newbie trying to create a POI file

 

Hi all! I am a newbie with a Garmin nuvi (has an SD card that I would like to put my POI files on). I am pretty comfortable with excel and would like to start simple with a list of addresses of the schools in the district where my sister substitutes (no extra graphics or wav files). I am confused by the different programs needed (converting address to longitude/latitude etc.) and I wondered if there are simple instructions that go through it all step by step. Any guidance is appreciated!

Karenk wrote:Hi all! I am a

Karenk wrote:

Hi all! I am a newbie with a Garmin nuvi (has an SD card that I would like to put my POI files on). I am pretty comfortable with excel and would like to start simple with a list of addresses of the schools in the district where my sister substitutes (no extra graphics or wav files). I am confused by the different programs needed (converting address to longitude/latitude etc.) and I wondered if there are simple instructions that go through it all step by step. Any guidance is appreciated!

There are many. 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. Also view. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25752 and http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25743

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

@Karenk

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

@Karenk

Based on what you are trying to first accomplish - that is get a list of schools for a substitute teacher to use, I would suggest starting simple. Use www.googlemaps.com

Search for one of the schools that you are interested in by putting in the name of the school and the city and state (although if you have used Maps before, it may already anticipate where you live.

When you get a Hit - look in the address bar and you will see an "@" followed by two sets of numbers separated by a comma. Write these down as they are the latitude and longitude of the school.

Create a row in Excel with the Lon in Col A, the Lat in Col B and the name of the school in Col C. Notice the reversing of the position of Lon and Lat for Google.

Repeat for the other schools.

Save those rows as a .csv file and you have the start of a SubstituteTeacherSchools.csv file.

Now you will need to learn about POI Loader. You can look in our
http://www.poi-factory.com/faq/index for references.

@Karenk

If you want to build a file for schools or anything else. Go to Google Maps at https://www.google.com/maps/ .In the Search Google Maps area top left. Put in the name of school,city and state then click the spy glass to search. A red marker will come up on the map with the school named you searched for.On the bottom tip of the red marker right click your mouse on that location.Select What's Here and left click mouse on it. At bottom of screen you will see the coordinates and the school name.You can put the coordinates in your excel or notepad file.Also notice on left side of screen you will see address and phone number that you can copy and paste to your file. This works well and is a good starter for making files.

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

I prefer

charlesd45 wrote:

There are many. Tips to get Longitude and Latitude. Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocoding.html. Under number 1. Geocode a single address. Also view. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25752 and http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25743

I prefer itouchmap.com over all the gyrations Google Maps makes you go through. Enter the address in the search box, check the position of the pointer and then copy the coordinates. And yes, you can move the pointer if needed.

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ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet

Comments on itouchmap.com

Had never used this site, so I went there to see how it compared to googlemaps.com which I used extensively in tweaking the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store file. By the way, back then I had a list of addresses from Jo-Ann corporate office and used Extra POI Editor to do the batch geocoding.

As I suggested above, using googlemaps.com, one could just enter the name of the "school" (as opposed to having to look up the address and then entering that) and - assuming that one had used googlemaps before enough times such that it knew where your computer was and/or where you had previously searched - one would get "choices" beneath the search bar to pick from.

When I tried to do the same thing with itouchmap.com - it being the first time I had ever used the site - entering only a school name and my city, what I got was a pointer centered on the city - not at the location of the school which I found to be misleading.

To get the coordinates of that spot centered on the city, I had to press the "Make Link" button, as I did not see the coordinates on the screen like I would have with googlemaps.

I know all of this comes down to personal preferences.

itouchmap

I don't know why you are having the problems you are. Like a_user stated, Enter the address into the search box on the latlon page (http://www.itouchmap.com/latlong.html). You are given both the decimal and degrees, minutes, seconds of where the pointer is stationed directly below the map display. If you move the pointer, the coordinates will update. I usually right click on the pointer and copy the displayed values to my clipboard and then paste into the spreadsheet.

One needs to remember just because it uses Google maps doesn't mean it has Google's search engine.

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Illiterate? Write for free help.

@Box Car

Box Car wrote:

I don't know why you are having the problems you are. Like a_user stated, Enter the address into the search box on the latlon page (http://www.itouchmap.com/latlong.html). You are given both the decimal and degrees, minutes, seconds of where the pointer is stationed directly below the map display. If you move the pointer, the coordinates will update. I usually right click on the pointer and copy the displayed values to my clipboard and then paste into the spreadsheet. ...

The reason I was reporting what I did was to make a comparison with Googlemaps. a_user did not say to go to www.itouch.com/latlong.html (and www.itouch.com/latlong in the "search box" will ask if you want to add the .html but www.itouch.com/latlong takes you to a blank page).

As I mentioned, I had never used itouchmap, so when I got to the first screen, I just typed something into the "Go" box like I assumed most people would do. Then I reported on the results because it was significantly different from googlemaps.

If I had actually had an address in front of me, I would prefer to fire up EPE, click on "Add New POI", type in the address, click the "Geocoding" button and let it do the geocoding for me. Then a click on "Grab" and the coordinates are entered in the correct fields for me.

Now I understand that I am not telling you anything new about EPE because I used your two FAQs on EPE to get started there myself and always recommend those two FAQs to anyone wanting to learn about EPE.

My original post was intended to suggest a way that the OP could quickly do what was wanted. I assumed that the sister (I think) would have provided a list like "downtown elementary" "subdivision A elementary" "wherever elementary", etc. Googlemaps could use only this information, along with a city to get the lat/lon coordinates.

Once you...

Once you get a hang of it, it's like riding a bike.

Several are good.

itouchmap is a nice addition for your box of tools for finding coordinates.It does has the advantage of moving the marker to get new coordinates. Will add to my GPS tools with others already there. As posted Google Maps and even Google Earth allow you to just search by name and still get all the information. Address sometime is not always at hand.

GPS Visualizer's Quick Geocoder.Just in case someone missed it.Both Google and Bing search available. Just use the down arrow to make search selection. http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocode .Batch search is also there. Geocode multiple addresses http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocoder/

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

how to load my poi on to the sd card on my nuvi

The directions for creating my POI were very clear and I have created my poi. I have installed POI Loader on my computer. Now I am wondering how I can load it on to my SD card. I found some posts indicating that I need to put the SD card in a card reader. Is this the case or should the card be visible when I connect the nuvi to my pc?
If I need a separate card reader can you give me advice on this?
Thanks again for the previous help!

SD Card

When you run Poiloader you will see screen Find Device make sure you select the Memory Card that you have installed in the GPS device. Use the pull down Device window to select it.
Watch this video for instructions https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhhb5FPyLW0

If you need the other videos they are located at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/45601

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