H-T-M-L for your GPS
16 years
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CSV and GPX files containing HTML codes combined with text can be used in the comment or description fields on some GPS units providing colored text in different sizes. I’m not sure if uploading files to POI Factory which contain HTML data is a good idea because I don’t know which GPS units can display that data. I think that most Nuvis and late model Garmin units can display HTML data on the “More” screens. Any feedback regarding different Garmin GPS models which can or can’t display HTML would be appreciated. It’s likely that HTML data that looks OK on a widescreen GPS, may appear differently on a narrower unit. Not all HTML code will work on GPS units.
This is a way to determine if HTML data will display on your GPS:
1. Download this HTML.txt file: http://www.datafilehost.com/download-ce9697f8.html
2. To see how the code should display paste the HTML text into: http://htmledit.squarefree.com/ .
3. Open any GPX file with Extra POI Editor. Copy and paste the HTML text into an EPE description field. (HTML will display on the EPE “More” screen, it should look better on your GPS)
4. Save the GPX file. Load the file into your GPS and view the “More” screen to see how the HTML data looks.
I probably didn’t follow all of the “proper HTML formatting” rules, but it still looks OK. (The left or right alignment doesn’t work on the website, but they do work with my GPS). The italic code does not work on my GPS. You may need to tweak the code or text for it to display properly on your GPS. There are a few other HTML codes that will work that are not shown above. Black or white HTML text colors may get blended into the GPS screen background color. A slash ends the specified formatting.
In addition to what you’ll see in the online editor, the GPS will usually also show the name, address and phone no. information on the “more” screen. For GPX files, both the comment and the description fields will display HTML data….because they both appear on the GPS “More” screen. The GPX comment field is limited to @ 174 characters in the amount of data it will display on a Nuvi 680 GPS, and HTML code characters can quickly use up a lot of that space. The description field can display a large amount of HTML code and data. The GPS main “name and address” (GO) screen on a Nuvi 680 will not display HTML data.
HTML data in CSV files downloaded to Nuvi GPS units can display the data as well as GPX files. The CSV file fourth field HTML data may need to be forced (I used line breaks) to the GPS “More” screen because the main “GO” screen does may not display HTML data (on my GPS). This is a link to a sample CSV file that utilizes HTML.
http://www.datafilehost.com/download-c13bc142.html
Writing a small amount of HTML code for your GPS is not too difficult, but that may be too cumbersome to individually provide for each POI in a file. Excel can be used to manage that. Starting off, you may want to test your code with the online editor before building it in Excel.
Below is a link to a sample Excel file that incorporates some HTML coding. Each POI in the file has a different “description” field format. Save the worksheet as a CSV file. Use Notepad to make sure the file looks OK. Setup the EPE multi-column CSV fields to match Excel Columns. Convert the CSV file to a GPX file and load it into your GPS.
http://www.datafilehost.com/download-72bf95e6.html
interesting idea
I think I will goof around with this between snow shoveling sessions...sigh
— (Garmin nuvi 765T) — "people who say money can't buy happiness, don't know where to shop"
will give it a try
Looks interesting. I will see what my unit will do.
260, 295W, 1490T,2455LMT
HTML
Thanks for the info, Jake!
Miki
Interesting
This is kind of cool from a programming point of view! However, many people on the forum complain about the processing power of the GPS', and I don't think reading more code will make it faster.
My 775T has a 330mHz chip and does pretty well for the normal functions it needs to do. If someone can tell me how to overclock it, I'll give this a try!
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK
Partial HTML support in EPE
I apologize for the partial HTML support in EPE. Mainly, I do not support text size at the moment or all the colors.
Edit: just added other colors and few other commands in v.4.51 (not released). It will look better next time. Still no text size, right align, sub or sup.
Speed
I want more speed in my GPS too, especially when I come upon that first intersection and the GPS is still searching for a signal. Why is that always happening?
The amount of data in the HTML.txt file is not really a lot of code for a GPS to read. On my Nuvi 680, the screens with HTML will display nearly as fast as I can press the buttons.
Since the subject came up, I decided to give it a test. I loaded TEN times the HTML.txt file data in both a GPX and a CSV file. That is 37 "More" screens of data. For the GPX file, there was a 1 second delay before displaying the screen. For the CSV file, there was an 8 second delay. I would not attribute too much that of that delay to reading the HTML code. 25 screens of pure text takes 5 seconds to display.
Turbo, I was impressed to see that you had started incorporating HTML support into EPE. Thanks for doing that. Garmin GPS units that display HTML data utilize a reduced version of HTML called Garmin Markup Language, so fortunatley it is not too much code to deal with.
Jake88
Geocaching
I use my nüvi as a backup unit when geocaching. I use my 76CSx for finding the cache but I use the nüvi to contain the data relating to the cache. There is a macro that was written for GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) that I use. The macro puts the important data regarding the geocaches into the nüvi. It basically puts the cache web pages into the unit and uses colors, etc. It's pretty slick.
There are actually two macros. If someone is interested in looking at them in regard to HTML for the nüvi they can be found here:
http://geocaching.totaltechworld.com/index.html
http://sites.google.com/site/jjreds012/download
GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S
.
I want more speed in my GPS too, especially when I come upon that first intersection and the GPS is still searching for a signal. Why is that always happening?
Again, interesting. Mine takes less than 10 seconds to lock onto sats...
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK
Garmin Markup Language
Garmin Markup Language: Cool! Now I know what to code...
Thanks for the tip!
Turboccc is amazing
I apologize for the partial HTML support in EPE. Mainly, I do not support text size at the moment or all the colors.
Edit: just added other colors and few other commands in v.4.51 (not released). It will look better next time. Still no text size, right align, sub or sup.
Having produced an already amazing product, turboccc, here you are apologizing because you did not anticipate every bell and whistle that we could request of you. Then you quickly indicate that features along this line are forthcoming.
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
Thanks for the tip
I will look into this, but I doubt my NUVI 350 will accept very much HTML code other than page breaks.
jgracey
I have seen the future and it is now!
you would be surprised
I will look into this, but I doubt my NUVI 350 will accept very much HTML code other than page breaks.
jgracey
You would probably surprised at the HTML it will accept. It would be the monochrome ones I think are the most limited.
ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet
350 can do quite a bit
I will look into this, but I doubt my NUVI 350 will accept very much HTML code other than page breaks.
I experimented with this on my 350 a few months ago and believe it could handle everything in the sample file. Just watch out for black/white fonts - you can't see black in night mode and white in day mode because of the background color.
Nuvi 350
Nuvi 760 crash
The html sample file cause my nuvi 760 fw 3.10 to crash and turn off without notice.
Links should not get in the way of other Garmin GPS
EPE also has a field in the lower right corner of the POI Edit screen called "Link". That is where a link to a URL or a photo can be installed that POI Loader does not download to Custom POIs on the GPS. It should not cause any Garmin unit to shut down. It can be accessed by MapSource or EPE. All my H-D Dealer POIs have this field populated with the URL of each dealer. I have never heard of a problem with this.
I can see where putting this in the comments or description fields could cause a problem with some units because these fields are downloaded to most GPS models.
Zumo 550 & Zumo 665 My alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.
Links
turboccc,
When I did the speed test with my 680, I had 10 times the HTML.txt data in my GPS and it has been there for several days without causing any issues. Some GPS units may not accept all all codes.
I believe that dave817 has a valid point. That link isn't in the Garmin Markup Language....I should not have included it. Would you take the "website" link out & try it again? I did find one more color that works...cyan.
Jake88
Still crashing
Nogo! I am still crashing when I hit the More button.
I am running fw v3.10 and not 4.90. I really think html support has been working since the beginning of the nuvi family. It should not be that.
I should try to remove a few things until it starts working....
Got it!
The first time I saw your file, I noticed the unbalanced amount of <font ...> and </font>. When you do this, you force the gps to remember the previous color or size that will be used when the </font> is encountered.
A good habit would be to put a </font> before starting a new font color or size.
BTW, I did not check if the problem was because of your numerous font size or color.
Best regards,
Turbo
HTML.txt
I'll rework the file tonight and repost it. Thanks for the info.
Jake88
HTML rev2.txt file
Below is a link to a revised HTML text file with improved code formatting and additional codes. All of this code displayed fine on my GPS. Copy the code from the text file into an Extra POI Editor description field and save as a GPX file.
The text file is several "More" screens of HTML data. If it causes problems for you, first try reducing the amount of data. The "italics" and "emphasize" code doesn't work on my 680, maybe it will work on your GPS.
http://www.datafilehost.com/download-921f2079.html
Jake88
760 crash
My 760 crashed and turned off again with the latest code.
760 crash
Turbo,
All I can suggest is to load only parts of the code until you can isolate the problem. It is probably a formatting issue or some code that the 760 can't read. I'm not having any problems at all with it on my 680. The only code that is not GML is the double character spacing and the "hidden text" lines.
Jake88