to the limit on the number of CSV / GPX files that can be in a folder. When I tried to load a bunch of POI files (folder sorted) into my 755T or 750 an error message states the limit is 32 files per folder. I was wondering if this common accross the Garmin line or just with the 7XX series.

Also, is it required to delete the old POIs before loading new ones or will the POI file be over written? Another question, can I add a new POI without reloading all POIs?

When you load new POIs, it overwrites all old POIs. So you will only have what you just loaded. You can rename the old POI file and it will not overwrite them.

1. 32 files is the limit per folder.
2. The POI file will be overwritten.
3. No. You will have to re-load all POI's.

What you need to do is establish some subfolders to get around this 32 limit.See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25721

I seem to recall that one can have only one level of subfolders.

Thanks for the info and link.

Not true. I store my POI files for my 750 on my 2Gig SD card. They are located in:

Garmin\POI\"Individual folders"\

"Individual folders" is the name of the POI file. If my 'old time math' is correct, that is 3 sub-folders.

You can have more then one subfolder or category.I have 13 subfolders.

Could I have

>My pois=main folder
>>Restaurants=subfolder
>>>BurgerPlaces=subfolderlevel2
>>>BetterPlaces=subfolderlevel2
>>Stores=subfolder
>>>Discount=subfolderlevel2
>>>HiClass=subfolderlevel2

8XX Resets
You can reset - really reboot the 8XX series 2 ways. One is taking the battery out and putting it back in. The second is to hold the power switch in the off position for 10-15 seconds. Both cause a reboot and reload of the unit.

32 file limit
The 32 file limit (and this does not count .BMP or MP3 files is hit when you use sub-foldering to create categories. You can have a maximum of 32 CSV or GPX files in the folder POI Loader reads to create your output GPI file. A second limit is reached with 32 sub-folder names.

Overwriting old POI files
When POI loader runs it will over write an existing POI.GPI file in the target directory or folder. If you have 2 files ending in .GPI only one, POI.GPI will be overwritten.

Counting folder levels
When we speak of one level deep, we are referring to the input folder and not the output folder. POI Loader will read the input folder and only one more level of folders. It is the second or lower level folder name that becomes the category name. If I put my source CSV or GPX files in a folder on my computer, I can put as many files as I want into that folder. But- and this is where the 32 limit come in - if I create another folder inside that folder, then I can only have 32 files in each of 32 folders.

When looking at the unit, yes POI can be much deeper because you are not dealing with POI Loader. POI are stored in the /GARMIN/POI folder, and I can create additional folders under this so I go 3 deep. But POI Loader will only read 2 levels so my source folder containing my CSV, icon and sound files can only be 2 deep.

On the 8x5 series Garmins you must either remove and replace the battery or hold the on off switch in the off position for about 10 seconds before the new POI's you loaded will show under Extras.

It is a common problem or question and it doesn't tell you this in any of the documentation. I had the same thing happen with my 885T till I figured out the hard boot thing.

See this post http://www.poi-factory.com/node/15907 for the 32 file limit.It gives some detail information.

Shhhh! Don't tell my POI Loader!

My POIs are stored on my computer as follows:

C:\My documents\Garmin Files\Installed POI\"POI Name"\*.CSV

Again, my 'old-time math' may be failing me but I think that's 1 folder with 3 sub-folders beneath it.

I can't speak to the 32 file limit as I don't have more than 3 or 4 files in any folder but I don't think there is any limit on how many sub-folders can be used with POI Loader. I believe that POI Loader, like almost all Windows programs, uses Windows sub-routines to access files so any limits to the number of sub-folders would be a Windows limit and not a POI Loader limit.

We are still not communicating.

POILoader asks you for an "input folder". When you point to an "input folder", that "input folder" becomes the starting point for the discussion that has been going relative to POILoade's 32 folder limits and the number of sub-folders contained in the "input folder".

The key is that the "input folder" becomes the TOP LEVEL folder as far as POILoader is concerned. We should have made that plain to start with. There is nothing wrong with your math as far as how many directories and sub-directories are involved on your PC before you specify to POILoader what it's "input folder" is to be.

Now I understand. Sorry, I thought from what had been written that they were saying you could only go 2 folders deeper than root directory and I knew that to be false. Thanks for clearing that up for me, my 'old math' might be okay but my 'old mind' is going!

I resemble that remark!!!!

(so is mine)