Updating Custom POI file in GPS Unit

You need to keep a working copy of your POI file on your computer. Save any new locations to Favorites, Then you can come back to the computer and download those new Favorites to BaseCamp, then add them to your POI File on your computer an use POI Loader to upload the new file. It will overwrite the old file.

Thank you. I thought I was making a move forward with this purchase and now it seems like it is a move backwards. I rarely had to plug in my TomTom, only for map updates, but never to update a custom POI file. Now I am going to have to keep checking two different files for locations. I do love the screen size and how bright it is, I can even see it with my polarized sunglasses on, but this is a little bit of a let down. Thanks again for the help, may return it for another TomTom for the functionality.

... sometimes those switching from TT to Garmin get confused by nomenclature. If by your Custom POI file you mean places you've input into your GPS they are called Saved Places or Favourites by Garmin, which depends on where you live. There's no need to plug your GPS into your PC to update those and they are automatically added to a file named current.gpx that you'll find in the GPX folder of your device.

You just backup that file whenever you need to, just like you did with your TT

Yes that is what I mean. However when I used POI Loader to put the file on my new unit, it was put in the "Custom POI" menu and not the Saved or Favorite directory. I went to a new customers location yesterday and saved the location. It was saved in the "Saved" menu and not where the 1400 other locations that I saved on my TT are at making it so that when I save more of them I will have to start checking both menus. I really like the unit, Garmin did a wonderful job on it, but this is just inconvenient and will not work.

There is a difference between "Custom POI's" and "SAVED" or "FAVORITES". Name depends on which GArmin. Anytime you save a location where you are it goes into the "SAVED" folder.

You do not use POI:oader to add your "whatever.GPX" file since that puts it into the GPS as "EXTRAS" or Custom POI" depending on the Gaarmin.

I'd suggest you go into the GPS with Windows Explorer if using Windows and delete the file. It will be in the POI folder. Whatever file you added will have the name you gave it but it will have the extension "****.GPI".

It sounds as if you already have a few "SAVED" or "FAVORITES", so I think what you need to do is to have your TT.GPX file on your computer, start BASECAMP and load YOUR GPX file into into BASECAMP. Connect your Garmin to the computer and then save/transfer the file to the Garmin.

Doing this may remove the few locations you have already saved.
Of that I am not sure of. If someone knows better feel free to correct my input.

ONLY files, you for example get from POI factory are loaded using POI loader and they become locations in the "EXTRAS".

... the issue will be he has 1400 or so locations. I think the limit on saved places is 1000. Otherwise your idea is sensible. Just FYI sending a gpx file to your device won't overwrite locations already in your saved places.

In his place I'd keep the POI file he already has then add any more locations as a saved place.

Thanks sussamb for clearing up the added GPX file to existing GPX.

Now I am just curious, though none of my business, how or why would anyone have 1,400 saved locations? Or are some or a lot of them just "VIA" points used in a scheduled route?

If that's the case it needs trimming down.

I travel a good portion of Canada, the USA and Mexico and I'd be hard pressed to come up with more than 200 "SAVED" locations.

I have about 300 POI factory files in my POI folder taking up about 30,000kb of space and have been known to use some as via points when I am on a scheduled route.

I like your thought sussamb, with your "sneaky" way to beat the 1,000 saved locations though.

Thanks to everyone for helping on this issue. When I get a chance, I will try Basecamp. When I save them with Basecamp does it save them to the "Saved" menu? I only have two new locations saved in the "Saved" menu and not a big deal if they were lost. I have backed up via windows explorer that file anyway.

As to why I have 1400 saved locations, I am a service manager for a vending company down south. Our service area is 2700 sq miles including the metro area. Since at any given time, I could be called to any of these locations from any other location, I just started saving each new customers location in my TT when I went to them for the first time. I also keep a copy of the file on my computer so that whenever we have a new hire, I give them the file if they have a GPS and that is one less problem a new tech has (finding a customer).

Again, thanks for the input to everyone, it has given me something to think about. Will post back the results when I get back to the computer.

When you use BaseCamp and send waypoints etc to your device they are saved as a gpx file (usually named temp.gpx) in the GPX folder on your device, when you boot it they are then merged with the data already on your device and current.gpx is rewritten. You will then find all your waypoints in Saved places.

Once they are there you can (and should) delete the temp.gpx file.

current.gpx will then contain all your waypoints. Note you cannot simply create a new current.gpx. It is a one way copy of what is in your devices inaccessible internal memory.

For someone else to get those locations on their Garmin all you need to do is give them a copy of current.gpx for them to put in the GPX folder on their device but it MUST be renamed something other than current.gpx

To help Vendtech1 manage his file of locations, it would seem that a .GPX file would solve the problem, because someone else (his colleagues, for example)could use that file to create "Custom POI" files.

This is important because "Saved Places" have a limit to the number of entries that can be held.

Vendtech1 says he has saved the file on his computer, but has not indicatd what its extension is. If it is GPX, then just use that file to create a "Custom POI" using POILoader.