GPX versus CSV for nuvi

In general GPX files contain more information than CSV files. This is not always the case, but it's generally true. It all depends on the source data.

If you have a unit that has Bluetooth capabilities and is paired with a compatible phone, a GPX file will allow you to dial a POI's phone number from the screen.

When it comes to alerts, both can alert but normally a CSV file can only have a single alert for all the points in the file. A GPX can set different alert speeds or distances for each point, sound a different alert for each, and display a photograph on the screen for the POI.

One program available from TurboCCC here is Extra_POI_Editor. EPE can build either the standard 4 field CSV file or a 24 field GPX. It can also read either CSV or GPX and convert the file to many different formats for use by other makes of GPS. EPE will also geo-code or convert addresses to coordinates and, also convert coordinates to addresses.

But why have both? A CSV is usually a basic file listing the coordinates, the identification of the point and an optional description of the point. The description field can contain an address and phone, but you are limited to just the 4 fields. They are also easy to build with a simple text editor or spreadsheet program. GPX files are written in XML or eXtensible Mark-up Language. You can also create these files using a text editor, but a program that will generate the XML is much easier. The two most popular among the users here are Phil Hornby's GeePeeX which is available for a small fee and Turbo's EPE.

Your 205 will use either, and as your unit won't do Bluetooth some of the advantages would be lost.

Perhaps the better way to explain some of the differences would be to demonstrate them. Load both the CSV and GPX versions of any file on here. (One would have to have a different name.) Then just do a search on the two files and look at the information available for the same point. The extra information in the GPX file will be accessed by pressing MORE on the 205's display.

Thanks for the good info. I will have to check more into the programs and do some testing probably. I appreciate it!

Poke around a bit in the FAQs also. There are a couple of threads about CSV vs GPX that will help.

Start with this one
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6203