POI Files using Basecamp

Sometimes.

Been out of pocket the last week or so. EPE seems to be working just fine for me. Using version 5.99. Did I miss something?

Or are you referring to "POI Editor" rather than "Extra POI Editor"?

I often use Basecamp to create POI files. I like the fact that Basecamp will let you switch map sets to get historical data from earlier map versions. I also use Basecamp with topographic maps from gpsfile depot.com to gather additional information for POI files. I find it more cumbersome to do this with EPE.

Basecamp will also let you import .kml files created with Google Earth. Once imported into Basecamp, the composite data from multiple sources can be merged into a single .gpx, .csv, .gdb or .csv file.

While EPE will do all this and more, I find the learning curve to be fairly steep and there is little or no documentation to explain the various processes.

Yes, the problem is that it gives the message that your browser is incompatible and for you to switch browsers.

I am posting the procedure and if there is anything you don't understand, feel free to contact me.

Open Basecamp
1: Got to File, then New, then List.
2: Name your file. (example NC BBQ) and press enter.
3: Once that file is created, just click on it.
4: From this point, start adding poi’s to this list by typing in the search windows at the top right of the page (for example 6835 W US 64, Lexington, NC)
5: Once it finds the address click on the address that is correct for this address.
6: A box will come up in the map that shows four selections. Click on the flag which makes the waypoint.
7: The waypoint should show up in the far left column. Add waypoints to this file following steps 4 through 7 until you are finished. There is no saving, it does that automatically.
8: Once all of the waypoints are added, go to file, and hit export (NC BBQ). Remember to put this in a place where you will use POI Loader to upload the file.
9: If you have additional information per waypoint then you right click on the waypoint name. From here you can put in phone numbers, notes to show up, etc. Again no need to hit save as it is done for you.
10: Open POI Loader and find the file that you put in the folder. Hook up your gps to the computer.
11: From here, POI Loader will ask you several questions and then it will upload the file.

Just created a 30+ point POI file for a restaurant chain popular here in western Canada using your Basecamp instruction. Wow, that was pretty easy!

Only problem I had was with some of the addresses where BaseCamp (Garmin) uses different street names than Google and the Restaurant did so I needed to screw around with that a bit.

Thanks alot for the procedures.

You're welcome. Glad to help. Told you that it was easy.

I've been using this procedure for several years and it is indeed simple and easy to use. Thanks for posting! You might consider adding it as a FAQ in the Basecamp section.

If you are concerned about accurate POI locations and addresses, you might like to add an optional step 8A :

Boot Google Earth (Basecamp has an option to do this but it is flaky and doesn't always work) then open the file you just created. Adjust your monitor as a split screen with Basecamp on one side and Google Earth on the other.

When you click on each POI to add information in step 9, copy the lat/lon coordinates from the POI detail window and paste it to the search box in Google Earth. you can now see exactly where your POI appears in the "real world". You can then make any necessary coordinate adjustments.

Extra POI Editor will do this as well but, as I said earlier, the learning curve is pretty steep.

Again, thanks for posting your stepped procedure!