Separate POI Files

You have to put all you poi files in one general directory on your computer, then point poiloader to that directory, and yes it will create one file,and no you can't have seperate files, but it will install all your custom poi's in that one file so they will be there when you fire up the machine. You will also have seperate headings for each custom poi section.But no you can't turn off individual poi sections.

My own limited experience with the POI loader is it will process all the files in the folder and generate the one large file that goes onto the Garmin. When you go to that section of your GPS, you should see separate listing for each of the files in the folder, but there appears to be no way to turn them on or off selectively from with in the device itself.

PT

You can put one level of sub folders within your main POI File folder to create the sub categories you choose. Put the POI files into the appropriate subfolders.

POI loader will then load them as custom POIs with the sub categories you wish.
When you select a sub folder name, all the POIs you placed there will show up.

You can't turn them on or off, but you can have categories.

You can have subfolders under your main folder, if you want. The folders will create categories. You can't have more than one level of subfolder. The files themselves will create the subcategory.

For example, it might look like this.

> My POI (Main folder)
>> IHOP (subfolder)
... IHOP.csv
... IHOP.bmp
>> National Parks (subfolder)
... National Parks.gpx
... National Monuments.gpx
... National Recreation areas.gpx
... National Parks.bmp
... National Monuments.bmp
etc.

In this example, IHOP and National Parks show up as categories and then under National Parks, the subcategories of National Parks, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas show up.

Here are some screenshots of what it would look like.

This is a shot of the folder and files on my computer.
http://i18.tinypic.com/4q8bl8m.jpg

This is how the first level shows up on my Zumo.
http://i9.tinypic.com/4t6c8ye.jpg

When I select the National Parks category, this is what I get.
http://i2.tinypic.com/62qyi4z.jpg

Then if I select National Monuments, I get this.
http://i8.tinypic.com/4kbd8jc.jpg

Yeah, what Motorcycle Mama says -- much better than I did.

Especially MotoMama. I kinda thought I couldn't turn'em on/off but figured I'd ask. I like the idea of categorizing the files makes it easier to see what I've got.

Another question (I know a big collective sigh). Can individual entries in a POI file be given a name? Example, a red light camera entry, could it be given the name 'Main & Elm"?

Thanks, again
Bob

Yes, when you create a CSV file, you enter in the coordinates, a name for the location, and then a description.

PT

MotoMama you did an excellent job in explaining how to categorically organize data files.

In addition, for garmin users, if you place a bitmap image in your top directory with the same name as the directory with the data files. Then the image will be associated with each poi as an icon.

We need to lobby Garmin for a firmware upgrade (not a new model) that will allow users to select which POI (custom and/or built) to be displayed on the navigation screen.

For the kind of money we pay, it would be nice to see if a particular poi is on a route. Instead of a useless splash screen saying 1mile NW.

You can name the locations whatever you want. Just open the file, change the names, and re-save the file (be sure to save it as a CSV). Then reload the file to your unit.

I'm using a Magellan Maestro version and i'm having a problems creating the sub-categories mentioned above. The way I have it set up now is I have a few files on my an SD card that I insert into the Maestro. From the Maestro I can see these files but I can only select one of them at a time. Is there a way I can group some of them together or select more than one file at once short of just listing all the POIs on one file?

Also, how do I change the POI icon and sound to one that I just recently downloaded?

Thanks!

Name the bmp and mp3 files EXACTLY the same as the csv file.

How exactly do I do that?

If you use Windows Explorer, right click on the filename and select "Rename." Then, rename the filename to match the POI file.

For instance, my POI directory includes the following three files:

Starbucks.bmp
Starbucks.csv
Starbucks.mp3

Whenever I approach a Starbucks location in the .csv file, the Starbucks logo shows up on the screen and the voice demands "I want my Starbucks and I want it now."

Loading BMPs as Custom Icons
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/4359

Loading MP3s as Custom Sounds
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/4360

I followed the steps above but it didn't work. I have a folder on my computer with my POIs. In that folder i have documents Starbucks.mgln and Starbucks.bmp. When I open up Starbuck.mgln with the POI editor I can't select the Starbucks.bmp as the icon for those POIs. Am I doing something wrong or is there something different I have to do because I have a Magellan Maestro?

Thanks!

I'm not 100% sure how the Magellans handle it, but with the Garmin units, you don't select the bmp with POI Loader.

By having it in the same folder on your computer as the POI file, POI Loader automatically incorporates it into the POI file on the unit.

But again, I'm not sure with the Magellans if it works the same way.

From my past experience Magellan dos not support custom icons. When you "upload" the POIs to your unit, you have the option of choosing an icon, but it is from a pre-determined set of icons.

It also does NOT support MP3 files but if your unit has TTS then it will read out the category name if you set the proximity for it.

With the magellan you have to use the magellan tolls to create a MGLN file. You can create multiple files and then upload them all to your GPS, These files can then be selected individually, but remember that you can only have one file active at a time. Proximity warnings can be enabled and configured individually by category on your unit.

You can get all the info you need from the faqs here: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6666
There are also many limitations to each file (number of records, number of categories per file, characters per field etc.

Good luck... the results can be well worth the time spent.

I just tried it and, sure enough, you can only have one file active at at time. So......this makes the discussion of "sub categories" more important than I thought.

I know there is a post on here somewhere that tells how to combine input files into one output .MGLN file using the editor. I'm gonna look for it now. I do not think anything in the "FAQ" gets you to that info. (directly).

UPDATE: Found it.........

Home » Magellan talk
Magellan POI File Editor help

I now have al my POI files loaded and should be happy with that but just can't let it go.

The POIs are all under the CustomPOI folder i.e. CustomPOI/Food. In the FOOD folder I have DairyQueen.csv, BUrgerKing.csv TacoBell.csv, etc.

When I select CustomPOI on my QUest2 I see the drop down FOOD and when I select that, all DQ, BK and TB restaurants in the area show up in order of mileage.

I then set it up so I could, hopefully, select these restaurants individually from the drop down. Here's how that tree looked: CustomPOI/Food/DairyQueen (in which I put DQ.csv); CustomPOI/Food/BUrgerKing (in this I put BK.csv), etc with other restaurants.

When I loaded CustomPOI on the Quest2 the folder FOOD, with the subfiles of various restaurants, did not load at all.

DId I misunderstand your directions of does this not work with my Quest2?

Thanks

You can't have more than one level of subfolders. But the files themselves will create the subcategories.

Here's my example.

You can have subfolders under your main folder, if you want. The folders will create categories. You can't have more than one level of subfolder. The files themselves will create the subcategory.

For example, it might look like this.

> My POI (Main folder)
>> IHOP (subfolder)
... IHOP.csv
... IHOP.bmp
>> National Parks (subfolder)
... National Parks.gpx
... National Monuments.gpx
... National Recreation areas.gpx
... National Parks.bmp
... National Monuments.bmp
etc.

In this example, IHOP and National Parks show up as categories and then under National Parks, the subcategories of National Parks, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas show up.

Here are some screenshots of what it would look like.

This is a shot of the folder and files on my computer.
http://i18.tinypic.com/4q8bl8m.jpg

This is how the first level shows up on my Zumo.
http://i9.tinypic.com/4t6c8ye.jpg

When I select the National Parks category, this is what I get.
http://i2.tinypic.com/62qyi4z.jpg

Then if I select National Monuments, I get this.
http://i8.tinypic.com/4kbd8jc.jpg

It didn't work on my MM 3225 either.

Ya gotta (try to)keep the various Brands of units straight 'cause they all work differently. Sometimes even different models of the same brand are vastly different.

I LOVE this site but the forum software doesn't make it easy to keep the necessary distinction.

Since this thread is in a Garmin section, I suggest we move the Magellan info. to a Magellan section.

Information on making a "combined" Custom POI files for 4xxx (and, I think, some 3xxx) models can be found here:
Home » Magellan talk
Magellan POI File Editor help

Now I get it I just wanted broader categories and just can't do that. Thanks for your patience!

Thank you very much!

deleted

Motorcycle Mama,

In your example. if I put an IHOP.ICO and a IHOP.mp3 in the IHOP subfolder, and a National Parks.ico and a National Parks.MP3 in the National Parks Subfolder, will the system associate the IHOP icon and sound with the IHOP POIs and the National Parks icon and sound with the National Park POIs?

I am a nüvi nübi and am still learning. I tried loading the Rest Areas POI file (with the icon and sound) but do not see any indication that the sound and the icon have been associated.

Until I go out for a drive on the interstate i am not sure I would... (Getting ready for a cross-country trip.)

DJB

and just the ext are different they will be associated together... Oh and I'm not MM but I did read a post from her recently so she's back...

Just make sure all the names are identical..

Yes, the icons (and they need to be BMP files to the best of my understanding) will load with whatever Custom POI files are in the folder with the identical name.

You will likely need to zoom in fairly closely to see the icons.

Note that the alerts won't sound unless you set an alert for the POI file. Regular POI files do not alert by default. You must SET an alert. You can do so in a variety of ways.

If you run POI Loader in Manual Mode instead of Express Mode, you can set whatever alerts you wish.

Check out Phil's great guide for more information about alerts.

Hornbyp's guide to setting alerts with POI Loader
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6764

Gary and Motorcycle Mama,

Many thanks for the tips. I will try this out tonight... I think I will also do a quick test by creating a couple POIs that I pass on the way to work and see what happens.

Again, thanks for the info and for not making a newbie feel too dumb!

DJB

and you'll find it kinda addicting... you start making pois for everything...

Tried to create a POI for a couple intersections near my house based on the map in Google Earth. Checked to see that MapSource used the same coordinates. It does, but perhaps I should have asked more questions. The intersection I used is Yale and Wadsworth - it's less than a mile from my home. (Garmin says it is 0.7 miles.)

The examples I have seen for formatting the file say to use minus for south (longitudes) and for west (latitudes) and shows the example as -101.123456. The problem is, I'm used to seeing these numbers as xxxdegrees, yy.yyyyyy (minutes and seconds of arc). how do i convert them to the right format for the file?

MapSource shows this intersection at: N39 40.058 W105 04.886 At a wild guess, I converted the fegrees symbol to a decimal point and removed the decimal point between minutes and seconds of arc. I saved the test POIs to my Garmin and loaded them. I then searched for them and found that Garmin thinks they are about 19 miles from my home. I do not see them on the mao where they should be.

I can't figure-out where they are because I cannot see them and cannot suss-out how to drive to them since I can not find them in the Go To routing...

Any ideas?

djb

to show decimal degrees.

How about trying -105.081433W,39.667633N for coordinates

Update: Takes me to the intersection of W. Yale Ave and S. Wadsworth Blvd

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/calculators

Remember to put the lat first, i.e. W105 04.886 =
-105.0814333

I had sussed-out that while the MapSource showes it as long/lat the file had to be lat/long...

Did you typo your conversion? shouldn't it read: W105 04.886 = -105.04886 your conversion of W105 04.886 = -105.0814333 would put me about four minutes of arc off the desired latitude.

Just checking... (I'm a bit of a literalist... I design/test software for a living... if the capitalization is off between the test step and the result of a test I fail it.)

Thanx!

djb

N39 40.058 LATITUDE converts to 39.667633N
W105 04.886 LONGITUDE converts to 105.081433W

AO,

Didn't you mean "Longitude"?

What file in the Nuvi 350 does the custom POI's go into. I loaded them using POI loader, and now i can't find them.

POI.gpi in the Garmin/POI folder

Yup

But at least I had the numbers in the correct order....

Thank You. What program can these be opened with?

The poi.gpi file is somewhat readable using Notepad, but no real program has been developed (to my knowledge) to directly read a .gpi file. It is best to go back to the input files used with POI Loader (csv or gpx).

See this topic: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1827

I opened my poi.gpi file with Notepad, and here is a sample of what I got:

®

 EN TURNOUT WB I-90 MM72      “




, ( EN$ SCENIC VISTA, No facilities Apparent  ƒ ' @n!·µ‹®

 EN TURNOUT EB I-90 MM73      “




, ( EN$ SCENIC VISTA, No facilities apparent  q ) Æ
y!l¬c®

 EN REST AREA WB I-90 MM58      “




  EN RR, PT, Pets, HF  q ) |sz! c®

 EN REST AREA EB I-90 MM58      “




  EN RR, PT, Pets, HF  y - jH¸!Î%È­

 EN WELCOME CENTER WB I-90 MM8      “




  EN RR, PT, VM, Pets, HF  t ( R˸!ÑÅ­

 EN REST AREA EB I-90 MM8      “




  EN RR, PT, VM, Pets, HF  u ) 9êÀÿo­

 EN REST AREA WB I-84 MM62      “




  EN RR, PT, VM, Pets, HF  u ) Í@ë.ßn­

 EN REST AREA EB I-84 MM62      “




  EN RR, PT,

Can you tell me what you are trying to do? Normally, these files aren't opened. They are just overwritten by POI Loader when you load a replacement file. You make changes in the gpx and csv files that are used to create the POI.gpi file.

If I am not mastaeknn, if you change the extention from gpx to htm, you can open it using your IE. I am guessing here but i think i heard that before.

anyone knows for sure,, (of course, now i am going to find a gpx file and try it hehe.. I am sure that the answer will be here before i get a chance to do it.. everyone is so nice and wants to help!

Change gpi to xml

Thanks ... that is what I meant.. I am a very bad speller.. After all, I work work with PC's hehe

Okay... Why?

It seems the latitude get added to and the longitude gets subtracted from... Why? Is this a constant factor?

djb

39 deg 40.058 minutes latitude converts by dividing the 40.058 minutes by 60 to get it into deg, therefore it becomes 39.667633 degrees
The longitude is the same - 105 04.886 converts by dividing the 04.886 minutes by 60 to get it into degrees becoming 105.081433 degrees