Question: POI icons

When POILoader loads the files into the Nuvi, it will associate the icon and sound file with the CSV POI file. The icon and sound file have to have the same exact name as the POI file with the exception of the extension.

huangj

The 680 supports gpx files.If you want to do any gpx files you may want to look at Extra Poi Editor http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor if you get message when downloading. Are you missing the required OCX file? You will need to install Extra_POI_Editor_Installer+v250.zip located under trouble shooting

Thanks for the feedback, a_user. I do understand the part about naming the files with the same prefix in order for the sound and the icon to appear and have that part working when loading with the Garmin POIloader app.

Let me provide an example. The POI file contains the following info:

Long, Lat, McDonald's, "123 Main Street, Smalltown, VA"
Long, Lat, Arby's, "130 Main Street, Smalltown, VA"
Long, Lat, Wendy's, "120 Main Street, Smalltown, VA"
Long, Lat, Outback, "135 Main Street, Smalltown, VA"

What I am hoping for is that when I drive by or on Main Street the different icons for the restaurants will appear as I get near them. Not the Garmin generic square with a dot in middle icon.

I hope that makes it clearer. Advise and tips welcomed.

James

Charlesd45,

Thanks for your feedback about the .gpx capability. My question was actually about how to load a .csv or .gpx file so that I can have different restaurants shown using their own logo icons and not the generic Garmin square with a dot in middle.

I have fetched and installed the Extra_POI_Editor app (including the v2.50 installer package). I have not been able to get it to work. From what I have read on the forum re the app, it seems to be working fine for everyone else and the problems that I have come across must be between my keyboard and my chair. Will try that again.

Again, thanks for your feedback.

James

You're doing this the hard way, and in a way that will not allow you to have different bmp icons for the different chains. The normal way to do this that works fine is to keep the different chains in their own POI files. that way you can have an icon with a name that exactly matches the csv file name (except the extension obviously) and is unique to each chain. Put all of the chain POIs in the same folder and let poi loader load them together.

OK, now there is one minor downside to this. For some strange reason, POI loader insists that there be a limited number of csv/gpx files in any folder. I think the number is 30 but I may be one or two off. If you have enough fast food chains you might end up with too many csv files to store them all in one folder. The work around is to simply have multiple folders. You might, for example, want a burgers folder and a non-burgers folder. This is the price that you pay for wanting different icons for the different chains. Plus it lest you use the POI factory provided poi files and just update any files as the author releases new versions. No need to recombine everything into one file every time any chain makes a change.

I would use subfolders for what you want to do instead of combining all the csv files like Frovingslosh pointed out.Here is the layout.

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.Place your csv or gpx file in the proper subfolder
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 or my locations if you don’t see 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.

It's a little work to set it up, but you can associate both a sound and icon with each line of a file using GPX. The LINK variable in the GPX for each line or waypoint can point to the sound or icon for each place.

For example here is the link statement I have for the 5 Guys on my unit:

w pt lat="33.46943" lon="-86.77325">
name>Five Guys Burgers & Fries
l ink href="C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner.SOHO47/Desktop/POI/Food/Five%20Guys%20Burgers.BMP"/>
l ink href="C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner.SOHO47/Desktop/POI/Food/Five%20Guys%20Burgers.wav"/>

You would have to set up a separate link for each entry, but if you have multiple entries in the file for say Outback, the link would be the same for each one.

NOTE: The XML is a little cobbled so it will display, but you should get the idea.

Thanks Charles.

That's how I have it right now but am finding that the number of files I have, and will be creating, will overrun the limitations set by Garmin. However, if they change the rules and remove those limits it would all work out.

I'll look thru my layout again and see how I can get around this. Pls refer to my response to Frovingslosh above.

Appreciate your feedback.

I seem to remember from my browsing thru all the FAQs and tips on the web that a GPX is the way to go. However, I will need to get a GPX editor then, right? And, I have still to find a confirmation that the nuvi 6xx series units support this method.

From what I have read, it seems that different Garmin models behave differently with regards to how POIs are displayed. Like, some will display POIs while you are driving along a plotted route. However, my 680 will only show me the list of POIs and scroll thru them as I drive. The route I am driving is totally not visible, that is until I close the POI list.

Will need to find me a GPS unit that supports all my whims and fancies, and does not cost me both arms and legs.

Thanks for the feedback. Will try that and see how far I get. Right now, my unfinished fast food chains POI file has 64135 points.

In fact I think almost all the Garmins support GPX. I used some GPX files on my old Nuvi 200 and have been converting a lot of the CSV files I use to GPX to get dialable phone numbers on the new unit.

Plus, with GPX it will show you the name as well as 1 line of address info on the "list" screen. Does that on my 200W and 765T, and I think all of the other nuvi's (at least).

The "list" screen example is here: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21281

When you make for example a main folder called my pois and just put all the csv or gpx files in it that is where the limit of 32 gives you the problem.Using subfolders increases that limit.

Edit.More information on post http://www.poi-factory.com/node/15907

I have run in to this before. If I remember correctly, the 24 file limit is when you use subfolders. Without subfolders, I don't think there is a limit.

I think the easiest way is to set the poi up like charlie outlined.

as you travel down main st you will see mickey d's, wendy's, arby's etc with the associated bmp and or mp3 (or wav)

all that can be done with csv or gpx. no need to make things more complicated than they are. but, by all means experiment.

GeePex also supports the use of different Icons, for each location in a .gpx file.

However, you might find it to be advantageous to have separate files for each restauarant. It might be easier to keep the file current, if a restaurant is added or closed.

Extra_POI_Editor also allows to add icons for each POI in a .gpx file.

The only drawback for some could be the size of the .poi file POILoader will create. All those .BMP will make the final file huge. If you have a lot of space on your gps, then no worry. Personally, I use an SD card.