Loading POI files with POI Loader ...Help!

You have to load all the custom pois at one time from your computer to the gps using poiloader.Here is the easiest method to do it.Later on you may want to use subfolders for categories.

1.Make a folder on your computer and give it a name. Example My poi's.
2.Download the csv or gpx file and put them in that folder.
3.If you want to add a bmp or mp3. Download from site and also add to the same folder but make sure you name them the same as the file you want them to go with except the extensions.

>My pois=Main Folder
>>Dunkin Donuts.csv
>>Dunkin Donuts.mp3
>>Dunkin Donuts.bmp
>>Walmart.csv
>>Walmart.bmp
>>Walmart.mp3

4.Hook the gps up to computer using usb cable and then run poiloader. http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/. Select My pois folder.
5.If you want alerts use manual mode instead of express.
6.You should get message so many pois are loaded at the end of the download.
7.On GPS go to where to then extras and touch custom pois and you should see them.
8.Every time you run poiloader it will overwrite the existing files.

Edit.To download the sounds at http://www.poi-factory.com/gps-sounds .Just click on the sound you select and the next page you will see attachment.Right click with mouse and select save as.Make sure you name it the same as the csv or gpx file except for the extension.Just like example above.

Charlesd45 is giving you the best scenario for doing what you requested, but if you are not able to go through the instructions step by step, the easy way is to put all of the files in one folder and load through the POI loader in manual configuration, you can then give each set of POI's a distance in feet that you want to have it warn you.
Concerning the music, if you have a SD card, you can load any music file you might have on your PC or laptop and place them in catagories.
I play all my music, answer my phone, etc. through my Nuvi.

Thanks Charlie,

1. I'm with you up to step 6. For step 7, on my Nuvi350, I touched "Where to", but could not locate "extras".

2. Presently in my "My POIs" folder on my computer:

All_States_Offbeat_Tourist_Attractions.csv
DinersDriveinsdives.csv
Las_Vegas,_Best_of_-__Food_(local).csv
USA_Ghost_Towns.csv

Do you have any suggestions for cool bmp or mp3 files (such as the most popular bmp or mp3 files)?

On 350 it is where to,my locations then custom pois.Make sure to touch custom pois.

I found my POIs via
"Where to" --> "My Locations" --> "Custom POIs"

Sweet!

Sounds like you done every thing OK .Have fun.

I'm not at all a pro with my GPS nor computer and would appreciate a few tips on the correct way of doing things.

1- The first thing I must do is buy a usb cable because the unit did not come with one. I will also purchase an SD card and would like to know what size you recommend? All that I will put on the card will be red light and speed cameras.

2- When I back up my entire GPS file before I start doing anything do I click on it and then right click and save as ?

3- Whats the difference between csv and gpx file ? Which one is best for my unit ?

4- Can I also add a bmp and mp3 file ?

5- Is there a simple way of creating an alert for EVERY red light and speed camera out there ?

If I have to manually do every single camera with the extension file( bmp and mp3) I figure it'll be a very long process.

5- When I want to update my file will I have to start off from scratch again and redo each and every single red light and speed camera ?

I thank you in advance for your time and help.

1.Garmin recommends a 2gb.I have a 4gb that works with no problem.
2.Just hook gps unit up to computer.Go the Garmin folder and right click and save and paste a copy somewhere on your computer or save to disk.
3.You can use either gpx or csv files.See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6203 for more info.It will depend on what you want the file to include.
4.You can use bmp but not mp3 for your unit.Wav files can be used to get the voice alerts you want.
5.When you add the wav file to the custom poi file it will give you alert for each custom poi in the file.The word redlight and speed in the name gives you automatic alert for 1/4 mile.If you don't add the wav you will get the bong alert sound.Make sure to read the help file for poiloader.Lots of info there.
6.When you run poiloader to install your custom pois it will overwrite the existing ones.There are other methods to keep from re-doing files that don't require updating all the time see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/8779 .Extra Poi Editor you can build the alerts in using gpx files.See http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor

Edit.See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/22727 for how to add wav files for alerts.

1-You don't need an SD card for POIs. Your 255W will hold thousands of POIs - I have over 1 Million on mine. You can delete voices, help, text for other languages to get more storage. If you are going to load a lot of pictures or music, you'll need SD card.
2-Right click on E:Nuvi>copy. Go to C:>right click>paste ... takes quite a while.
3-csv opens in excel and is easier to understand - long,lat,poi name,comments. gpx file is more complicated but does more. Try opening gpx. Mapsource or freeware programs are used to edit.
5-Use manual mode in POI Loader and select alert distance. You can also use key words in file name...redlight,speed, camera ... See POI Loader Help.
4-Yes. bmp and mp3 should be in same folder as csv or gpx file and have the same name except extension.
5-bmp and mp3 goes with csv / gpx file. There are 100's / thousands of pois per file. Each poi in the file will have same bmp and mp3.

Try Search for more detail and let us know if you have more questions.

I build all my poi's on my computer. I also have them split up by restaurants, gasoline, lodging, travel and main. When I run the poiloader it will create a poi.gpi file. If it is for gasoline, I then rename it to gasoline.gpi . I do that for all the categories. The main one is one I have loaded all the time, the others are for my trips. I then copy these to the sd card. I download the main.gpi to the 255w, but don't download the others. When you start up the gps it asked you if you want to download the *.gpi files to the 255w and I say no. That way I can remove the sd card after I finish a trip and have my main.gpi. I don't want all the alerts all the time around where I live when I know where everything is.

If you split everything up in different folders, like a "gasoline" folder, and have the poiloader select that folder, all the gasoline stations will be loaded.

Just my way of doing it and it's easier for me if I use the sd card.

I thought all Garmins came with the USB cable.

Nope. Some don't.

1- The first thing I must do is buy a usb cable because the unit did not come with one. I will also purchase an SD card and would like to know what size you recommend? All that I will put on the card will be red light and speed cameras.

canuk.
You can not use mp3's for a 255 is does not have that capability.You will have to use wav files if you want a voice alert.

>My poi's
>>Redlight cameras.csv
>>Redlight cameras.bmp
>>Redlight cameras.wav
>>Speed cameras.csv
>>Speed cameras.bmp
>>Speed cameras.wav

I have not been here a very long time, but I'm VERY impressed on how so many people take the time in answering my numerous questions.

All I can say is Thank-you and hopefully you'll all train me well enough so that one day I'll beable to help someone out myself.

I will start from the very beginning by reading the different links that were posted with your answers and will read the help file on the POI loader.

I will definitely post in the weeks to come to let you all know how things went. Lets keep our fingers crossed !!

Thanks everyone for all your help and tips and a very special thank-you to charlesd45 who emailed me several times, taking me step by step, explaining in detail until I finally succeeded.

Mr Charles if ever I had a say or had the possibility to vote you would definitely be my contributor of the week.

Charles was one of our Cow's in March: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21400

He is a great guy;)

Miss POI

Thank you miss poi that was very nice of you and much appreciated.