GPI vs. GPS Tourguide Files

I keep TG POIs separate ( different folder on PC ) from the others and load my TG files first, then change the name of the poi.gpi file on the GPSr to something else e.g. TG.gpi

Then I load the other POIs and POILoader creates a "newer" poi.gpi file. Both files are read into memory at startup but the TG locations show as a separate line/category item on the "Custion POIs" menu.

HTH
dd

P.S. In the TG folder I can have other folders with MP3s or JPGs to go with, i.e. link to, the TGs. That way you can have pictures and music show up on the TG screens.

POI Loader compiles .gpx (and also .csv files, I believe into .gpi format.

.gpi is the binary format that the Nüvi reads, in order to implement Custom Poi's and Travel Guides.

So if you been supplied with a .gpi file, you just copy it to the \Garmin\Poi directory on the Nüvi and omit the POI Loader step.

.gpx and .gpi are not really in competition with oneanother

Ok, let me recap to be sure I understand correctly. Firstly, all gpx or csv files in my POI folder on my PC are compiled into a single poi.gpi file in my \Garmin\POI folder. But, that folder can also contain other poi files such as PalmBeach.poi in addition to the composite one that is compiled from my collection of gpx and gpi files on my computer.

I can either copy the custom poi files directly into the \Garmin\POI folder or use a multi step process wherein I use POI loadeer to upload from a Tourguide folder on my PC, rename the poi.gpi file created and then upload from another folder with different POIs.

Let me know if I have any of this wrong please and thanks very much for your quick and informative replies.

Yes - POI Loader doesn't ask you what you want the output file calling - it creates POI.GPI. However, the Nüvi will read any .GPI files it finds.

You can only copy and rename .gpi files - you can't just copy .csv / .gpx files to the Nüvi, you have to turn them into a .gpi file first.

(Actually, you can copy .gpx files, but they'll end up as Favourites, not Custom POI's)

Ok, I think I am getting it. But, a couple more questions please.

When I use a gpx file with sub folders for data, mp3, and jpg files, they end up in my extras/custom pois menu on my Nuvi. The mp3 files are on the Nuvi in a data folder with the same name as the tourguide pois in the gpx file.

If one uses a gpi file are the mp3s and jpgs already compiled within that gpi file?

To answer it the other way round...

Yes.

To create Custom POI's (of which TourGuides are a flavour), you have to use POI Loader, at least once, to compile all the constituent parts into a .gpi file. The parts all end in up in POI.GPI, which you can rename if you want.

Any .jpg/.mp3 which happen to be stored on the Nüvi are coincidental and are not accessible to Custom POI's.

I think I have it. The bottom line is that everything ends up in the gpi files and if anything else is uploaded by POI uploader it is simply a coincidence.

Thanks.

Did it work?

Just curious.
dd

Here is what I ended up with. I downloaded my test tg file PalmBeach.gpi and transferred that to my \Garmin\POI\ folder. So, now I have two gpi files there. POI.gpi and PalmBeach.gpi. When I turn my Nuvi on it immediately says "Proceed to higlighted route" and the route leads to one, hopefully the first, POI on the tour. However, there is no selection for that tourguide anywhere in the menu. I suspect I may have a duplicate here and I am going to reload to check it out.

That if you follow the;
"Where to?" -> "Extras" -> "Custom POIs" links, you will find a category named "PalmBeach" and the rest of the TG POIs are in there. That's what I have on my 650

What say you?
dd

I did have duplication but now that I have reuploaded, recompiling my POI.gpi without the PalmBeach.gpx tourguide data my Nuvi no longer says "Proceed to highlighted route" and there is no trace of a choice for the tour in Extras. Perhaps the gpi is flawed. I downloaded it from http://www.travelbygps.com/premium/palm_beach/palm_beach.php which is the same location for the gpx version which seems to work.

Oops. My apologies. It was at the very end of the list in my Custom Pois. I somehow "assumed" that the list was sorted by name. Yes, there it is. Great. Glad I got that all sorted out with everyone's help. Thanks a bunch dd for your patience. Now I can start making my own TG files.

And have fun with the TourGuide function of the nüvi 600 series GPSr.

I have really gotten into TGs because you can link a unique photo and sound file to every entry in the TG.gpx file. It will take some work and testing but it's worth the effort.

IMHO
dd

The list is sorted by name, except if you have more than one poi files, the standard POI.gpi come in first and after, others poi files are listed.

If you have multiple .gpi files, their entries are listed by containing file, then distance. The containing .gpi files are normally processed alphabetically. However, you can influence this:

I normally build my .gpi files on an SD card and rename POI.GPI after POI Loader has run. Say I end up with the following files on the card:-

OddsNsods.gpi
Speedcamera.gpi
Yellowstone.gpi (I can dream!)


If you then put the card in the unit, it will say "New Data, do you want to install it?"

If I say "Yes" to OddNSods, "No" to Speedcamera and "Yes" to Yellowstone ... then eject the card and re-insert it, this time I will only be asked about Speedcamera, to which I now reply "Yes".

The net result is, that the POI's appear in the following order:

OddsNSods
Yellowstone
SpeedCamera


Once the order has been set like this, you can replace an individual .gpi file without disturbing it (the order, that is).

Personally, I think this much more sophisticated than loading all the POI's at once, from a directory tree that starts "AA_Yellowstone" and ends at "ZZ_Speedcamera".

(Ok, it helps if you have a pedantic nature