Multiple Custom POI Files In a Single Folder

Like these, all in one folder on your PC?

Shell Stations.csv
Shell Stations.bmp
Chevron Stations.csv
Chevron Stations.bmp

Yes.

Thanks!

Is it easier to navigate using one folder or multiple folders?

There will be separate lists in Garmin regardless uploading in a single or multiple folders.

I'm not certain what you are asking here.

You can group your custom poi using a series of subfolders.

Assume you create a folder named My POI on your desktop that will contain all the custom POI you want to load. By creating another set of folders one level deep under the folder you create categories that are displayed on the unit. POI files are then placed into the subfolders and show up grouped by category.

My POI
>Food
>>DinersDrive-insDives.GPX
>>DinersDrive-insDives.bmp
>>DinersDrive-insDives.mp3
>>Cracker-Barrel.csv
>>Cracker-Barrel.bmp
>>Cracker-Barrell.mp3
>Gas
>>Costco Gas.csv
>>Costco Gas.bmp
>>Costco Gas.mp3
>>Flying J.csv
>>Flying J.mp3
>>Flying J.bmp
>>TA Locations.mp3
>>TA Locations.bmp
>>TA Locations.gpx
>Cameras
>>RedLight-Beta.csv
>>Speed Cams.csv
>>Speed Cams.bmp
>>Speed Cams.mp3
>>RedLight-Beta.mp3
>>RedLight-Beta.bmp

This structure will build 3 categories on your unit under Custom POI, Food, Gas, and Cameras with the files shown within each of the categories. In order to get the icon to display and the alert to sound, the file names must match exactly with the exception of the file extension. The order of the files in the folders doesn't make any difference nor does it make any difference if you load a CSV or GPX file.

That's good to know. Thanks!

If you wanted to find the nearest Flying J you would select Gas then Flying J to do the search, but if you wanted any gas station in your Gas folder there is All Categories and that will list the closest gas stations of all in that folder. Using a_user's example, that would show you the TA, Costco and Flying J. For me, that flexibility is a real plus.

Did exactly what you said, I don't see any sub folder anywhere on my NUVI260W, and there is nothing in the Extras/Custom POI on the device.

Is there a way to mannually add these files to the directory on the 260?

You have a top level folder named something like MY POI?

Under that folder you created subfolders to hold the files you wanted in each category?

You ran POILoader and told it to load the top level folder? And it didn't create categories under Custom POI? Is that what happened?

You run POILoader ONE time. Every time you run it, it overwrites the file already at the target destination.

>You ran POILoader and told it to load the top level folder? And it didn't create categories under Custom POI? Is that what happened?

Yes. But when I run POILoader, it asks for a directory where the data files can be found. I browse to D:/My POI which as a sub-folder DDD with the files. The window says "D:\My POI". I click Next, and it loads into the 260.

When I turn the 260 on, there is nothing in Extras/Custom POI. I have a feeling it might have dumped them all into the main Food directory.

I am uploading Diners Drive Inns & Dives.

1.Connect your GPS to your computer using the usb cable.
2.Now run poi loader http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/ .
3.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.
4.Click next and put mark in Install new custom Poi’s onto your device.
5.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.
6.Now you should get message so many points of interest has been installed to your device.
7.Based on model. Touch where to, extras and touch custom pois last and you will see the ones you downloaded.
8.Each time you run poiloader it will over write the existing files.

I did all that, and there is nothing in the Extras/Custom POI's. I am confident that I am following all the instructions correctly. Even when I open the device drive, and browse the folders, I see nothing that I have uploaded other than a modification date on several files that were already there.

I assume when you say 'main Food directory' you mean the restaurants that are listed when you select Where To- Points of Interest- Food. If so, this is not where your custom POIs are going when uploaded through POIloader. The built in Points of Interest are part of the map data and can not be altered, added to or deleted.

Well then, I have no idea where they are going then. They sure aren't going into any custom folder, I have no subfolders named what I assumed I was uploading.

When I browse the Garmin device, there is a folder called POI, inside that folder is one file called POI.gpi.

Do you have a set up like this.

>My Pois=main folder
>>Food=subfolder
>>>Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives.gpx

If the POI.gpi file resides in the \Garmin\POI folder, your locations are on the gps. Any subfolders on your computer show up as categories compiled into the gpi file -- no subfolders are created on the gps. Are you actually tapping "Custom-POIs" when you look under Extras? Your categories only show up once you click on "Custom POIs".

>>You ran POILoader and told it to load the top level folder? And it didn't create categories under Custom POI? Is that what happened?

Yes, and there is nothing there. There are no categories listed anywhere throughout ANY lists on the device.

OK, third time around is a charm! It worked! Thanks for the help.

You are not the first person to mistake "Custom POIs" for a heading, when it is actually a button.