Excell

 

I just purchased a Nuvi 2557LMT.
I am trying to add Poi's to it but when I uploaded from POI
factory they are coming in as Excell files..problem is,I do not have excell on my computer. So my questions is, is there a way around this or do I need to purchase excell?
Thanks for the help

Frequently Asked Questions

Excel to review poi loader to install

kk4obo wrote:

I just purchased a Nuvi 2557LMT.
I am trying to add Poi's to it but when I uploaded from POI
factory they are coming in as Excell files..problem is,I do not have excell on my computer. So my questions is, is there a way around this or do I need to purchase excell?
Thanks for the help

As far as loading them to your GPS all you need to do is use Garmin Poi Loader. See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25721 for instructions.

If you decide you want voice alerts for some of your custom pois you will need sox.exe and wav file. See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25730
for detail instruction

You can use Excel program to open and review the pois. Other programs like Notepad will do the same thing. Just use option open with to select other alternates.

By the way welcome to the POI Factory site. Just let us know if you need any help.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

POIs

kk4obo wrote:

I just purchased a Nuvi 2557LMT.
I am trying to add Poi's to it but when I uploaded from POI
factory they are coming in as Excell files..problem is,I do not have excell on my computer. So my questions is, is there a way around this or do I need to purchase excell?
Thanks for the help

You do not need Excel to load the POIs into your GPS but if you want to modify the files then you will need some program to use. Garmin GPSs will use either of two data formats, Comma Separated Values files (CSV) or GPX files (I don't know what the letters GPX stand for). CSV files are text files that use commas to separate the value fields. Excel will work fine for editing or adding to them. However there is a free suite of programs that look and feel just like Microsoft's Office suite. It's called Open Office. Do a search, it's a free download.

GPX

GPX means GPS eXchange Format

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Welcome

Welcome to the site.

We usually recommend the following.

There is a "Learn" button in the upper right of this page next to "red light cameras" that takes you to a Getting Started page. It is worthwhile visiting this page.

To make navigation easy, most browsers provide the following option. When you want to follow a link - but still keep your current page open - you can hold down the "Ctrl" key as you left-click on a link. That action will open a new "Tab" in your browser up on the "Tab" bar. When you then left-click on that new "Tab", you will follow the link - leaving the "Tab" you are now reading open and available to click on and return here.

So, using the "Learn" link, you might try the "Ctrl" - left-click sequence and then return here. You can return by either "X-ing" out of the "Getting Started" page (using the "X" on the "Tab" itself) or just left-clicking on the "Tab" for the page you are on right now.

Note that the Learn Button will give you access to two valuable reference pages -
the "Index" to all of the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and the Glossary of Terms and Links.

Since you are new here, I encourage you to go through a couple of the Tutorials.

The first link makes sure the settings on your computer are such that you can do more advanced POI loading.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30393

The next link helps you make a backup of your GPS by attaching it to your computer. (NEVER do anything to your GPS until you have a backup). It also assures that you put your (newer) unit into a state where you can see all of the folders there.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

As others have indicated, You do not need Excel to take advantage of poi-factory files.

However, I think you might like to look at OpenOffice (the portable version which can be run from anywhere and is free) http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=212

Libre Office

Another suite of office applications that is free is Libre Office. It has word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and math software along with database and drawing applications. It's free and can be found here.

http://www.libreoffice.org/

they are just TEXT FILES

Files with a CSV extension are just TEXT FILES. Microsoft Excell can open them, so Microsoft deceptively implies that you should use Excell to open them even though the OS knows that Excell is not installed. But the files can be opened with any text editor, even Notepad. Also, free replacements for Office including Open Office and Libre Office can open them, and they can open and edit them in either their spreadsheet applications or their text editing applications.

If you are just downloading a POI to use it on your GPS them you really don't need to open it at all, just use POI loader to put it on the GPS.

Thanks for all the

Thanks for all the replies.
I think I will try and start with just putting Ga state parks in the GPS.
I will definitely read the help files here.
Thanks again
Dennis

Good thought

kk4obo wrote:

Thanks for all the replies.
I think I will try and start with just putting Ga state parks in the GPS.
I will definitely read the help files here.
Thanks again
Dennis

A good idea. Remember when used with all the default settings with POI Loader, that when you're ready to add a 2nd POI file (or multiple files), keep the GA state parks there so it'll load again. When POI Loader runs, it will overwrite your old GA Park-only file, so a good way to start with Custom POIs is to remember to load both GA state parks and others simultaneously since the old park-only file will be lost when the new file is written.

Shout when you succeed and want to try more. There's a lot you can do with these Custom POIs including custom audio and custom icons.

A good next choice if you travel the interstates is RestAreasCombined. This may be one that you should run in Manual (not the default Express) mode in POI Loader so that you can set alerts to give you an audio alert as you approach a rest area. I use a 16,000 foot alert distance for that file so I can know that a Rest Area is approaching well before the usual green 1-mile-before Upcoming Exit sign.

Custom pois

N

kk4obo wrote:

Thanks for all the replies.
I think I will try and start with just putting Ga state parks in the GPS.
I will definitely read the help files here.
Thanks again
Dennis

Good luck with your files and success
in getting them loaded on your GPS. Plenty of info in the thread to get you started. If any encounter any problems just let us know.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

I am using Open Office

I am using Open Office when I am looking at Exell and CSV files.

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May the Good LORD go with you David Fuller AC0RV<br> Skywarn M187201 <br>