need a little help creating a cvs file

The extension is .csv (Comma Separated Values)

The sound you hear is me slapping my forehead! Thanks ralphy1

I know it says you can use notepad, but I think in some cases excel is easier.

I use 4 columns,

-00.0000|00.0000|Name of location|Address

You don't need address column if you have the coordinates but I put it there so later I can edit locations if needed, also the address shouldn't have commas in it, or floor or room numbers, building name, that stuff can go in the name if you want - 1234 any st city state zip. If you need to geocode the addresses use poi editer by TurboCCC.

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor

No headers needed, or formatting. Save it to a .csv when done. then lead poiloader to it. Be sure to read the prompts carefully I breezed through it a few times not realizing It was asking where I want the poi file to be created 1st, (I was thinking it would be asking where the data file was 1st).

poiloader will name it what ever the filename was so keep this in mind as well, you end up with a file called poi in the folder you specified, when your gps fires up should show it under where to?/extras/custom pois/name you gave it.

Let us know if you still have problems, I'm sure someone can put a how to tutorial together with screenshots if necessary.

Good luck

I seem to have managed to get a useable .csv file. However, the address, the phone number, comments, etc. don't show up. I have downloaded several files and two that I've looked at don't display this information either. I've examined some of these files I've downloaded with the notepad. The info is there but it doesn't display. When I find stuff on the Garmin database this info does show up. Any ideas?

Here is a outline for notepad http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25752 .If you have excel http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25743

POI Loader will only load the first four fields of data anything after the fourth field is ignored. You can use a different format for your POI files, called GPX, that will load a LOT more information. You can even auto-dial the phone numbers if you have bluetooth on both your phone and GPS. Do a search for GPX on this site for a free program or, if you don't mind paying for it, GeePeeEx is a very nice commercial program.

There is a very good free office suite of programs called Open Office. It has a spreadsheet program that is very similar to MS Excel. You can enter your data in the different fields and save the file as a csv, easier than Notepad.

When you see the info on screen.Do you have a more button showing at bottom of screen?If yes touch it.

I've never had to use that more button before but sure enough, it provides all the info. Thanks a bunch everyone. I think I might be able to do this after all the postings here.

If you convert the csv files to gpx using Extra Poi Editor you will get a better display on the gps screen.Plus dialable numbers for Bluetooth.

Grafxman,

I have to share a laugh with you. You have NO idea how many times I've done a Save As in Excel when turning an .xls file into a .csv, that I'm looking for a .cvs file. Then I say to myself, "Why are you trying to save it in Drugstore format !" Chuckle and then go back and look for .csv. LOL LOL LOL

Just wondering why you decided to create the POI file using notepad. Much easier to create the POI file using something like Extra POI Editor (http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor) which is free and super easy to use.

The best way is to use a spreadsheet program. It allows items to be placed in specific locations (cells) which allows for easy sorting, editing, updating and just general maintenance. It's also much easier to find a bad entry and you don't have to worry about if quotation marks are needed or not. If you don't have Excel, download a copy of Open Office - it's free and is compatible with Excel.

When it comes to CSV files, I tend to have better luck creating the file in Notepad than Excel. For me, Notepad just seems faster and easier than using Excel. For the things that Notepad can't do, for example converting words in all capital letters to the initial letters being capitalized, Excel and ASAP Utilities can.

Canada Rest Areas and the early versions of Historic Vessels of the US & Canada were built using Notepad.