Extra_POI_Editor (using with Rand McNally)

Open EPE and then open the GPX file you downloaded from poi-factory.

Before saving the file as CSV, make these changes in EPE.

Under Options > Preferences change all the "Unit" fields (upper left) to "Imperial/US". Click Close.

Back to Options > 4-column CSV fields. Just for this time select "User Profile 10" at the top drop down box. Then in the "Col 4" box type "[Comment] [br] [Description]" (without the quotes and replacing the "[" with "<" and the "]" with ">]). Click Close.

Now save the Shotgun Z3 file as a 4 column CSV file under a name different from what you first did.

Open this new file in Excel. There should be 86 records. They look OK to me.

Try it and report.

I did the changes to look like this

I then removed the so the comment & discription would be on one line.

I also changed the units.

-81.6124153 30.645253 Amelia Shotgun Sports LLC
The > does not show in the CSV column preview.

It still does not show what is suppose to be in the comment or discription. Tried both ways.

The cut & paste was deleted upon sending;
did the change to look like this;

I'll figure this out somehow----
"<"comment">" "<"br">" "<"discription">" without the "

Capital C & D with corrected spelling works fine.

Thanks alot

@itch, I need to learn how to embed XML markup. Not knowing how, I had to resort to other methods. Someone will enlighten me, I am sure.

Wondered myself if the Capitals were required, but didn't test it because I was on the way to visit my granddaughters.

Glad you figured it out.

Isn't EPE a great tool?

Hi guys,

I have been informed by David S. that EPE should be modified to support Rand McNally csv files. It seems a great idea.

If you can post me links to some of those CSV files, it would be great. Documentation is great, but having real files would be perfect for testing.

Let me know also if you find any other issues with EPE and those units.

Thanks

Turbo

Thanks for picking up on my emailed suggestion. Hopefully working with Itch and RMcN we can figure out the format to be added.

I'm on travel all next week so I don't know how much help I can be. I'll drop a note to RMcN and see if I can get some detailed formatting data for you.

Here's the update using the (RMc)RVND7710;
1.) Downloaded Shotgun Sport Club Zone 3.gpx from this site.
2.)Loaded Shotgun Sport Club Zone 3.gpx into EPE
3.)Changed EPE setting as stated earlier.
4.)Saved as Shotgun Sport Club Zone 3.csv;
5.)Opened in excel.
Most looked good; some still had multiple lines. Seems RMc does not like multiple lines.
Needs ," at the beginning and " at the end of description lines.
6.)Opened in notepad; Still had "pesky squares" but A whole lot less.
7.)Used notepad and replaced "pesky squares" with comma.
Now I've got a real mess.
8.)Opened in excel; everything moved one column to the right; no more Longitude.
Try this and check line 5,8,9,10 for instance.
9.)Back to step 2.)

I have never done any programming; so the problem very well could be operator error on my end.
Try this and check line 5,8,9,10 for instance.
I hope this helps solve any problems.

I am just guessing but let's try something.

In EPE go to Options > Preferences and change the CSV Output Line Break to "|(PIPE)". In Options > 4-Column CSV Fields, under Col 4, enter only "< Comment>"

Save the file as a 4-Column CSV File and look at it with Notepad. My version looked OK.

Now whether RMc will like it, I do not know.

I think your onto something;
Made changes as you suggested. reprocessed file-loaded into gps. Works fine; no errors; all info shows.
The info on the selection screen is not what I want but that is the way the info was entered into the spreadsheet. I can change that.
I will try with other stuff later and report further update.
Can we now call this a Rand 4-column?

Thans again.

Guys,

If you have it working, please send me a link to a Rand McMachin file csv and I'll add it to EPE.

Thanks,

Turbo

Still not working yet!
I couldn't sleep tonight-1:44 am.
Tried to paste here but word wraping screws up the way I have it written. Tells exactly what I typed in and how it shows on gps selection screen and map screen.
How can I attach a notepad file?

(a link to a Rand McMachin file csv )
I know it's late but what the heck is this?

It's time for bed. Goodnight

My email is:

turboccc at hotmail dot com

I think I misunderstood your question (Did I get it working) yesterday; The gps has always worked. Its figuring out the format needed to change in the EPE.
I will email you the one that I did for myself that works and the experment I did yesterday.

This is what I understood from the files you sent me:

Basically, this can be done (and correct me if I am wrong) with EPE 4-Column format (showing only the 4th column):

,"<Address>, <City> <State>, <Phone>"

The comma (,) in the 4-th column will force EPE to add a double quote around the 4th column.
The double quotes (") will force EPE to replace them by ""

I also understand that the 4th column should not have more than 3 commas (that is why I did not put one between <City> & <State> otherwise the phone will not be displayed.

Does this makes sense? I can't imagime the original Rand McNally format is so weird.

Reading their documentation, there is no need to use that weird format. NOrmally, everything should be separated only by commas. When I have a chance, I will recopy their documentation here.

Did somemore trial and errors as per your last note;
,", ," works the best. Shows city,state,zip, phone# on selection screen and address,city,state on map screen.
I never thought of counting comma's.
I have NOT run these thru EPE.

Did somemore trial and errors as per your last note;
,"address,city state zip,phone#" works the best. Shows city,state,zip, phone# on selection screen and address,city,state on map screen.
I never thought of counting comma's.
I have NOT run these thru EPE.
Seems I need notepad to post here with these comma's-quotes.

This is taken from the Rand McNally documentation. Thanks to Box Car for sending the link to me.

3 ways of making POI files. I suggest you do this using Notepad rather than Excel. It is sad that this format is not compatible with Excel unless you do not put commas inside any field. As soon as there is a comma, Excel will add extra double quotes and this may explain Itch's problem.

1- Add a Custom POI Location Method 1 (Latitude/Longitude)

1. Enter the longitude followed by a comma(,)
2. Enter the latitude first followed by a comma (,)
3. Enter the location name.
Note: Do not add a comma after the location name.
4. When finished adding locations, save the file.

2- Add a Custom POI Location Method 2 (Street Address)

1. Type two commas (,,).
2. Enter the name (with spaces) followed by a comma.
3. Provide the phone number.
- Enter the phone number followed by a comma (,).
- If you don't know the phone number, enter a comma (,).
4. Enter the street address followed by a comma (,).
S. Enter the city followed by a comma (,).
6. Spell the state name out (such as Illinois) followed by a comma (,).
7. Enter the country name followed by a comma, (,).
Note: Do not add a comma at the end of the row.
8. When finished adding locations, save the file.

3- Add a Custom POI Location Method 3 (Full Information)

1. Enter the longitude followed by a comma(,)
2. Enter the latitude first followed by a comma (,)
3. Enter the name (with spaces) followed by a comma.
4. Provide the phone number.
- Enter the phone humber followed by a comma (,).
- If you don't know the phone number, enter a comma (,).
S. Enter the street address followed by a comma (,).
6. Enter the city followed by a comma (,).
7. Spell the state name out (such as Illinois) followed by a comma (,).
8. Enter the country name.
Note: Do not add a comma at the end of a row.
9. When finished adding locations, save the file.

Note from TurboCCC: In method 2, I think there is a mistake in the documentation. You should not enter a comma (,) in step 7 after the country name since it is the end of the row.

I did more trial & error Using excel.
Downloaded tractor supply csv. some worked and others
did not. looked at the differance. changed the ones that did not and thank the lord.

lon lat poi address,,city,state phone
works fine.
Now if turbo can do his magic; where in fine shape.
THANKS AGAIN

Itch, did you see my post above yours? Any comment?

Yes I did; seems like a they both came togeher about the same time. Your post expalins as to how a certain indivduals would like to see what info is on the map view or selection view. Good future reference. I prefer to use excel and with no quote simbols required; it certainly make it easier. Thanks to help from guys like you; I will be posting poi's. Keep an eye on for awhile in case I screw up.
Just in case you need someone to try different things on the Rand; I'm here. I will be leaving for Nebraska on Nov. 10th for a couple of weeks to gather food(wife's request)(hunting).

Out of curiosity, if you prefer to work in Excel, does this means you would abandon the usage of the commas in the field to avoid the problem, or are you going to use the "," trick with the double quotes?

I am trying to figure out what is my next step with EPE. For sure, not using the commas would be much simpler to support, but it is not impossible either way.

I just want to know your opinion as the first user.

Thanks,

Turbo

I just went thru the Tractor Supply.csv and change it.
No quote simbols, just 3 comma's. Loaded on gps and eyerything look hunky dory.
Hope this helps.

I think most of the problems with the first file was because of the line feed in some of the fields. Otherwise, it is simply a comma separated file. We still need to know if you can use commas or not when the fields are double quoted.

Once we know everything, it should not be too complicated to modify EPE accordingly.

comma's are fine. what do you mean by double quoted?

-85.494319,41.854034, St. Joseph Co. Conservation,",""23640 Featherstone Road, Sturgis, (269) 467-7128 (s-t-sc)(p)"""

That is exactly what it looks like in notepad.
What i'm understanding now is excel does that behind the scenes and; (out of site; out of mind)to me or anyone else that does not know how to program.
Scary; I think I am starting to understand.