DeLorme Street Atlas USA and POI Factory

Although not specifically mentioning POI-Factory, Microsoft Streets & Trips 2010, which is now available, allows you to import and export GPX files in the same way.

I think it is a credit to Miss POI and Jon and the users that contribute to this site that compatibility with POI Factory files is listed as a feature in the DeLorme Product.

Methinks POI Factory should get a small stipend with which to support it's hosting services, etc. It would help the POI Factory be even better!

Perhaps a few freebies of Delorme software might be donated for POI Factory prizes to those who contribute big time, too.

Fred

Fred - I like that idea. What are some of the ways that the big contributors get recognized today?

That is great - I tried to import some poi in the 09 version and it would only take a few.

Some become a COW.

Here is a link to the COW Award program: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6206

Miss POI

Doesn't work for me.
I still have to convert and or reverse Lat/Lon to get it to work just as I did in 2009.

I meant something a bit different, if I understood your response correctly, Miss POI.

Your response, I think, was meant at giving recognition to the individual members of the POI Factory for their doing good things.

I was suggesting that the producers of a commercial products like Delorme should contribute something to the POI Factory if, as they are apparently, using some product of the POI Factory - POI's, in fact in their own software.

They could then contribute in many way to support your web site, as I said, help bear the costs of hosting, etc.

Hope I am clearer this time or not off base.

Fred

I was able to successfully import a POI Factory CSV file on SA 2010 Plus using the Draw Layer Import and Selecting POI Factory CSV as the import type. I also imported using the DeLorme XData menu Import using text files as the import file type. With XData, I had to specify the longtitude, latitude, name and address fields to identify the import file columns, but with the Draw Layer import it recognized the columns automatically.

I did not try a GPX file type, so I don't know how well that would work.

I've tried CSV files into Delorme & one said file said it couldn't import because it was to large. So what I do is change all to GPX files & had no problem importing it into SA2010. I use a POI converter that changes alot of POI files from one version to another.

How large is the file you got the error on? Were you using the "POI Factory/Garmin CSV" file type selection on the draw layer import dialog? I have been able to import both the red light camera CSV (~3200 entries) and the Rest Areas Combined (~2100 entries) without an error.

If I understand correctly, DeLorme isn't using POI Factory content, just making it easier for users of their software to import files in the POIF format.

I trying to import an animal hospital file into it, it was 13000 different items. But when I change it to gpx not problem.

That is correct in their web site they say that you can import from POI Factory, not that they are using it or recommend it. They say that you can import csv now.

Sorry, hate to be a bummer but I am not impressed with the new 2010 release of DeLormes Street Atlas.

First off, the ability to import files from this website is nothing new. I have been importing GPX files for years in Street Atlas and Street Atlas Plus. Street Atlas limits your address book entries to 200 records so I simply import my POI's in the Draw Import option. Add custom symbols and done.

Another aspect not impressed with is that I am a Truck Driver. Their is a big market for GPS's that can route a Semi along specific routes that avoid low coverage areas, Hazmat routes, along roads that have weight and size limitations and so on. DeLorme has fallen behind the crowd in bringing these options to their latest program. A number of well known GPS companies such as Megellan, just to mention one, have created GPS's that have either an option to create a Truck Route or are specifically designed for Trucks.

Personally, I use a portable GPS in my window, DeLormes Street Atlas Plus 2009, and a Rand MacNally Truck map book to route myself accross the USA. They all work together in a roundabout way. I usually start with routing from point A to B on my laptop then add my stops. I fine tune anything that looks bad on the laptop and double check my route with the map book to make sure I am legal. Then I export my route to the hard drive, import it into a route converter that converts the information so that it can be imported into other GPS's like my TomTom for example. Then I plug the TomTom into my laptop and transfer the information to it. Now when I am driving I have a TomTom screaming at me to stay in the left or right lane or telling me an exit or turn is coming up. Meanwhile I have a larger map displayed on my laptop that allows me a broader view of my progress. in addition, I add roads, customers, notes, POI's or any other important information to my map on the laptop that may help me in the future if I need it.

Ok, rambling....... sorry. Point is/was that DeLorme has been capable of doing what it says it now supports for years. Nothing really has changed except for some bling and some updated maps. Oh they did come out with a new GPS dongle, not sure if it is better or not, still using my LT-20 and it works great with the 2009 software.

However, WHOO HOO for POI Factory! That is a BIG boost.

I see. But if DeLorme is making their product more useful by encouraging use of POI files from the POI Factory, the company actually gets an improved product to sell - i.e. more useful.

I don't mean to overstate these kinds of things, but many companies actually do contribute to keeping web sites going for things that are useful to them.

Fred

You are correct that the ability to import GPX files in Street Atlas 2010 is not new. What is new is the Draw layer Import file type "POI Factory/Garmin CSV File" selection. This allows import of the POI Factory CSV files directly without having to explicitly identify the column heading fields.

The point of my original post was to congratulate POI Factory that Delorme considers it important enough to have compatibility with POI Factory files that they include it in their feature list. That said, the 2010 version of Street Atlas USA does have a new capability that directly recognizes the Garmin style CSV files.

DeLorme Topo USA 8 can also import POI Factory/Garmin CSV files.

Would you recommend upgrading to 2010 version from the 2009 version?

It depends on what you are trying to get with the update... map corrections, specific features, etc. The Delorme web site has a forum that has some user discussion about the SA 2010 upgrade, so you might want to check that out.

In general, my opinion is that it probably isn't worth upgrading unless there is a specific feature or map correction in 2010 that you need.

Have been a user of the DeLorme Products since the early days of the AAA Street Atlas- with a handheld garmin, strictly for personal travel. Did not pay much attention to POI's until we added NUVI which meant I didn't have to pull over, preplan days activities, or become navigator. Was alway bothered by lack of the kinds of places that POI-factory community is tracking not being flagged in the search for diners, localPOIs. Being able to use the Garmin csv import - either Xdata or Drawing layer just added the best reason to keep both the laptop and Garmin for cruising the country. I don't like the limited capability of the handhelds for trip planning, am waiting for the unit(at a reasonable $$) that will allow me to download the preplanned routes as well.

Since I just discovered this capability, will be reviewing other postings to shorten learning curve, do appreciate those of you with experience sharing techniques et al

Not sure if you are referring to route transfer from StreetAtlas to the Garmin, but this actually works quite well with Garmins that support saved custom routes.

We live quite near DeLorme in Yarmouth, ME and stopped in a while ago to preview Street Atlas 2010. We ended up upgrading our Topo product as I didn't see much gain in the SA between 2009 and 2010. Now that I know it will directly import POI Factory files, I just might have to go back for it.

We travel as many far back roads as we can in our truck camper. We use the DeLorme LT-40 GPS on the dash and a laptop on a stand between the front seats. I want the ability to load and turn off layers of POIs without a lot of conversions.

Thanks to all on here for making this such a useful site.

I'll try it again. I didn't get it to work netbook and lt-40...

On long road trips I run Street Atlas 2009 and Streets & trips simultaneously on my laptop. My GPS receiver at the moment is an LT-40, although I have used several other kinds of receivers over the years. Both SA & S&T have crashed now & then while I am on the road. That's the main reason I run them together. I really hate fussing with the navigation software while I am trying to navigate. I have never had both programs crash within a short time of each other and have never had them bring the operating system down with it. Each program has its pluses & minuses, and these cancel each other out when I run the programs together.
I haven't found much in the ads for SA 2010 to justify my buying that version. I just bought S&T 2010 for about $28, and like it a great deal. It loads much faster than SA 2009, although I have to use Delorme Serial Emulator to make it work with the LT-40. Importing CSV files into S&T is very easy. I then use it to generate GPX files, and SA 2009 will then easily imports the GPX files. SA has a "copy symbol to waypoint" function which helps me edit my waypoint files. The roads in S&T often seem to be aligned more closely with the real roads than SA 2009. S&T 2010 makes it very easy to toggle the display of waypoints off & on, a real cinch compared to SA 2009. One thing I do like in SA 2009 that is still not available in S&T 2010 is the ability to draw in routable roads.

You mention that you used a POI converter to import a file that was too large into SA2010. I'm having the same problem with a POIfactory file. SA2010 tells me to use XData but the instructions seem overwhelming. When you converted your CSV file to GPX did you still have to use XData? Also, What's a POI converter? Is it a separate piece of software I can buy somewhere?

HI,
I am just getting lists of POIs imported into my LT40 set up. This is not so easy and my scan of posts reveled no "how to" instructions. When one reads on a 9 inch screen online documentation is a crule joke.
Cactusmitch

I am trying to export routes from SA 2011 into my nuvi 255W. SA is unable to open my [USB] COM port. Any thoughts? And thanx.....

Although SA 2011 maybe able to transfer waypoints to your Nuvi which will be listed as Favorites, the 255W does not support multi point routing. This doesn't answer your USB question but even if you were to solve that you still could not transfer routes from SA to the 255W.

t923347 is correct in that your 255W does not support route import, so you won't be able to do what you want with that unit. However, Street Atlas USA does support export of routes to Garmin nuvi's that do support multi-point routes. The procedure in SA is click on the Route Tab, then click on the New/Edit button. Once you have the route created as desired, click the File button and select Export. Select "GPX" as the file type, give it a name and save it. The file will end up in the \Delorme Docs\Navigation folder. Copy the file to the Garmin \Garmin\GPX folder. The file will now be ready for import.

Again, this will not work on a 255W since it doesn't support routes. You can however use a similar procedure in the Delorme software Draw Layer to create a waypoint layer and transfer that to your nuvi as Favorites, again using an export .GPX file type.