Getting Proximity Alerts to Alert 2

Let me ask why you are using GPXtoPOI when the unit you are using accepts GPX files? Granted, many of the features found in GPX files won't work in your unit but there are other features that outstrip what's available in a plain CSV.

POI Loader reads both files, converts them to another format used by the internal OS and outputs a GPI file which is stored in the unit. There is virtually no difference in the size of the GPI output file using CSV, GPX or a combination of both. Converting GPX files to CSV is, in my opinion, an unneeded step.

But to address your question as to why the converted files don't alert, I don't have a real clue. I have to ask if you are telling POI Loader to set either a speed or proximity alert for all files by running in the manual mode? Then again, if GPXtoPOI runs automatically, much like SOX acts with WAV files, then it's an internal problem with the way the converter is being activated.

@ Box Car
I would like to use GPXtoPOI merely for the opportunity to add more info in the POI. With POIloader you can add very little info in the waypoint / POI. With GPXtoPOI the name of POI can be a full two lines and the info in the comments can be over 100 characters in 4 lines. Oke, most of the time I don't need that much; a carpark or resting place is not that interesting. But sometimes it can be nice to have some description. (nowadays smartphones can provide much info via Internetbrowser, but since I don't own a smartphone....).
for POI with little extra info I can use POIloader strait away.

I have a testfile with a couple POI without alert and one POI with alert, set in the waypoint as proximity alert. I use express mode in POIloader. I get an alert when I don't use GPXtoPOI. I don't get an alert when I do use the program.
So as far as I can tell I've got to choose between more info without an alert or little info in the POI and an alert.

I admit that I'm not familiar with GPXtoPOI, but I need to ask what type of alert you are attempting to have the converted file generate? Are you looking for a proximity alert out of your GPX files converted to CSV? If so, it won't happen. POILoader will not accept proximity within a CSV. It accepts speed through the use of the @ symbol or a numeric value in the file name. There are ways to get a proximity out of a CSV, that's when using one of the key words but that provides a 400 meter alert only. For greater distances you need to use GPX or enter the value manually.

The program most of us here on this board use for converting between file types, or generating GPX files from raw data is the Extra_POI_Editor we shorten to EPE. EPE was developed through input from members of this board which the developer (TurboCCC) incorporated. Sadly, Turbo has been missing for over a year so there will be no enhancements forthcoming.

The program can be downloaded from http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor. Use the Loader version as it adds two additional libraries needed for operation. The program runs on Windows only with versions from XP to Win 7. There are some FAQs on how to set the preferences and options you will need to look into. Several of us that are active on the board are very familiar with the program as we have helped develop and test it though many different iterations. I think you will find EPE to be much more than a conversion program.

Indeed it's a proximity alert I'm looking for. I've been searching in forums for info on GPXtoPOI regarding this subject. Also on Garmin site they mention the @xx and the name giving keyword possibility but not much about proximity alerts. Alas that's a petty that csv doesn't give an proximity alert.
I will look into EPE to see how this can be of use. Indeed it's a new program to me.

Thanks for your help Box Car.

On the Garmin site look at POI Loader help for proximity alert info.

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

dobs108

See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/28521 to build alert distance into a gpx file.

Not only has TurboCCC been absent from this forum, but others as well. What a shame, his intellect in writing these programs will surely be missed.

But most importantly, I hope nothing has happened to him and he just decided to do other things.

I don't understand why to use EPE to build alert in gpx file. I did this with mapsource all the time and that works perfectly. Can I add long descriptive text in the POI perhaps?

If what you are after is to build a few "Favorites", then Mapsource will work just fine.

If, however, you have decided that you would like to change a .csv file into a .gpx file (or vice versa), then EPE is the way to go.

The minimum .csv file accepted by POI Loader would have 3 columns - ,,["][@]["]. An example of this type file would be the Tim Horton file. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/333

Sometimes, the maintainer adds information in the name field, such as whether the store is open 24 hours, like the Walgreens file. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/7925

Mostly, maintainers add the "comment field" and include other information like street, city, state phone, etc. However, all this information amounts to a text string. If one wanted to see the phone number isolated as such, then EPE would be a tool to break the text string apart.

I also use Map source for some things but Epe has so much more to offer in ease of use. Yes Gpx files you can add more information. What I mainly do with Epe for the files I update from the site that are csv. Using Epe I convert the csv files to gpx and build the alert in. Then using poiloader I can use the express mode instead of manual.

Oke, so I tried EPE.
the srangest things happen. Although I insert info in description and comment, it doesn't show up on my Garmin 60CSx. And the proximity alarm (that I insert at the tourguide section) doesn't show a circle around in on the GPS. It did give an alert.
When I made a CSV with mapsource and GPXtoPOI and opened the csv in EPE, the info from comments turned up in the contact info> adress box in EPE.
I'm sorry to say this, with all these enthousiastic people in the forum, but up to now EPE doesn't work for me at all and I'm better of with mapsource waypoints turned into POI and adding proximity there. With little info in the screen as a downside.

EPE is a fairly sophisticated program that requires some setup. Here is a guide on setting the operating parameters within the program.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/33782

The question is did you set your preferences?

As to showing the proximity, EPE does this. The thing you have to check is if the map display area is large enough to show the boundary. Try zooming out from a point that has a proximity and you should see a blue shaded circle drawn around the point. The edge of the circle is where the proximity alert will trigger.

You also need to know how your unit displays the various fields. Comments and descriptions display in the same area of the screen on the Nuvi in that they appear appended to each other. These also normally appear on a secondary screen. Also, the amount of data displayed is limited by the unit. Most will only display a single line so if the number of characters in the field exceed the display's limit, it appears truncated.

If you are entering data into EPE and saving the file as a CSV, then the only data output is what is defined for export. Remember, you can't have a proximity alert in a CSV file. It isn't supported. The only file type that supports proximity alerts within the file is a GPX.

You are going to need to a bit a reseach on that hiking unit to see how things are displayed as box pointed out.