Understanding Creation of POI File

You have done step one of three. You can ignore Excel. Excel just thinks it owns all .csv files.

Step 2: after you have your .csv file you run it through POI Loader as downloaded from Garmin:

http://www.garmin.com/products/poiloader/

This will convert the .csv file into a .gpi file.

Step 3: you then move the .gpi file onto your receiver, into the /Garmin/POI folder (for nuvi units, but you might have something else). Connect and disconnect it to your computer using the instructions in the manual.

When your unit has rebooted the POIs should show up when you hit the 'Favorites' button.

Simon.

Hi Robert660.....

I'm not sure if you meant to your GPS unit or POI Factory.
Here are the steps for uploading to POI Factory.

If you look at the top right hand of the website you'll see a "create content" box. Now put your mouse ontop of it and another box named " POI file " will appear. Click on that and it will take you to the upload section. In the TITLE box, give your poi a name then in category chose what category it belongs in. Now it's time to select the file you will be uploading. Go to the File to be uploaded section and Click on the Browse button and locate your file on your computer. After you have located, selected your file chose open. This will put the file in the File to be uploaded box. After this you will give your file a Description and press the submit button. Your all set and your file has been uploaded for everyone to enjoy.

Hope this help.

Thanks Simon, that answers some of my question, but when I Save As, in Notepad, it always shows up in my Documents as an Excel file.
I have the Nuvi 660, but haven't hard loaded into it. I am going to use a SD card for my POI files.
My understanding is: I use cvs files in the Nuvi.
If I am on the right track of creating POI's I would like to upload attractions, or other for the Dallas area, but not to necessarily load onto my Nuvi, and also, who would I upload or send them too?

Thanks Orbital. In the next few days I'll try it. I just am trying to be cautious that I don't screw something, or somebody up. I just wasn't sure about the Notepad/Excel file. I'm only going to work with the simple 3 column files.
I wasn't talking about loading into the Nuvi, but uploading to the POI Factory.

To get from the csv file to your nuvi, you need to use the POI Loader program.

POI Loader does two things:

* converts the csv file to a gpi file
* saves the gpi file onto a SD card

Your nuvi can't read the csv file. It needs the gpi file made by POI Loader.

JM

PS -- For the benefit of other readers, you can choose to have POI Loader send the gpi file directly to the GPS via USB cable. The USB transfer approach is required by some models like C330/C340, which cannot read POIs from SD card.

JM, you didn't mention, but am I on the right track for submitting POI's to the Factory?
Thanks for the csv/gpi information.

Yes you are!

The same csv file you read with POI Loader can also be uploaded to the POI Factory web site.

If you're happy with the results on your nuvi, just log in to the web site and upload the csv file to share with everyone else.

JM

This comment has been moved here.

I have a friend who uses a MAC and the POI loader doesn't work , it crashes. Garmin said to convert the csv to a gpi and then just place it (without the loader) into the garmin.
My question is where can I find a utility to convert csv to gpi???

yitzie1@yahoo.com

Try this link
http://garmin.gps-data-team.com/poi_manager.php

Did your friend use the beta version of POI Loader? I've never heard of anyone here having a problem with it, but Garmin now makes it hard to find on their site. It is available at:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218

I use the Mac POI loaded version 2.0.2.1 beta and it works flawlessly.

The link Bentbiker posted will get you the same POI Loader I am using and should work fine.

Cheers,
PT

Hello Simon. I am replying to you since you also are a Mac user.

I am having difficulty loading the POI into my Garmin 200W. I have the POI loader from Garmin. After Launching and selecting the Garmin unit, I am directed to a window to choose the file. At this time the files are dim and cannot be selected. It acts as though the files are not compatable. I have created and saved the CVS files several ways to see if I am doing something wrong. I have not had success. Can you help?

Thanks

You are not being asked to select the file; you are being asked to select the folder in which your POI file(s) reside.

Thanks for your quick response. I am a little confused. If I download a file from this site, say state parks_V.csv, it is not in a folder. Can you elaborate what must be in the folder and how I upload a single file as a folder? Do I jus create a folder with one file in it?

Thanks again.

you select that folder and all the poi files in that folder will be loaded...

see; http://www.poi-factory.com/node/85

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/13918

Thank you. It worked! It is a little un-intuitive though. You Rock!

I see that a lot is going on about making own POi and using the MS XL or Notepad and save as .csv and then the POI Loader makes the .gpi file.
Great. The point is, can I the ignorant see the Syntax of such a 'line' so I can write my own?
Can anybody I beg thee show me how a file is created and then a few lines that will form a POI file.
I will appreciate this.

Thank you all.

The FAQ's should help. See: http://www.poi-factory.com/garmin-csv-file-format
Also, if you download one CSV file from this site, you will have the syntax you are looking for.

The FAQ's should help. See: http://www.poi-factory.com/garmin-csv-file-format
Also, if you download one CSV file from this site, you will have the syntax you are looking for.

What I dod for my first one was as stated above copy a small one then just clear the contents in the different columns and put in the info you want and then rename it and save. then use POIloader to load it. good luck

petertheo this is the method I use.

Making csv files with Excel

1.Pull up Excel sheet.
2.Column A put in Longitude. (6 decimal places)
3.Column B put in Latitude. (6 decimal places)
4.Column C put in Name.
5.Column D put in street number, street, city, state (abbreviation), zip code and Phone Number. No commas
6.After all data in completed for each row you will need to save as a csv file.
7.Go to file at top left of Excel sheet and click on it and select save as.
8.Under File name put the name of the file. Under Save as type click on down arrow and find CSV (Comma delimited). Now click save.
9.You now have a CSV file.

A. Tips to get Longitude and Latitude. Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocoding.html. Under number 1. Geocode a single address .Put address in box and click Go. Make sure to get an address not a city or zip code when search completes. Select 2 for multiple addresses.
B. Be sure not to put the Longitude and Latitude in the wrong column on the Excel sheet.
C. Eliminate all the periods, dashes and commas in Column D.
D. To get a nice format for column D. Put in the street address and push down on alt and hold it down then hit enter. Now put in the city, state and zip then alt and enter and then put the phone number in. It should come out like this and show well on your Garmin screen.

Waldo Market
0000 Pine Street
Nowhere Texas 00000
000-000-0000

Except you don't need to delete the dashes, periods and commas. The CSV format will put this entire string (Column D) in quotes which indicates to POI Loader that commas and periods are in the column so it loads them correctly.

I take them out based on some pass threads about leaving them in may cause problems.Have done it both ways.Just finished a custom poi file that I have not posted yet and took out all the commas dashes etc and it came out well.Open up in note pad and this was the results.
-81.811745,26.211134,Clam Pass Park,"410 Seagate Drive
Naples FL 34103
(888) 422-6177"

Sure looks like there is a dash in the last line to me.

I have the Garmin Zumo 660 and am having issues with creating POIs using Excel on a iMac computer.

Issue:
I am able to create custom POIs with iMac's Excel and save the file in .csv format. However, after uploading the POI to my Zumo 660, using Garmin POI Loader, the DATA entered in Excel's column 4 does not display on the Zumo 660. The Coordinates and Name are properly displayed, however, data entered in Excel's column 4, such as Address and Phone Number is not visible.

In Excel's column 1: LONG, column 2: LAT, column 3: Name and column 4: Address and Phone Number. I have tried inputing column 4 data with and without comma's, periods and dashes with the same results.

Question:
Is there something unique about the Zumo 660 that prevents the unit from reading column 4 data or am I possibly doing something wrong.

Vic

im a recent mac convert and poi loader does work on a mac . it has never crashed on me.another good program your friend with the mac might try is poi organizer.
mike

While I don't use a Mac, I'm wondering about how you are checking the POI on your Zumo. Addresses may not show until you tell the unit to take you to the location, so a search won't always show the Column 4 data.

If you do a search, select a poi and then it should show the information along with the big green GO button.

The custom POI's are located on the Zumo 660 in a folder I call "Custom POI's. When I select one of the POI's located within this folder, the display shows only the NAME without any Excel column 4 data, such as Address and Phone Number. Selecting GO will provide the GPS route to the selected coordinates, however, the Address and Phone Numbers are NEVER displayed.

Additionally, when I download POI's from POI Factory and upload to my Zumo 660, once again, Excel column 4 data FAILS to appear when I select the uploaded POI's on my Zumo 660.

When I open the downloaded POI's from POI Factory and open using either iMac's Excel or Text Edit, I am able to read the column 4 data, if that column is being used, HOWEVER, as before, that data fails to display on the Zumo 660.

Additional comments appreciated.

Vic

When creating custom POI's using iMac & MS Excel, is it possible to insert a "blank" line (space) between data entered in column 3 (Address field) of Excel.
Example:
Name

Address
Phone

Using "Control-Option-Return", I am able to create the space, however, after saving the file in .csv format and uploading to my ZUMO 660 using POI Loader, the Data (Name, Address, Phone) are displayed without the space when selecting the custom POI. The data displays as: NameAddressPhone without the space.

Vic

if I can't get to the actual place to make the POI, then I find the place on GOOGLE EARTH, then put a place mark where I want to go. Then save the place mark as a .KML file.

I use a program called POI Edit to make the actual POI file:
http://www.poiedit.com/

It is very good, and is free. It understand many file types used with GPSs, including the .KML files mentioned above. Then you don't have to worry about miss typed numbers!

I like Extra Poi Editor http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor .You can load kml files to it and make a csv or gpx file plus build alerts into the file also lots of other goodies.See (link no longer available)

However, on my unit, if there is column four info, I get a new button along the bottom labeled "More" and if I click that, voila.