FAQ regarding how to update files already on the site.
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I have made a new FAQ that I would like everyone to take a look at. I have had some concerns lately regarding this topic and thought that it was time to clarify the process so that we don't have a big mess later.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/9040
When a file comes through the Moderation queue it goes through a cleaning process, I don't email you and let you know if your file was perfect or if it had problems. If it just had a negative mark missing or some other typo I just make the change and put the file up on the site.
If there is a problem with the order of things I will usually send a note with an attached FAQ regarding the CSV file format that is accepted here.
So it dawned on me the other day that there is a chance that someone who had uploaded a file with a typo in it not realizing it could make and addition to their file and then just use the edit feature to upload their updated file. In this case it does not come through the moderation queue and I don't get a second chance to make the correction.
If you are making a change to one of your files, please download the file from the site and work from that copy please.
Miss POI
Just a suggestion!
I have made a new FAQ that I would like everyone to take a look at. I have had some concerns lately regarding this topic and thought that it was time to clarify the process so that we don't have a big mess later.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/9040
When a file comes through the Moderation queue it goes through a cleaning process, I don't email you and let you know if your file was perfect or if it had problems. If it just had a negative mark missing or some other typo I just make the change and put the file up on the site.
If there is a problem with the order of things I will usually send a note with an attached FAQ regarding the CSV file format that is accepted here.
So it dawned on me the other day that there is a chance that someone who had uploaded a file with a typo in it not realizing it could make and addition to their file and then just use the edit feature to upload their updated file. In this case it does not come through the moderation queue and I don't get a second chance to make the correction.
If you are making a change to one of your files, please download the file from the site and work from that copy please.
Miss POI
Thanks for the note (I was not aware of this)
It would suggest that it may be a good idea for a contributors to download the file as soon as they see that you have posted it.
This would ensure the above never happens PLUS it would ensure they had a "Clean" copy.
I will download all of mine... just to be sure.
Thanks for all your hard work
Garmin Nüvi 760 & Magellan RoadMate 860T.
Thank you
Thank you, I will be updating a file I just uploaded, I have created favorite places to eat PoI and will have to keep it updated so this is important.
Abandoned POIs - procedure to switch owner?
What about a POI that may no longer be updated by the original poster? Do you have a procedure in place to take care of that?
I downloaded a POI found and noticed an entry missing from the list. I updated my own version plus added a few additional one (expanding the scope of the POI a bit). I then emailed the submitter letting them know of the one missing entry that I thought should be in there. I haven't heard back yet but to be fair it has only been a couple weeks ago.
But it got me thinking, what if someone goes away and has POIs in place here. If someone was willing to take over the maintenance of that POI, how would we go about doing so?
Not really anything you need to answer right here and now, but if you hadn't thought about it yet, something to keep in mind.
Thanks,
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS) & a Mac user.
Another thing that I have
Another thing that I have noticed about some of the POI's is I know where the location of the particular POI and I put in the GPS coordinates from the file to check it to make sure that it is right and it takes me to a different place in another state. So updating and actually searching the coordinates on google map would really help elimate taking someone to the wrong place.
PS those particular files I have already updated for my use and I would be willing to share that information to the original creator of the files.
Garmin Nuvi 360, Etrex Legend; Lowrance 520c. "We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." -General George S. Patton
Thank you!
I didn't know this. I'll download the POI files I've contributed to make sure I have a clean copy.
A good thing, too, as I've tweaked a few coordinates for the Choice Hotels file, but the changes haven't been significant enough to update it.
Again, thank you for all your hard work.
Nüvi 350 & Nüvi 750
good questions
What about a POI that may no longer be updated by the original poster? Do you have a procedure in place to take care of that?
I downloaded a POI found and noticed an entry missing from the list. I updated my own version plus added a few additional one (expanding the scope of the POI a bit). I then emailed the submitter letting them know of the one missing entry that I thought should be in there. I haven't heard back yet but to be fair it has only been a couple weeks ago.
But it got me thinking, what if someone goes away and has POIs in place here. If someone was willing to take over the maintenance of that POI, how would we go about doing so?
Not really anything you need to answer right here and now, but if you hadn't thought about it yet, something to keep in mind.
Thanks,
PT
I would like everyone to take a moment and hop over to this page: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/452
This is a sample of what the new database will look like once we get some more inputting tools built to make it happen.
If you look at the Actions are you will see that you will now have the opportunity to submit a new location on your own without contacting the author of the file first. The maintainer of the file and Miss POI will see that there is a POI waiting for approval and we can add it to the file.
If you also look at the way that the Top Contributors: area is put together it lists who has made a contribution and how many locations they have added.
This will cut out some of the updating issues that we have had in the past.
For more info on the new system read this http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6903
Miss POI
that is great. good idea.
that is great. good idea.
Garmin Nuvi 360, Etrex Legend; Lowrance 520c. "We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." -General George S. Patton
Good idea. It keeps
Good idea. It keeps everything in sync.
nuvi 370
update POI files
A good thing, too, as I've tweaked a few coordinates for the Choice Hotels file, but the changes haven't been significant enough to update it.
Thank you for your contribution of the Choice Hotels file. It was the second thing I added......right after WalMart !!
I'd like to take this opportunity to gripe about my Magellan Maestro and the way it handles POI files. It will NOT take duplicate names AND it does not tell you about it. It just happily and silently throws out duplicate entries. Unless you are aware of this quirk, a MM user can end up with a LOT of missing entries.
Why mention this here? I don't know how individual files are created but it would be nice if the NAME field didn't have duplicates (Comfort Inn Portland, Comfort Inn Seattle, etc.) I DO NOT, of course, expect the original authors to take extra time just for the benefit of Magellan users because they have done enough already........but if it could be done quickly and easily..........????
I fixed mine when I loaded it but the fix was a kludge (not pretty but it worked). If it wasn't so ugly, I'd offer it as an "update".
Magellan Maestro 4250
Adding to POI's
I really like this option. I have been really busy over the last few months but will be adding to my file soon. Thanks for having this site.
Mike
Acceptable CSV Format?
If there is a problem with the order of things I will usually send a note with an attached FAQ regarding the CSV file format that is accepted here.
In the FAQ I have found, you mention 4 columns CSV with LineFeed/Carriage Returns. But I am not sure if this is in info FAQ for csv in general or the faq on acceptable csv files. I am asking because I have noticed that POIEdit seems to drop this part out of the CSV.
In short, can you point me to the FAQ for acceptable csv please?
Me Too ...
I really like this option. I have been really busy over the last few months but will be adding to my file soon. Thanks for having this site.
It's really tough just keeping up with the 100's of new posts each day.
I'll be updating my POIs soon.
dd
That's a good idea anyway
A good thing, too, as I've tweaked a few coordinates for the Choice Hotels file, but the changes haven't been significant enough to update it.
Thank you for your contribution of the Choice Hotels file. It was the second thing I added......right after WalMart !!
I'd like to take this opportunity to gripe about my Magellan Maestro and the way it handles POI files. It will NOT take duplicate names AND it does not tell you about it. It just happily and silently throws out duplicate entries. Unless you are aware of this quirk, a MM user can end up with a LOT of missing entries.
Why mention this here? I don't know how individual files are created but it would be nice if the NAME field didn't have duplicates (Comfort Inn Portland, Comfort Inn Seattle, etc.) I DO NOT, of course, expect the original authors to take extra time just for the benefit of Magellan users because they have done enough already........but if it could be done quickly and easily..........????
I fixed mine when I loaded it but the fix was a kludge (not pretty but it worked). If it wasn't so ugly, I'd offer it as an "update".
It would be nice in looking up points. For example, I've looked up a cemetery name and come up with the exact name in two different locations about the same distance from my location so you have to do some other things to determine the correct one whereas if something else was put in the POI name to identify where it is it would be a lot easier.
Definitely glad to know you
Definitely glad to know you do this. I suppose that would be really messy to have to clean up the same errors over and over....
Building a .csv file
In short, can you point me to the FAQ for acceptable csv please?
Several months ago as part of another thread I posted these comments about building a .csv file. I think they're still pretty good
:
This is me talking:
I find it eminently easier to build a .txt file in Notepad for the POI rather than to use Excel. The format is:
longitude(comma)latitude(comma)(open quote)name(close quote)(comma)(open quote)address(new line)phone number(new line)any other comment(s)(close quote)
That's it. That's a legal POI entry. Here's one of my examples:
-81.292747,41.714719,"Mentor","9620 Diamond Centre Dr
Mentor OH 44060
440-639-8545"
The entry above when you see it in your GPSr is nicely formatted. "Mentor" is in large letters on the top line of the GPSr display with the rest of the lines in smaller print and with new lines after the "Dr" and after the "44060." Put as many entries as you want in the Notepad file, name it and save it in some folder where you can find it. It'll be saved as a .txt file. You've just done the hard part. Now comes the easy part.
To change the .txt file to a .csv file, just rename it. For instance, change Gander_Mtn_Mentor.txt to
Gander_Mtn_Mentor.csv. Viola! It's now an Excel file.
If I were you, I'd invest the $6 (I think) to get the POI Verifier program to run against the .csv file to make sure things are syntactically correct. Then use the free Garmin POI loader program to load the file into your GPSr and you're ready to go. It really isn't rocket science and is actually a lot of fun. The hardest part, at least for me, is satisfying myself that I have the correct latitude and longitude values. Everything after that is gravy.
--
Phil in Mentor, Ohio -- Garmin StreetPilot C530
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