POI LOADER - I SEEM TO BE ALONE In this problem

 

Planning a longer RV trip this winter and thought why not use my Garmin 765 more than have locally.

Came here before, and found it full of great content and discussion.

Thought I would download a POI for truck stops. Found it and downloaded. Next the Garmin site for the update copy of POIloader (as noted from my reading on the site) downloaded first to my MacBook (dual boot) and followed the instructions available on this site also available from Gary Hayman excellent site

Loaded the POIloader, found the device, selected my folder with the CSV files in place and select next. In a few moments the POIloader was gone and I had a Information window telling me that the POI loader had quite unexpectedly.

Checked the files removed all but one, tried again, still get the same message.

Booted into my Windows partition downloaded a windows version of POIloader downloaded a couple of CSV files that appeared verifiable (based on my 25 years with computers going back as far as DOS and Windows 3) still the loader closed. Once the loader suggest the files where not CSV, but nothing could be noted and it never suggested that again but still never loaded anything onto the GPS.

Been beating on this problem for a week and still can't find that right hint to get beyond this situation. Any comments or past experience would be greatly appreciated.

I have had POI Loader get to

I have had POI Loader get to the point of loading the POI file and then get a message that it is not responding (Windows 7 and XP) but then the finished screen comes up and the POIs were loaded. POI loader does tend to get a bit flaky especially when trying to load sound files for alerts along with the POI file.

I am not sure why you would get the same problem on both Mac and Windows. Have you contacted Garmin support?

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Garmin 1490T and Tom Tom In-Dash Eclipse II

Just a small detail, before offering advice

When you are loading the POI to your device, are you sending to the device itself, or to an SD card (or similar device) attached to your Garmin ?

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Ain't nuthin' never just right to do the things you wanna do when you wanna do them, so you best just go ahead and do them anyway ! (Rancid Crabtree, from Pat F McManus fame)

What File Are You Working With?

I am not the brightest bulb on the block here but I have had problems in the past trying to load files and have found simple little errors in files that caused POI Loader (a great program) to "hang up." What files in particular are you working with for your Truck Stops? Something as simple as a leading space or extraneous quote in a line can cause a problem. Also are you working with GPX or CSV's?

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Kudos to all at POI Factory - a great site!

A possibility

CSV files are text files. There is a difference in how Macs and Windows handle text files sometimes when it comes to end of line characters. One uses CR+LF and the other just uses CR at the end of lines. I have seen on occasion where the Internet browser saved text files according to the local system settings instead of how it was originally uploaded.

One way to be sure that this is not the case is to open the CSV files using Notepad in Windows. If there is an extra blank line between each POI entry, that's what's going on.

Temporarily limit your POI folder to just one CSV file at a time to make your testing more simple.

Try massaging the file

Load it into Extra_POI_Editor or GPSBabel and save it back in the same format. This usually will take out the crap that may render POILoader useless.

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Striving to make the NYC Metro area project the best.

Look to what's common

Look to what's common about the two loader versions. Verify the USB port and cable are good.

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Illiterate? Write for free help.

Excel or coordinates

Load your csv file in Excel to see if there are format issues.

Make sure the coordinates are longitude, latitude. Flipped columns can cause problems. Also check that the values in each column are within the scope of the global values. Too large values can cause problems.

Use binary search to find a single line problem:
1. See if 1 line works.
2. See if first half of file works.
3. See if last half works.
4. Cut non-working half in half and repeat 2.-4. until you isolate the offending line.

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Zumo 550 & Zumo 665 My alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.

My only problem

I've had POI loader close unexpectedly without loading the POIs onto my 750. Every time it has happened I've been able to trace the problem to missing or poorly formatted coordinates. Try downloading and installing the Railroad crossing file for either Ohio or Indiana, these CSV files worked for me with no problems. That will tell you if the problem is with the file or with your setup.

Thanks - Lots of Ideas to Check

As usual this site really comes to the assistance of the bearer of a problem.

Will work thought each suggestion and give a response. May take a day or two as I have to be out on business.

But Again THANKS..

POI Loader (not responding)

Whenever I use the POI loader and get to the end, it will give me the message (not responding) after a few seconds it will just go to the finnish screen.
It always loads all the POI's I wanted to load.

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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

@Blaine Benson

Blaine,
Since you and I go way back with computers, perhaps we should be trying to do what we learned a long time ago and eliminate aspects of the procedure to see if the real problem can be isolated.

Since you can work in a windows position, I would ask you to read this FAQ before proceeding.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30396

In particular, pay attention to the fact that you point POILoader at a directory folder - not at a file. Make sure the name is simple like C:\MyPoi.

We also want to be sure that the POI file is without errors. One way to do this is to use your own current.gpx file from your 765 as an input POI file which POILoader will massage and put into the 765 as x:\Garmin\POI\poi.gpi. You access these custom POI under Where to > Extras on the 765

To make your x:\Garmin\GPX\current.gpx file into a POI file you can use to test POILoader, get a copy of Extra POI Editor (EPE) at http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor#toc5

Install EPE and then hook your GPS to your computer. Start EPE and open x:\Garmin\GPX\current.gpx on your 765. Have EPE save this file as a .gpx file and call it MyTest in a NEW folder, say, C:\MyTestPoi. Make a note of the number of records in this file.

Now run POILoader. Since your 765 is already hooked up, it should find it. Point POILoader to MyTestPoi and click "next". Hopefully you will get to the choice of "express" mode and the get a count of the number of POIs loader. This should match the number you noted earlier.

If POILoader does not run, then we need to try another computer.

My Mistake I Downloaded a File

My mistake, I downloaded a file that has been on this site for sometime and didn't check it. I'm really to old to be so easily hooked.

When I opened the CSV file with Excel, I noticed the first two elements or fields had been correctly formated with the Lon and Lat, but the next field was a address and the creator had used coma's to separate address components. Crash and burn.

So as everyone suggested and I admit being a little to trusting, going back to verify each file must be done or like myself you can waste a great deal of time.

Now the loader is happy and the file works. Other files are still be checked and I'm hopeful that similar problems can be found and corrected.

Thanks to you for a quick response which included lots of options.

@Blaine Benson

Thanks for letting us know what the problem was. We are always interested in the solutions to questions as it gives us info that may be helpful in assisting others.

Had the problem, found the solution

Had the same problem with POI Loader stopping unexpectedly. Woprked on some systems but not others -discovered that Windows 7 and Windows XP sometimes has trouble with older programmes.

Try using the Windows Compatability and changing the compatability to an earlier version/iteration of Windows 7/XP - in my case POI Loader works fine under Windows XP(SP2)compatability (main system is Windows 7.

Worth a try and doe not seem that anyone else has mentioned it!

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Tom

Commas

Blaine Benson wrote:

When I opened the CSV file with Excel, I noticed the first two elements or fields had been correctly formated with the Lon and Lat, but the next field was a address and the creator had used coma's to separate address components. Crash and burn.

Let the file maintainer know his file needs to have quotation marks around the address to prevent the problem you had.

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"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams