Download POI in RM Tablet TND85

Rand Mcnally devices need their CSV files with specific items in their columns. Garmin CSV files don't have the same format. There is a conversion script that will convert GPX files to the RM CSV format. If the POI file you want isn't available in GPX format, someone would have to take the time to convert it to GPX. Depending on the CSV file content, that could be a lengthy and effort intensive project.

The .cvs file I have is the one provided on this site. Is the .cvs file provided here a Garmin .cvs? It is the Costco locations file.

Thanks for your reply

Is there a GPX version of the file? All the CSV files on this site are Garmin format. Garmin uses 4 fields and RM uses 6 or 9 (I don't remember the exact number). Your RM documentation tells you the required format.

Thanks for your answer. The RM dosen't even mention importing POI's let alone the format. I sent a question to RM tech support and will see if they answer.

Can you tell me where I can get this script?

Turns out there are 8

I have part of the answer. It turns out that the .cvs files here in the Garmin format have 4 columns and the RM .cvs format has 8 columns. The required information is all there but the last 2 columns of the Garmin files each need to be split into 3 columns. To further complicate things they are not all comma delineated but rather have, - and > delineations.

I know enough about Excel to make my Christmas card address information and print the labels. Reformatting the Garmin file is way beyond my skill set.

Anybody have an answer?

Garmin CSV files have three required items, Lon, Lat, and Name. The 4th item is a freeform description field with virtually no restrictions, so there is no control over how the info is entered. GPX files are structured so every entry is identified, and that's what makes converting a GPX to RM easy. You look for the identifier nd place it in the proper location. If the identifier is not found, then a comma is required in its place as the placeholder, and you move to the next field.

The best way to resolve your problem if there isn't a GPX version of the file is to start from scratch and build the file for your needed format. That's why I said converting a Garmin CSV is a long, laborious process. You have no idea what information is in the 4th Garmin field or how it was written.

Have you reviewed the discussion at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/46466 . More info here at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/45905

Got curious about files for the RM available and not many found. Did notice that POI Factory says the redlight and speed cameras will work on that unit and they are 4 column format. Maybe Jonathan can comment on that. The OP should give it a try to confirm.

8 fields:: longitude#, lattitude#, name#, telephone#@, address@, state@, postcode@, country@

first four are the same as garmin(#),
last five, have to be there, aren't neccessary to be filled(@)
(edit, I know the field name of column four isn't the same, its a text field it don't actually do nuttn and can be empty in both gps types)

to make garmin formatted (4 column) csv work in RM

open file in spreadsheet, make a space in columns e-h in the first row, copy to every other row, save as .csv

or,
open file in notepad (any non formatting text editor) add the following to the end of every line commas included

," "," "," "," "
save as csv

or
open file in EPE, set m to 8 (Options : M-column csv fields), save as "m column" csv
edit: if a person sets this EPE option every later save as m-column, of any csv, ov2, gpx, - matches RM

each way creates the required number of fields

EPE = Extra Poi Editor
dunno where the download is these days

yes I do,
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/38068

The 3rd garmin column is
Business name - Street address . City

The 4th Garmin column is
State Zip code > Phone number

I was wrong about the 4th Garmin column having 3 delineated fields. It has two

Unless I can find an Exel wizard I will just have to buy a Garmin

I asked Jonathan the owner and moderator here on POI Factory about this problem. He has been involved in the past with other users setting up their files. Here are the comments he sent to me that Iam passing on.

3 or 4 column files with ​**very simple formatting** often work

Here are some additional notes that might be helpful:

Rand McNally used to provide details about their required CSV format in the user’s manual. For example, see the “Custom POI Locations” section starting at page 119 in the TND 710 user manual: http://www.randmcnally.com/images/randDocuments/support/TND-... (For most newer models, this information does not seem to be included in the user manual.)

Here are some technical details we’ve found from working with other Rand McNally users. This is the format provided when you download the CSV file from a GPX+CSV page:

Column 1 = longitude
Column 2 = latitude
Column 3 = POI Name
Column 4 = phone number
Column 5 = address
Column 6 = city
Column 7 = state
Column 8 = postal code
Column 9 = country

Additionally:

• Column values must not contain any embedded commas (e.g., "La Mirada, CA 90638"), but semicolons are okay.
• Column values must be single line and not contain any line breaks (e.g., carriage returns or line feed characters)
• Multi-byte characters (e.g., è ӓ) encoded using utf8 appear to cause problems, but ISO-8859-1 encoding appears to work.

For the COSTCO file mentioned in the discussion, it seems the first record (and a few others) might be causing a problem because they contain a comma inside of a quoted field value.

-113.5576037,53.30747991,"Costco - 22584 46 Ave E, AB-2-S Exit 522; Nisku",AB T0C 0V0>825-319-2061
-81.21316,42.91583821,"Costco (Gas/Diesel) - 3140 Dingman Dr, ON-401E Exit 186; London",ON N6E 3W8>519-680-1027
-97.85067442,30.03168438,"Costco (Gas/Diesel) - 9086 S I-35 Frontage Rd, I-35 Exit 215; Kyle",TX 78640>512-400-2311

if the 6 text-only fields don't contain prohibited characters
the actual content is not relevant
this link is for stripping prohibited multibyte characters without otherwise changing the file
https://pteo.paranoiaworks.mobi/diacriticsremover/

if the RM tablet dials phone numbers. fourth field must contain only phone number as "text", if the device does not dial the phone number field can contain anything

as long as the longitude and latitude are correct, other text fields display only when the poi is selected

-107.33525,41.585855,"The bar","7573254455","55 main St","big town","no state","10023"."us"

will display exactly the same as

-107.33525,41.585855,"The bar","7573254455 55 main st big town no state 10023 us"," "," "," "," "