PoiLoader 2.6.1

When trying to transfer POI files...POI loader gets stuck at 2% during the: "Reading data files.." process. Any suggestions?

Go back to POI Loader 2.5.4!

Fred

What files are you attempting to load? There could be some bad files. That is usually what is found.

They've finally changed its program path to "Program Files". About time!

"Program Files (x86)" on 64-bit systems

I don't know what you mean by bad files as the 2.5.4 loader has no problem loading my files. But just because the 2.6.1 freezes up my files are bad now? Confused, it just doesn't make sense as the later works just fine.

Load the file into a program that will read it out in text, either a data-base program for a CSV file or some type of GPX editor for GPX files. Check the number of entries in the file and then check to see what the POI loader is putting on your GPS. It could be that 2.5.4 is giving up without complaint when it hits a bad file. I had something similar to this happening that drove me nuts for a while. Ended up being bad and/or missing coordinates. The only way I found the problem was to go through the file, line by line, and correct or delete the bad entries.

I checked this awhile ago because I was having the same problem with 2.6.1 freezing up.

As for as I could tell, 2.5.4 is getting all the entries in the .csv & .gpx files. It's slow BUT it works!

I'm still using 2.5.4 & will until the database problem or software problem is solved.

Fred

Some files have embedded data that 2.6.1 doesn't like. An example is the GPX version of Ride-To-Eat. There is a link in the GPX file back to the maintainer's web site that causes 2.6.1 to hang. Once you remove the link reference the file loads fine. Version 2.5.4 evidently doesn't look at this particular field so it doesn't hang with the file.

There is no problem with backward compatibility as far as I have been able to determine. I test all my files using 2.6.1 and if they load, there is no problem loading them with 2.5.4. It's the "forward" compatibility that's the issue.

Were you looking at the .csv or the .gpx version? I am assuming the .gpx.

Did you determine what about the link was causing the problem?

Has the maintainer changed (or removed) the link so the problem does not persist?

Did you read or just gloss over what I wrote?

I was trying to determine what the cause of the problem was? Since you said that you had isolated the problem, I was asking for more information and would still be interested in what you found.

I cover most of your concerns in my article

POI LOADER 2.6.1 -- WADDSUP WITH THAT? - Internet Dis

on the Custom POI pg 7 of the Garmin Tricks & Tips website.

http://bit.ly/garmin_gps_tricks

However -- much of what has been said here addresses your problem.

I do include "...couple of 'errors' that some users are experiencing, some of which may be contributing to their difficulties with POI Loader, loading, and using Custom POIs." which may be of interest.

1) THE FILE ERROR
2) THE INFORMATION ERROR
3) THE NEW FOLDER SHORTCUT ERROR
4) THE SOX ERROR

Gary Hayman

I am involved in the Probate of three Estates and in order to keep active at POI-Factory, I have not been going to your site as I once did regularly. I must find (take) the time to do so.

Sorry to butt-in but the CSV file Antique Shops has several discrepancies that most likely are affecting it being loaded by POI Loader. I see nothing wrong with POI Loader itself. There are 3458 entries of which there are 7 lines with no data for col 3 or 4. Line 78 happens to be the first entry with no data in col 3 or 4. This is probably what is “hanging up” POI Loader. There are another 20 entries entered as TEXT with the data preceded by “ ’- “ (single quote + the minus sign) to make that entry a text field rather than a function field if it were preceded solely by the minus sign (e.g.: ‘-Bismarck-AR-(501) 865-4500 is one entry example and the single quote “ ‘ “does not show in Excel unless you click on the cell in question, then it shows at the top field). Why Bismarck is preceded by the minus sign is anyone’s guess. You can use the Edit tab in Excel and/or ASAP to manipulate your data to eliminate this scenario. As far as the blank fields for 7 lines, I would insert a character in each empty cell (use a non-function character) just as a “place holder.” I find this solves problems in the formatting. Once again, one free program from the Internet, CSVed, works great on a finished file to put quotes around all fields and usually works on empty fields as well, thus you can included your commas within each field and have each field within quotes.
Often times, simply using CSVed with its option to include quotes around each field including blank ones when you save it, solves the problem.

what is it about the link that you think would cause 2.6.1 to hang?

Perhaps the solution to this quandry is that each maintainer should review their files, csv or gpx, & clean them up, rather than each & everyone of us do it repeatedly. This way the new version of poi loader will not hang up, we'll all be able to run the newest software, & the effort (not small) will be minimized.

I can see no other solution that makes sense. I mean to help rather than cause any conflict.

Fred

What are the files you are loading?
Where did you get them from?
Are they csv or gpx files?

Version 2.6.1 has issues with some files where 2.5.4 does not. You can continue with 2.5.4 if you want, but you are going to have to move forward to 2.6.1 sometime. The best bet is to figure out if it is 1 particular file or a couple. Then find the problem and/or contact the maintainer to get them fixed for the future.

thanks for the info

I don't care why POI Loader doesn't like the link. I know if I remove it I have no problem loading the file. That's all I need. If it bothers you so much YOU spend the time to dissect the problem. I quit doing software support in 1988.

This is just a hunch.. but has anyone had a hanging problem with v2.61 on Windows XP? Just interested in hanging without an error.

Reason I'm asking is I only run XP and haven't had v2.61 hang, even with some of the files mentioned here.

Nothing here.

But, as I've said before, I had to use 2.6.1 to remove the old POI's first. Then, they loaded properly.

No problem with XP Home.

No problem with XP Home.

I have not had a hanging problem while using XP, Vista, or 7.

I am still running 2.5.3 on my Nuvi 350. It is working perfectly fine. Here is the stupid question. If I have 2.5.3 on my computer and it's working OK, why will I have to go to something different? Just wondering?

I appear to have offended you by trying to get more information on the problem you cited in the ridetoeat .gpx file (http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25174). That was not my intent.

When I went to the POI section and downloaded both the .csv and .gpx files and both loaded on my XP machine using 2.6.1, I wanted to understand what was different, so I asked.

I know that you are a maintainer of both .csv and .gpx formated POI files. I thought you would understand the problem and perhaps have a solution.

I see that the maintainer of the ridetoeat files made some routine changes on 4/5/2011 so maybe the "link" to his site was removed.

Even though you and I do not always agree about certain non-POI related issues, we should be able to communicate such that the POI files here are as good as they can be.

I started with the assumption - since the ridetoeat files are several years old - that the .gpx file had been used by multiple people successfully. I also assumed that the problem was with the new version of POILoader and had to do with some "special characters" within the .gpx file. Knowing what that might be would be important regardless of whether or not 2.6.1 fully conformed to standards.

Since the many new menbers on this site will be using 2.6.1 by default, maintainers could (and in my opinion, should) make reasonable changes to files such that they will not cause a hang up.

Thanks for the heads-up with poi-loader 2.6.1.

1. It loads faster.
2. It shows you progress bars of what it is doing.
3. You can name the poi file.
4. Gives options to delete the poi file already there.

As a matter of fact, it is good practice to "save" your downloaded setup files so that you can revert to an older version if need be. Don't burn your bridges and all that.

However, there will come a point, I suspect, when you will decide to go to the new version. I did.

This is the Windows version. The Mac version (2.2.0) does not have those issues.

Keep on Mac'n,
Bill

I downloaded the Ride to Eat.gpx probably about the same time you did. POI Loader 2.6.1 loaded it ok on my Vista 32 bit computer. I assumed that the file had been updated since Boxcar last tried it.

Yes, I'm having a problem with Win XP Pro.

Fred

To you and jgermann for enlightening me. I may have to give this a try.

Is it the hanging problem?
If it is, would you mind sending me a message and then emailing me the problem files? (I'm just way too curious!)?

thanks for the info

Thanks for the info.

my 11,000 + POIS loaded without a hitch tonight with version 2.5.4

Once you see how fast the 2.61 loads pois you will not look back.

The article is great!

Did anything come of that?

Nope. Unless it got stolen by Verizon's lousy spam-passing, good-email-killing mail system.

Yup, it was the hanging problem. My solution was to stick with POI Loader 2.5.4 - no problems.

The specific files I had problems with were enumerated in my earlier posts.

I will try 2.6.1 again, but not for some time to give a chance for the MANY files that have problems to be corrected. I don't have time to fix them myself. The maintainers have to do that for everyone to benefit.

Thanks for the inquiry, though.
Fred

We seem to all agree that there are issues with some of the files here. The only way to get this straightened out is to take those files and corrections and get the maintainers to straighten them out.
Sometimes the maintainers do not have a clue what is wrong. There are numerous users that are willing to help. If no one is willing to attempt corrections on these files then new members will disappear because they will be using 2.6.1, have problems and give up.

@Fzbar. I looked through this post and find no files listed that you were having issues with. Could you please give us the list of files so may look at them and attempt a resolution?

Paul

problems yet...that I know of!

I went back and found a post that referred to the Antique Shops file so I dl'ed it and tried it.

It does have a problem, and the solution was also listed (no name on a few entries). But, v2.54 choked on it as well as v2.61 so no gain there.

IMO, bottom line so far.. if v2.61 chokes on a file then you either need to fix it yourself, wait for an update, or punt. So far have seen no reason (on an XP machine anyway) to abandon 2.61.

Would be nice though if Miss POI or Jon would allow some of us that are willing & have the time, to fix some of these simple file errors.

Edit .. Wait a minute. Duh, I don't see why we can't. BRB

I downloaded, fixed, and reposted the Antique Shop file with a link to the original and description of what I edited.

It's here http://www.poi-factory.com/node/32822 but it's awaiting approval.

A practical solution if the original uploader doesn't respond or is MIA?

What we seem to have here on a more regular basis is the files that poi loader 2.6.1 is having problems with are those that seem to have not had updates in 2 or 3 years. I would generally classify those as abandoned. And unless we can get the maintainers to do something then we are all stuck because only the maintainer can fix the problem and/or put a corrected file back up on the site.

Miss Poi posted a while back that she is only accepting "new" files and that she is not accepting files that have been corrected by another maintainer that belong to someone else. One file that comes to mind is Hooters. Shrifty created a new file and can't post it yet.

If anyone has suggestions of how we can get these corrected and uploaded, it would be great.

I just loaded over 600000 POI with 2.6.1 and had 4 files that had error.

Office Depot line 507
Marriot Hotels line 2456
Astronomy National and International line 407
Zoos USA and Canada line 27