Converting Bobi's excellent csv into a format I can use in Mapsource

Use a fancy editor with a change all option and convert "," to a space. The syntax used in my editor is

c/","/ /*

c is the change command, / is the delimiter and * executes the command for every line.

I have done this for all my POIs I have downloaded. I have all them in .csv formated and use POIEdit to convert to .gpx so I can view them with MapSource with all the information.

You could also use simple perl or sed scripts to do the change if you have used those tools before. Send me message on my contact tab if you need help.

Hm. I tried it, and the new file chokes on PoiEdit.

Here's what the new file looks like:

-122.25402,37.76792 "Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet" "Pier 3, Alameda Point, Alameda, CA"
-117.305612,34.421981 "Banana Museum" "16367 Main Street, Hesperia, CA"
-117.992991,33.816716 "White House Doll Museum" "1238 S. Beach Blvd, Anaheim, CA"

You sure you don't need commas in a csv? How do you import the file into PoiEdit?

- Thanx
- Jon

I think you do need the comments like this "," but not inside the qoutes..

What file are you tring to change, I can do it and send it to you if you like..

(Since I created it - lol)

The CA file...

- Jon

Below is what I am using in the .csv file then converting to .gpxand I see all the data with MapSource.

-86.199637,34.274039,"Muffler Man - Paul Bunyan 6900 US Highway 431, Albertville, AL"

Hey tick. Yeah, Bobi just sent me a new csv file that also looked like that. That's cheating! Yes, you get all the data, but in ONE field! I thought you could load more than one field with a csv file!!!

- Jon

Yes you can LOAD with POI Loader more then one field into your GPS. After the .csv is converted to .gpx MapSource will ignore the extra fields.

Yes you can LOAD with POI Loader more then one field into your GPS. After the .csv is converted to .gpx MapSource will ignore the extra fields.

So there's no way to go from a multi fielded csv to Mapsource "cleanly"? Jeez!

- Jon

I dont have a copy of mapsource yet.. Garmin was to send me one but I am still waitting for it.

I will have to call and find out where it is!!

Is the problem that MapSource can't read the additional information or is it that it is lost in conversion. I don't understand why POI Edit doesn't seem to work with the 4th column of data.

I think the problem may actually be with PoiEdit. When I load a CSV, it SEEMS to only load the lat/long/first csv entry...

- Jon

That you want to achieve?

I want to be able to start with a csv file - with more than just lat/long/one field, and eventually load it cleanly into Mapsource, without combining all of the fields into one.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to map the fields - so you could say - field one goes to "name", field 2 goes to "comments", field 3 goes to "proximity" etc.

It LOOKS like you can only load lat/long/1 field though...

- Jon

Best wishes.

Ha! Good one! Ok, I'm a dreamer.

- Jon

If you convert your csv to a gpx you have a lot more flexibility. The GPX schema is quite extensive! The basic info is long, lat, name, address, city, state, phone... If you use gpx and have a bluetooth device (and a bluetooth phone) you can even dial the POI number.

Yes, with your macros, you have more flexibility with the .gpx and can convert all of the information in the 4 column .csv file and more.
I don't understand the limitation of POI Edit (or I am misusing it). Whenever I bring in a .csv file, only one column of data besides lon/lat appears (if the file can be opened at all). Going to a .gpx file from POI Edit then only uses that limited information.
My advice, use jpbrannigan's macro. Also, beware of the limitations of POI Edit.

This program converted the csv to gpx exactly the way I was hoping! Yay!

http://www.masterclass.com/gpxtopoi/gpxtopoidownload.html

- Jon

I had problems with gpxtoPOI with using very large .cvs files. I would just get an error with MapSource stating the .gpx file was not a valid file. I could not find any debug information.

I'll try the latest version(1.1.8) and see if it works. I currently have 1.1.7.

POIEdit was able to convert the large .cvs into gpx files MapSouce could load.

I've had good luck with PoiEdit too, except in this case, where I wanted to retain more than just one data field...

- Jon

I believe that PoiEdit2007 (v1.7.1?) is the most current version, at least that's what is on the PoiEdit web page.

Mike L.

I was referring to GPXtoPIO version 1.1.8. PIOEdit clearly does not support 4 or more columns.

I wasn't aware of GPXtoPOI. Downloaded it and it looks good. I always like to check the .csv files I download with POI Verifier. Now I can check the .gpx files by converting to .csv and running POI Verifier.

I got it today, I got my copy of City Navigator NT today.. Now I can see if I can use it and see wht everyone is talking about.. Woo-Woo..