managing multiple POI files

I probably have 50 individual poi files on my 765t. All the files are within one master file. I change the date on this master file so I know when was the last time something was updated. Within the master file I have a sub folder for each poi which may also have a icon and sound.
If I were in an area and you wanted to know where the closest Costco was (and you had the poi file downloaded to the garmin) you would go to where to.."extras", find the "costco" poi and click on it. You would then see all the costco stores and the closest one would be at the top. This would be the same for every poi file you have.
I use the poi loader to update my garmin.

Good place to start...

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25721

To further elaborate, you can use POILoader to create the POI.gpi file on either your GPS or your computer. If created on your computer, you have to copy the gpi file to the POI folder on your GPS.

Where does the poi.gpi file reside on your GPS or data card? Run a test file on POILoader and see where it's stored via Windows Explorer. You can just delete the test poi.gpi file when done.

POILoader combines bmp, mp3/wav, and csv/gpx files into one gpi file that the GPS recognizes as custom POIs.

POILoader will work through one level of subdirectories. If you have multiple sources of POI files and wish to group them by source, you will need to run POILoader as many times as you have sources. You must rename the output file (POI.gpi) before running the next instance of POILoader.

Understand that POILoader only outputs a single file named POI.gpi. You must rename it if you need to run POILoader more than once to generate all your POIs. You do not need to run POILoader but once if all your POIs are in subfolders under one parent folder. It all depends on how you structure your files.

I am not aware of any limit to the number of gpi files the GPS can make use of. OTOH, I am not aware of any advantage in having more than one gpi file for your custom POIs.

For instance if you get POIs from POIFactory and also from Garmin, you could have a parent folder named POIFactory and then subfolders beneath that which may contain speedtraps, school zones, Dairy Queens, IHOP, etc.
Example:
POIFactory (parent folder)

-speedtraps (subfolder)
--filename.bmp
--filename.mp3 or wav
--filename.csv or gpx

-school zones (subfolder)
--filename.bmp
--filename.mp3 or wav
--filename.csv or gpx

-Dairy Queen (subfolder)
--filename.bmp
--filename.mp3 or wav
--filename.csv or gpx

-IHOP (subfolder)
--filename.bmp
--filename.mp3 or wav
--filename.csv or gpx

Then create another parent folder named GarminPOI with subfolders containing whatever files you get there (as per the example above.)

Run POILoader on the first folder (POIFactory) and direct the output either to the GPS or to a known place on your computer. When POILoader is finished and you have the POI.gpi file, rename it to POIFactory.gpi. Only the filename extension is important that it stay as gpi.

Run POILoader a 2nd time and direct it to your GarminPOI parent folder as the source. You'll end up with another POI.gpi file when POILoader is finshed. Rename it GarminPOI.gpi. You should now have two gpi files: one named POIFactory.gpi and the other named GarminPOI.gpi.

If you directed the output of POILoader to your computer, all you have to do now is copy and paste the two gpi files (which you earlier renamed) to the POI folder on your GPS or the POI folder of your data card on the GPS. If you directed the output to your GPS, you should have two gpi files in your POI folder named POIFactory and GarminPOI.

Now when you select GoTo/Extras/Custom POIs, you'll find POIs under categories with the same names as the subfolders under each of your sources.

You may only have one level of sub-folders

There is not a limit on the number of sub-folders at that one level.

There is a limit of 32 csv/gpx files that each sub-folder may contain. Each csv/gpx file may have associated with it an Icon (.bmp) file and/or a Sound (.wav or .MP3 [if the unit supports MP3])

That is good to know! Does that apply to bmp and mp3/wav files too?

don't count against the 32 file limit.