distance alerts

Hornby's guide to setting alerts
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6764

so if i read right if you have a poi file say named...lowes and you change it to lowes12000 it will alert you when you are 2.5 miles away and it sets all the locs in that file to this......

The way I read it you can only set a distance alert by placing the word "Redlight", or one of the other key words, in the filename. Then it will give you the default 1/4 mile distance alert.

I think doing lowes12000 would try and make a speed alert at 12000 mph.

I don't know of an automatic way of setting a distance alert other than the 1/4 mile with the file name. I hope someone else does.

This is a link to the Garmin POILoader Help files. It doesn't list any other way other than using certain key words in a filename for the 1/4 mile default alert distance.

http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/creating_custom_po...

The number in a file name (or individual poi name) is the number for Speed, but POILoader also attaches a proximity which at that speed will give you an alert proximity that equals 36 seconds before you arrive. I didn't check your math but I think you have the right concept.

I'm not sure if a speed of 12000 is valid for POILoader, and I'm also not sure if all of the nuvi's firmware acts the same and/or would give you the result you're looking for. For example, with a speed number the alert might continually (periodically) sound from 2.5 miles out until you get to the target location. I've never set one at that high a number myself, so I don't know. Try it and let us know

As far as I know there is no way to automatically use a number to indicate Proximity only. To do that you have to either use Manual mode or a gpx format and set only proximity.
-edit- or add the keyword 'redlight' to the filename as bear007 says above, then you get 1/4 mile proximity only.

Hornby's guide is excellent, but to reinforce the concepts have a look at this- http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/creating_custom_po...
(same link as above- he is a quicker typist!) .. and I think the POILoader help file has a slight variation of it.

I like to take the files I have alerts for and build the distance alert in using gpx files.That way I can run poiloader in express mode.See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/28521

If I am reading the question right, you want various alerts on 1 POI file. This I believe can be done somewhat fast if you use GeePeeEx Editor. For an already made file you would open it with the editor and then export it as a CSV file. Open the file in Excel, highlight column A and then go to insert column. Then give each speed or proximity a number and then go down your list of points entering the number in column A. When done, sort column A and then in column R and S enter the speed and then the proximity, then highlight the numbers and drag down to where the next speed/proximity changes. Hit control D and then do the same for the next number. When done erase column A and save as csv file. Close Excel (GeePeeEx Editor will not open opened CSV files) and open GeePeeEx Editor and your saved CSV. Save as GPX and close. Open Poiloader and upload to Garmin but do not check the two options. Check your Garmin to see if it says under each poi "Alert information: Distance XX Speed:XX .
This is easier than it sounds and I used it on my Historical Markers file (over 10000 POI's) to differentiate in city at 25mph to country at 55 pmh

Numbers in file names gives you either speed/proximity or only Proximity alert with PoiLoader in Express.
Imperial: filename with number 1-124 =Speed, filename with number 125 or greater = Proximity 0,25 miles
(or the proxemity distance you have written in poi proximity field)
Metric: filename with number 1-199 = speed, filename with number 200 or greater =Proxemity 400 meters (or the proxemity distance you have written in poi proximity field)
The same happens with numbers in subfolder names.
If filename is name20.gpx and subfolder name is name400, then you wil get an proxemity alert.
PoiLoader Priority Subfolder names over filenames in Express.

i drive coast to coast i want to make the whole file at 2.5 miles ex. rest areas when im 2.5 out it will let me know, the same with weigh stations, truck stops etc......some like MLB fileds i set at 1 mile out.......sounds easy to do ......there seams that a program would allow you to select all pois in the file right click and set distance alert........anyone know of one

In my post above I mention Extra Poi Editor http://www.poi-factory.com/node/28521 .It has the replace all tab to put a distance for all the pois in the file.You also have the ability to merge files together.

I'm curious what kind of alerts you are using for the trucks stops or MLB Fields? If the POI isn't on the highway you won't get an alert unless you use TourGuide alerts. The Rest Stops are on the highway but I don't know about the weigh station.

i used the extra poi editor.....heres what i got.... when i do a replace prox alert to 12000 check the point its in the field i save it as a gpx file close it then reopen it check the point again it has changed it to 39370 (so i started out being alerted at 2.5 miles.....then it changed it to 6.3 0r so after saveing it)..... .checked garmiin and the alert info states alert dist 7.5 ..i then tryed 1200 it changed it to 3790 checked garmiin again and the alert info states dist 0.7... does anyone know why this field changes by it self???? the test files i was using are casino_usa, and nascar tracks

Check the Units in the Preferences. They can be Metric or US/Imperial. Set to US/Imperial for the Editor.

You will find that EPE, wile it is easy to use has a lot of options that need to mirror the way you are using the progra and the output you want from the program. Incorrect options result in some of the behavior you are seeing.

1. Open EPE
2. Select Options from the bar. Another window will open.
3. Set the following (assuming you are in the US):
>Units: Imperial/US
>GPX Output: UTF-8 (This seems to work with all units)
>Line Break: LF (HEX 0A)
>CSV Output: LF (HEX 0A)
>Put a check mark in Remove Column Header
4. Set the Map options as desired. I suggest Zoom Level 16, Map type Hybrid, Refresh Delay 0.5 seconds.
5. Check all 4 boxes under Filter
6. Set the default paths and file association paths as needed.

These options will get you started and make EPE easier to work with. Your options may end up being different, but these work for me.

i did what you said about ......wow i just got it ...what happens is when you do a change all fields command for prox alert and put say 1000 this is in yards when you save it and reopen it it chanes it to feet thus the number 3280 (1000x3)hey turbo guy can you adjust this in the program or do i have to do hard math for all the files...lol......anyone else see this

If the file is a .csv (Comma Separated Values), you need to convert it to .gps format. A .gps format file will allow you to set a unique distance (proximity) alert for each file entry. You can also set a unique speed alert for each entry. Once you have converted the file and entered the values, you use the Express Mode on POILoader. There are some good, free programs that will let you do this. I use a program called GeePeeEX but it isn't free. Do an Internet search.

Right now you have to use ft.You will see under the tab you use replace for many items.I like to take the speed cameras and set a proximity for replace then go back and select speed for Field Name and leave blank for New Field Value so I can elimate the speed setting.Leaving only the proximity setting.Then save as a gpx.

Are there still people calculating distance in yards? LOL! I knew about feet and meters, but I did'nt know GPS were supporting yards. I do not think POI Loader supports it either. How do you manage?

Ok. I learned something new today: 1 foot = 0.333333333 yards. So a yard is pretty close to a meter, but 3 inches less.

So your daddy never used a yard stick on your back side ... huh turbo? My dad used to talk about "rods" ... as in "The neighbors live 80 rods down the road" I don't ever hear that measure of distance used any more.

Here in the states a meter tells us how much electricity we've used.

We also have sticks that we add 3 finger joint lengths to (about 3 inches) when someone asks us to give a length in those meter-thing measurements.

LOL! Good ones!

Harley1974
I ran in to this same problem. I did what I thought would be correct and change everything under Preference/Units setting to Imperial/US. Well when I would save a file, and call the file back up it was changed to metric, Plus every time you save it would change.
Try changing both of the CSV File settings back to metric.

I did find the problem was with just the CSV File Save and not the Read, but wanted to keep both fields the same.

I was working with .gpx files.

when i said yards i ment when you put 1000 in the field of "change all prox alerts" save it as a gpx close it then open it click on a poi, edit and look in the aprx field it will have 3200 feet......the promblem lies with the "change all prox alerts" field...maybe it is taking only meter entres then converting them to feet ..... anyway ill just work around it till tubro (master of the poi edit)gets around to it ......or maybe he did this to keep us all on our toes......lol........ ive used both poiedit4.88 and the beta poi 5.10 .....same results for both

I may be mis-reading your last post harley1974
but if you do these 3 settings it will come out right.For example using ft for input. Under units you will see editor, select Imperial/US. For Field Read select metric and Field save select Metric.

try this ....take a dummie file load it, click edit replace field, select prox alerts put in 1000. save it as a gpx close it the open it again and double click a point look in the prox field and it will have 3200 in it.......and yes i do have all the fields check inperal/us .........youll see what i mean

There are 3 setting .You put for editor Imperial /US. For CSV Field read you put Metric.For CSV File Save you put Metric.Not all fields Imperial/ US. I do this all the time.Look on the gps when you touch one of the custom pois with alert.It shows the distance the alert is set for.

i did as you said.......it worked thats weird in put as imperal...out put metric and it worked well thanks for that final peice of the puzzle........now off to my next promblem........lol

Adopt Metric... LOL!

That's all good if you make sure that you set POILoader to metric also when you compile.

Otherwise the speed values may not be what you're expecting.

it was measured by ten paces turn and fire!

I was skimming this topic and suggest that some may want to review my article:

THE SECRET (?) SPEED NUMBERS THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU ABOUT
---- Surprise Settings and How To Take Advantage of Them

On Custom POI Page 4 of my WEB site.

GARMIN NUVI TRICKS, TIPS, WORK AROUNDS ... ETC.

http://bit.ly/garmin_gps_tricks

Numbers in .csv file names have a speed effect -- that is ONLY BETWEEN 1 and 124 (1 and 199 for metric)

You can use larger numbers -- but for a different purpose. I show you how and why.

I also discuss .csv third element names with numbers over @124 (or @199)

Perhaps the article will shead some light in this confusing POI Loader requirement.

I also have other articles in the Custom POI section of the WEB site that discuss other aspects of the use of numbers.

[I use large numbers in the file name for distance alert reminders. Read about this technique in the articles.]

I also feature
Common mistakes that people make in constructing their file names are similar to the following: [see article]

Gary Hayman

Thanks Gary. I remember reading your guide long ago. I will review it to make sure EPE creates .gpi the same way as POI Loader.